The Fiddle-leaf Fig, or Ficus lyrata to us nursery people, is a houseplant whose appeal has grown recently. The big, waxy, violin-shaped leaves, tree-like form, and sculpture-like habit of this plant have made it a well-liked houseplant for indoor gardeners as well as a fashionable subject for design blogs and articles. The uninformed may find fiddle-leaf figs to be a little volatile despite the high acclaim. But it’s not as difficult as you may imagine to take care of them. Simply adhere to the recommendations given below, and you’ll be able to appreciate a Fiddle-leaf Fig’s beauty without the drawbacks.
Watering
Overwatering is among the serious errors that most Fiddle-leaf Fig owners make. Like many other members of the Ficus family, fiddle-leaf figs require some time to dry out in between waterings. You may notice leaf browning at the edges, a musty odor close to the base, and even leaf drop if the soil is persistently moist. To prevent this, water plants only when the top three to four inches of soil are dry. Water should also be allowed to completely drain through the pot to avoid oversaturation. Additionally, keep in mind that Fiddle-leaf Figs are indigenous to the forests of West Africa, so water with lukewarm water to help prevent shock.
Light
Fiddle-leaf Figs favor intense, filtered light. The ideal window is one that faces east or north and has good exposure, but not direct sunshine. Daily brief exposure to direct sunlight is acceptable, but avoid the mid-afternoon sun at all costs. The midday sun’s harsh rays will be too strong for your fig and may scorch the leaves.
Temperature
Warm temperatures, typically between 60 and 75 degrees during the day and no lower than 50 to 55 degrees at night, are ideal for fiddle-leaf fig growth. Maintain the temps as uniformly as you can. Rapid temperature changes can cause shock, which causes leaves to fall. Avoid placing your Fiddle-leaf Fig close to any vents for heating or cooling or windows that could be affected by a draft from the outside. Another suggestion is to lightly spray the leaves in the winter. During the winter, heating your home depletes necessary humidity. Your Fig will benefit from the additional moisture in the air that you can provide on occasion.
Repotting
Unless you observe strong root development peaking from the bottom of the container, fiddle-leaf figs often don’t require repotting until the spring of every other year. This timetable can be followed until it becomes impossible to follow. After that, all that will be required of you is to replace the top layer of soil once a year. Make sure your Fiddle-leaf Fig is potted in a loose, well-draining, nutrient-rich soil to help with moisture difficulties. By doing this, water won’t collect in the soil and soak the roots excessively.
A Note About Pets
Unluckily, pet owners might want to stay away from having a fiddle-leaf fig in their house. Pets that have consumed any part of a fiddle-leaf fig plant may experience stomach upset and inflammation.
Fiddle-leaf Although growing figs can be difficult, with a little perseverance and good care, you can produce a lovely specimen that will complement any home’s decor.
How much sunlight are required by fiddle leaf figs?
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.
A fiddle leaf fig beside a west-facing window can it survive?
Windows that face north frequently receive the least amount of overall light and may not be sufficient for your fiddle leaf fig. If you live further away from the equator, this trend is accentuated. However, if you live in the southern United States, a sizable north-facing window might provide enough light. Think about your window’s size and where you are in relation to the equator. Here in San Diego, I have a very vigorous fiddle leaf fig plant that is situated next to a north-facing sliding glass door.
Early morning sunlight is abundant through east-facing windows, but there is little to no afternoon sunlight, when the rays are strongest. Your fiddle leaf fig requires not only direct sunlight but also continuous sunlight for more than six hours. You could be better off putting your plant in a window with more hours of intense sunshine since an east-facing window may only receive less than 6 hours of moderate sunlight per day.
windows facing west receive strong afternoon sunlight when the sun is at its strongest. Your fiddle leaf fig could burn as a result of this. If you do put your plant in a west-facing window, be careful that the sunshine doesn’t hit its leaves too directly. Your plant may be better protected if there is an overhang outside your window. If not, you might want to move your plant away from the window a few feet so that it is out of the direct sunlight.
A fiddle leaf fig plant thrives best in the lengthy periods of strong sunlight that south-facing windows provide. Your plant will probably receive more than 8 hours of intense sunlight each day if it faces south, but few direct, harsh rays will hit its leaves.
The Bottom Line
Fiddle leaf figs can adapt to less than perfect sunshine circumstances and still grow, but other aspects of their care become more crucial. Water sparingly, use fiddle leaf fig plant food for fertilization, and rotate your plant once a week to ensure that all of the leaves receive sunlight.
Can a fiddle leaf fig be planted in a bedroom?
Given how frequently it appears in home publications, television shows, and blogs, the fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is one of the most popular houseplants right now. The appropriate lighting is crucial to keeping your plant healthy in a bedroom environment because its huge leaves are its focus point.
The gloomy understory of the jungle is ideal for fiddle leaf figs, but indirect light from an east-facing window also promotes their growth. To improve the humidity around the plant, place your fiddle leaf fig on a plate of stones with water in it. In conclusion, the fiddle leaf fig prefers everything in moderation, including temperature, water, and light. Your plant will suffer if there is an imbalance between these components.
How can I tell if the light reaching my fiddle leaf fig is adequate?
Measuring the space between the leaves on your fiddle leaf fig tree is another proven way to determine whether it needs more sunlight.
The leaves of a fiddle will grow more closely together than those of a fiddle that must reach for its solar energy.
