Editor's Note:
I have received many, many comments and links to this post in the past year (thanks, Pinterest!). Just and FYI, the technique shared below is my own experience with my FLF. I am in NO WAY an expert on FLF's or any plants in general as I mention below. There are many other recommended ways to pot indoor plants. So...on that note, plant at your own risk and make sure to do thorough research depending on your climate and plant's needs. Good luck and thanks for visiting! :)
I am one of those people who can't keep any plants alive (unless it's a cactus and requires basically no watering). BUT- I have been eyeing the Fiddle Leaf figs since I spotted the 5-footers for only $35 at Home Depot a couple months ago. Despite my terrible watering tendencies, I decided to give it a try and see if I can keep this one alive. Here is a quick summary of what I did:
I already had a glazed turquoise planter that my Mom didn't want anymore and it was just begging to finally be used! I started by adding some felt sticky pads to the bottom of the planter to prevent scratching the hardwood floor. There was a small hole in the bottom, so I cut down a wine cork to plug the hole and added a line of gorilla glue to the perimeter of the cork to seal.
Next, I added a plastic liner cut down to fit the bottom of the planter (just in case to prevent any leaks!). After the liner, I put in a layer of pea gravel (about 1") to ensure the plant will have good drainage and won't ever be sitting in over-watered soil.
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After the pea gravel I popped the plant back in the pot with some potting soil and covered the dirt with (dollar tree) floral moss.
My fingers are crossed that it will live! The room is pretty bright so hopefully it should do well here. I am loving how it brightens up the little corner in our dining room.
PS- Anyone notice the toy car? I can't seem to snap a photo in our house without one hiding somewhere.
Disclosure- My FLF has been in the pot for 2 weeks now and is still alive...hooray! BUT that obviously makes me no kind of expert in caring for plants- so please use your green thumb at your own risk :)
Thanks for the info! I have a black thumb and kill every plant I look at. I love fiddle leaf figs though!
ReplyDelete-Erin @ DIY on the Cheap
Thanks so much Erin! My track record is not in my favor, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed the pea gravel will help me from over/under watering this time!
DeleteHey, Jenny~ I love the turquoise pot and your diagram!! My Mom has had a fiddle leaf fig for over 10 years, and it is HUGE! Consistency in light, placement, and water are keys, she says. I have one that is about 4 ft tall and one stalk! lol But somehow I've managed to keep it alive with my Mom's 3 tips!!
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie! Thank you for the tips- really hoping I can make this one last! :)
DeleteThat potting soil will likely kill your plant. Google Al's gritty mix or 5-1-1 mix to make your own airy well draining soil. I killed so many tropical plants before descovering how to make those mixes.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tip. The plant seems to be doing ok so far, but I will look into making my own draining soil next time!
DeleteWhat a cute and helpful diagram! Thanks for the tips!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kristen!
DeleteThanks so much for the diagram! It's really helpful! I can't wait to get my FLF tree! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm no plant expert, either, but I've had two happy fiddle leaf figs for a little over a year now, and I've actually found that using the drainage hole to your advantage is the easiest way to avoid overwatering. One of mine always gets watered in the bathtub, so any extra water goes down the drain, and the other one is on a little platform inside of a larger decorative pot, so I just dump out the extra water in the decorative pot if it doesn't dry on its own. Even with your pea gravel, if you use too much water, it's still going to sit at the bottom of the pot and potentially create root rot. Just my two cents!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stephanie! Yes, in some cases using the drainage hole can be of good use. The reason I plugged the hole on my planter is because the pot is entirely too heavy to move! I could always put another pot within the larger one to use the drainage hole. However, I water the plant only a little once a week to make sure that it won't sit in any water. :)
DeleteHi Jenny, ran across your uber cool graphic while looking for planters for my (future) fiddle fig. Since it's been a few years, can you tell me how your indoor planter layers & plant all worked out? In addition to trying to keep a plant alive, I am worried about not noticing any wood floor damage until it's too late. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi there! Sorry for the delayed response. When we moved last November, our FLF didn't make it with us! However, I had great luck with the way I planted it shown here. I have a smaller one I keep on a side table that is planted a similar way and I've had it for a couple years now. I think the success in your plant depends on climate, amount of sunshine, etc. I am in no way an expert, but wanted to share my experience. Good luck!
DeleteThe best ways to prevent over (or under) watering your potted plants:
ReplyDeletePot in potting soil - not garden soil.
Use a container with drainage holes. Sometimes you may have to drill holes in the pot.
Do not use rocks, pea gravel, or broken pots in the bottom of pots. These things have been shown to impede drainage rather than help.
Do not water plants on a schedule. Plants water needs vary depending on things such as growth rate and temperature.
Do check soil moisture level regularly. The best way to do this is using your finger. Stick your finger into the soil up to the first knuckle. If the soil is just barely moist it is time to water.
When watering, water thoroughly - not just a little bit.
Thank you for your advice!
DeleteThank you for your advice!
Delete