The Fiddle-Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) is one of those house plants I never planned to purchase. Research suggested they are a bit finicky and can grow large. Neither characteristic was appealing to me. However, when I was at a garden convention, these beautiful plants caught my attention. A vendor at the convention was selling a variety of plants. The Fiddle-leaf fig stood out with their beautiful green leaves on tall 4-feet stems. Ok, I simply could not resist. I left the convention as the proud owner of a new Fiddle-Leaf Fig plant.
After having the plant in our home for 4-6 weeks, it did not look good. Most of the beautiful leaves ended up spotted. What was especially shocking was the speed at which this demise took place. Anyway, I did my research and nurtured the plant back to health. Light was the key characteristic that brought the plant back to its beauty. So, before you go out and purchase a Fiddle-leaf fig, make sure you have a window that receives plenty of direct sunlight. Next, move the plant 2-3 feet away from that window. For a west facing window, where my plant recovered, a shear curtain helps filter the strong afternoon light.
That was just a quick tip regarding care. Here is a complete guide to growing and caring for a Fiddle-leaf Fig. The good news is that the plant is not difficult to grow and grows at an acceptable pace. My plant is two years old as of this writing.
Background
Native to West Africa, the Fiddle-Leaf Fig thrives in lowland tropical rainforests and can grow up to forty feet tall in its natural habitat. As a house plant, the plant can reach heights of 2 to 10 feet. It has a woody stem containing milky sap. This sap can irritate your skin. It boasts large, harp-shaped leaves, up to eighteen inches long and twelve inches wide. A healthy fiddle-leaf fig will have leaves that are shiny with a leathery texture and prominent veins. As a house plant, the fiddle-leaf fig will rarely flower or fruit.
Growing and Caring for a Fiddle-Leaf Fig
In this section, I will review the most important care aspects of growing and caring for a Fiddle-leaf fig.
Light
Fiddle-leaf fig prefer moderate to bright indirect sunlight. Plants should be placed within three feet of large south or east-facing windows. When placing it near a west-facing window, ensure there is a shear curtain protecting it from strong afternoon light to avoid leaf scorch. Fiddle-leaf fig like it warm with temperatures between 65-75°F (Fahrenheit) (warmer in the daytime).
It is also helpful to rotate the plant a quarter turn each time it is watered. This allows the sun to touch all the leaves over time.
Further, Fiddle-leaf fig plants can go outside during the summer. Slowly acclimate your plant to the outdoors. Start with placing in a shaded area for 1-2 hours/day. After a few days, you can move to a sunnier area. Pay attention to the leaves to ensure the leaves are not burning.
Soil
Well-drained, loamy, acidic soils are preferred. To understand the soil composition, check the ‘ingredients’ on the back of the soil package. Some potting soils have slow-release fertilizer and/or water retention crystals. Use a decorative container with drainage holes or insert a plastic pot into the decorative container. Of course, ensure that the plastic pot has drainage holes.
A Fiddle-leaf fig can stay in the same container for several years. When roots appear on top of the soil or are visible coming through the drainage holes, it is time to repot. Because Fiddle-leaf figs like to be slightly root bound, only move up to the next larger size container (e.g., from a 10-inch to a 12-inch) when transplanting.
Your plant will benefit from soil aeration. Occasionally, the soil will become very compact. When this happens, it is difficult for water to reach the roots. Use a knife or fork to create looseness in the soil. Gently press a knife or fork into the soil to aerate (helpful for most indoor plants).
Water
Before we get to watering, let’s discuss containers because there is a correlation. Clay containers will dry out quicker than plastic due to the porous nature of the clay. In addition, if you are using a decorative container with a plastic insert, remove the plastic insert when you water. You do not want standing water in the drip tray.
Water when the top 2-inches of soil are dry to the touch. Here are two tips. First, look at the soil. Dry soil becomes lighter in color and may pull away from the sides of the container. Second, stick your finger 2-inches into the soil. If the soil looks and feels dry, then water.
Be cautious not to overwater. If you are not comfortable knowing when the top 2-inches of soil are dry, then use a soil water meter. You can purchase this inexpensive tool online or in a garden store.
