Fiddle leaf figs are popular because they provide such eye-catching beauty in a home or office. The lush, verdant leaves make a striking impact. But if things go south and the leaves start to drop or get brown spots, your fiddle leaf fig may make you more frustrated than proud. Here are the keys for how to keep your fiddle leaf fig healthy, green, and gorgeous.
1. Make Sure Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Has Perfect Drainage | Keep Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Healthy
One of the most common mistakes new plant owners make is to place their fiddle leaf fig in a container without proper drainage. Make sure to put your plant in a pot with drainage holes. Ficus lyrata need their roots to stay relatively dry and will suffer if the soil is too moist. Never attempt to grow a fiddle leaf fig in a container without drainage and make sure to let your plant’s soil dry out a bit between waterings. Read more about drainage here.
2. Use a Fast-Draining Soil
Fiddle leaf fig plants are susceptible to root rot and bacterial infections if their root system gets too soggy. To keep them healthy, use a fast-draining soil for houseplants. This provides even moisture and also aeration so the roots can breathe. Learn more about the best soil for a fiddle leaf fig here.
Our fast-draining, well-aerated soil is designed to correct brown spots, prevent dropping leaves, and encourage new growth.
Enjoy healthy, dark green leaves and stop stressing about your plant!
BUY PREMIUM FIDDLE LEAF FIG POTTING SOIL3. Give Your Plant Plenty of Sunlight
Originally from Africa, fiddle leaf figs love sunlight and need plenty of it to thrive. They do best next to large, south-facing windows that give 8 or more hours of indirect sunlight per day. Avoid direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves, but try to locate your plant in the sunniest area of your home. Learn more about how much sunlight your plant needs here.
4. Water Carefully | Keep Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Healthy
The most common cause of fiddle leaf fig death is over-watering. Poor drainage and lack of sunlight can make this problem worse. Be sure to never water your plant more than once a week and be careful not to water until the roots have a had a chance to dry out between waterings. If you’re not sure when to water, consider using a moisture meter like this. Read more about watering your plant here.
We've designed a professional grade meter for home use!
Use our three-way meter to give you accurate readings on how much water to give them, whether they are in the right place for sunlight and soil pH values.
BUY FIDDLE LEAF FIG SOIL METER5. Keep Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Healthy and Consider Aerating Your Soil
Your fiddle leaf fig’s roots need both water and air to live. In the wild, natural decomposition and earthworms are constantly aerating the soil. But when potted, the soil becomes compacted over time as you water regularly and your plant’s roots grow. This can cause your plant’s roots to suffocate. Use a wooden skewer or a chopstick to poke holes and gently loosen the soil once a month or so.
6. Feed Your Fiddle Leaf Fig | Keep Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Healthy
With their large leaves and relatively fast growth, fiddle leaf figs have voracious appetites. Make sure you are feeding your plant on a regular basis with a good houseplant fertilizer. Any formula designed for houseplants will work, but fiddle leaf figs do best with a 3-1-2 formulation such as Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food, which is designed to be used every time you water your plant. Read more about feeding your plant here.
7. Bond With Your Plant | Keep Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Healthy
It may seem strange, but research shows that bonding with your plant is critical to its health. Be sure to get to know your plant, consider giving it a name, and check in on it each week for signs of disease or stress. Plants thrive on positive energy and affection, so be kind to your plant and give it some extra TLC to help it look its best.
Grab the Essentials for Your Fiddle Leaf Fig:
- Premium Fiddle Leaf Fig Potting Soil
- Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food
- Root Rot Treatment
- Houseplant Leaf Armor to protect against insects, bacteria, and fungus (As an added bonus, it also cleans and adds shine to your plant’s leaves!)
- Moisture meter to always know when your plant is thirsty.
To learn more:
- Sign up for our free Fiddle Leaf Fig Care 101 Webinar or enroll in our free Fiddle Leaf Fig Course for advanced fiddle leaf fig care.
- Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter.
- Read The Fiddle Leaf Fig Expert, your complete guide to growing healthy fiddle leaf fig plants. The book is available in full-color paperback or Kindle edition on Amazon now!
- Click to join our community on Facebook: Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource Group.
