Should we repot?
Our beautiful fiddle-leaf fig, Millie, hasn't been growing new leaves during the growing seasons, and she's dropped 3-4 leaves since we bought her about 2.5 years ago. This summer, we're trying to be more intentional about her care:
Light: We recently moved her to a spot with more light near a south-facing window. Light is mostly indirect with some direct sun during the day.
Temperature and humidity: generally between 60-70 degrees F and 40-60% humidity.
Water: We water roughly every two weeks, when the soil is dry.
Fertilizer: We've started using a 3-1-2 fertilizer at diluted strength once a month, but we've only done that once so far.
Growth: She hasn't put out new leaves since we got her, except one last year. She seems roughly stable except when disturbed (e.g., moved).
Repotting question:
- No visible roots growing out of (single) drainage hole.
- No fine roots circling the top of the pot, but there is one big root that is.
- It's hard to poke a finger more than an inch into the soil because of the roots.
- No repotting since we bought her 2.5 years ago.
We're wondering: should we repot Millie?
Photos attached for context.
Thanks so much for any advice!
by doux_reves
3 Comments
Definitely repot
Sounds like yes. If you can’t poke finger into the soil that’s a huge sign. I’m willing to bet she’s got roots coiled tightly around entire pot.
I’ve never seen one with such strong, large roots like that. You can see a very large root on top growing to the edge of the pot. I bet once you give it more room it will grow like crazy. In this case I would be sure to provide at least two pot sizes up. People say only one or two inches bigger but that’s really only because of the risk of overwatering. Plants like room for their roots to grow despite what people say. You just have to adjust watering to suit size of the pot.
Probably need a Fertilizer! When yellow leaves appeared, either it’s deficient of fertilizer or water ! Most indoor plants needs to be fertilized every 10 days or 2x times a month, potted plants needs their nutrients because their soil doesn’t have any nutrients so we have to feed them !