Additional watering considerations:
- Tap water is fine to use if it does not contain fluoride. Fluoride can cause the tips of the plant leaves to turn brown. Rainwater can also be used. I personally like to use filtered water from my refrigerator. Water that has been treated by a water softener should not be used because it contains considerable amounts of salt.
- Water during the day as opposed to at night to ensure that any water on the leaves has time to evaporate.
- Fiddle-leaf fig do not have a period of dormancy, therefore, continue the same watering routine year-round.
Humidity
As a tropical plant, Fiddle-leaf fig like an environment with 40% humidity. This will prevent the leaf tips from turning brown. Also, protect from temperature fluctuations and drafts.
Fertilization
Always read and follow the directions on any fertilizer you purchase. Here are considerations when choosing a fertilizer:
- Every fertilizer will have a series of numbers such as 5-5-5 or 3-2-1 on the label. These numbers indicate the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K) contained within the fertilizer. Fiddle-leaf fig plants do well with a 3-2-1 fertilizer.
- Fertilizers can take the form of either liquid, granular, or slow release. I like using a slow-release fertilizer that can be mixed into the soil. This takes the guesswork out of remembering when to fertilize.
- If not using a slow release fertilizer, then fertilize monthly with a 3-2-1 fertilizer.
A newly purchased potted Fiddle-leaf fig plant may already have fertilizer in the soil. Because this is difficult to know when purchasing, one option is to transplant into your own mixture. Let the plant acclimate to its unfamiliar environment for a week before transplanting. Remember to check the ingredients in the soil you purchase. Today, many commercial soil mixes contain slow-release fertilizers within the mix.
Leaf Care
Dust the leaves periodically with a damp cloth to prevent dust buildup. Dust can prevent proper photosynthesis from taking place.
Transplanting
When transplanting, only go up one size in a container. For example, if your plant is in a 10-inch diameter container, the next size should be a 12-inch container. Transplanting can occur in any season.
Here are the steps I follow when transplanting:
- Prepare a new container with soil. Start by filling the container with one-third full of moistened soil. If the potting soil does not contain fertilizer, add a pelleted slow-release fertilizer to the soil (follow directions on the fertilizer label). Set it aside.
- Gently remove the plant from its existing container. It may be necessary to loosen the dirt around the container. Grab the base of the plant and turn the container upside down to release the plant from the container.
- Remove as much of the soil from the roots. If the plant is pot bound, this may be difficult. Just be gentle and keep working around the roots. Eventually the soil will release. It is best to work over a container that catches the old soil.
- Set the plant into the new container. If the roots of the plants are long, it’s ok to trim the roots.
- Add potting soil evenly around the plant until the soil is one inch from the top of the container. Compress the soil frequently around the base of the plant as it is added.
- Water the plant.
- Place the transplanted Fiddle-leaf fig back in its location.
- It may take a few days for the leaves to perk back up, that is normal.
Propagation
Fiddle-leaf fig plants can be propagated by one of three methods:
- By division
- By stem cuttings, and
- By air layering
Here is a great article on how to do each of these methods.
Common Problems
Here are common problems with Fiddle-leaf fig plants:
- Leaf Drop: Check for irregular watering, temperature changes, or insufficient light.
- Brown Spots: Can result from direct sunlight exposure, inadequate light, or overwatering.
- Leggy Growth: Prune leggy branches and relocate to a brighter spot.
- Small brown scale insects or mealy bugs. Dip a cotton swab in alcohol and wipe off.
Warning Toxicity
The Fiddle-Leaf Fig is toxic and should be kept away from children and pets.
Summary Growing and Caring for a Fiddle-Leaf Fig
There you have it, the complete guide to growing and caring for a Fiddle-leaf fig plant. As with most plants, the key to success is good light, good soil, and proper watering and fertilization. In addition, how fast your Fiddle-leaf fig grows is a factor of caring for it properly. I hope your Fiddle-leaf fig plant bring you as much joy as mine bring me.
Additional Resources
- The complete guide to caring for African Violets
- The complete guide to caring for Spider Plants
- How to care for indoor houseplants
- Five great indoor plants to give as a gift
Please check your email to confirm subscription.