How To Fix A Leaning Fiddle Leaf Fig? 8 Easy Steps

The leaning fiddle leaf fig is not only unpleasant in appearance but also a common problem that can be fixed. Your plant must need your attention to look as good as it can. So, what makes your plant bend? How to fix a leaning fiddle leaf fig? We will cover everything to do for your plant in this article. Let’s join us and give it the best treatment!

How To Fix A Leaning Fiddle Leaf Fig?

There are eight common ways to fix a leaning fiddle leaf fig:

1. Water the plant properly

Both overwatering and underwatering, can cause the fiddle leaf fig to lean So how do you water your plant properly? This guideline will tell:

• The fig enjoys a lot of water. But do not leave the plant roots soaked for too long.
• Before watering the plant next time, allow the soil to dry up completely. Irrigate the plant when the top three to four inches of soil are dry.
• To avoid flooding, make sure the pot has drainage holes.
• Frequently, use a moisture meter to examine the soil’s moisture level.
• Water your fig less as the temperature drops.

Read more: How To Shine Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves? (3 Methods)

2. Provide enough sunlight

Your fiddle leaf fig does not develop in either high or low light, check out these instructions:

• Your fig loves bright, indirect sunlight. Lack of light can cause the fiddle leaf fig to droop and lean.
• Wilting indoor fig plants can recover if you put them in an area with lots of light.
• Check that your fig receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily.
• To ensure that every side of your fig gets enough sunshine, you can rotate it once a week.
• You can employ an electric grow light to promote healthy development during the winter.

3. Pay attention to fertilization.

To prevent your plant from absorbing inadequate fertilization, keep in mind these tips:

• Gentle or diluted fertilization is best for these plants. Try 3:1:2 N-P-K fertilizer for the most impressive result.
• During the growing season, you can fertilize your figs every four to six weeks.
• Since most plants do not vigorously grow during the frigid season, reduce fertilizers.
• Repot your plant every one or two years. But do not perform it during the winter.

4. Prune your plant

Pruning is an excellent method for promoting healthy growth and preventing root-bound:

• Decide which parts of the plant to remove first by assessing the condition of each stem and leaf.
• Use a clean, sharp instrument to prune the plant and avoid harming the stem.
• For each cut, remove a half-inch of any leaves or trunk. It encourages a healthy recovery for your plant without endangering the core trunk or remaining leaves from infection.

5. Repot your plant

As discussed earlier, repotting is essential for fiddle leaf figs to provide them with enough space for root growth. Here are some tips to repot your fiddle leaf plants properly:

• Choose the right potting soil and container. The new pot should be at least six inches wider than the current one.
• Add four inches of potting soil mix to the new pot.
• The root ball shouldn’t sit too high once in place since the top of the soil should be lower than the top of the pot.
• Take the plant out of the old pot.
• Hold your plant upright and add soil to the sides of the container, wrapping it around the root ball.
• Slightly compact the soil around the root ball after adding the remaining soil to the container. Your plant needs space to expand its roots, so don’t crowd it.
• Give the plant plenty of water.
• After repotting, wait several days before fertilizing.

6. Wiggle your plant

Give your fig a thorough shake often if the thinner stems of your fig are having difficulties bearing the weight of new shoots. There is a concept called “thigmomorphogenesis.” It’s a phrase used in botany to describe how a plant reacts differently to physical stimuli like contact with wind, the weight of raindrops, or being stroked by animals.

In many circumstances, when treated repeatedly by these mechanical impacts, a plant’s stems will get shorter and more resilient. Many indoor plants will experience more harm than good if you shake them.

However, gently shaking or wriggling your fiddle leaf fig for one to two minutes per day would encourage the branches and stems to thicken over time. The stronger stems can support the plant’s weight much better due to this technique, which will help it remain straight.

Just try not to be too harsh. Instead, imitate the mild breezes your plant would receive if it were left outside during the summertime.

