How to Care and Grow for a Fiddle Leaf Fig – A Complete Guide

I am guessing you have heard about fiddle leaf figs and would like to have one. I tell you, it is wonderful to have a fiddle leaf fig tree. The fiddle leaf fig has been in high demand for more than a decade, thanks to their glossy, large, green leaves.

There is one more good thing about them: they are easy to grow. However, when it comes to fiddle leaf fig care they are finicky. Fear not! As long as you provide the right care conditions, you can grow fiddle leaf figs easily.

In this article, I will help you to grow this beautiful plant. Not only that, I will go into great detail about caring for fiddle leaf figs. So that it will be your long-lasting companion when properly cared for.

So, let us plant a fiddle leaf fig tree

About fiddle leaf fig

How to grow fiddle leaf fig

The following steps will guide you through the process of growing fiddle leaf figs. Stem cutting is the best method for growing fiddle leaf figs. Here’s how to do it:

Step1: With sharp shears, cut a stem about 12 to 18 inches long. Make sure to have a few leaves on it. Next, except for one leaf, pinch off all the leaves.

Step 2: Now, take a clean vase or jar and fill it with room-temperature water. After that put your cutting in it and place the vase in the warm and indirect bright light area.

Step 3: If your water looks cloudy, change it.

Step 4: In a few weeks, tiny white bumps will appear on the stem’s base. After that, roots will start to grow in the water.

Step 5: After the cutting’s roots reach 1-2 inches long, plant it in a 1-gallon pot filled with potting soil. Next, water it thoroughly. However, make sure to keep the soil moist, but not soggy.

Using these 5 easy steps, you can propagate fiddle leaf figs from stems. However, you can also grow the plant with a single leaf and air layering method. You can give it a try by checking out our blog on How to Propagate Fiddle Leaf Fig – 3 Simple Methods!

It is now easier for you to grow fiddle leaf figs. Next comes the tricky part, which is caring for fiddle leaf figs. Nevertheless, I have included detailed and easy instructions on how to care for fiddle leaf figs in the next section.

How to care for a fiddle leaf fig plant

You will find that keeping your fiddle leaf fig healthy is quite easy once you understand all the care requirements. However, keep in mind that fiddle leaf figs dislike inconsistency. Therefore, do not mess with their care needs too much. Having said that, let’s discover what our beautiful plant needs to thrive.

Choose the right spot for fiddle leaf figs

The right spot for fiddle leaf figs is one with enough light, humidity, and warmth. Also, choose a location away from vents and drafts.

If possible, place the plant in the window or close to it, preferably facing a southern or western side. 

The Eastern direction can also work as long as the plant is directly in the window. Direct sun is also good. 

Additionally, the Fiddle Leaf will thrive in a humid environment if it is placed in a full-sun location. Where it will receive over 6 hours of direct light each day.

 However, avoid placing this plant near northern-facing windows. As low-light conditions are not conducive to their growth.

Provide bright light to fiddle leaf fig plants

It is important that fiddle-leaf figs have bright, filtered light to grow well. Direct sunlight may burn leaves, especially in the afternoon. Moreover, very low light conditions will stunt plant growth.

Also, the more leaves your plant has, the more light it will need to maintain and grow new leaves. Whenever a plant doesn’t get enough light, it loses lower and interior leaves, telling us it doesn’t get enough light.

Furthermore, if you want to keep your plant in front of the window throughout the winter, make sure it’s not exposed to any drafts. Try moving your Fiddle Leaf 2 – 3 feet back if your windows are drafty. By maintaining this distance, plants can avoid sudden bursts of cold air while receiving a similar amount of light. 

Also, read Fiddle Leaf Fig Light Requirements – How To Keep It Happy And Healthy

Water fiddle leaf figs once a week 

About once a week, water Fiddle Leaf Figs thoroughly. Adjust the watering amount based on the plant’s size and the roots’ size. 

Additionally, it is best to wait until the top 2 – 3 inches of soil are dry before watering the plant. Water it until you see water dripping out the bottom if it’s in a planter. Keep the drip tray full of water for as little as possible, as this will cause fiddle leaf fig root rot. 

Also, whenever you water, make sure to do it slowly in a circular motion around the plant, covering all the soil. In this way, water reaches all the roots.

