How to care for a Fiddle Leaf Fig

Fiddle leaf figs (or Ficus Lyrata) are a great statement plant and a sure way to turn your home into a green oasis.  They are a perfect focal point in a room; especially if you are able to place them into a floor planter and allow them at least 6 feet (in height) to grow.  With their large and heavily veined leaves, this plant is more effective at cleaning your indoor air. The Fiddle leaf fig is a plant that you can kill quickly (I've learned that the hard way), but with these tender plant care tips, you will indeed have your plant thriving and growing tall.

Light: Fiddle leaf figs love bright light, and it is best if you are able to rotate your plant every few days to ensure that all leaves are getting the right amount of sunlight.  Your fig will start to look leggy (grow tall with few leaves) if it is not getting enough light. Fiddles can handle up to 8 hours of light, and if they are not getting enough direct light, make sure to place your plant close to the window. Figs thrive when they have nice, clean leaves so dusting the plant with a damp cloth every week or two can promote photosynthesis (showering your fig once a month can help with this process as well).

Watering: The fiddle leaf fig loves their soil to be moist. It would be best if you watered it when the soil is 25% dry (a good way to test is if the top inch of soil feels dry or better yet, invest in a moisture meter). If your fiddle leaf fig is under watered, leaves will have brown edges and start dropping off. Overwatering will cause the leaves to turn yellow and have brown spots in the middle, and newer leaves will begin to drop off.

Humidity: Fiddle-leaf figs are tropical plants; the leaves can get brown and crunchy without enough humidity. Once the leaves are damaged, they will never recover. It is important to ensure your plant is getting enough humidity to reciprocate the amount of light in order to remain healthy.

General care: Gently give your fiddle leaf fig a shake to mimic the wind, making it grow stronger and stimulating growth. Remember to re-pot your plant every two years or when the roots start breaking the pot. Do not place your fig tree near a radiator, vent, or any place where they may experience a quick temperature change. The fiddle leaf fig doesn’t like to be moved a lot, and they 'freak' and drop leaves if you move them a lot. Prune your fiddle leaf fig to encourage branching.

Unhappy Houseplant Signs: yellow leaves, brown spots on leaves or dropping leaves are a sign of overwatering (and possibly root rot) while dry, crunchy leaves indicate your fiddle leaf fig requires humidity.