Welcome to the second month of our plant highlights! I’m sure most of you have at least seen a picture of the plant we are going to feature this month.
Introducing… The Fiddle Leaf Fig
Winner of the most Pinterest famous plant (awarded by us)
Plant Level: Intermediate
Cost: $15-$200
The Fiddle Leaf Fig while difficult to care for at times, will always have a special place in my heart. 8 years ago, right after I got married, one of the first things I did was buy some houseplants for our apartment. One of those plants was a Fiddle Leaf Fig! I’m a sucker for any plant with big leaves so it immediately caught my interest and it’s been one of my favorites ever since. When you first see one of those new baby leaves forming you’ll be hooked!
As you scroll through Pinterest you’re sure to see many pictures that include this beauty, it’s a real eye-catcher. While this beauty may have a reputation for being difficult to keep happy and healthy; We’re going to delve into everything you need to know to succeed with this plant. I promise it’s not hard to have a thriving Fiddle Leaf Fig if you have a care plan. Soon you’ll be posting your own Pinterest worthy pictures of your fiddle leaf friend.
The Fiddle Leaf Fig, also known as Ficus lyrata, originates from West Africa. With the possibility of growing over ten feet tall indoors, it’s one of the larger houseplants on the market. However, that pales in comparison to how big this plant can get in the wild. A natural epiphyte, Fiddle Leaf Figs take over other trees and can grow up to 40-60 feet tall.
The Fiddle Leaf Fig is super particular about what it likes and doesn’t like and it is NOT willing to compromise. Let’s get into the specifics of how to keep your Fiddle Leaf Fig happy.
Light:
The Fiddle Leaf Fig loves lots of bright indirect light. The extra-large size of the fiddle-shaped leaves require a lot of light to be happy. Place your Fiddle Leaf Fig close to a bright window. If you need to supplement the light in your space trying adding a grow light.
Fiddle Leaf Figs tend to reach for the sunlight so be sure to turn your plant every so often to ensure even growth.
Make sure to keep those leaves clean by wiping away dust weekly. I’m a firm believer in only using warm water on a damp rag to wipe leaves. I never recommend using any food product or commercial leaf shine to clean your plants.
Fiddle Leaf Figs can also enjoy some outdoor time in the summer but be sure not to place in direct sunlight. I once thought mine would enjoy a warm summer day out on the deck… wrong! A half-hour later the leaves were burnt to a crisp.
Water:
Fiddle Leaf Figs prefer to get a little dry in between waterings. Usually going between 5-10 days. The easiest way to tell if it’s time to water is to stick your finger into the soil. If it feels dry it’s time to water, if it feels moist give it a couple more days. If you’re not looking to get your hands dirty every time you water your plant check out the moisture meter that I use.
When you do water make sure to water thoroughly. You want the water to run freely out of the bottom of the planter. However, do not let them stand in water as this can lead to root rot. They love consistency so many people choose to water their plant on a schedule of once a week. Be sure to always check and make sure that the top 2 inches of the soil are dry before watering though.
Soil:
Fiddle Leaf Figs will grow well in most common indoor potting soil. Drainage is very important for them so it may be a good idea to mix in some cactus soil as well.
When you first purchase your new plant you’ll want to check out its roots. Many times these plants are root bound when you purchase them and you’ll want to repot them in a slightly larger container to give them room to grow.
Humidity:
Fiddle Leaf Figs love humidity. Humidity in most homes will not be sufficient to keep your plant baby completely happy. Place some additional plants around to boost the humidity level. You can also mist your plant daily or add a humidity tray underneath. If you’re really looking to spoil some of your humidity loving plants try placing this humidifier nearby.
Fertilizer:
Fiddle Leaf Figs need good nutrients in order to thrive. They should be fertilized throughout the growing season, spring and summer. I recently started using this fertilizer specially formulated for Fiddle Leaf Figs that I love.
Toxicity:
This plant can cause stomach irritation if ingested. Be cautious of that with children and pets. No snacking allowed with this plant!
Special Considerations:
The first step after you get your Fiddle Leaf Fig is to find a great spot for it in your house. As you may already know this plant is a bit of a drama queen, they don’t like drastic changes in temperature. Make sure to choose a spot away from vents or other drafty places, because heaven forbid they feel a draft on their pretty leaves. They love Stability and Consistency so once you pick an ideal spot try to keep it there and stick to a routine that it likes.
Fiddle Leaf Figs are prone to more problems/pests than other common houseplants. If you see browning/yellowing/dropping leaves. Research and try to figure out what’s wrong pronto so you can resolve the problem. You can always drop us a comment and we can do our best to help you.
