Winter brings about a whole bunch of changes for plants. They can be affected by lower temperatures, a lack of humidity and less light – just for starters!
If you’re a Fiddle Leaf Fig fanatic like me, you’ll want to know exactly what winter means for your plant and how you can help it thrive through the cooler months.
During winter, Fiddle Leaf Figs can sometimes be ‘dormant’. This is when they appear to stop growing, because of less-than-ideal environmental conditions (Fiddle Leafs are tropical plants!).
But, your FLF doesn’t have to stop growing and thriving in cooler weather! This past winter season, I was able to keep my FLFs growing new leaves with no negative wintery symptoms.
Fiddle leaf figs are beautiful, statement-making plants that can transform any indoor space. With their large, vibrant green leaves, fiddle leaf figs add life to both traditional and modern decor.
However, caring for a fiddle leaf fig in winter can be tricky. As tropical plants originally from western Africa, fiddle leaf figs prefer warm, humid conditions. The cold, dry air of winter can stress them out.
Don’t worry! With some simple adjustments to their care, you can help your fiddle leaf fig not just survive but thrive through the winter months. Here is your complete guide on how to care for a fiddle leaf fig in winter.
Provide Proper Lighting
Fiddle leaf figs need bright, indirect light to remain happy and healthy. In their native habitat, they grow under the canopy of larger trees that filter the intense sunlight.
To mimic this indoors, place your fiddle leaf fig near a sunny south or west facing window East facing windows can work too Rotate your plant frequently so all sides get even light exposure.
During winter, daylight hours are shorter and weaker. Supplement with a grow light if needed. LED grow lights that provide full spectrum illumination are ideal. Place the grow light 6-12 inches above your fiddle leaf fig and run it for 12-16 hours per day.
Monitor Watering
Overwatering is one of the most common causes of problems in fiddle leaf figs. In winter allow the soil to dry out a bit more between waterings. The cooler air causes the soil to dry slower.
Check the top few inches of soil before watering. Only water when the top 2-3 inches feel dry. In winter, you may only need to water every 10-14 days. Always water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom.
A moisture meter takes the guesswork out! These handy devices tell you exactly how dry or wet the soil is.
Increase Humidity
The dry winter air can really stress out these tropical plants. Fiddle leaf figs prefer 40-60% humidity. Use a humidifier in the room with your plant to increase moisture levels.
Grouping plants together also raises humidity through transpiration. Place your fiddle leaf fig’s pot on a pebble tray filled with water. As the water evaporates, it humidifies the air.
Misting leaves offers very temporary boosts in humidity. It’s not very effective alone.
Avoid Cold Drafts
Sudden drops in temperature can shock fiddle leaf figs. Avoid placing them near drafty windows, air vents, or exterior doors. Maintain indoor temperatures above 50°F. Cooler than this can damage leaves.
If you take your fiddle leaf fig outside in summer, bring it back in before nighttime temperatures dip below 50°F in fall. The transition from hot to cold weather is stressful.
Hold Off on Fertilizing
Fiddle leaf figs grow slower in winter. Hold off on fertilizing until spring when growth picks back up. You can use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength from spring through fall.
Overfertilizing during winter when plants are less active can burn roots and lead to leaf damage. It’s better to underfeed than overfeed fiddle leaf figs.
Check for Pests
Keep a close eye out for common houseplant pests like spider mites, mealybugs and scale. These can spread rapidly in dry environments. Wipe leaves weekly with a damp cloth to remove dust and check for bugs.
Isolate any infested plants. Use insecticidal soap, neem oil or horticultural oils to treat infestations. Catching pests early makes them easier to get rid of.
Avoid Repotting
Your fiddle leaf fig likely won’t need repotting during winter. Repotting is stressful and best done during spring and summer when plants are actively growing.
If roots are badly crowded in the pot, you can shift up just one pot size. Otherwise, wait until later in the year for repotting. Use a well-draining potting mix amended with perlite.
Prune Minimal Foliage
Limit pruning during winter to dead or damaged leaves only. Pruning healthy foliage right now removes the plant’s food production capabilities when it needs them most.
Cut leaves at their base on the branch. Sanitize pruning tools with isopropyl alcohol between each cut to avoid spreading disease. Wait for spring for major pruning jobs.
Talk to Your Plant!
This one may sound silly, but numerous studies have shown that talking to your plants really does help them grow! The vibrations from your voice activate cell responses that facilitate growth and health.
Plants grown with regular human interaction demonstrate better growth than ignored plants. So chat away and forge a bond with your fiddle leaf fig this winter!
