Fiddle Leaf Fig Care
The fiddle leaf fig (ficus lyrata), characterized by large, shiny, violin-shaped leaves, will make for a gorgeous statement piece in any area of your home. Although stunning and lush it is also known to be a bit finicky concerning its care. But no worries; a detailed care guide follows.
Placement
The placement of your fiddle leaf fig will have the most impact on its health. When choosing a location to place your plant, make sure the spot will receive adequate light. Ficus lyrata prefer bright filtered sunlight for the majority of the day and will benefit from some direct sunlight in the morning or evening hours. For this reason, an east or west-facing window will make for an excellent spot. It is also important to avoid any vents or drafty windows as these plants are prone to dropping leaves when exposed to cold drafts.
Light Requirements
Your ficus lyrata will do best receiving bright, filtered light. The plant will also benefit from some direct sun in the morning or evening hours, making an east or west-facing window ideal. It is also important to rotate your fiddle leaf fig every few weeks to keep it growing upright. Like with any plant, make sure to acclimate your fiddle leaf fig to its new spot before plunging it into its new space. These plants can even handle considerable amounts of direct sun if they are properly introduced to it.
Watering Needs
This is where some of the biggest mistakes in care are made with the fiddle leaf fig tree. They prefer to slightly dry out between waterings. For my figs, this means watering about every 10 or so days. It is best to check the soil with a moisture meter and only water when the soil is almost completely dried out. If you don’t have a moisture meter, perform a knuckle test with your fingers to observe the moisture level of your plant’s soil.
Temperature
In their native home of western Africa, these plants prefer high humidity and temperatures to stay between 60F – 85F. If your climate allows for it, these plants will do extremely well outdoors during the summer months. Fiddle leaf figs also adapt very well to indoor temperatures, just make sure you take care of any drafty areas before placing your fig.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ficus Lyrata are notorious for dropping leaves when moved to a new home, if it is only dropping a few lower leaves this is common and should subside swiftly with proper care. The second most likely cause is too much water. Make sure your fig tree has sufficient drainage and never sits in wet soil. If your plant is wet (not moist) it can cause many problems including dropping leaves. Underwatering a Fig is much less problematic than overwatering, so when in doubt, let it dry out!
Yes. Fiddle Leaf Figs are toxic to both cats and dogs. The sap of the plant is poisonous, causing irritations and rashes upon skin contact. If ingested it can potentially cause excessive drooling, oral irritation, and vomiting.
Light, light, and you guessed it! More light. The easiest way to grow larger leaves is by providing optimal lighting. East or west-facing windows without obstructions make for an excellent spot. It is also important to provide generous drainage to avoid sitting water. Overwatering can cause stunted growth and root rot among other things. If your Fiddle Leaf Fig is still new to your home give it a few weeks to adjust to its new environment before making any drastic changes to its care.
