Indoor Plants: The Fashion-Forward Fiddle Leaf Fig

Have you ever been flipping through one of those beautiful decorating magazines and had a broad-leafed plant catch your eye? Did a plant in the background of a movie attract your attention? If you answered yes to these questions, there’s a very good chance that the magical “plant of the moment” that you keep seeing is the fiddle leaf fig.

The fiddle leaf fig, or Ficus lyrata, has been subtly featured on the covers and in spreads of magazines as well as many other places in the world of pop culture in the past few years. Many love it for its unique structure, as it is tall and columnar and gives customers quite a lot of plant for their money. The big, dramatic leaves of the fiddle leaf fig actually give it its name, as they resemble the shape of a violin. These plants are fairly tough and adapt relatively easy to new conditions. Once they become acclimated, they can grow to be over six feet tall.

There are some fiddle leaf fig owners who say that they cannot keep one alive for very long, but this is typically due to keeping them in the wrong conditions. Here are a few tips for helping your fiddle leaf fig thrive:

  • Light – Fiddle leaf figs need bright and consistent lighting conditions in order to thrive. They should be placed in front of a sunny window and turned every few months once they begin to lean towards the sunlight South-, east-, and west-facing windows are best. North-facing windows rarely cut it enough for this plant.
  • Soil – Peaty, well-drained soil is the fiddle leaf fig’s favorite.
  • Water – Only water the Ficus lyrata when its soil is dry after checking it with a soil probe. Over or under-watering could cause issues such as the browning and dropping of leaves, root rot, or plant death.
  • Pests – Fiddle leaf figs are susceptible to fairly common pests, such as mealy bugs, scale, mites, whiteflies, and aphids, but on a healthy, growing fiddle leaf fig they are rare. In the event a bug finds its way to your fig, simply wipe it down with a soapy wet rag.

For more information on the beautiful fiddle leaf fig and other indoor plants, contact the green team at PLANTZ today!