If you’re looking for a beautiful tropical plant to bring fresh color, texture, and life into your home, the fiddle leaf fig may be exactly what you need. With its large, glossy leaves and striking tree-like appearance, this popular houseplant makes a bold statement in any room.
Whether you’re creating a cozy indoor jungle or simply looking for a stunning focal point, the fiddle leaf fig is sure to add natural beauty and a touch of the tropics to your space.
Fiddle Leaf Care
The ficus lyrata, commonly known as the fiddle leaf fig tree, needs a stable environment to thrive in. The right light, soil, water, and other factors will ensure your new house plant will stay in healthy condition for many years!
Light
The fiddle leaf fig tree grows best in bright, indirect sunlight. Bright light from the East is the best direction, but it can grow well in other places, as long as it gets bright indirect light from the sun.
Soil
Purchase a well-draining potting mix so that the roots have plenty of space and room to grow. The soil should be a little acidic, with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. I use regular potting soil, and my fiddle leaf has been doing fine.
Water
The ficus lyrata needs a good amount of water to grow. Give your house plant plenty of water about once a week. Make sure to water your fiddle leaf deeply so that the roots get the water they need as well.
Temperature and Humidity
The fiddle leaf needs consistent temperatures to remain healthy indoors. Keep the inside of your home around 60°F to 75°F. Cold temperatures can hurt your plant, so try not to get lower than 60°F.
These tropical trees do like humid environments, around 40 to 60%
Fertilizer
Fertilize your fiddle leaf plant in the spring and summer. Use a 3-2-1 ratio so that the plant gets plenty of nitrogen. Ficus lyrata trees do not need to be fertilized in the fall or winter when they are dormant.
Fiddle Leaf Types
House plant enthusiasts might want to add each type of fiddle leaf tree to their home for a tropical feel.
- Ficus lyrata – This is the most common type of of these tropical trees. Large, green leaves grow from a main stem. The plant can reach 6 to 10 feet high indoors.
- Compacta – The compacta looks comparable to the ficus lyrata, except it grows compact with smaller leaves. The compacta can grow about 5 feet tall.
- Bambino – The bambino is a well-known miniature variation of the fiddle leaf. This plant can grow up to 2 to 4 feet high indoors.
- Variegata – This type of fiddle is rare and sought after by plant collectors. The leaves of this plant are green with cream and yellow throughout, making it a beautiful sight to behold for plant lovers.
How to Prune a Fiddle Leaf
From time to time, you may want to prune your fiddle-leaf fig tree to keep a neat appearance. Get a sharp hand pruner and make a 45-degree cut between leaf nodes.
Some experts say to wait until your tree is 5 feet tall before pruning it. The best time to prune is late spring or summer when the plant is in the midst of its growing season.
Propagating a Fiddle Leaf
Did you know you can propagate a fiddle-leaf fig tree? This is a great way to grow more plants without purchasing them. An easy way to propagate a ficus lyrata is through a stem cutting. You can let the root grow in soil or water, whichever you prefer.
- Cut a branch with 3 or more leaf nodes
- Remove the leaves at the bottom
- Place in water that is at room temperature. If you want to propagate your leaf in soil, place rooting hormone on the part that you cut before putting it in the soil
- Keep the branch in bright, indirect light
- Make sure to change the water each week
- Transplant the cutting in soil once the roots are 1-2 inches long