Be Patient
Lastly, be patient with your fiddle leaf fig over winter. Growth will slow down and leaves may drop as the plant adapts to the low light and drier air. This is normal.
Focus on addressing cultural issues like watering, humidity and light levels. With attentive care, your fiddle leaf fig will return to vigorous growth once spring arrives again!
Caring for a fiddle leaf fig in winter presents some unique challenges. But armed with this guide, you now have all the knowledge you need to help your plant thrive through the colder months. Stick to these tips, and your fiddle leaf fig will come out the other side happy and healthy.
Water Less Often in Winter
Overwatering is a big Fiddle Leaf Fig killer. Less light and less growth during the cooler months means that your plants will be using less water!
This means your plants will have less water requirements. The best way to tell if your FLF needs water is by feeling if the top two inches of soil are dry.
During the cooler months, it may take longer for the soil to dry out. This means you’ll need to water less often (and not on a schedule!) When you do water, remember that it’s still best to water until the excess drains to ensure all the roots get watered.
It’s normal for most plants to slow down growth during the cooler months. Because of this, your Fiddle Leaf Fig won’t have the same fertilizer requirements as it would during Spring or Summer.
Fertilizing your FLF when they’ve slowed or stopped growth can result in a buildup of unused fertilizer in the soil, or it getting flushed out of the pot and wasted. I generally stop fertilizing or fertilize less often, at half strength if there are any signs of growth.
How to Transition a Fiddle Leaf Fig to Indoors
You may have heard that FLFs don’t like to be moved. This is true, but it’s mostly if they’re moving to an environment that is less ideal than their current location.
This is also why they can suffer when you first bring your Fiddle home. Plants grown for sale are often grown in ideal, greenhouse-like environments.
Worse locations are ones that have less light, humidity or temperatures lower than around 65F (18C). But a Fiddle Leaf Fig that is moved to a brighter, warmer location than its current one should not respond negatively.
There’s a few main factors to address when moving your FLF indoors: the lower light, lower humidity and less fresh air flow. While we can’t control all these elements, understanding them can help you stress less if your FLF does take a little time to adjust.
Because indoors has a lot less light than outside, your FLF may struggle with the lack of light. Our eyes may interpret our home as bright. But for a plant, the lower light levels is much more noticeable!
If your FLF is in a sunny spot outdoors, before bringing it inside, transition it to an outside shady spot for a couple of weeks first. This will help with the transition and will hopefully lessen any shock for the plant by bringing it in to a low-light space suddenly.
Be aware that it’s normal for there to be some possible negative side effects of transitioning a plant indoors. Unfortunately, some leaf drop may be unavoidable.
Theres a few things you can do to help your FLF transition indoors well, such as supplementing light with a grow light (more info on using grow lights indoors here) and increasing humidity through a humidifier (read on for more info on humidity).
Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Guide! // Garden Answer
FAQ
How to keep fiddle leaf figs alive in winter?
You also want to be careful to water a little bit less in the winter because although the air is very dry and the leaves can dry out, the soil takes longer to dry out. A lot of people tend to overwater their plants in the water, but the soil takes a long time to dry because there’s less light and it’s cooler.
What temperature is too cold for a fiddle leaf fig?
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Ideal Temperature Range:Fiddle leaf figs thrive in warm temperatures, typically between 60°F and 75°F (16°C and 24°C) during the day and no lower than 50°F (10°C) at night.
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Cold Sensitivity:
- Leaf Drop: Temperatures below 55°F can cause leaf drop as the plant enters a dormant state.
- Frost Damage: Frostbite is a serious issue, and any frostbitten parts won’t recover.
- Shock: Rapid or drastic temperature changes can shock the plant, leading to leaf drop and overall stress.
- Leaf Drop: Temperatures below 55°F can cause leaf drop as the plant enters a dormant state.
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Winter Care:
- If you live in a colder climate, you’ll need to bring your fiddle leaf fig indoors during winter.
- Ensure the plant is in a warm location with bright, indirect light.
- Be cautious about watering in winter, as the soil may take longer to dry due to cooler temperatures and less light.
- If you live in a colder climate, you’ll need to bring your fiddle leaf fig indoors during winter.
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Signs of Cold Stress:
- Dropping leaves
- Leaves turning brown or crispy
- Overall lethargy or sluggish growth
- Dropping leaves
How often do you water fiddle leaf figs in winter?
For a thriving and healthy plant, water your fiddle leaf fig once every 7 to 10 days. The key is to follow a consistently moderate watering schedule.
Should I prune my fiddle leaf fig in winter?
Though not required, pruning most ficus is best done in late winter, and the Fiddle Leaf Fig is no exception.Aug 28, 2020