Fiddle Leaf Fig Care – Best Kept Growing Secrets Revealed

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In this article, I am going to write about fiddle leaf fig care or Ficus lyrata care (Ficus pandurata is the correct botanical name).

The Fiddle Leaf fig is not easy to care for. The biggest issue is usually insufficient light. It enjoys bright filtered light. There are lots of pictures on the internet where plant keepers had it in dim light conditions. But let’s look into all aspects of FLF care.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Takeaways

Fiddle Leaf Fig Care

To care for a fiddle leaf fig use well-draining aerated soil. Loamy soil with plenty of organic matter and sand is best. Provide bright filtered light. Water every 7-10 days. The ideal temperature is between 65 to 75°F (18°C – 24°C). Fertilize bi-weekly in spring and summer. Provide a humidity between 40-60%.

Growing a Fiddle Leaf Fig Video

Fiddle Leaf Fig Growing Guide

Soil

The plant needs well-draining aerated soil. Loamy soil with plenty of organic matter and sand is best. It prefers acidic soil high in alkaline and occasional wet areas that can keep moisture.

Poor soil may lead to the roots not getting sufficient oxygen. This can lead to bacterial infection and root rot.

It needs sufficient areas in the potting mix where air pockets can form.

The perfect pH level for a Fiddle Leaf Fig is between 5.5 to 6.5 pH according to a garden.org expert thread.

Light

Ficus lyrata prefers bright but filtered light. It can take 5-6 hours of direct sunlight per day.

An east-facing window is best as your plants will get the needed sunlight without you having to worry that the leaves might burn from the sun.

Make sure that the plant is not in dim light conditions as this will have a negative effect on your plant’s health.

Watering

Water your Fiddle Leaf fig every 7-10 days.

It depends on the growing conditions that are determined mostly by where you live. In hot and dry conditions water more frequently than in humid conditions.

When watering the Fiddle Leaf Fig, make sure that the top of the soil is just slightly damp before you water again. Use your fingers and stick them into the soil to check if it’s still humid or completely dry.

If no dirt sticks to your finger, you can be sure that the soil is dry and you can start watering your plant again.

To avoid root shock make sure to always use lukewarm or room-temperature water. If the water is too hot it can burn the roots and if it’s too cold it can shock the roots. 

Please do not believe the nonsense that is copied/pasted on the internet about letting the soil completely dry out before watering as this might kill your plant. There is something called a blanket effect.

If your soil is too dry it will prevent moisture to get to the roots, even if you are watering your plant regularly once it dried out completely. That’s why it is not the best practice to wait until the topsoil is completely dried out. 

On the other hand, make sure that you’re not overwatering your plant because this can lead to root rot.

One sign that something is not right is when your fiddle leaf fig starts to lose a lot of leaves or the colour of the leaves starts to change colours to yellow or brown spots are starting to form. These can be signs of overwatering.

Temperature

The fiddle leaf fig prefers constant warm temperatures between 65 to 75°F (18°C – 24°C).

However, make sure the temperatures do not drop below 50°F (10°C) as this might hurt the growth of your plant and its overall well being.

The Fiddle Leaf Fig grows in hardiness zones between 10 – 12 according to the USDA and the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Humidity

The ideal humidity for a fiddle leaf fig lies between 40-60%. For optimal conditions keep the humidity at 50% or higher.

It is a jungle plant and needs a lot of humidity. One way to increase humidity is to use a pebble tray.

Another opportunity is to keep multiple plants very close together so you can simulate a natural environment where humidity is provided from other plants staying together tightly. 

Do not spray your plant with water every couple of days. This can lead to leaf rot.

Fertilizer

Fertilize every two weeks in spring and summer.

The best NKP ratio for a Fiddle Leaf fig is 3-2-1. This means 30% nitrogen 20% phosphorus and 10% potassium. So look for a fertilizer that has a 3-2-1 ratio.

Do not fertilize in winter and autumn. Only fertilizer in summer and spring. The best is to fertilizer every other week in the seasons where fertilizing is advised.

Propagation

You can propagate a fiddle leaf fig from stem cuttings.

Propagating a FLF tree is not as easy as the propagation of other houseplants.

