How to grow and care for Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) Indoors

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Fiddle Leaf Fig care, Ficus lyrata care

Botanical name: Ficus lyrata
Family: Moraceae

Fiddle Leaf Fig Description

Fiddle Leaf Fig is a good choice for a specimen plant. The striking large violin-like leaves are excellent for the large spaces. The Fiddle Leaf Fig is relatively tough and can withstand less than perfect conditions fairly well.

The leaves in Fiddle Leaf Fig are up to 1.5 ft long, leathery in texture, have prominent veins and a wavy margin.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Size

When grown in a container Fiddle Leaf Fig can grow to a height of 6 ft. The leaves are about 1.5 ft long.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Origin

Fiddle Leaf Fig is native to western Africa from Cameroon West to Sierra Leone, where it grows in lowland tropical forests.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Buy

Buy beautiful and healthy Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) from Etsy.

Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) Care Indoors

Fiddle Leaf Fig Light Requirements

Fiddle Leaf Fig grows best in bright, filtered light. If you grow Fiddle Leaf Fig in low light, the plant will die.

Turn the pot regularly to ensure your Fiddle Leaf Fig receives light on all sides for even growth to prevent lopsided grpwth.

Protect your Fiddle Leaf Fig from direct sunlight as it can lead to scorching of the leaves. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.

How to Water Fiddle Leaf Fig

Keep the soil moist at all times for Fiddle Leaf Fig but significantly reduce watering in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time.

Avoid overwatering and soggy soil for your Fiddle Leaf Fig as it may lead to leaf drop and root-rot.

Use tepid, chlorine-free water for your Fiddle Leaf Fig to avoid spots on the leaves. Read more on how to water houseplants.

Temperature for Fiddle Leaf Fig

The best temperature for growing Fiddle Leaf Fig indoors is an average warmth with a minumum of 12⁰C.

Protect your Fiddle Leaf Fig from draughts to avoid sudden changes in temperature as it can lead to leaf drop. Read more on understanding temperature for houseplants.

Humidity for Fiddle Leaf Fig

Average room humidity is ideal for Fiddle Leaf Fig. If the air is too dry especially where temperature is high, set the pot on a wet pebble tray to raise humidity for your Fiddle Leaf Fig. Read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

Regularly mist the leaves of your Fiddle Leaf Fig and clean them by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and discourage pest infestation. Read more on how to clean houseplants.

Fertilizer (Feeding) for Fiddle Leaf Fig

Feed Fiddle Leaf Fig monthly during the growing period with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer.

Withhold feeding for your Fiddle Leaf Fig during the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn. Read more on how to feed houseplants.

How to Repot Fiddle Leaf Fig

Repot Fiddle Leaf Fig at the beginning of the growing season only when it has become pot-bound.

Avoid frequent repotting as Fiddle Leaf Fig prefers to be pot-bound. Repot only when your Fiddle Leaf Fig has outgrown its current pot; when roots begin to grow through the drainage holes.

Use a pot 1 size larger and one that has a drainage hole for your Fiddle Leaf Fig to avoid getting soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot.

Use a heavy pot as your Fiddle Leaf Fig can become top-heavy and topple over.

The best soil for your Fiddle Leaf Fig should be free-draining and rich in organic matter.

Never allow the roots of your Fiddle Leaf Fig to sit in soggy soil as it may lead to leaf drop and root-rot.

For large Fiddle Leaf Fig plants which may be difficult to handle, annually replenish the top 2-4 in. of soil with fresh soil.

How to Prune Fiddle Leaf Fig

Pruning Fiddle Leaf Fig is easy. Remove dead and yellow leaves to maintain the plant neat and tidy.

When your Fiddle Leaf Fig has reached maximum height or it has become leggy, cut back the branches to rejuvenate growth.

The foliage emating from pruning can be used to propagate new Fiddle Leaf Fig plants. Read more on how to prune houseplants.

Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) Propagation

Fiddle Leaf Fig can be propagated by air layering or by stem tip cuttings during the growing season.

How to Propagate Fiddle Leaf Fig by Air Layering

Air layering consists of notching the stem of a healthy Fiddle Leaf Fig and coating the notch with a rooting hormone.

Surround the notched area with damp moss and cover the notch with a polythene film or clear plastic wrap.

Once the roots have formed, sever the Fiddle Leaf Fig stem just below the covered part.

Remove the polythene or plastic wrap and carefully pot the rooted Fiddle Leaf Fig in moist free-draining soil.

Ensure the pot for your Fiddle Leaf Fig has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.

New shoots will sprout from the shortened stem of the old Fiddle Leaf Fig.

Place the new Fiddle Leaf Fig in a cool shaded place and maintain the soil moist until the plant is well established.

How to Propagate Fiddle Leaf Fig from Stem-tip Cuttings

Take stem-tip cuttings of about 6 in. long from a healthy Fiddle Leaf Fig.

Strip off the lower lower leaves from your Fiddle Leaf Fig Cutting and leave at least 2 sets of leaves on top.

Dip the cut end of the Fiddle Leaf Fig cutting in a rooting hormone to enhance rooting.

Insert the Fiddle Leaf Fig cutting in moist rooting soil. Ensure the rooting container has adequate drainage to avoid getting soggy soil.

To hasten rooting of your Fiddle Leaf Fig cutting, create a mini-greenhouse by covering the set up with a polythene sheet or bag.

Ensure the leaves of your Fiddle Leaf Fig cutting do not touch the sheet or bag too much by propping it up with sticks.

Place the set up in warm, well-lit spot and maintain the soil moist through out until new growth emerges. New growth indicates your Fiddle Leaf Fig cutting has rooted.

In about 2-4 weeks, rooting of your Fiddle Leaf Fig cutting will have taken place.

Gradually over a period of two weeks, remove the plastic bag cover to acclimatize the new Fiddle Leaf Fig plant.

In 4-6 months, there will be adequate root development and and normal care for your new Fiddle Leaf Fig can begin.

Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) Problems Indoors

Fiddle Leaf Fig yellowing leaf edges

Yellowing leaf edges in Fiddle Leaf Fig are due to underfeeding.

Feed your Fiddle Leaf Fig monthly with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer during the growing period. Read more on how to feed houseplants.

Fiddle Leaf Fig sudden leaf drop

There are four possible causes of sudden leaf drop in Fiddle Leaf Fig.

One possible cause of sudden leaf drop in your Fiddle Leaf Fig is any changes in the growing conditions like soggy soil.

Ensure the pot for your Fiddle Leaf Fig has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent the soil from getting soggy.

The second possible cause of sudden leaf drop in your Fiddle Leaf Fig is low temperature.

Protect your Fiddle Leaf Fig from cold draughts to avoid a drop in temperature to maintain an average warmth with a minumum of 12⁰C.

The third possible cause of sudden leaf drop in your Fiddle Leaf Fig is too little light.

Move your Fiddle Leaf Fig to a brighter spot and ensure it is receiving bright light away from direct sunshine. Read more on understanding light for houseplants.

The fourth possible cause of sudden leaf drop in your Fiddle Leaf Fig is overfeeding.

Do not feed your Fiddle Leaf Fig during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time. Read more on how to feed houseplants.

Fiddle Leaf Fig losing the lower leaves

Loss of lower leaves is a normal occurence in Fiddle Leaf Fig. As your Fiddle Leaf Fig matures, it losses the lower leaves leaving a bare stem with a crown of leaves at the top.

Cut back your Fiddle Leaf Fig stem at the desired height to rejuvenate growth.