When I bought this Fiddle Leaf Fig, it was 2 and a half feet tall and I didn't really think about what would happen if it reached the ceiling. But years later it did! And I was beyond stressed at the idea of lopping off the top portion. Looking back I'm not really sure why, but I put it off until it started to get really squished. I read a bunch of articles and watched a ton of videos. I wanted to have as much info as possible before just hacking away at it. So if you are in my same boat, (a Fiddle Leaf Fig that is getting too tall or spindly) then here are my instructions for propagating a Fiddle Leaf Fig.
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Propagating a Fiddle Leaf Fig
Step 1: Prep
Make sure your sheers are sharp and clean. Use rubbing alcohol or bleach to clean them to prevent diseases from being passed from plant to plant. Since mine are primarily used outside, they definitely needed to be sanitized! This pair is fairly new, so I didn't need to worry about sharpening them but the easiest way to sharpen them is to use a tool like THIS.
Step 2: Cut!
Cut at an angle and watch for nodes. The little white dots on the stem of the branch are nodes and they are what will become the roots. You need to make sure that the part you are cutting off has these nodes to have a successful propagation.
These are what they look like.
Step 3: Add Rooting Hormone
I use this kind and I just dip the end of the stem in it before adding it to water.
Step 4: Add it to Water
Regular tap water is fine. There is some debate about if you should change the water or not through out the process. I didn't. I did, however, check the water level and added more as needed. Someone on TikTok (where I posted the video of this process) said it would work better if I used darker container or painted the jar black since roots like the dark. That would be a fun experiment to try it both ways and see if there is a difference. But mine was just a clear mason jar and it worked just fine. But maybe it would be faster if it was dark? If you have propagated both ways please let me know!
Step 5: Wait
Some plants grow roots quickly like Swedish Ivy and Pothos. Fiddle Leaf Figs take their sweet time. The nodes will turn into rough looking bumps in a couple of weeks and then slowly over time will turn into roots. It typically take 6-8 weeks to get not only primary roots but secondary roots. It needs a healthily root system before you can plant it in dirt so don't jump the gun and plant too early.
Step 6: Plant!
Like I mentioned above, you need primary and secondary roots before planting. So the first long shoots will need to start growing lots of little tiny offshoots.
Use good quality potting soil that has good drainage. Fiddle Leaf Figs like to dry out a bit in between waterings so don't use a moisture control type potting mix.
Use a pot with drainage holes for the same reason. In fact, grower pots are perfect. I like to keep them after I repot plants so I can reuse them but you can also buy them at Home Depot or online at Amazon.
Make sure that no part of any of the leaves are covered with dirt or even touching the dirt. This can cause them to rot and fall off.
Step 7: After Care
While full grown Fiddles like to dry out a bit in between waterings, when new and getting established, you need to keep the soil moist. Water more often than usual so the roots don't dry out. So that you don't forget, place it in a spot you will see daily. A place where it will get lots of indirect light. And now I have to find a cute planter for my new baby Fiddle! Maybe one of THESE DIY ones.
Did You Know?
Your old plant will be just fine. In fact, cutting your fiddle leaf will actually help it! Cutting promotes branching and new growth. In the photo below you can see where I cut the top off and a new branch growing. This picture was taken a few weeks after cutting. It grew a new leaf on the other side soon after this.
If your Fiddle Leaf Fig is skinny and spindly, this is a good way to help it fill out. Even if it isn't up to the ceiling yet.
It is now almost to the ceiling again! I wish I would have cut more off the tree. If I had known it would grow that quickly, I would have. I will probably have to cut it again sometime this year. So take my advice and cut a little more than you think you should.
Do you have any questions? If I skipped anything you are curious about please hit me up in the comment section. And if you have had any experience with propagating Fiddle Leaf Figs, I would love to hear your thoughts and how it went!
Potting Soil * Sharpener * Rooting Hormone * Sheers * Grower Pots
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Help! I have had my Fiddle Leaf fig for years and it just does not grow. The leaves are green but it looks so sad.
Do you feed yours?
Do you dust it often? Dust on the leaves can stunt growth. If it’s root bound, not getting enough nutrients, or if it’s not getting enough light, that will also slow growth. I actually have another Fiddle leaf Fig that a a bit older than this one and it is much smaller. It was in the kids room and kind of got forgotten (and sometimes covered in dirty clothes). I’ve moved it up to the upstairs and within a week of just moving it, it grew a new leaf after not growing one for years!
I do fertilize, but not often. I tend to forget.
I would start by cleaning the leaves and maybe moving it to a sunnier spot. And then after a bit add some fertilizer. I like the Miracle Grow houseplant spikes you stick in the soil.
Repotting can stress a plant out so that’s why I suggest not doing all the new things all at once. But eventually, check to see if it’s root bound. If it’s in a grower pot, you can look through the holes and see if the roots are circling the bottom or coming out of the pot.
Fiddles like to be snug, so unless there’s a mass of roots in the bottom, it’s probably okay to keep it in the pot.
Also sometimes you can see roots at the top because the soil has eroded or been absorbed. You can add more potting soil on the top as well.