Plants with wooden stems are trickier to multiply.

However, it is not impossible as they can either be propagated by taking stem cuttings or air layering.

If the stems are really thin, it is better to use stem cuttings instead of air layering based on our experience.

You cannot propagate a fiddle leaf fig from leaves. They will start to produce roots when put into water and your hope may increase, but a new plant will not result from just a leaf.

Growth

The Fiddle Leaf fig tree is a fast grower and can grow several feet in a year. As a houseplant Fiddle Leaf Figs can grow up to 6 feet tall (1.8m).

In its natural habitat that can grow up to 40-50 feet high according to the Department of Agriculture at the University of Florida.

Given the size of the plants, they are best placed on the floor. When they are still young, you can keep them on a shelf. 

The plants have big shiny green leaves. As stated before, the shape of the leaves are quite unique and look like a fiddle hence its name. According to the House Plant Experts this houseplant needs 10 – 15 years to reach maturity.

There are certain different types of Fiddle Leaf fig such as a compact type called compacta, but the most commonly found type is the ficus lyrata.

PRO TIP: Make sure to rotate your Fiddle Leaf fig every couple of months so they will grow evenly. Do not rearrange or move the plants otherwise as this might stress them out.

Potting

Change your plant to a bigger pot every year. When moving the plant to a new pot, make sure that you’re also using new potting medium. Ficus lyrata is a tree and wants to grow large. Therefore always ensure that its roots have a lot of space left in their pot.

What you need to know about the Fiddle Leaf Fig 

As an indoor plant, the FLF has been featured in many home decor magazines and became the ‘It’ plant on Instagram and Facebook according to the New York Times. Its thick dark green leaves with the distinctive fiddle look gave it its common name.

In the wild, they are epiphytes and can grow up to 40-50 feet tall according to the Department of Agriculture at the University of Florida.  An epiphyte means that it can grow on top of other plants by spreading seeds that germinate in that way.

It belongs to the Moraceae family such as the rubber tree (Ficus elastica). It grows in hardiness zones between 10 to 12 USDA according to the Missouri Botanical Garden Website.

The Fiddle Leaf Fig Looks

The Fiddle Leaf fig tree is a very popular Instagram-worthy houseplant and is appreciated because of the big green foliage that has a dramatic effect on the eye.

It inhabits lowland tropical regions in nature and is native to West Africa in countries from Cameroon to Sierra Leone. 

It is an upright irregular-growing evergreen. It leaves 10 to 15-inch long and 10-inch wide and dull green and thick looking. 

The Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig

What is Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig? Well, it is certainly not the real deal. As it is not the easiest plant to care for and needs a lot of light, buying an artificial Fiddle Leaf Fig can be a great idea.

The FLF has beautiful green foliage and the leaves get bigger than the average hand. With a Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig, you will not have to worry about overwatering and underwatering and will certainly not end up with brown leaf spots.

Where can I buy a Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig?

You can buy Faux Fiddle Leaf Figs on Amazon. While it is certainly not the real deal, it can be exactly what you are looking for. Good looking and easy in its care. Fake plants are usually more expensive than real ones.

This is also the case with the Fiddle Leaf Fig. You can buy a real plant at around $50 dollars.

A Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig will cost at least double the price. Amazon offers some fake Fiddle Leaf Figs between $70 – $200 dollars depending on their size and looks. 

Pruning a Fiddle Leaf Fig

Let’s dive into the 101 of pruning your Fiddle Leaf Fig. What you will need is a set of sharp pruning shears. Spring or summer is the best season to prune your Fiddle Leaf fig.

The reason for it is very simple because this is the main growing season of your plant. 

It can be beneficial to prune Fiddle Leaf figs that are grown outside at a young age as protective pruning can prevent the plant from breaking apart at the later stage in its life due to strong winds.

If you are growing a Fiddle Leaf fig outside, it can also be beneficial to grow them in a courtyard to add protection from strong winds.

When caring for a Fiddle Leaf Fig indoors though,  you may want to use pruning as a way to control an unruly plant. Another reason could be that it may want to grow taller than your apartment allows and you want to cut it back.

