Soil is the foundation of the plant. Expecting a healthier plant without good soil is nothing but a dream. In the case of the in-ground plant, the soil quality can be slightly ignored but it can’t be a wise idea to compromise with soil quality for indoor potted plants.
You know;
Fiddle leaf fig is the most popular houseplant for its beautiful, green, and bushy appearance. If you want a fiddle leaf fig tree with violin-shaped, green, and broad leaves, then you must plant it with good soil. Otherwise, all your hard work will be worthless.
Now question; what soil is best for fiddle leaf fig?
The sandy clay loam type soil which has neutral or slightly acidic and slightly alkaline soil pH, good drainage,water-retaining capacity. sufficient airflow and also contains some plant food or non-plant food materials like fertilizer, soil microbes, etc.
In this article, I have listed and reviewed the 7 best potting soil for fiddle leaf fig trees. You can pick any of these from the list with full confidence.
In a Rush? Here is best of the best soil for fiddle leaf fig that you may pick right now-
Best Soil for Fiddle Leaf Fig-Comparisons
| Best soil For FLF | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Miracle-Gro 72776430 Indoor Potting Mix | 6 Quart | |
| Fiddle Leaf Fig Soil by Perfect Plants | 8 Quart | |
| Premium Fiddle Leaf Fig Potting Soil | 8 Quart | |
| Mother Earth HGC714837 Coco Plus Perlite Mix | 52 Quart | |
| FOXFARM FX14053 Ocean Forest Garden Potting Soil | 12 Quart | |
| Burpee Natural Organic Premium Growing Mix | 8 Quart | |
| Espoma AP8 Organic Potting Mix | 8 Quart |
Best Soil for Fiddle Leaf Fig-Reviews
1.Miracle-Gro 72776430 Indoor Potting Mix
Here is the Miracle-Gro 72776430 Indoor Potting Mix that is specially formulated for indoor plants. As experts’ opinion, besides most of the houseplant, it is one of the best soil for fiddle leaf fig trees. Let’s analyze the soil-
You know; soil PH is important for growing fiddle leaf fig plants. They don’t like strongly acidic and alkaline soil.
The good news; this soil contains a premixed blend that buffers the soil acidity. Also, it has peat most and gypsum for increasing nutrients availability and minimizing the effect of excessive salt.
It has perlite for improving drainage and aeration. Perlite is a soilless medium that keeps the soil loose and creates air pockets. You will be happy to know, loose soil with more open space increases the root growth and produce more root tips of your fiddle leaf fig.
Also, It has coir that helps to improve soil drainage as well as water-retaining capacity. Because coir is a natural substance that can absorb sufficient water for the plant. Moreover, it is easier to re-wet. Besides, it also contains a wetting agent for spreading the water from soil particle to particle.
The best part of this potting soil is-
It has 0.25% nitrogen,0.13% phosphate, and 0.19% potash, and good news; a small portion of these nutrients act as a slow-release fertilizer that can feed your fiddle leaf fig plant up to 6 months.
So, plant or repot your fiddle leaf fig with this best soil mix for houseplants and get a healthier plant with lots of new growth.
2.Fiddle Leaf Fig Soil by Perfect Plants
This soil contains Coconut Coir, Pine Bark, Perlite, Sand, and nutrients. Let’s learn how these compounds will help your fiddle leaf fig tree-
Let’s first start with the coco coir. Coco coir is 100% biodegradable and natural substances that are made from the outer husk of the coconut.
Coco coir can be used in the soil mixture in place of peat moss. It helps the soil keep moist and prevents waterlogging. As a result, the chance of overwatering will be minimized. Besides, coco coir is less acidic than soil that helps the soil remain in neutral pH.
Compaction is the major problem of potting soil. Compacted soil has poor drainage and air space that prevent root growth and sometimes can be caused the root rot of fiddle leaf fig.
Good news;
This soil has pine bark. It keeps the soil loose and oxygenated that improves the soil drainage and supplies oxygen to the microbes. Also. It has perlite to improve aeration, defying soil compaction, and accessibility of nutrients.
Moreover, this potting mix contains some fiddle leaf fig foods for thriving and flushing the plant.
It comes with a resealable, easy-to-store bag. In my opinion, it is the best soil for the ficus tree.
3.Premium Fiddle Leaf Fig Potting Soil
And you know;
Coco coir and perlite are essential for improving drainage, soil aeration, and keeping the soil loose. Also, coco coir acts as water and nutrient sucker. It can hold 10x water of its weight and releases the nutrients and water when the plant wants.
And aged bark can create air pockets in the soil and supply oxygen to the microbes that improve the soil health as well as the plant.
Want to know the best parts of this soil?
It contains IBI-certified Biochar. Biochar is a charcoal-like organic substance that is used as a soil amendment for carbon sequestration and improving soil health. Also, it can increase the availability of essential plant nutrients.
Beside Biochar, it also contains green compost that improves the microbial activity and water holding capacity of the soil.
So if you want the best soil for repotting your fiddle leaf fig plant, this premium, lightweight, nutrients-enriched soil may be the right pick for you.
4.Mother Earth HGC714837 Coco Plus Perlite Mix
So, if you want to get rid of these problems completely, plant your fiddle leaf fig with the Mother Earth HGC714837 Coco Plus Perlite Mix.
It is a soilless mixture that comes with a neutral pH and you know neural pH is optimum for fiddle leaf fig.
Actually, it contains only 70% coco coir pith and 30% perlite. The balanced mixture of these soil amendments helps it to achieve better aeration, drainage, and prevent compaction.
