There are many benefits to owning a fiddle leaf fig tree. From the beautiful leaves to their impressive size and shape, these plants have it all. The only downside? They can be really difficult to take care of. If you want your plant to live as long as possible, then you will need to know how to clean fiddle leaf fig leaves! Here’s what we learned from our research:
Why should you clean fiddle leaf fig leaves?
Cleaning your fiddle leaf fig leaves is important for their health. Leaves can get clogged with dust and other debris, which blocks the pores of the trees. Over time this will cause dryness that leads to the death of tissue inside the tree or creates potential bacterial infection because it’s not getting enough air circulation. When you clean your fiddle leaf fig leaves, you remove the dust and debris that has built upon them.
How often should you clean your fiddle leaf fig leaves?
You will need to do this at least two or three times a week for best results, but it can be as much as once an hour depending on the size of your plant and how dusty they are in that environment. If too many layers of dust build upon them, then the pores of the leaves will become clogged and lead to problems.
If you want your fiddle leaf fig tree to live as long as possible, then it’s important that you keep them clean! You can use a hose nozzle or just warm soapy water with a soft cloth for best results. Cleaning weekly should be enough, but if you live in a dusty environment, then it will need to be done more often.
What are some good techniques for cleaning fiddle leaf fig leaves?
One technique is to use a wet mop or sponge and wash the top of your tree. Another way would be to use an old toothbrush, which will allow you to get into the nooks and crannies around the leaves that are hard to reach with anything else!
Another technique for cleaning fiddle leaf fig leaves is to use a hose with a nozzle. Turn the water on and aim it towards your tree, which will help wash away dirt that has built up.
How can you prevent leaves from getting dirty in the future?
The best way to keep your fiddle leaf fig leaves clean is by treating them with biodegradable soap. This will remove any dirt, dust, or debris that has accumulated on its surface and it won’t harm plants at all!
Finally, here are some things you should never use on your fiddle leaf fig leaves:
- Bleach, which is corrosive and will damage the plant.
- Ammonia or household cleaners that contain ammonia (like Windex) can burn foliage.
How often to clean fiddle leaf fig leaves?
The general consensus is that you should clean your fiddle leaf fig leaves every week. You can do this by using a wet mop and scrubbing the top of the tree, or with an old toothbrush to get into hard-to-reach places.
Cleaning the fiddle leaf fig with a hose nozzle
It’s easiest to spray water from a hose nozzle onto the leaves and scrub gently. Start at the top of each leaf, working your way down, until you reach their base.
You can also use a soft cloth with warm soapy or plain water to clean off dirt and dust particles without damaging the surface of the leaf tissue.
What you shouldn’t do
When cleaning your fiddle leaf fig leaves, you should avoid using chemical products. You never want to use strong soap or detergent because they can cause the plant’s surface tissue to be irritated and dry out even more quickly than it would otherwise. This can lead to necrosis of the surface cells or bacterial infection in wet spots.
Shower the fiddle leaf fig with water
The first thing you want to do when you clean your fiddle leaf fig leaves is to get them wet. Take a showerhead and hold it as close as possible without touching the tree’s foliage, then spray all of the dirty leaves with water until they are damp but not dripping from the branches. You don’t need much pressure for this, just a light spray.
Soak the fiddle leaf fig leaves in water with dish soap
Next, you’ll want to fill up your bathtub or sink with warm water and add some dish soap for good measure. You can also take this opportunity to do things like scrub out any dirt that’s been trapped on the bottom of the leaves with a toothbrush. You’re not scrubbing aggressively, just enough to loosen the dirt and debris that has built upon the underside of your fiddle leaf fig tree’s leaves.
Dip a sponge in dish soap water and wipe off brown parts from around edges
Once you’ve soaked your fiddle leaf fig for 30 minutes, you can rinse the leaves off with a hose. If your fiddle leaf fig is in need of deep cleaning, or if it’s really dirty, then make sure to repeat this process until no brown residue comes away on your plant sponges when they’re rubbed against any leaf surfaces.
Is leaf shine bad for fiddle leaf fig?
No, leaf shine is not bad for fiddle leaf fig. Fiddle leaf figs are prized because of their glossy leaves with dark green veins that have a metallic sheen to them. The more you clean your flight leaves fig the shinier they will become over time–and this isn’t harmful at all!
What are some signs that you need to clean fiddle leaf fig leaves?
If your plant is showing signs of dryness or has a yellowing appearance, then it’s time for cleaning. If the top layer of dirt and dust on the leaves starts turning brown too quickly, that’s another sign to take care of this important task. You will also want to clean your fiddle leaf fig if it has a white powder or mold on the leaves.
Clean the pot of your fiddle leaf fig
Removing the debris in your pot is an essential step to keep leaves healthy. Put a little water mixed with dish soap on the side of your pot and scrub it clean using soft bristles or a sponge brush. You can also use lukewarm water for light dusting, but avoid spraying fiddle leaf figs with heavy spray from your hose.
Do’s and Don’ts of cleaning fiddle leaf fig leaves
Do:
- Clean your fiddle leaf fig leaves regularly, especially before they become clogged.
- Use a dry cloth to clean them off and remove any visible debris like dirt or dust that may have built upon the surface. Make sure it’s not damp because water can damage the tree if you use too much of it while cleaning.
- Give the tree a little shake to remove any excess dust or debris in its leaves
- Try not to use water on your fiddle leaf fig leaves, as this will damage them over time because they are sensitive plants and have pores that can close up if too much moisture gets inside of their body. They’re also prone to bacterial infection.
Don’t:
- Use any form of soap, detergent, or bleach on the leaves because this can also damage them and cause potential bacterial growth. It’s recommended that you use a dry cloth instead to remove dirt and dust from their surfaces.
- Let water collect in the pot when your fiddle leaf fig tree is indoors. The plant will not be able to absorb any water and this can cause death or a bacterial infection in the tree.
- Repot your fiddle leaf fig leaves without first cleaning them because they’ll get dirty again while you’re working on them as well as create potential bacteria growth that could end up harming the tree’s tissue inside its body.
- Shake the tree too hard when cleaning it, as this can cause damage. You should use a dry cloth to gently remove dirt and debris from the leaves instead to avoid tearing them or ripping off any of their delicate surfaces.
Conclusion
Cleaning your fiddle leaf fig leaves is an important part of their maintenance to make sure they are healthy. It’s also satisfying because you get the satisfaction of knowing that your tree will stay alive longer than it would have otherwise been!
