At a glance
- ☀ Light
- Bright direct
- 💧 Water
- Weekly
- 🛠 Maintenance
- Medium
- 🌱 Difficulty
- Medium
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Ficus lyrata
A statement indoor tree with violin-shaped leaves.
The Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) is the statement plant of the decade — tall, sculptural, and undeniably photogenic. Native to western Africa, it can grow to 12 meters in its native habitat and 2–3 meters in your living room.
Light
Bright, indirect light is essential. Fiddle Leaf Figs sulk in low light and drop leaves. A bright spot near a south or east-facing window is ideal. Rotate the pot a quarter turn each week so it grows evenly.
Water
Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Use room-temperature water — cold water shocks the roots and causes leaf drop.
Where it thrives
A bright living room corner, an entrance foyer, or any space where you want vertical drama. Avoid drafty spots near AC units or frequently opened doors.
Care schedule
- Spring & Summer: Water weekly. Feed monthly with a 3-1-2 ratio fertiliser.
- Winter: Reduce water to every 10–14 days. Stop feeding. Maintain humidity above 40%.
Common issues
- Brown spots on leaves: Root rot from overwatering, or bacterial infection from water sitting on leaves. Water at the soil level only.
- Leaf drop after moving: Fiddles hate change. Keep it in one spot and resist the urge to relocate.
- Small new leaves: Needs more light or feeding.
Pro tips
- Dust the large leaves weekly with a damp cloth — they collect dust like nothing else.
- If your fiddle gets too tall, you can air-layer the top section to propagate a shorter plant.
- Don't move it. Fiddles drop 30% of their leaves when you move them across a room.