Moreover, coco coir absorbs sufficient water(10x of its weight) for supplying moisture to the root zone. So, you also don’t need to worry about the dehydration of your fiddle leaf fig plant.
The most likable feature of the coco coir is-
It can hold nutrients as well as water and feed the nutrients when the plant wants. Sounds impressive, right?
So, pick this soilless,pre-buffered, neutral growing medium for your fiddle leaf fig and use the mix as an alternative to potting soil.
5.FOXFARM FX14053 12 Quart Ocean Forest Garden Potting Soil Bags
It is a mixture of some good organic things from forest and sea and the contained organic compounds are earthworm castings, bat guano, and sea-going fish and crab meal, sphagnum peat moss, and composted forest humus.
Let’s see how will these organic compounds help your fiddle leaf fig plant-
Earthworm casting is another name of vermicompost. It acts as an alternative to chemical fertilizer and provides most of the essential plant nutrients to the plant including NPK. Besides, it is also enriched with soil microbes that improve soil health permanently.
The bat guano and peat moss also provide plant nutrients but the special feature of these-
It holds together the extra loose soil and improves water retention. Besides, It contains sand-type soil for increasing drainage and airflow.
The special features of this soil are-
It contains sea-going fish and crab meals. It is a good source of some macro and micronutrients. Also, this soil comes with a soil pH 6.3-6.8 that is perfect for the fiddle leaf fig tree.
So, purchase this best organic potting soil for fiddle leaf fig, fill the pot with this soil, plant the FLF, and get a healthy bushy plant with no or less fertilizer.
6.Burpee Natural Organic Premium Growing Mix
And you know coco coir is an organic compound that creates open space in the soil. So, soil can pass out the extra water easily. On the other hand, in the dry condition, it can hold 10x water of its weight for protecting the plant from dehydration.
So, if you plant your fiddle leaf fig plant with this potting mix, then you don’t need to worry about the over and poor watering.
The most likable feature of this potting soil is-
It contains 0.12% nitrogen,0.12% phosphate and 0.12% potash.That means it also acts as a balanced fertilizer. Good news; the nutrients are coated for slow release that can feed your fiddle leaf fig plant up to 3 months.
Also, the nutrients are derived from some organic compounds. That’s why this lightweight, pH-balanced soil is OMRI certified potting mix for organic gardeners.
7.Espoma AP8 8-Quart Organic Potting Mix
I have already told you about these organic compounds. Let me remind you once again.
Earthworm casting is an organic soil amendment that contains some micro and macronutrients such as nitrates, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and so on. Also, alfalfa meal, rice hulls feather meal can provide some trace elements and feed the plants organically.
The blend of peat moss, humus, and perlite improves drainage, loosen the compact soil and water-retaining capacity.
The most important feature of this soil is-
It comes with myco tone water saving formula. That means this soil contains ectomycorrhizal fungi as the active ingredients and they are the symbiotic microbes that can supply water and mineral nutrients to your fiddle leaf fig.
Purchase this organic fast-draining potting mix for your fiddle leaf fig as well as other indoor and outdoor potted plants.
How to Repot a Fiddle Leaf Fig?
Repotting the fiddle leaf fig is an easy task if you do it in the right way. Here I will tell you the simple steps that make your job easy.
Step 1: Find the Best Planter for Fiddle Leaf Fig
Purchase the 2-4 inches larger planter in diameter than your previous planter. Don’t pick too big planter for your FLF and make sure that the planter has a good drainage facility. Because too big planter and poor drainage increase the chance of root rot.
Step 2: Pick the Best Potting Soil
You know; good soil is essential for a healthy fiddle leaf plant. You should pick the best soil for your fiddle leaf fig plant. You can pick any potting soil from my top 7 list. Here is my pick-
Step 3: Fill the Planter
Fill 1-2 inches bottom of the planter with gravel and rocks. Then a layer of soil to provide the bed for the root ball of FLF.
Step 4: Remove the Plant from Existing Planter
Take the plant outside and gently pull up the base of the plant. The root ball should come out easily. But if it is stuck, cut the side of the containers. Don’t water your plant before repotting. Water can break the root ball easily.
Step 5: Place the Root Ball into The New Planter
Place the trunk at the center of the container and make sure 1-2 inches of open space remains around the root ball.
Step 6: Backfill with Potting Mix
Pour the potting mix around the root ball. Press gently and leave the top 2-3 inches of the planter.
Step 7: Prune, clean the leaves, and Water the Plant
Remove the yellow leaves, rub the leaves with warm water gently. Place the planter where it gets too much indirect sunlight and now water the plant. If the edge of the soil sits down after water, add more potting soil around the base of the planter.
When Do You Repot a Fiddle Leaf Fig?
If you want to understand when should repot fiddle leaf fig plant, answer the following question-
- Has your fiddle leaf fig plant outgrown its pot? (popping out roots)
- Has the soil pulled away from the edge of the planter?
- Has the edge of the soil sat down than the middle?
If you get a positive answer to any of these questions, then it is high time to repot your fiddle leaf fig plant. Generally, you need to repot your fiddle leaf fig plant once every 1-2 years.
Also, if you sign of bacterial infection, yellow leaves, or root rot, repot your plant without delay.
Conclusion
Broad and dark green leaves are the beauty of the fiddle leaf fig plant and everyone wants to make their FLF plant bushy. But without good soil, it is not possible.
So, purchase the best soil for fiddle leaf fig, choose the right pot, fill with the potting soil, plant the FLF, place them in the right place where the plant gets lots of indirect sunlight, feed the right fertilizer to your fiddle leaf figs and get a bushy, levity and healthier plants.
