Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food

Use 1 teaspoonful diluted in 2 cups of water, and water each week as normal.

For optimal growth, fertilize your houseplant every week throughout the year. Read our blog post that discusses this specifically.

The fertilizer is a clear liquid with a blue tint.

The abbreviation NPK stands for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), the main nutrients essential for plant growth. We created our Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food with the ideal NPK ratio of 3-1-2 to support healthy roots, leaves, and growth in your houseplant.

We do not recommend this product for succulents.

You’ll find a lot of information online, but an essential reference is The Fiddle Leaf Fig Expert: Your Guide to Growing Healthy Ficus Lyrata Plants.

Root rot is a plant disease that attacks the plant’s root system, and it’s caused by certain water molds and fungi which result from over-watering your plant. The symptoms of root rot include stunted growth, wilting, as well as discolored leaves, which result from the plant’s inability to absorb moisture and nourishment.

Although Root Supplement should be started at the first sign of disease, it should only be applied every two weeks as directed. The supplement is taken up by the plant’s root and foliar systems, where it then activates a biostimulant response which leads to improved nutrient uptake and assimilation, abiotic stress tolerance, and enhanced natural defense mechanisms. But be patient because this process takes time.

To assure your houseplant’s health and vitality, there are several factors involved in the integrated growing plan. For root rot treatment, this might mean using Root Supplement along with repotting, modifying watering intervals, and utilizing a suitable fertilizer.

Don’t confuse phosphite supplements with phosphate-derived fertilizers, such as potassium phosphate and those found in traditional fertilizers. Although phosphite and phosphate compounds are chemically very similar, their actions in plants differ significantly. Phosphates are primary sources of phosphorus in plant fertilizers. Phosphorus is essential for all living organisms; plants use it for many processes, including photosynthesis, energy storage, and cell division.
 
On the other hand, phosphite has one less oxygen than phosphate, which means that it acts in a completely different way than its phosphate counterparts. First of all, plants absorb phosphites more easily, although they contribute little to no phosphorus. However, although phosphites lack nutrient value, they make up for this by simulating the plant’s natural defense mechanisms. And even though phosphites can control root rot disease in plants, they’re unsuitable for phosphate fertilization. The inverse is also true: phosphate is an excellent source of phosphorus for plant growth but is unable to control certain diseases, such as foliar blight, downy mildew, and root rot. Therefore, to produce optimal vitality in your houseplant, a good growth plan should include phosphate fertilizer in addition to a phosphite supplement (such as Root Supplement).

Yes! These products were designed to be used together, but just be sure to first put water in the container before adding the fertilizer and Root Supplement.

Root Supplement is a clear liquid.

Add 1 teaspoon of Root Supplement to 2 cups of water and apply with normal watering every 2 weeks. We recommend that you use it in addition to fertilizer.

Although you can use Root Supplement on all houseplants, I wouldn’t recommend using it on succulents as they typically don’t suffer from the same root rot organisms.

Brown spots on leaves will unfortunately never repair themselves. Remove the affected leaves with clean pruning shears. Don’t worry, pruning your houseplant helps encourage new growth!

Yes! Root Supplement was developed to be used at the first sign of root rot as well as to maintain healthy root systems to prevent root rot.

All plant roots require water, nutrients, and air to survive. In the wild, the soil is constantly replenished with nutrients, aerated by earthworms, and it also has perfect drainage! However, potted houseplants sit in the same soil for months and even years. Every time you water, the soil is compacted, likely won’t drain as well as in the wild, and the nutrients are washed away. This is why it’s critical to have a houseplant soil that is specially formulated (read more here). Our Indoor Plant Soil is created to provide perfect drainage, aeration, and nutrients for your houseplant. Your houseplant with thank you!

We recommend repotting your plants once per year for optimal health and growth. For very large plants, you can top-dress the soil, or remove the top few inches of soil and replace with fresh soil.

Biochar is a soil amendment that reduces the need for water and fertilizer, because more moisture and nutrients remain in the soil and don’t leach into the groundwater, all of which enhances plant growth. Biochar is created by burning wood and agricultural byproducts slowly, at low temperatures, and with a reduced oxygen supply. Read more about the many beneficial properties of biochar that make it perfect for growing here.

While plants need water to survive, to avoid root rot, the plant’s roots need to dry out between each watering. In fact, root rot caused by the roots sitting in too much water is the most common cause of problems and disease in houseplants. With a fast-draining soil, your plant’s roots will have access to the necessary moisture without the risk of root rot.  In our blog post on choosing the best soil for your houseplant, we discuss this in more detail.

It is important to keep the leaves of houseplant clean and free of dust. For cleaning tips and more information, read our blog post on this subject.

For a starter plant, we recommend snake plants, spider plants, pothos, or dracaena as they are all really easy to grow. Another great option is a Chinese Evergreen. To read more on this topic, we discuss it more fully on our blog.

To allow for new growth, choose a pot that is 2 to 4 inches larger in diameter than the existing pot.

Too much water is the number-one killer of houseplants. We recommend watering once per week, but only if the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.

While some houseplants can be too far gone, there still might be hope to save a plant that’s on the brink of death. Read more here.

Congratulations! Before you enter the gardening section, learn the basics with our guide to choosing the healthiest plant in the nursery.

There is a lot we don’t know about plants. View this amazing video from Ikea to see the power that words have on a plant’s health for yourself. To learn more about this fascinating field of study, we recommend reading The Intention Experiment.

Yes, of course! Our friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are always available to answer your questions via email.

We currently ship to the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

You can return Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food according to Amazon’s return policy.

Feel free to check out any of these resources to educate yourself:

• Banko, T. J., & Hong, C. X. (2001). Evaluation of phosphite as an alternative phosphorus nutrient and control for phytophthora disease. Proc. South. Nurs. Assoc. Res. Conf., 46, 272-275.
• Burrows, J., & Burrows, S. (2003). Figs of Southern & South-Central Africa (p. 379). Hatfield, South Africa: Umdaus Press.
• Guest, D., & Grant, B. R. (1991). The complex action of phosphonates as antifungal agents. Biol. Rev., 66, 159-187.
• Leymonie, J. P. (2007, September). Phosphites and phosphates: When distributors and growers alike could get confused (pp. 36-41). New AG International.

Please join us on Facebook here and follow us on Instagram. Ask questions, share your plant stories, and join the movement!