Ficus lyrata is one of our most popular plants at Flora Grubb Gardens, our nursery in San Francisco, and we almost always have it in stock. Come get yours right now! Continue reading for advice on how to grow and take care of these plants.
The fiddle-leaf fig, or Ficus lyrata, is the ideal interior specimen plant. The plant has erect, violin-shaped leaves that are enormous, densely veined, and tall. Our retail plant shop in San Francisco almost always has Ficus lyrata on hand.
These plants are indigenous to the tropics, where they flourish in hot, muggy weather. As a result, the home grower may find it difficult to replicate these steamy circumstances, making them a little more difficult. Fortunately, they are rather resilient plants that can endure less-than-ideal conditions for a fair amount of time. Last but not least, F. lyrata are really produced as larger specimen plants. If you can place them in a floor-standing planter that will allow the plant to grow to at least 6 feet, that would be ideal. In tropical settings, trees frequently reach heights of 40 feet or more. These are not naturally trimmed down to reasonable sizes due to their enormous leaves, though they can be shaped with light trimming.
Ficus lyrata plants don’t require much maintenance. Spotting on the leaves, which is particularly obvious in a plant with such huge leaves, is one of the most prevalent complaints about these plants. This spotting is typically brought on by a leaf injury, such as mechanical harm or a mite infestation. When exposed to air, the sap of Ficus lyrata can produce these brown patches. The plants are also vulnerable to a number of leaf-spotting and fungus diseases, which are often brought on by poor air circulation and an excessive amount of moisture that collects on the leaves. By keeping the plant well-trimmed and eliminating any dead leaves or twigs that you spot, you can assist stop this form of attack.
However, if your plant is dropping leaves, it’s probably due to inadequate moisture at the roots, low humidity, and cold, dry air. To raise the surrounding humidity, try spraying the plant frequently. Finally, because these plants are particularly sensitive to high salt concentrations, flush your potting soil completely on a regular basis, preferably once a month, to avoid salt buildup.
Pests include aphids, mealybugs, mites, scale, and whiteflies can harm Ficus lyrata. If at all feasible, locate the infestation as soon as you can and use the least hazardous remedy.
Repotting: Healthy specimens have vigorous, quickly developing roots (which is pretty typical for any ficus). Try to repot the plant once a year, increasing the pot size by two to four until the plant is the required size or you can no longer handle the container. After placing plants in large containers, remove the top few inches of soil and replace it once a year with new potting soil.
Advice: Avoid often turning or moving this plant. The plant should be placed permanently, and to keep it clean, use an old T-shirt to dust it. As necessary, stake and prune. Only leaves facing the light will remain on Ficus lyrata; ones facing a darker wall or corner will wither away. If you move or reposition your ficus, be prepared for leaf loss.
Ficus lyrata need strong, filtered light. Even a little sun won’t kill them, especially if they’re in an eastern-facing window. When housed in a too-dark environment, plants won’t develop quickly.
Water: Keep it moist, but don’t let it stand in water because that will cause it to lose leaves and develop root rot.
Fertilizer: For plants that are not in ideal conditions or are recuperating from stress, apply Maxsea All Purpose Fertilizer seasonally and up to monthly.
Is it challenging to maintain a fiddle leaf fig?
ADVICE: To keep your tree standing straight and tall, rotate it once a month. In instance, fiddle leaf figs want to reach for the light, so if you don’t rotate, you’ll eventually notice them bending.
The Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (Ficus lyrata), which is a gorgeous plant with enormous green leaves and a sizable fan base among lovers of houseplants, is a native of the rainforests of western and central Africa. Despite its popularity, it’s not the easiest houseplant to maintain, but when given the right circumstances and care, it has an unrivaled visual impact on a space.
The Fiddle Leaf Fig enjoys a warm, humid climate along with some water and lots of light. Select a spot where the tree will receive a lot of brilliant ambient light and is distant from air vents and drafts. The best location for a plant is directly in front of, or next to, a southern or western-facing window. An eastern exposure is acceptable if the plant is directly in the window and the area feels very bright. A few hours of direct sunlight are also advantageous. Your Fiddle Leaf will maintain its finest appearance if it is kept in a humid climate and placed in a full-sun setting (where it will receive more than 6 hours of direct light everyday). This plant should not be placed near windows that face north. Low-light environments are not conducive to their growth.
The tree is best positioned right next to the window if you’re unsure of your lighting situation. We also give instructions on how to gauge the light in your environment.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees are especially susceptible to changes in their surroundings. They’ll probably need some time to get used to their new house. Follow the maintenance directions carefully, and if yours loses a few leaves, don’t get alarmed. Please get in touch with us if leaf discoloration or leaf loss continues, and we’ll help you solve!
