Caring for a Fiddle Leaf Fig

Care Tips for the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

1. It is helpful to remember that Fiddle-Leaf Figs (aka “Lyre Leaf Fig”) are native to a rainforest area in Africa. The soil there is full of organic material and underlain with lots of volcanic minerals, and the air is very humid. In your home, it is likely that the air is very dry due to air conditioning and heating. The first tip is to mist the leaves as often as you can; daily is not too much! You can use a simple trigger sprayer or a more stylish mister. Some people swear by adding SuperThrive or Liquid Seaweed drops to the water they spray on the leaves.

2. Don’t let the plant dry out completely, but don’t overdo it. Each situation is different, but watering once or twice a week ought to be just fine. If you see yellowing leaves toward the bottom of the plant, that is an indication that it is getting too much water. You want to make sure the pot drains very well, but you also want to thoroughly wet the root ball. Water can, and always will take the path of least resistance, and simply travel around the roots. Ice cubes set on the surface of the root ball will slowly melt and soak the roots efficiently.

3. Place the tree in its long-term place, and try to refrain from moving it around. They grow slowly and acclimate slowly. A bright room with lots of indirect sunlight is ideal. East or North-facing windows are ideal, as they never get blasted with direct sun for too long. Fiddle Leaf Figs prefer “normal” indoor temperatures, and can never be exposed to freezes if they’re kept outdoors.

4. Leave the husks and any bare branches unless they’re moldy. The husks protect new buds that can generate leaves. You can trim leaves with brown outer edges, but don’t pull the leaves off. This is harmful and reduces photosynthesis.

5. Plant in high-quality, well-drained soil. Ocean Forest by Fox Farm gives us the best results. It drains well and is plump with all the necessary nutrients your Fiddle Leaf Fig will need.