Hey everyone!
I’m about to buy this gorgeous, huge fiddle-leaf fig from Facebook Marketplace — it’s roughly 80” tall and about 63” wide.
The current owner says it’s been sitting in the same spot for five years. It looks super healthy, but I’m nervous about how it will handle the transition to my apartment.
For anyone who’s moved mature FLFs:
• How much leaf drop should I expect after relocating a plant this established?
• Do older trees usually bounce back, or do they sulk for a long time?
• And once it’s home, what’s the best way to help it acclimate?
• And my biggest question: is it better to move it whole, or should I chop it into smaller sections and propagate instead?
(It has a unique long, leggy shape with a wide top. I’d hate to chop it up, but I’m open to structural pruning if that’s the smarter option.)
Photos attached in the post/comments for context.
Thanks in advance — any advice would be hugely appreciated!
by Willing-Drop6278
3 Comments
Propagate!! That girl needs to be cutback. You’ll have 2 trees or more. I’m sorry, I would not pay $60 for a tree that needs to be propagated & most likely repotted. Is that the best deal you’ve got?
Hello! You can use a Plant Light Meter to determine the current light and then find the same light in your home. I love its character and would wrap it in brown packing paper and and set it up in your home. Check the moisture with a meter and only when it is dry, water it with Superthrive. That helps A LOT with avoiding transplant shock. Don’t try to repot until spring. Once it’s settled start adding mycorrhiza like Big Foot brand. Look up Hilton Carter’s care on them on YT. The second video is more accurate. Then in spring you can try to air layer it. You’ll keep the fun curly one and then you can put the base outside in full sun. With any luck, You’ll have 2 new trees. If air layering doesn’t work you can always just propagate but wait til spring unless you live in a tropical climate 😌🌳
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/apple-store/id1213431133?mt=8
If it was me, I’d chip it hard (and report into fresh soil about 2 weeks before you move. That will make it much easier to move and it needs to be chopped anyway. You should end up with between 1 and 4 new branches near your cut point.
When you do move, don’t leave it in the car/truck any longer than necessary. Set it in your very brightest window when you get to your new house. It’s impossible to burn leaves when the plant doesn’t have any leaves so it’s a good time to acclimate to more light.
Water it very deeply still after you chop it, but do NOT water it again until the top layer of soil is nice and dry. A tree without leaves doesn’t need as much water and it could get root rot if you water it as often as normal. Go back to your normal water schedule as soon as you start getting new growth.