7. Stake your plant

Staking will provide fiddle leaf fig support for upright development even if the branch is too thin and weak. This technique works best when your plant is tall but its stem isn’t robust enough to bear the entire plant’s weight.

Place a metal, wooden, or plastic stake close to your fig’s main trunk. The stake is used to provide support for the plant and help it stand straight, which can also contribute to trunk thickening. Staking is a good idea for tall and heavy side branches. However, performing this method is not easy. Instead, you can use strategic pruning for long-term effects.

The stake for pruning should be easy to drive into the soil and thick enough to handle the plant’s weight. After choosing the right tool, insert it into the soil next to the fig’s main stem. Then use plant ties to secure the stem. Avoid the ties that will pinch or inhibit your plant’s development.

8. Bring the fiddle leaf fig outside.

Placing your fiddle leaf fig outdoors can provide it with the necessary sunlight for healthy growth.

Why Is A Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaning?

Before moving on to the solution, you need to identify the causes first. This rule applies to everything, including your fiddle-leaf fig learning.

Improper watering

Tropical plants like fiddle-leaf figs require sufficient water to flourish. If you notice some droopy and leaning leaves, the rain may be to blame. Inadequate watering causes several problems. The xylem will thin because the water release exceeds the water supply. The plant dries out; the leaves start drying.

Please note that your plant loves rainforests, where they absorb a lot of water. It’s necessary to mimic the environment that your plant prefers when growing.

Inadequate sunlight

Plants that yield Fiddle Leaf Figs do best in medium-bright lighting. The plentiful sunlight from above favors tropical vegetation. Your fiddle leaf fig does not develop in either high or low light, while other houseplants do. The plant will look for a light source and curve towards it if it is not obtaining enough sunlight. Brown dots, yellow, and fallen leaves are some more visible indicators of insufficient lighting.

It is ideal for keeping your plant in an area with plenty of indirect light and some hours of direct sunlight. Even if you like strong light, you should avoid afternoon light because it can cause sunburn.

Insufficient fertilizer

Every plant needs minerals and nutrients to thrive. You can provide your fig with essential nutrition by fertilizing it. On the contrary, insufficient fertilization will weaken the plant and make its leaves lean.

Along with fertilizer, you should consider repotting your plant, as it may outgrow the current pot soon. Your fiddle leaf fig will turn lean and root-bound if there isn’t any repotting for two years.

Fiddle-leaf figs that are rooted-bound can’t absorb nutrients and water. If you detect drainage holes on the pot, it may be a sign of a root-bound fig.

Heavy size

“My fiddle leaf fig is top heavy” is what we often hear about people having a leaning plant. The heavy structure of Fiddle Leaf Figs is another frequent cause of leaning. Your foliage’s main stem and branches may bend due to the plant’s size.

How To Thicken Fiddle Leaf Fig Trunk?

Another way to straighten the leaning fiddle leaf fig is to thicken its trunk. The tips for this task include:

Environmental elements

Set your fiddle leaf fig trunk in the sunniest area of your home, whether it’s indoors or outdoors. The sun’s energy assists plants in developing and healing new and damaged portions, as well as in the biological food-making process of photosynthesis.

Mimicking nature

The trunks of figs thicken in response to the wind. There are some seasons when the winds are strong enough to invigorate your plant. They might be slow and have little to no impact on a fig’s growth during other seasons, though. So, you can wiggle your plant to mimic the winds, which helps strengthen its trunk.

Exercise

People get stronger with exercise, and so do plants. Wiggling is a fantastic idea for your plant to work out.

Plan an efficient schedule

Establish a consistent and efficient watering, fertilizing, and wiggling routine. Your commitment will do a favor for your plant.

Conclusion

Fiddle leaf fig leaning is a common problem. Luckily, you can fix it after identifying the causes. The guides we have shared will be a great help. Hopefully, you will find this article helpful. Next time, whenever you hear “my fiddle leaf fig is leaning” from your friend, share this post with them. Then, they can solve the problem themselves.