Last but not least, because the Fiddle Leaf demands so much water, if you are using a container made of organic materials to pot your plant, we strongly advise adding a waterproof saucer underneath to protect your floors.
The Violin Leaf Fig plant gets its popular name from the fact that its leaves resemble a fiddle in both size and form.
When should I water my Ficus lyrata plant?
Watering: Always keep the soil evenly moist. (about 2-3 times weekly) Avoid overwatering or letting the plant sit in water.
During the growing season, fertilizer should be applied every two weeks as a mild liquid solution for green plants.
Repotting: Every year, switch the soil and move the plant to a bigger pot. This plant needs both height and space for its roots to spread out because it naturally wants to grow big.
Other – A lot of people discover that their Ficus lyrata plant is losing leaves or developing brown spots on the foliage. As long as they don’t occur frequently, both of these traits are typical and part of a growing plant. The plant produces a sap that, when placed on top of leaves and exposed to air, induces browning. Be careful that incorrect air movement and a lack of humidity in the home can also lead to excessive browning and leaf-dropping. Humidity can be increased by placing a humidifier nearby or sprinkling the area around the plant (NOT directly on the foliage). Make sure to fully water the plant once every month to remove any salts, toxins, or contaminants that accumulate in the soil. Ficus are well known for being chemically sensitive. Use the least chemically strong insecticide if there is a danger of pests.
Light and Location
Of fact, light is necessary for all plants to grow. But for the Ficus Lyrata to flourish and develop into a large mature plant, it needs a specific kind of light. The ideal sunlight is indirect. You can make sure your Lyrata has adequate light in your space by placing it close to a window or skylight. Steer clear of any direct sunlight because it could impede the plant’s growth or possibly kill it.
Rotation is also crucial. Your Lyrata will soon start to bend and reach for the light, as you will soon observe. Turn the plant so that it must bend the other way. It will grow straight and tall as a result of this.
Watering
Another obvious choice… Of course water is necessary for the survival of your fiddle leaf fig. But if you give it too much water, it’ll die. The best method for determining how moist or dry the soil is is to stick your fingers a few inches into it. Water your Lyrata if the soil is dry a few inches below the surface. Delay watering until the earth is dry if you feel the soil is moist. Keep your Lyrata out of water for no more than a day or two at a time. The ideal way to water is with warm or room temperature water.
Fertilizer
The Lyrata should be fertilized once or twice a year. especially with peaty soil that is rich and well-drained. The roots of your Fiddle Leaf will start to gather together once it has outgrown its pot or container, and they may even start to push through the drainage hold. This may result in circulation problems or possibly root rot. Make a new habitat for your Lyrata so it can develop to its full potential!
Cleaning
Cleaning your Lyrata is a requirement! The plant may be unable to absorb sunshine and essential nutrients as a result of those large leaves’ excellent dust-gathering abilities. Once each month, clean the leaves on your Lyrata using a moist cloth. This will guarantee that it not only looks wonderful but also that it is healthy.
What is the rate of growth of Ficus lyrata?
Ficus lyrata trees can grow up to 12 to 18 inches annually, or roughly 1 inch every month.
However, depending on a few variables, this growth rate fluctuates considerably. Fiddle leaf figs grow far more slowly indoors, as many homeowners have discovered. They might barely grow 2-4 inches a year.
The natural habitat of these plants is a tropical one. They are now often used as indoor houseplants due to their enormous, magnificent foliage. Taking children out of their ideal habitat has a big impact on how they develop.
Fiddle leaf figs survive for how long?
A tropical tree with fiddle-shaped leaves, the ficus lyrata is a native of the lowland rainforests of West Africa. It has a lifespan of 25 to 50 years (if cared for properly in non-tropical conditions).
What makes it so well-liked in the design community? Most people give the tree’s large, floppy spherical leaves, which resemble violins, credit. People anthropomorphize the plant by comparing these to babies’ huge eyes in an effort to make them desire to care for it.
Of course, the majority of designers would also mention how photogenic the plant is, which undoubtedly helps.
What draws people to fiddle leaf figs?
That, however, does not explain why these plants are so well-liked. According to a New York Times article by Steven Kurutz, the rise of social media (which is crucial for interior designers; psst, follow us on Instagram) has simply increased the public’s awareness of these plants because they are now featured in virtually every major design blog and Instagram account.
Simply simple, they make good photos. And if you stop to think about it, you’ve probably seen fiddle-leaf figs much more frequently online or in magazine spreads than you have in actual residences. This is due to the fiddle-leaf figs’ particular attractiveness as well as the fact that they require a lot of maintenance.