How to prune a Fiddle Leaf Fig

Pruning a Fiddle Leaf fig is actually very easy. The most important thing to remember is to do a nice clean cut.

Also make sure your pruning sheers are clean and free of any pesticides and contaminations. We always suggest disinfecting your blades.

This can be done by using rubbing alcohol and also by holding your blades under a hot flame. You want them to be completely pathogen-free.

It’s actually your best choice to use shears but you can also use a sharp knife or scissors depending on the size of your Fiddle Leaf fig and the thickness of its stem that you are about to prune. 

When cutting your Fiddle Leaf Fig, make sure that no sap is dropping on your floor.

It is best to use some kind of cloth or towel that is protecting the area you are cutting as the sap is quite nasty. 

Well, you may actually ask yourself where you need to cut if you want to prune your FLF tree. Actually this is quite easy as well because you can just cut the top of your Fiddle Leaf fig.

A good thing about cutting and pruning your Fiddle Leaf Fig is that you can propagate the cut off piece.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Propagation

There are two main ways how you can propagate a Fiddle Leaf fig. Either do stem cuttings as described above or use air layering as a more advanced method for propagation. 

Propagate a Fiddle Leaf Fig by stem cuttings

Find a step-by-step instruction on how to propagate fiddle Leaf fig by using stem cuttings only:

1. Use a clean knife or scissors
2. Cut below a node and take a 3 to 5-inch cutting
3. Remove the leaves from the bottom third of the cutting
4. An optional step is to dip the cutting into rooting hormone or cinnamon
5. Put the cutting in moist potting soil
6. Then cover the pot with a clear plastic fire this will increase humidity and will prevent the soil from drying out
7. Check the soil every couple of days to make sure it’s still moist
8. After a couple of weeks slightly pull on the stem to make sure if roots have started to grow. An indicator of this having happened will be if there is slight resistance when pulling
9. Once fruit started to grow you can remove the foil 
10. Congratulations your propagation was successful and you have a new plant

How to air layer a Fiddle Leaf Fig

Air layering is a bit more advanced than using stem cuttings. The main advantage of air layering is that you can start your new plant with roots forming on the mother plant before you take the cutting. 

Here is the step-by-step guide on how to air layer a Fiddle Leaf fig:

What you will need: 

• A clean knife
• Sphagnum moss
• Cellophane wrap
• Wire ties
• Rooting hormone (gel or powder) / alternatively cinnamon

Steps:

1. Find a mature branch
2. Look for a brach that is very near to the stem
3. Make sure that you have several leaves above this area
4. If there are any leaves in the area you want to cut remove them now
5. Make a circumferential cut through the bark only
6. Make a second cut about 1.5-inches  to 2-inches from the first cut
7. Remove the bark from the cut area
8. The cut bark will now prevent nutrients from being brought down the stem from the leaves. These nutrients will now help roots to grow from the cut area
9. What remains is the nude xylem area. This is the area where the bark has been removed
10. Apply rooting hormone or cinnamon onto that area to prevent fungus from growing and to enhance root formation
11.  Take a piece of the cellophane wrap as well as some Sphagnum moss and put it on the area where you applied the cut
12.  Wrap the cellophane multiple times around the branch
13. Use the wire ties to tie the bottom as well as the top of the wrap onto the branch
14. Check regularly every 1-2 weeks to ensure that the moss stays damp
15. If it dries out you need to remove the cellophane wrap and moist the Sphagnum Moss as it needs to stay damp for roots to form
16. Make sure that sufficient roots form before you cut off the branch and put it into moist potting soil
17. Keep the rooted cuttings in a warm shaded area and mist the leaves daily
18. If you used some sort of grow tent or bag make sure that when you remove it after 1-2 weeks to open it up little by little every couple of days.
19.  Voila, you have an exact clone of your mother plant. 

Propagate a Fiddle Leaf Fig from leaves

Growing fiddle leaf figs from just leaves is not possible. There’s a lot of false information on the internet where people claim that you can successfully grow a fiddle Leaf fig from a single leaf.

This is mainly not possible because you will need some part of the stem as well as at least a node to successfully grow a new plant. A good stem cutting is usually between 12 inches and 18 inches long (30-45cm).