To determine how often your Fiddle Leaf Fig needs to be watered Click here

Choose the best soil for the fig

Fiddle-leaf figs can grow in any quality indoor potting mix. However, make sure the soil drains well.

To learn in detail about choosing the best soil for fiddle leaf fig click here.

Feed your fig plant

Throughout the growing season, feed with high-nitrogen plant food. There are fertilizers made specifically for fiddle-leaf figs. Over the winter, your plant doesn’t need to be fed.

Also, while applying the fertilizer keep in mind the amount of feeding your plant needs. Otherwise, you will overfeed the plant causing problems in the fig plant. 

If you don’t want to cause any harm to your plant while fertilizing read our blog on Fiddle Leaf Fig Fertilizer – When and How to Fertilize (Essential Tips)

Maintain temperature and humidity level

The fiddle-leaf fig hates high temperatures. Ideally, you should keep the plant between 60 and 85 ℉. However, keep it away from drafty areas and vents, such as air conditioning and heating. Also, sudden temperature changes can cause fiddle leaf fig problems. 

However, if you want to relocate fiddle leaf fig read the blog on Fiddle Leaf Fig Temperature Tolerance (Tips and Care) before moving your plant.

Make sure the humidity level is between 30%-65%. Whenever you need to increase humidity, mist your plant daily with clean water. 

You can also place it on a tray of pebbles filled with water, just make sure its bottom isn’t touching. Furthermore, fiddle-leaf figs can benefit from humid environments.

Also, read Fiddle Leaf Fig Humidity Requirements (All You Need to Know)

Regularly Prune fiddle leaf fig

Every now and then, fiddle-leaf fig leaves should be pruned. To let the plant breathe, remove damaged leaves, overgrowth, and crossing branches. Be sure to keep any cuts away from the trunk to prevent any damage. 

When removing a dead brown leaf, pull it gently before cutting it since it may come off on its own.

However, if you are a beginner make sure to read Pruning Fiddle Leaf Fig – When, Why, and How (Ultimate Guide).

The best time to re-pot fiddle leaf fig

Spring is the best time to repot young fiddle-leaf figs. Choose a container that is roughly two inches wider than the current one. Remove the plant from its current pot, lift it out, and place it in the new one. Fill in gaps around the plant with potting mix. 

As soon as the plant matures, repotting will be impossible. In this case, you should remove the first few inches of soil each spring and replace it with fresh soil. 

Furthermore, if you plan on potting outdoors, make sure it is at least 50 °F. For the fiddle-leaf fig, any temperature below 50°F can cause too much stress.

To get step-by-step guidance check Repotting Fiddle Leaf Fig – When, Why, and How to Re-pot.

Choose the right pot size

For proper fiddle leaf fig care, choose the right pot! Follow the below points to get the right fit for your fig.

• It is important to consider drainage when choosing a pot. Keeping fiddles in water can lead to root rot. 
• Make sure your pot has drainage holes that are at least 2-3 inches larger than the root ball of your fiddle. In their pots, fiddles like to be snug, but not cramped. It gives the roots plenty of room to grow, but the pot won’t hold onto too much water.

In material, any pot material will do as long as there is adequate drainage! Ceramics, plastics, terracotta, you name it! Remember, though, that terracotta wicks moisture away from the soil when used for planting. When you overwater your fiddle, this can help, but it can also cause it to dry out. 

Sometimes it may happen that you liked a pot with no drainage holes. However, don’t worry and pick the one you love. After buying the pot drill drainage holes into the pot. 

Another option is a double pot. For a double pot, simply put a drainage tray inside the decorative pot or basket. While watering, remove the plant from the decorative pot. Also, make sure to allow your plant to drain before replacing it.

I have written a detailed blog on How To Choose the Best Pot For Fiddle Leaf Fig (Size and Type) make sure to read it before getting a new pot for your plant.

Winter Care

Winter is a busy time for heating vents, so it’s easy to forget they even exist when they are not on. Yet, make sure all of your plants are away from any heating vents when they turn on. Your plants will dry out quickly if you blast them with hot air.

Also, make sure you break up the soil slightly before you water your plant during the winter. In winter, drier air inside the house makes soil easily clump and compact. By breaking it up with your fingers, you can help the soil retain water instead of it falling straight through between the soil and sides.