Here is an illustration of a fiddle leaf fig that displayed these precise signs. Just two years ago, I gave my mother this beautiful plant:
As you can see, the leaves were able to remain near to one another without suffocating one another due to the abundance of sunlight offered by the greenhouse environment. It was flawless.
I sent it over to my mother without checking for a bright spot in her home. The greatest spot she could locate in her house was close to a window, although it received little natural light.
After a year, she was able to move the large plant outside for some summer heat and humidity, but as you can see, the branches had already started to spread:
This fiddle leaf fig tree had a terrific summer, but when winter arrived, it had to return indoors.
It is now as follows:
Watch for this lanky, “reaching” appearance and address it right away by moving your plant steadily closer to the sun.
Where in a house should a fiddle leaf fig be placed?
The Ficus lyrata, commonly known as the Fiddle Leaf Fig, is featured on the covers and in images of numerous design journals. Its tall stature and large, graceful leaves add drama and height and unify entire rooms. Despite where you’ve seen Fiddle Leaf Figs in pictures, some individuals don’t aware that they need to be placed just in front of a window. They can be challenging to care for until the plant adjusts to your environment and until you figure out when to water them. Continue reading to discover how to keep your fiddle leaf fig alive and healthy for many years to come.
Light
The best setting for Fiddle Leaf Figs is in front of a window that gets direct morning or afternoon light. The ideal window to choose has a primarily unobstructed eastern, western, or southern exposure. You don’t want the window to be shaded by nearby trees or buildings. If your Fiddle Leaf is positioned right in front of the window, a north facing exposure can also work if there is enough room and nothing blocking your view of the sky. You should gradually adapt your tree to being in several hours of direct sunshine if you plan to set it in front of a southern exposure. The leaves could burn and develop brown scorch scars if they receive too much direct sunshine too rapidly. Over the course of 1 to 2 weeks, gradually increase the amount of time it spends in front of a southern window.
The amount of light your Fiddle Leaf Fig need to thrive depends in part on its size. The amount of light a plant needs will increase with its size. For instance, a window would need to be much taller to accommodate a 7′ tall tree than it would a 4′ tall tree.
In general, your fiddle leaf fig will require more light to preserve its existing leaves and spur the growth of new ones the more leaves it has. In order to tell us that it isn’t getting enough light to support all of its leaves, a plant will respond when it isn’t getting enough light by losing lower and interior leaves.
It’s crucial to maintain your plant in front of the window during the winter months when natural light isn’t as abundant but also ensuring sure it doesn’t catch any chilly air from drafts that blow in. If your windows are drafty, try moving your Fiddle Leaf 2 to 3 feet away from the window to observe how it reacts. In most cases, keeping plants at this distance allows them to avoid any sporadic cold air blasts while yet receiving an equivalent quantity of light. For more advice on winter maintenance, keep reading.
A fiddle leaf fig may receive too much sunlight.
Tropical trees with fiddle-shaped leaves are native to West African rainforests. It can reach heights of up to 50 feet in nature, but it often dwells in the understory of larger rainforest trees. It doesn’t require direct sunlight, despite the fact that it enjoys the sun. How does this affect the plant you have at home?
It implies that your fiddle leaf fig tree should thrive as long as you have a sunny, open area. Although it doesn’t require direct sunlight to live, a lot of light will help it grow the best. Make sure your fiddle leaf fig tree is not in a drafty area either, as it doesn’t tolerate significant temperature changes well.
How Much Sun Does Fiddle Leaf Fig Need?
Fiddle leaf fig trees do enjoy bright, sunny areas, but they need time to get used to direct sunlight if they are going to be there. They thrive in filtered indirect sunlight because they are planted in the rainforest’s understory. In an extremely sunny location, there are a few ways to get around this.
Avoid placing your fiddle leaf fig right next to a window that receives full sun all day if you live or rent an apartment, unless you can close a sheer to block the light. Your fiddle leaf fig should be good if the window provides 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. Simply move it a little bit away from the window if you observe any symptoms of stress, such as browning or drooping leaves.
Your fiddle leaf fig will thrive best when planted outside in partial shade provided by other plants, under a shade screen, or on a covered patio or porch. Remember that if you move the tree from indoors to the outside, you will need to gradually adapt it to the bright sun.
Can Fiddle Leaf Figs Grow In Low Light?
In the ideal environment, fiddle leaf figs will develop into large, tall, and stunning trees. Sadly, low light isn’t the best environment for them. While too much direct sunlight can cause their leaves to burn, not enough light will only result in their leaves turning yellow and falling off. Your best option is to locate a bright area close to a sheer-covered window that is illuminated for six hours each day.
Indirect sunlight: What is it?
The two types of light—direct sunlight and indirect sunlight—are the first topic we’ll cover in our indoor plant light guide. Both of these types of light are probably present in your home; the trick is to arrange your houseplants to take advantage of each type of light.
Direct Sunlight
Direct sunlight is defined as light that travels in a direct line from the sun to the plant. For instance, the majority of window sills receive direct sunshine. If your house doesn’t receive enough direct sunshine to feed your plant collection, you can also create direct light with LED grow lights.
Indirect Sunlight
When something blocks the sun’s path and diffuses or filters the light before it reaches your plants, this is known as indirect sunlight. Sheer curtains, furniture, a tree outside your window, or even a different indoor plant placed in front to shield the lower-light plant are some examples.