It should contain between 1 to 3 leaves as well as 1 to 2 nodes where leaves have been removed. 

Common problems with the Fiddle Leaf Fig

Brown spots on the Fiddle Leaf Fig

There are different reason why brown spots may occur on your Fiddle Leaf fig. To differentiate what they indicate, it is important to check where they occur.

If the brown spots on your Fiddle Leaf fig occur on the bottom leaves, it is often an indicator for root rot.

A further sign that the brown spots are an indicator for overwatering and thus root rot is if the brown and black spots are accompanied by leaves that are falling off. In addition, the spots are mostly on the edges of the leaves. Usually, the brown spots start to spread from the bottom leaves to the rest of the plant.

Brown spots also occur if your plant suffers from bacterial infection.

These brown spots are usually lighter in colour and are spread across the leaves and also easily affect all the leaves on the houseplant. A bacterial infection in a Fiddle Leaf fig can also lead to leaves falling off, but mostly at the top of the plant.

Root rot as well as bacterial infections spread quickly and are a serious threat to your plant. It is, therefore, key to spot the signals and interpret them correctly as early as possible.

Remedy:

Root rot: Remove all the dirt and check the roots. If you find mushy, brown roots cut them all off. Wash the remaining roots under running water, put cinnamon on them to disinfect and exchange the soil mixture and the pot (alternatively disinfect the pot) before putting the plant back.

Bacterial infection: Keep the leaves dry when watering and clean up leaf litter falling into the plant pot. If your plant already has a bacterial infection, make sure to remove the affected leaves as you might be able to condemn the infection.

In case it is already quite bad and has spread to multiple leaves on the plant it might be already too late and the best thing would be to dispose of the Fiddle Leaf fig.

Too much water

Overwatering will lead to root rot. Root rot is a condition that is caused by bacteria in the soil that start forming when the soil stays too wet for too long.

Root rot will not only rot the roots but the whole plant in the end. If you suspect root rot is the best to take the plant out of its pot and check the roots.

If the roots are mushy and soft and if you pull slightly they will go right off,  you have a sure give-away that you have a root rot situation.

The biggest problem with overwatering is that the signs above ground will look the same as watering too little.

Overwatering will cause brown spots on your leaves but it will not start from the edges but the spots will be all over the leaves. Another sign of overwatering can be yellowing leaves. 

Remedy:  

Reduce watering first and foremost. In the case over overwatering and root rot cut away all the mushy and soft roots.

Then rinse all the remaining roots in water to make sure that all the bacteria are washed away.

Remove all the potting soil that you had in the pot. Use a new potting Media ask the old potting medium might still contain bacteria. Disinfect the pot that your plant was in. 

After washing your Ficus lyrata put it in a new pot or the same pot that has been disinfected and add the new potting medium. Go easy on watering and reduce your usual watering schedule.

Too little water 

By watering too little you will basically dry out your plant. A clear sign of too little water is dropping leaves and brown spots on the leaves. In addition, curling leaves can be an indicator as well that you are underwatering your plant.

If all these signs occur together: drooping leaves, brown spots and curling leaves, you have a clear sign that you are underwatering. 

Remedy:

Water your Fiddle Leaf fig thoroughly. Make sure that the soil of your plant stays slightly damp and water every couple of days when the soil is about to lose its dampness.

Where to buy a Fiddle Leaf Fig?

Fiddle Leaf figs will generally cost between $15 to $50 dollars for real-life plants. Buy a Fiddle Leaf Fig at IKEA You can also buy Fiddle Leaf Figs at Amazon.

A Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig can set you back between $60 – $200 dollars.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Pests

Fiddle Leaf figs are prone to different pests and are quite susceptible. Generally the healthier your FLF is, the less it will be a victim of a pest attack.  

Mealybugs on Fiddle leaf figs

Mealy Bugs are hitchhiking on other plants and are often brought into apartments that way. They are soft-bodied insects that are sucking out the plant sap of a Fiddle Leaf fig. As they are small they can be hard to see. 

Without seeing them, plan sap on the leaves and stems as well as a cottony substance can be found. The mealybugs themselves are white.

Mealybugs are often hanging out on the underside of leaves.

