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.
How is a Ficus lyrata grown indoors?
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.
Does Ficus lyrata grow outside?
Ficus lyrata, also known as the fiddle fig or fiddle-leaf fig, can be grown outdoors in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 through 12, however it may thrive best in zones 10b through 11. It may be grown indoors anywhere. Although the fiddle fig can handle full daylight outside, it thrives in medium light indoors, so pick a window that doesn’t receive a lot of afternoon sun.
A fiddle-leaf fig can be grown inside.
Fiddle leaf figs should be grown inside in an area with lots of indirect light as direct sunlight may burn the leaves. Give each pot a half-turn once a week to encourage uniform growth. Keep these plants away from cold, drafty regions and heating vents because they prefer a consistent temperature of about 68 degrees F.
Although they may be grown outside in zones 10 to 12, most fiddle leaf figs are grown as houseplants in North America, so that is what we will concentrate on here.
How is a Ficus lyrata maintained?
Here are the essentials for maintaining the beauty, health, and greenery of your fiddle leaf fig.
- Make certain that the drainage on your fiddle leaf fig is ideal.
- Use a Soil That Drains Quickly.
- Provide your plant with a lot of sunlight.
- Water with caution.
- Take Soil Aeration Into Account.
- Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Needs Food.
- Befriend your plant.
Fiddle leaf figs grow inside or outside.
Indoor plants called Ficus Lyrata, sometimes known as fiddle-leaf figs, need particular attention. Your fiddle-leaf fig needs nutrients like sunlight, fertilizer, and trimming to remain healthy all year long. When taken care of improperly, a fiddle-leaf fig might become brown and withered. Our advice on taking care of a fiddle-leaf fig will enable it to thrive in your environment.
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.
Can a fig tree be grown indoors?
Why you wouldn’t want to is as follows: In the summer, the edible fig (Ficus carica) requires full sun, which is nearly impossible to provide indoors. The deciduous fig tree loses its leaves in the autumn and enters a dormant state for the winter, when it doesn’t require any sunlight at all. The majority of common fig trees grow too large, gangly, and untidy to make good houseplants. But for a few reasons that we’ll go over below, you can grow fig trees in containers.
Can Ficus lyrata be grown easily?
This West African native plant is planted inside because of its lovely semi-lobed and oval leaves, which all appear to develop to different proportions. This plant was given the name fiddle because of the fiddle-like (violin-shaped) shape of its leaves.
Although it may take this ficus up to 10–15 years to achieve full maturity, after 3–4 years of growth, it begins to resemble a beautiful tree or other ornamental house plant.
Trunk and leaves: As you can see from the picture on the left, the leaves have pronounced veins running through the middle and from the center to the edge. These lustrous leaves can reach a length of 12 inches and a width of at least 5 inches. Although sturdy, the trunk is rather peculiar and grows quite long and thin, giving the plant a bushy appearance at the top without lower leaves.
Displaying: Because they prefer bright lighting, they thrive in greenhouses and conservatories. Although sufficient light must be provided – wherever they are sitting – they are the kind of plant that looks wonderful near doorways, corridors, fireplaces, and other prominent sections of a room.
Flowering: Fiddle leaf plants will develop flowers and eventually fruits in their natural habitat and outside, but this rarely occurs indoors.
Care level: This ficus seems to require a little more attention than the rubber plant, F. elastica, primarily because of its demand for light and sensitivity to losing leaves. Overwater is the worst thing to do. Additionally, excessive soil drying and low humidity levels will render leaves dark and unsightly. The majority of growers will be alright because it’s not nearly a novice plant and doesn’t require an expert.
Are fiddle leaf figs sun-sensitive?
The light that most homes and apartments naturally provide—not too much, not too little, nothing too bright, nothing too dark—is what the fiddle-leaf fig needs to thrive. An east-facing window is suggested by Harnek Singh, a gardener at Wave Hill Public Garden in New York City. According to him, fiddle leaf figs require both direct sunlight and a lot of indirect light. “South or west-facing windows will receive too much afternoon sun.
So keep in mind that your fig requires adequate sunlight in your home just like the nourishing rays that come through the deep canopy of the jungle. Cacti and succulents that live in the desert should be placed in the south-facing window.
Singh also advises buying fiddle-leaf figs from reliable sellers to prevent encountering the opposite issue. He claims that many of these plants are frequently already declining as a result of spending too much time in the dark. Foliage that is flagging and leaves that are pale, spotted, or wan-looking are indicators of improper light exposure. If your plant displays these signs, try shifting it to a different location for a week or two.
Do fig trees grow outside or indoors?
You can grow fig trees (Ficus benjamina) as indoor houseplants or outdoors. Weeping fig, ficus tree, and Benjamin fig are some of its other common names. It has oblong leaves that get up to 5 inches long and has the traditional tree shape. It can reach a height of up to 18 feet, although its size can be regulated through trimming and container size restrictions, much like a bonsai but with a bigger proportion.
A fiddle leaf fig can survive in dim light.
The fiddle-leaf fig will not withstand situations with both low light and high light, in contrast to other plants (looking at you, monsteras!). It must be placed in an area with lots of bright, indirect light. Furthermore, it requires a few hours of direct sunlight each day.
“Lighting is the first and most crucial factor you should take into account before purchasing a fiddle. Little did I know that by placing my fiddle in a room with a north-facing window when I first took it home, I was sort of setting myself up for failure “Greene explains. “Fiddle-leaf figs like lots of light, and they frequently need up to five hours of direct light each day,” says the author. It thrives “near to south- or west-facing windows, or directly in an east-facing window,” according to Greenery Unlimited, and nothing can be anything blocking that light (like a building or trees). Additionally, because it grows toward the sun, you must rotate it once a month.
In addition to these lighting requirements, you also need to gradually introduce sunshine; you cannot expose it to too much sunlight at once. Otherwise, the lovely green leaves of the fiddle-leaf fig can burn and get brown spots. On the other side, too little sunlight will cause its leaves to become brown or yellow, or even worse, fall off. It also hates being moved around a lot since it could lose its leaves. Most likely out of spite. Even if your plant sustains some combat wounds in the process, you’ll finally locate the best location for it, even if it takes some trial and error.
“Adding a grow lamp ($23) is one of the things you can do to supplement that light if you already have a fiddle-leaf fig but feel like it’s not getting enough,” advises Greene. They’re fantastic since you can automatically control how much light it receives each day, especially if they include a timer.