How to Care for Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant (Because They're Notoriously Tricky)

Arricca Elin SanSone

January 25, 2024 at 4:11 PM·5 min read

fiddle leaf fig care — Here's How to Give Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Some TLCSuchada Tansirimas - Getty Images

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Fiddle leaf fig trees have a rock star magnetism that can’t be denied. With their large, leathery leaves and sculptural form, they bring drama to any room. Although it’s a houseplant that’s been around since the '70s, the fiddle leaf fig tree’s popularity has skyrocketed in the last decade due to its appearance everywhere on social media and design blogs.

Native to tropical and western Africa, the fiddle leaf fig is a broadleaf evergreen, reaching 60 to 100 feet tall in the wild. Its botanical name, Ficus lyrata, reflects the fact that the large leaves resemble a lyre, or lap harp. The leaves can reach up to 18 inches long and a foot wide!

Indoors, this trendy houseplant maxes out at 10 feet tall, making it the ideal accent for large rooms. It can be grown outdoors in landscape beds or patio pots in USDA zones 10 and warmer (you can find your zone here). For smaller spaces, there’s also a dwarf variety, ‘Bambino,’ that only reaches 2 feet tall.

While fiddle leaf figs have a reputation for being finicky (which is at least partially deserved), they just need the right conditions to thrive. If it’s too hot, too cold, too dark, too wet or too dry, they’ll get cranky, dropping leaves and looking bad in a hurry.

But with a little TLC, you can grow a fiddle leaf fig tree successfully. First, you need to make sure you have the right location inside your home before buying. They’re pricier than many other types of houseplants, so you want to give them what they need from the start. With the right conditions, you’ll enjoy their elegant form for years.

Here’s what else you need to know about growing and caring for fiddle leaf fig trees.

What Kind of Light Do Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees Need?

The number one fact to remember is that fiddle leaf figs need lots of light. This means placing it an area of your home that receives bright light. This plant does not do well in low to medium light conditions.

Outdoors, these plants grow in direct sunlight, so it’s ideal if your plant gets a few hours of direct sunlight from an east-, west-, or south-facing window in your home. North-facing windows, especially in cold climates in the winter, will not give this plant sufficient light. Invest in a grow light if you don’t have enough natural light.

You also should keep this plant away from heating and air conditioning ducts because it doesn’t tolerate hot or cold air blowing on it.

How Do I Care for a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree?

One surefire way to kill this plant is overwatering. Give your fiddle leaf fig a drink only when the top few inches of soil feel dry to the touch. Yes, that means you must poke your finger into the soil to feel the moisture level every single time before watering. You also can feed it a general-purpose fertilizer at about half the recommended strength on the label when watering.

Because the large leaves catch dust, clean them off occasionally with a damp rag, and turn the pot every few weeks because these plants have a tendency to grow toward the light. Rotating the pot helps your plant grow in a more upright form.

Your fiddle leaf fig doesn’t mind being somewhat root-bound, so you should only need to repot it every few years. You can tell it’s time to repot if you see roots on the surface or poking out the drain holes, or if it seems like the pot is drying out much faster than it used to.

Go up one or two inches in pot size, and use a general-purpose potting soil. Also, make sure the pot has drain holes so excess water can trickle out; no plant likes to stay soggy!

How Do I Prune a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree?

detail of fiddle leaf fig house plant in natural window light — Cavan Images - Getty Images

If your plant is growing wildly or looking spindly, trim it back to make it look more neat and tidy. Simply snip off a few inches of the new growth on the ends of each branch to stimulate it to grow bushier. Wear gloves because the milky white sap can be irritating to skin.

Are Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees Toxic to Pets?

cute corgi dog laying on couch indoors next to fiddle leaf fig — Cavan Images - Getty Images

Unfortunately, this plant is toxic to pets, according to the ASPCA. Keep your nibbling pets away from it. If ingested, your pet may experience vomiting and diarrhea. If you suspect your pet has taken a bite, even if you're not sure, call your vet immediately. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.