The Different Forms of Fiddle Leaf Figs:
Fiddle Leaf Figs come in either a bush or tree form. If you’re new to plant parenthood I definitely recommend starting out with a bush form. I find that the bush form is easier to keep happy. A bush form costs much less than a tree as well. You don’t want to spend over a hundred dollars on a tree only watch it die a slow death. Once you get the hang of caring for a fiddle leaf fig you’ll be ready to buy a pretty tree all your own.
Our favorite way to display a Fiddle Leaf Fig is by placing it inside a cute woven basket.
While you may feel intimidated by the warnings of how difficult this plant can be, by following this care plan you’re sure to have a thriving fiddle leaf fig. It’s a statement piece in a room that is worth the learning curve.
Get Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Here
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Monthly Plantspiration Featuring the Fiddle Leaf Fig
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I completely forgot that FLF’s like humidity! I’ll have to turn the humidifier back on again. 😀 Thanks for the reminder! I got my FLF for $15 at Home Depot. It was 5 ft but in very poor shape. All but three leaves fell off and I gave up and chopped them off, but this guys was resilient! I stuck the stick in a pot on the side of the house for winter and now he’s back with almost 15 leaves!
Hey Didi!
That’s a great Fiddle leaf fig story!! I got mine at Walmart for cheap and it’s almost 5 feet tall now! It’s amazing you were able to bring it back to life that’s so inspiring!
I just got my fiddle leaf tree today! I’m so excited but nervous! I apparently didn’t do enough research and I get zero sunlight in my apartment ?. I have another plant that I typically put outside every day but not in direct sunlight. Do you think that will help? Thanks for all the information!
Hey Brittany!
How exciting I love the fiddle Leaf fig! Fiddle Leaf figs can definitely enjoy some summer days outside as long as you avoid direct sunlight. They can be a little dramatic when it comes to being moved around a lot. I would recommend getting a grow light and adding that to your space to help supplement the light. I have one linked in the article under the light section. 🙂 Hope this helps and good luck!!
Help, I’m a new plant mom and my new FL Fig is dropping new leaves and the current leaves are crumbling around the edges. I bought a moisture meter and have held back on watering as well as I’ve not reported it. It’s in the brightest part of my home so I’m at a loss. Neither have I noticed any pest on this plant but another of my new plants seem have pest. What to do?
Hey there!
My first guess is that maybe you’re under-watering your plant. Remember you want to water when the top two inches are dry. Also make sure to water very thoroughly when you do water. If you don’t think this is the problem please let me know so we can chat more to figure it out ?
Just got my FLF a few weeks ago. I have it in a spot w morning sun. We did repot it a few days ago and I’ve noticed some brown spots on the edges of the upper leaves and a few at the bottom have fallen off. The pot doesn’t have drainage holes but I put rock in the bottom for drainage. I’m thinking I need to repot in a pot with drainage holes? It was getting south sun before I repotted it now it is getting sun form the East.
Hey Sonya!
I would definitely recommend always using a pot with really good drainage for a Fiddle Leaf Fig. I’m guessing that’s what’s causing the issues with the leaves. Also, make sure that the pot you repot into is only around 2 inches bigger than the previous pot. The plant may also be suffering from some shock from the moving and switching pots. Hope that helps!
Hello! What should I do if my FL fig’s leaves are not shiny like before? They are green and fine but just not shiny like it should be. Thank you!
Hey!
When it comes to cleaning leaves I recommend cleaning them with water mixed with maybe a drop of dish soap. This should help to restore some of the shine to the leaves. I don’t recommend using any commercial leaf cleaners as these can cause damage to the plant. Good Luck!
Hey! I just bought a FLF tree?? I got it yesterday and let it get some bright indirect sunlight. Then at night the leaves started getting droopy? I checked the soil and it doesn’t need water. What do I do? Or is it just being dramatic lol?
Hey!! That so weird I’m not sure why the leaves would suddenly get droopy. Has the issue resolved or gotten worse. Feel free to message me on Instagram, @thatplantylife, with some pictures and I’m sure we could figure it out.
Hi. I just bought a FLF at Home Depot and I paid a lot of money for it. I thought it would be hearty and easy to have but now I am reading your info and I’m nervous. I have very carefully cleaned all the leaves according to your directions and I am sure it is in a great spot for it to live (bright and lots of indirect light) but it does not have any drainage holes in the pot. Do you ever suggest one of those watering balls for keeping the soil? I guess I could have it repotted but I don’t trust myself to do it and I really like the pot it’s in. I would really appreciate your input. Thanks
Hey Debbie!
First of all don’t be nervous we believe in you! If there’s no drainage holes in the plants container it can still thrive and be happy! Just make sure to not overwater, you don’t want the soil to be soggy for long periods of time. You still want the soil to dry out slightly in-between watering, use your finger or a moisture meter, with that I don’t know if I would use a watering ball with this plant. Hope this helps! Let us know if you have any other questions.