I often get asked about caring for my many Fiddle Leaf Fig plants when I share them. I’m certainly not an expert, but I have managed to keep many alive over the years! I love the look of a FLF. Of course, they are known to be finicky, and my large tree I had for many years recently needing a chopping (so sad)! You win some, you lose some, but they are worth trying in my opinion! I believe every room should have at least one live plant in it. They bring so much color and texture and liveliness to a space.

When I was first introduced to fiddle leaf figs, I bought a large tree at a nursery. She was full and beautiful (she’s still alive, I just had to sadly chop her). These things are not for the faint of heart! I spoke at length with the expert at the local nursery where I purchased it so I was well versed on how to care for it. It was expensive so I wanted to do my due diligence. Everything I’m sharing here are tips from the nursery. I’ll also sprinkle in some knowledge of just living with FLF for 10 years. I’ve acquired so many and have them in all corners of our home. I will break down what works for me.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Tips

Watering

How much to water seems to be the most tricky thing! too much water for plants in general will kill them, and FLF are no exception. Not enough water and they will drop leaves. I can’t stress enough how finicky these suckers are! When I purchased my large tree, I was told to water when the soil felt dry about 3 inches down. Yes, just use your fingers to feel the soil. If dry, it’s time to water. I was instructed to water slowly until you start to see water trickling out of the bottom of the grow pot. This way you know you have really soaked the plant.

You must have drainage holes in your pot! This means it’s potted in a grow pot with drainage holes and that can then be set in something more decorative (but make sure you put a plastic drip pot in between the grow pot and the decorative pot so you don’t ruin your floors or basket!

Don’t let your plant sit in standing water, but this is your clue that you’ve watered enough. Once the plant is soaked, you shouldn’t have to water again for several weeks (for a large tree). I water my smaller FLF more often because they dry out quicker. It’s all about assessing when it’s dry and then soaking it. Don’t get eager to overwater!Tip: If you are watering a large pot and the water starts coming out of the bottom immediately, there is something wrong with the soil. Your roots will not be able to take up the water if it is leaving the pot too quickly. You might need to add more soil or repot. In the warmer months, I like to bring outside to give a good soaking.

Light Needs

I know there are suggestions for which part of a home to put a FLF in. Because I have so many, I literally put them in all directions in front of every window. Fiddle leaf Figs certainly love bright light! You want to make sure they aren’t being directly pummeled by the sun or the leaves with burn. They will grow best with a lot of natural light. You don’t want to put them in a dark room or basement. Try to find the brightest light possible in your home and place it there. Again, make sure it is filtered, but still getting soaked in sunshine for part of the day.

Fertilizer

I have been using Happy Happy Houseplant fertilizer on all my houseplants for about the last year or so and I absolutely love it! It works! It’s safe enough to use every time you water so you know your plants are getting all the nutrients they need. I’ve turned my mom onto it as well and she’s obsessed too. The Happy Happy Houseplant instagram account is such a fabulous resource for a deep dive on all things FLF.

Soil + Repotting

Just make sure your FLF has good draining soil. I don’t use anything fancy for mine, just whatever I find at my nursery or hardware store. I’ve learned that fiddles don’t love to be in huge pots, so just plant in one a size up from the rootball (or leave in it’s grow pot for a while when you bring it home). You can tell when you need to repot when the roots start coming out of the top and/or bottom of the grow pot it is in. Be sure to assess your plants every year to see if you need to add some additional soil to the top or repot. If, when you water, the water goes through the soil super quick, you might pack in more soil around your plant. Click here to see an instagram reel of repotting one.

Dusting

Be sure to wipe the leaves your fiddles whenever they get dusty. This can happen quickly! If the dust doesn’t get wiped away, the plant can’t take in all that indirect sunlight it needs to thrive. You can use a soft cloth, a wet cloth, neem oil, plant leaf cleaner, etc. I have found that these glove dusters work great! Occasionally, I will dust with neem oil too.

Propagating a New Fiddle Leaf Fig

You can find a full post on propagating a new fiddle leaf fig here. Many times it is recommended to chop a fiddle leaf fig to promote new growth. This can be scary! If you are feeling like your fiddle is now growing or it’s gotten really large, you might consider chopping the top off to encourage new growth. You can then try to propagate the cutting. I don’t have a ton of experience with this, so I can’t speak to it in great detail. I did chop the top off the fiddle in the photo above as it was long and leggy with very few leaves. Once chopped, it started to grow new leaves at the bottom. She’s slowly starting to fill in and become better looking. Find a reel about this here.

Bringing Outside

It’s highly recommended to bring your fiddles outside in the warmer months. Nothing inside can mimic the natural light, water, humidity and conditions of the outdoors. I live in Kansas and it’s just windy all the time here so it’s something to contend with! A few summers ago I tried bringing one of my large Fiddle Leaf Fig trees outside and it just blew all over and it looked awful. This summer, I decided to put one on my front porch. It is covered and I kind of tucked it away with some other houseplants. It’s thriving outside and getting new leaves (faster than it would inside). Please keep in mind, you don’t want your fiddle in full sun or the leaves with burn. Move to a covered/filtered space that is slightly protected from the direct sun and wind.

Different Looks

All of my fiddle leaf fig trees/plants look different. They all get different light, have their own struggles, etc. It’s a case by case basis – ha! You really have to find what works for your plants in your own home. Tend to your fiddles and do some research if you feel like something is off! In these photos you can also see the different pots/baskets I put my fiddles in. I like to switch things up and have a mix of pots, ceramic, terra cotta, concrete, baskets to put my houseplants in. It keeps things interesting and provides lots of texture.

I hope this helps with how to care for a fiddle leaf fig if you have your own fiddle leaf or are thinking of getting one. You can pretty much find Fiddles at any garden store, including Home Depot and Lowes. They are so popular now, they can basically be found anywhere, large or small. Also look at Walmart and IKEA and your local nurseries. Don’t beat yourself up if you think you can’t keep one alive. I totally get it! Start small and work your way up to more/larger ones! XO