Fiddle Leaf Fig | Fiddle & Thorn

Basic Fiddle Leaf Fig Care

With their densely-packed glossy leaves, Fiddle Leaf Figs one of our must-haves for any home and they are quite easy to care for too. Below you will find all the information you need to care for your Fiddle Leaf Fig.

Light	Bright Indirect Light I love the sunshine but too much direct light will damage my leaves.
Water	Water Moderately I don’t like my soil to be too dry or too soggy. Little and often is what I’m after.
Humidity	High Humidity I thrive in humid environments so please mist my leaves every so often.
Soil	Potting Soil I need soil specifically for indoor plants as it retains the right amount of water.

Your Fiddle Leaf Fig will thrive in bright, filtered light

Their favourite spot will be near a sunny window. If possible, try to rotate your Fiddle Leaf Fig every few months so that it doesn’t lean too much towards the light. You might need to move your Fiddle Leaf Fig a little closer to the window in the darker, winter months to help it get the light it needs.

Fiddle Leaf Figs hate sitting in water

Overwatering will cause your Fiddle Leaf Fig’s roots to rot so make sure to keep an eye on this. It is best to wait until the top 2 inches of the soil is dry before watering. Check out our guide on preventing and fixing root rot if you think you may have overwatered your Fiddle Leaf Fig. When watering, it is best to use room temperature water. We also recommend giving your Fiddle Leaf Fig a little more water in spring to encourage new growth.

Fiddle Leaf Figs prefer warm, humid environments

As Fiddles are native to the rainforest, make sure to grow your plant in a regular indoor temperature of 18-24°C. Low temperatures may cause it to develop brown leaves. Fiddle Leaf Figs tend to be sensitive to drafts so make sure to keep them away from open windows or doors. You can easily raise the humidity for your Fiddle Leaf Fig by following our guide.

You can only propagate Fiddle Leaf Figs from a stem cutting

Unfortunately, you can’t propagate Fiddles from a leaf cutting, all roots formed from a leaf cutting are cosmetic and won’t actually grow into a new tree. To propagate your Fiddle Leaf Fig, cut off about 10-15cm from the stem (make sure they are healthy leaves) and place in water. After 4-5 weeks, your cutting should be developing roots and once the roots are a few inches long, the cutting is ready to be potted.

Over-fertilisation can kill your Fiddle Leaf Fig

The best way to fertilise your Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree is to replace the top of the soil with a fresh nutrient-rich layer once a year. Then add a water-soluble fertiliser.

Fiddle Leaf Figs require a nutrient rich soil

Make sure to add some plant food every once in a while to help the luscious green leaves thrive. Make sure you don’t overdo it though as this can cause your Fiddle to grow too much at once, meaning underdeveloped leaves will form.

Pruning your Fiddle Leaf Fig can help healthy growth

Cutting a few leaves off your Fiddle Leaf Fig tree will encourage healthy growth. Make sure you cut off damaged leaves and branches that are overcrowded as these plants need some space to grow healthily. Make the cuts an inch or two away from the trunk so that you don’t damage the trunk. Pruning your Fiddle Leaf Fig tree properly will keep it strong and healthy. We have a whole guide on how to correctly prune your Fiddle Leaf Fig here.

If the roots are showing, it is time to repot

Every now and again take a look to see if any roots are showing out of the bottom of the pot. If so, it is time to repot your Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree.

If you want to keep your Fiddle at its current size, you can trim off some of the root ball but make sure you DO NOT trim more than 15-20% of its roots as this will cause too much damage to the root system.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees can be harmful to pets

It’s important to know that Fiddle Leaf Figs can cause stomach irritation if your pets ingest it so just be a little careful if you have furry friends that like to chew on your plants as they can be a little toxic.

Fiddle Leaf Figs can suffer from pest infestations

Fiddle Leaf Fig trees can sometimes develop pests such as mealy bugs, spider mites and whiteflies. If you find your Fiddle has pest on the leaves, wipe it down with a damp cloth or give your Fiddle Leaf Fig a shower.

Fiddle Leaf Fig FAQs

Quick and simple answers to the most common questions we see about the Fiddle Leaf Fig.

How often should I water my Fiddle Leaf Fig?

You want to make sure that your Fiddle Leaf Fig has time to dry out a little between waterings as this will help to prevent root rot. During the hottest months, you’ll want to water your Fiddle once a week to aid with growth but cut back during winter when your plant will need less and the soil takes longer to dry out.

Are Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees toxic?

Yes, Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees are toxic when ingested so you want to keep them away from pets or children who might chew on the leaves.

How tall do Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees get?

When potted and grown indoors, the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree can reach up to about 9 or 10 feet if in the right environment and given the right care. In their native natural environment, they can grow much taller, to about 40-50 feet.

Are Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees easy to care for?

Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees aren’t the easiest houseplant to care for because they can be a little fussy about their care and environment. However, once you’ve found a good spot and worked out a care routine, they can become quite low maintenance.

Can Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees survive in low light?

Unfortunately, Fiddle Leaf Figs don’t thrive in low light areas as they can quite quickly begin to drop their leaves. You want to find a spot that has bright but indirect light.

Common Problems with your Fiddle Leaf Fig

Here are some common issues that you might run into. It's important to diagnose any issues early to give your plant the best chance of bouncing back.

Why are my Fiddle Leaf Fig's leaves drooping?

Drooping leaves on your Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree is most probably due to watering issues, too much, too little, not enough drainage. There is quite a lot of information on this which is why we have written a whole guide on why your Fiddle Leaf Fig’s leaves are drooping.

Why are my Fiddle Leaf Fig's leaves turning yellow/brown?

Yellow leaves on your Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree may be a sign of watering issues or light sensitivity. We have written a detailed guide to help you diagnose why your Fiddle Leaf Fig has yellow leaves.

Why is my Fiddle dropping leaves?

If you see that your Fiddle Leaf Fig is losing leaves, it may be due to underwatering, dry air or a sudden change in environment amongst other things. We have written an extensive guide to help you diagnose why your Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree is losing leaves.

Dark brown edges on your Fiddle Leaf Fig's leaves

Brown edges on your Fiddle Leaf Fig could be a sign of overwatering so check the moisture in the soil. Make sure to water it a little less or replace with fresh soil if it is waterlogged. For more information, see our guide on brown Fiddle Leaf Fig leaves.

Why are there brown spots on the my Fiddle Leaf Fig's leaves?

If you see brown spots on your Fiddle Leaf Fig it could be getting too much sun or the temperature is too low so see if there is another spot in your home more suited to its needs.

Small pests on the underside of my Fiddle Leaf Fig's leaves

Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees can suffer from a range of pests. Wipe them off with a warm and soapy cloth or treat with insecticide if the problem persists. We have written a guide on how to get rid of the common pest Spider Mites.

My Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree has been neglected

We totally understand that sometimes it isn’t possible to give your houseplants all the love they require. This is why we have written a specific guide on how to revive your dying Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree.