My Fiddle-leaf Fig tree froze. It wasn't a baby, but in-ground a year.What do I do?

Question

My Ficus Lyrata froze.It's about 12 ft. tall.It's been in a flowerpot for twenty years,and was put into the ground lastyear. What do I do now? Pluck all the leaves off? Will it come back alright? HELP!

Answer 1

OK, do nothing yet. Come prior to spring (depends where you are, but after the last cold snap), trim off all the branches, about 1/3 of the plant. Give it some great fertilizer, a nice spreading of mulch, and a clear plastic tent (to warm up its air and provide some insulation on the cold nights). Water it well. Pray.

I'm afraid that's all you can do. Ficus are not normally inground plants, since they hail from the rainforest and are considered tropical or semitropical, depending on the variety. You know you normal weather patterns, so you know what usually happens. That said, this is an unusual year. Should leaves reappear, great, you've saved it. Next fall, you might want to treat it as folks do roses, such as packing it in leaves to keep the chill out, etc.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

Get rid of the old leaves, clear away any detritus from around the base of the tree, cover it up then wait for spring as it gets warmer water it, fertilize it and pray. But I am afraid to say it sounds terminal, as the Ficus is realy a pot plant and does not like its roots in cold wet damp soil, say sorry dig it up have a nice bonfire buy a new one.

Answer 3

Wear boxers to Eden, instead.