The Fiddle-leaf Fig, or Ficus lyrata for us nursery folk, is a houseplant that has risen in popularity over the last few years. It’s tree-like form, sculptural habit, and large, waxy, violin-shaped leaves have made it a popular houseplant for indoor gardeners and a trendy topic for design blogs and articles. Despite the high praise, Fiddle-leaf Figs can be a bit temperamental for the uninitiated. However, it’s not as hard to care for them as you think. Just follow the guidelines listed below, and you can enjoy the beauty of a Fiddle-leaf Fig without the downsides.
Watering
One of the critical mistakes most owners of Fiddle-leaf Figs make is overwatering. Fiddle-leaf Figs, like many other members of the Ficus family, must be allowed to dry out to some extent between waterings. If the soil stays consistently moist, you’ll notice browning along the edges of the leaves, an unpleasant, musty smell near the base, and even leaf drop. To avoid this, only water when the top three to four inches of the soil is dry, and allow for water to drain completely through the pot to prevent oversaturation. Also, remember that Fiddle-leaf Figs are native to the jungles of West Africa, so make sure you’re watering with water that is lukewarm to help avoid shock.
Light
Fiddle-leaf Figs prefer bright, filtered light. An east or north facing window with good exposure but no direct sunlight is ideal. A short bit of daily direct sunshine is okay, but avoid mid-afternoon sun at all costs. The harsh rays of afternoon sun will be too intense for your Fig and could cause scorching on the leaves.
Temperature
Fiddle-leaf Figs thrive when exposed to warm temperatures, generally 60-75 degrees during the day and no lower than 50-55 degrees at night. Also, keep the temperatures as consistent as you possibly can. Rapid changes in temperature can induce shock, which leads to leaf drop. It’s best to avoid placing your Fiddle-leaf Fig near any heating or cooling vents, or windows which could be affected by draft from outdoors. Another tip is to mist the leaves lightly during the winter months. When your home is heated during the winter, it saps away needed humidity. Providing an occasional misting will give some needed moisture in the air that your Fig is craving.
Repotting
Fiddle-leaf Figs generally can wait to be potted in the spring every two years unless you notice significant root growth peaking from the bottom of its pot. You can maintain this schedule until it gets too large to handle. After that, replacing the top layer of soil each year is the only thing you’ll need to do. To aid with watering issues, make sure you pot your Fiddle-leaf Fig in a loose, well-draining, nutrient-rich soil. This will keep water from sitting in the dirt and oversaturating the roots.
A Note About Pets
Unfortunately, those with pets may want to avoid having a Fiddle-leaf Fig in their home. Fiddle-leaf Figs can cause irritation and digestive discomfort to pets who have ingested any material from the plant.
Fiddle-leaf Figs can be a challenge, but a little patience and proper care will reward you with a stunning specimen that looks beautiful in any household decor.
This was inertesting. I have an indoor palm tree. The leaves are getting brown spots on them. Am I watering too much?
Thank you for the comment, Brenda. Brown spots on palms generally come from either overwatering or drastic temperature changes from the cold. If the climate for your palm has remained constant, I would add a few days in between your current watering schedule and see how that works. Also, make sure when you are watering that it is draining well through the soil. Palms hate having to sit in stagnant water. Hope this helps! 🙂
Should the back of the leaves face the light?
It’s not necessary. So long as the entire plant receives bright, filtered light you should be okay.
I have moved my fiddle leaf fig to a nice bright room with eastern window. it’s receiving a good amount of sunshine but I’m afraid the area is drafty. The leaves are dropping. My other option is to move to another less drafty room but it has southern windows. Do you think this would be better?
Yes, the fluctuation in temperature from a drafty room can cause figs to struggle a bit as they attempt to get acclimated. They should do just find with a southern exposure, so moving it to the less drafty room would probably work better for you.
I have my fig in an east facing window that receives about 4 hours of direct sunlight with the rising sun. Is this too much light? I am noticing red splotching on the leaves.
That should be adequate sun for a fiddle leaf fig. They could even handle a few more hours of sun than that. The red splotches on figs usually means edema, which can be caused by overwatering. Letting them dry out a bit between watering may help clear that up.
Can you soak a big branch that broke of to restart growth
Yes you can. You can root them in water or in soil. This is a good site with info on how to get them going in different ways: https://www.greenhousestudio.co/home-garden/fiddle-leaf-fig-propagation
I have an 8 foot Fiddle setting in front of my SE picture window where it gets lots of sunlight. Each branch at top has buds “trying to open” for past three months. Why aren’t they opening up? The sheaths are brown but I see a green bud inside. I water it regularly and use moisture meter. I’m in central Ky when it’s going into Fall.