Additionally, humidifiers can be a real blessing for Fiddle Leaf Figs and other tropical plants throughout the year, especially in the wintertime when the air becomes dry in the house. Your plants will thrive as they would in a rainforest because of the constant circulation of moisture in the air.

Common problems with fiddle leaf fig

1. Leaf scorch

There may be too much direct sunlight if you see light brown or bleached spots on the leaves. In this case, the leaves are scorched or sunburned. 

Treatment: You can prune fiddle-leaf fig leaves with sharp shears and move your plants away from direct sunlight.

Learn in detail about Fiddle Leaf Fig Sunburn – How to Identify, Treat & Prevent it

2. Leaves with brown spots

Having too much water may cause your green leaves to develop fiddle leaf fig brown spots or brown edges. 

Treatment: Ensure the roots are not brown and mushy. Trim mushy roots and spotted leaves. Don’t overwater the plant and repot it.

It is also possible that brown spots are caused by extreme temperature swings; look around for drafty spots or heating/cooling units or vents, and move the plant to a consistent warmer area.

3. Yellowing Leaves

Yellowing fiddle-leaf fig leaves may indicate bacterial infection. In this case, it may be too late for the plant to be saved. Nevertheless, try cutting off the affected leaves and repotting the plant.

However, apart from bacterial infection, there are a few more causes of yellow fiddle leaf fig. To learn all the causes and treatments read Fiddle Leaf Fig Yellow Leaf – Causes and How to Fix Them!

Also, read 19 Common Fiddle Leaf Fig Problems and How to Deal with Them

4. Dropping Leaves

Figs that lose their leaves typically have too much or too little water. The plant may also lose leaves due to extreme temperature changes. 

Treatment: Keep the plant away from heating and air conditioning units, vents, and drafty areas. Reduce watering to ensure the soil is never soggy and only slightly moist.

For more information read Fiddle Leaf Fig Dropping Leaves – Reasons And How To Prevent It

Pest and Disease

The plants don’t suffer from any serious pests or diseases but can be affected by spider mites, scale, or fungal diseases. 

Symptoms of these problems include leaf damage, such as spots or dark patches, as well as small bugs. 

Ensure that the problem is treated with fungicides, pesticides, or other appropriate remedies as quickly as possible. Also, don’t overwater your plants and make sure they have adequate air circulation. 

Toxicity

Unfortunately, this beautiful plant is toxic to dogs and cats. Therefore make sure to keep your pets away from fiddle leaf figs. 

For more information read our blog on Fiddle leaf fig toxic to cats and dogs.

Few questions on fiddle leaf fig care

Q1: How do I care for a potted Fiddle Leaf Fig?

Ans: It’s best to keep the Fiddle Leaf Fig’s soil consistently moist, with a brief drying out period between waterings since it comes from a dry area. Every time the top 2 inches of soil dries out, water it thoroughly.

Q2: How long do fiddle leaf figs live?

Ans: Fiddle leaf fig can live up to 25-50 years if it is properly cared for in nontropical conditions.

Q3: Why are fiddle leaf figs so expensive?

Ans: Fiddle leaf figs aren’t small pieces of interior decor. For over a decade, fiddle leaf figs have been in demand, and this has helped them dominate the industry. Those who learn that it’s popular may want one.

Q4: Is it easy to care for fiddle-leaf figs?

Ans: With proper conditions and care, fiddle-leaf figs can thrive. There are a few things they need: warmth, humidity, indirect lighting, direct lighting, and a lot of water. Despite their love of water, be careful not to overwater them.

Q5: How fast does the fiddle-leaf fig grow?

Ans: The fiddle leaf fig grows 2 feet per year, reaching a height of 6 to 10 feet.

Conclusion

The easy-to-grow quality makes fiddle leaf fig like more. However, as mentioned earlier do not mess with their care needs. If you just follow all the care instructions discussed in the article your fig will be happy.

Furthermore, the fig is susceptible to problems, such as leaves dropping, brown spots, and yellow leaves. Moreover, a few pests are often visitors on fiddle leaf figs such as spider mites. However, you can treat them with fungicides or neem oil.

Overall, fiddle-leaf figs are not demanding plants as long as you can get their growing conditions right.

So, what questions do you have on fiddle leaf fig care? Feel free to ask in the below comment section. Also, make sure to share this article with your friends and family.

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