Looking for a new addition to your houseplant collection? Maybe you are just wondering which plant will fit nicely into your office?
Well, fiddle leaf figs are definitely among the coolest kids in town. Almost every hip blog has recently featured this plant.
Open any to home décor or interior design magazine and there’s a good chance you’ll spot the fiddle leaf fig in some of the pictures.
However, fiddle leaf figs are more than just a trend. They have been among the most popular houseplants for many years.
Read on if you want to learn how to successfully grow one yourself.
One of our most visited blog posts includes some tips on caring for the highly desirable fiddle leaf fig tree. We have one left for sale at the shop. Come on by and talk houseplants with us anytime! ? by @rachelgarrisonphotography
— The Estate of Things (@ShopTEOT) October 24, 2018
What Are They?
The fiddle leaf fig, also known as Ficus lyrata, originally comes from the tropical rainforests of central Africa.
Quick Video Guide
According to Wikipedia, this plant can grow up to 15 meters in height in its natural habitat. However, there is no need to worry if you were planning on growing a fiddle leaf fig in your home.
The plant doesn’t have to grow to such heights since you can stop the growth by snipping its roots every once in a while.
The luscious, deep-green, leathery leaves of the fiddle leaf fig are most likely the reason why it has become a beloved houseplant.
Care
So, you have decided to try growing a fiddle leaf fig? Just like with any other houseplant, the first order of business if finding the perfect spot for your new baby.
My fiddle leaf fig from Oct 2015 to Feb 2018. from r/Plant_Progress
Apartment Therapy recommends placing your fiddle leaf fig in a spot with indirect lighting.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Tips
Don’t place your new plant in direct sunlight, but make sure it still gets at least 4 hours of light during the day. Additionally, try to keep the plant away from any air vents and direct drafts.
There is one more thing you should keep in mind regarding the placement of the fiddle leaf fig in your home. They don’t like to be moved around, so you should pick one spot and stick to it. The girls over at A Beautiful Mess say that moving your plant around too much might actually cause the leaves to drop.
When it comes to watering, you should keep in mind that the fiddle leaf fig comes from a rather humid environment. Therefore, they don’t like it when the soil is completely dry. Water your plant when you notice that the top inch of the soil is dry.
Typically, fiddle leaf figs should be watered once a week but this will fluctuate based on the climate in your area, humidity in your home, and various other factors.
On the other hand, fiddle leaf figs don’t like too much water either. According to Greenery NYC, overwatering is actually the most common problem with these plants, so make sure that the soil isn’t constantly soaked.
Finally, the fiddle leaf fig has very large leaves. For this reason, a lot of dust and dirt can gather on their surface. Simply wipe the dust off the leaves with a cloth every once in a while to keep the plant happy.
Fertilizing
Fiddle leaf figs like fertilizer, but you shouldn’t go overboard with it. For best results, you should fertilize your plant once a month at most.
Skipping fertilizer during the winter is also a good idea.
This way, you’ll mimic the natural seasons of growth of the fiddle leaf fig. According to Good Housekeeping, using too much fertilizer can be quite dangerous and ultimately kill your plant.
Pruning
Fiddle leaf figs generally benefit from regular pruning. If you notice any damaged leaves or stems, just snip them off. You can also safely remove the top part of your plant if it starts growing too tall. This will not damage your fiddle leaf fig, but rather make it stronger.
You can also prune the roots of the fiddle leaf fig if you notice them growing out of the bottom of the pot. However, Apartment Therapy warns against cutting off more than 20 percent of the roots.
Brown Spots?
The Kirsten Naturally vlogger answered some common questions regarding this popular plant, including ‘why does my Fiddle Leaf Fig have brown spots?’, ‘why are leaves dropping?’, and ‘why are there red spots?’
And Cats
We have some bad news for cat lovers. The fiddle leaf fig is toxic to cats.
However, according to Wag!, fiddle leaf fig poisoning in cats usually causes only mild symptoms.
Most cats will spit the plant out quickly after trying to eat it since it doesn’t taste very nice.
Hi, my name’s Elena Coolidge. I’m a DIY enthusiast who loves building fun woodworking plans. These DIY plans are fun hobby projects for enthusiasts or even more advanced builders that want to build things like bunk beds, end tables or even a duck box!