How to get rid of mealybugs 

One method is to just use water and wipe away the mealybugs from your plant. A more potent way is to use cotton swabs drenched in alcohol.

This method has a better chance of getting rid of all the Mealybugs. Another method that is quite popular in the house plant community is the use of Neem Oil. 

However, the most natural way of all is to use natural predators.

In this case it is an insect that most people have positive connotations. It is the ladybug. You can order live ladybugs online at Amazon.

Aphids Infestation

Aphids are tiny bugs like most of the pests described in this section. They are often green but can have any colour from brown to blue.

They are quite thick, sometimes with wings, and prefer to form on new growth in clusters.

Again these pests are on the hunt for the juicy plant sap on your fiddle leaf fig which they will mostly get from sticking to the leaves and sucking on them.

They will stunt the growth of your beloved houseplant and can also be responsible for deformed and yellowing leaves. So when you spot any of these symptoms definitely look out for pests and Aphids in particular. 

The good thing about aphids is, that they will rarely kill a houseplant entirely. The bad thing about an aphid infestation is, that it can spread like crazy, also to other plants than your fiddle leaf fig. 

How do you get rid of Aphids?

First, quarantine the infested fiddle leaf fig. Then get some liquid soap and dilute it to half-strength with water (50/50 mix).

Use some kind of cloth and clean the infected plant thoroughly.

Make sure to spend a lot of time cleaning the underside of leaves as well as where leaves and stems intersect. Other remedies are rubbing alcohol and of course Neem Oil. 

Mites

Spider Mites! Spider Mites are Spiders that spin webs on the plant. A favorite of Spider Mites is the leaves of the Fiddle Leaf Fig. They also leaf a cottony residue, the webbing.

Spider Mites are also producing quickly and are crawling all around your precious plant. Signs of a spider mite infestation are apart from the bugs that look like spiders the tiny cottony webs left on the plants.

In addition, leaves may have spots and even holes, as the mites like to chew on the leaves of a Fiddle Leaf fig. 

Countermeasures to get rid of Spider Mites

Put your plants in the shower and shower them multiple times to wash off as many spider mites as possible. Repeat that process often. In addition increase, the humidity as the mites love dry conditions and the last thing we want to do is to have them feel at home. 

In addition, use different sprays and oils such as Neem Oil. When using sprays use different ingredients such as alcohol and also soapy sprays so the mites are not getting used to any type of component. 

There are different predatory mites such as M. longipes, N. californicus, and P. persimilis that helpt to get rid of mites.

All of these will have one mission, one mission only. To kill the nasty spider mites. You can buy a cocktail of different predatory mites on Amazon.  

Scale

Scale is tricky. Tricky because they do not look like insects at all and more like some kind of residue or dried-up plant sap. Scales on Fiddle Leaf figs are usually forming on the stem of your plant.

They are hard to spot but if you are seeing elevated bumpy spots, you may have spotted scales. They produce hard armor that they need to protect under and lay their eggs.

They will also spread to other plants but will usually not move and leaf the spot they are on a plant. Scale can lead to stunted growth and yellowing leaves and have the potential to kill your Fiddle Leaf fig. 

How to get rid of Scale 

Again if you are spotting scale on your plant make sure to quarantine your plant. Once you have quarantined your plant you can use your fingers or a knife to separate the scale from your beloved plant. If there are just a handful, this method is appropriate. In case you are dealing with larger colonies, you can revert to Neem Oil and rubbing alcohol or use our friends the ladybugs.

Is the Fiddle leaf fig toxic?

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) rates the fiddle leaf fig as mildly toxic to cats and dogs. If only small amounts are ingested, it might cause mild gastrointestinal irritation.

Common signs are vomiting and diarrhea and the special sap can cause skin irritations. It also is mildly toxic to humans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion About Fiddle Leaf Fig Care

To care for an FLF:

• Soil: Well-draining aerated soil. Loamy soil with plenty of organic matter and sand is best
• Light: Bright filtered or direct light
• Watering: Water every 7-10 days
• Temperature: 65 to 75°F (18°C – 24°C)
• Fertilizer: Bi-weekly in spring and summer using a liquid fertilizer