Fiddle Leaf Fig

Ficus Lyrata     Origin: Africa

Fiddle Leaf Fig is an incredibly popular houseplant, beloved by interior designers and Instagrammers alike for its sculptural appearance. When keeping one indoors, be sure to be conscious of temperature fluctuations and humidity levels, as this beautiful plant is susceptible to a variety of fungal and bacterial diseases.

Common Issues

Black spot: Usually a result of wet, cold, or low light conditions. Once your Ficus leaves have black spot, they will eventually be shed naturally by the plant. Improved care won’t save these leaves but can encourage new growth if you act quickly.
Yellowing leaves: Typically a symptom of over or under watering and cannot be reversed. If you believe your watering has been appropriate, yellowing can also be a result of insufficient fertilization.
Leaf drop: Sudden leaf drop is most often caused by dramatic temperature fluctuations.
Stem tip dieback: This can be a deeper issue of rot, but may also occur if the Ficus is being kept in low light or allowed to dry out excessively.

Light: These plants are surprisingly tolerant of different light levels, but ultimately prefer bright light. We recommend western, southern or very bright eastern exposures for best results.

Water: Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry between waterings. Excessively dry soil will lead to leaf drop, while keeping these trees moist can lead to blackening leaves and root rot, so try to find a happy balance with your schedule.

Humidity: While their thick leaves make them tolerant of periods of dry air, moderate to high humidity is always best. Low humidity levels can quickly lead to pest problems.

Growth: In the home, this tropical tree can reach 10-12 feet tall... eventually. Bearing in mind this is a moderately slow grower, you can expect several new leaves every year, but not too much height.

Soil: A general potting soil will work perfectly well as long as your watering practices are good. If you find you’re a heavy waterer, repot your ficus with a peat-based soil amended with pine bark to increase drainage and air movement in the soil.

Temperature: Keep your Ficus between 65-85°F for best growth. Avoid drafts whenever possible, as the large leaves can quickly damage and develop black spots or fall off completely.

Repotting: These trees will not need to be repotted often. When you see roots beginning to circle the container or emerge from drainage holes, carefully and gently uppot to a new container 3-6 inches larger.

Extra TLC: Don’t be afraid to prune your Fiddle Leaf Fig's stems if they start to hit the ceiling or tip to the side.