These plants are indigenous to tropical regions of Africa, where they may flourish in extremely hot and humid environments. The home grower will certainly find it difficult to replicate these humid conditions, making them fairly difficult. They are resilient plants, though, and can endure a less-than-ideal climate for a good amount of time.

As long as you can provide ideal growing circumstances, fiddle-leaf figs are not particularly difficult to grow. Be prepared to rotate your fiddle-leaf fig every few days if it's being grown indoors so a different area faces the light source. It won't lean toward the light and instead grow evenly.

Additionally, use a moist towel to dust the leaves every week or two. This increases the appearance of the leaves' sheen and attractiveness while also allowing more light to reach the leaves for photosynthesis. Additionally, you should remove any harmed or dead leaves as soon as you see them because the plant no longer benefits from them. And if you want a bushier growth habit, you can prune the top of the main stem.

Light

For optimal growth and appearance, fiddle-leaf figs need bright, filtered light. The leaves can become burned by direct sunlight, especially in the intense afternoon sun. Additionally, plants housed in environments with very little light will not develop quickly.

Soil

An indoor fiddle-leaf fig should grow well in any reputable potting soil. Make sure the soil drains properly.

Water

Fiddle-leaf figs prefer a moderate level of soil moisture. The plant's leaves will wilt and turn a duller shade of green if it doesn't receive enough water. Additionally, if a plant receives too much water, it may lose its leaves and get root rot, both of which can be fatal. When the top inch of soil feels dry during the growing season (spring to fall), water your fiddle-leaf fig. Additionally, use a little less water in the winter.

Additionally, these plants are delicate to high soil salt concentrations.

Therefore, it's best to flush the soil once a month or more until water starts to come out of the bottom of the pot. This aids in avoiding salt buildup.

Fiddle-leaf figs dislike abrupt temperature changes. Generally speaking, a room between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit is appropriate, but the plant must be placed away from drafty regions and air-conditioning and heating vents. These may result in abrupt temperature changes.

Try to keep the humidity between 30 and 65 percent. If additional humidity is required, spritz your plant every day with fresh water from a spray bottle. Or, if the bottom of the pot is not contacting the water, you can set it on a tray of stones with water in it. Additionally, fiddle-leaf figs can benefit from being in a humid environment.

Utilize a high-nitrogen plant food during the growing season and fertilize according to the label's instructions. There are fertilizers available that are formulated specifically for fiddle-leaf figs. In most cases, you won't need to feed your plant over the winter.

The most popular fiddle-leaf fig plant that gardeners grow is Ficus lyrata, which is the principal species. However, there are also a number of cultivars available, such as:

• Ficus lyrata ‘Bambino’: This dwarf cultivar only grows to a height of a few feet.
• Ficus lyrata ‘Compacta’: This variant has smaller, more coiled leaves than the primary species and can grow up to 5 feet tall.
• Ficus lyrata ‘Variegata’: This rare variety has showy, green and cream-colored leaves that are a mix.

Pruning a fiddle-leaf fig's leaves on occasion is beneficial. To allow the plant to breathe, trim back any damaged leaves, overgrowth, or branches that are crossing. To prevent any harm, place any cuttings an inch or more away from the trunk. Before attempting to cut a dead, brown leaf off, pull on it very gently to see if it would fall off on its own.

Fiddle-leaf figs grow best from stem cuttings and are very challenging to grow from seeds. Working with a cutting is almost error-free.

1. Cut a stem with a few leaves that is 12 to 18 inches long using a pair of sharp shears. Pinch off all but one of the leaves.
2. Put the vase containing the cutting in a jar or vase filled with fresh, room-temperature water, and place it in a warm location with bright but indirect light.
3. Only when it seems cloudy should you change the water.
4. The base of the stem that is submerged in water will start to develop little white bumps in a few weeks. After that, roots will start to appear in the water from those locations in a few weeks.
5. Plant the cutting in a 1-gallon pot filled with potting soil when the roots are 1 to 2 inches long. Water the soil thoroughly before planting, but do not let it become soggy or overwatered.

A juvenile fiddle-leaf fig should be repotted every spring. Choose a reliable container with a diameter that is around 2 inches larger than the current one. Lift the plant out of its present pot while holding its base steady and set it in the new one. Potting mix should be used to fill in the areas around the plant.

When the plant reaches maturity, it most likely won't fit in a new pot. If that's the case, dig up the top few inches of dirt each spring and add new soil in its place.

Additionally, if you plan to undertake the potting labor outside, wait until it is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit before beginning. The fiddle-leaf fig might get unduly stressed by temperatures below freezing.

Although there aren't any major insect or disease problems with these plants, they are susceptible to scale, spider mites, and bacterial or fungal illnesses. 2 You might see little bugs on the leaves as well as leaf damage, such as spots or dark patches. Use the proper fungicide, insecticide, or other treatment as soon as feasible to address the problem. Additionally, check that your plant has enough airflow and isn't resting in an excessively moist environment, as these factors can help to avoid difficulties in the future.

The behavior of a fiddle-leaf fig plant's leaves can indicate when something is wrong because the plant can be sensitive to its surroundings and watering schedule. The plant may occasionally drop leaves quickly or develop spots on its leaves. Keep an eye out for the initial indications of leaf distress.

Bleached Leaves

The plant may be receiving too much direct sunlight if the tops of the leaves have light brown or bleached areas. This is referred to as leaf scorch or leaf sunburn. When it comes to a fiddle-leaf fig plant, you can trim the leaf with precise shears and move the plant away from the sun's harsh rays.

Brown Spots on Leaves

Your plant may be experiencing root rot as a result of sitting in excessive water if your green leaves start to turn dark brown or brown around the margins. If the roots are brown and mushy, you should inspect them. Remove the spotted leaves and carefully trim the roots' mushy areas. To prevent overwatering, repot your plant and keep an eye on your watering.

Check for drafty areas, heating/cooling units, or vents and relocate the plant to a position that is consistently warmer if you notice brown spots on the plant. Brown spots can also indicate that the plant is experiencing excessive temperature swings.

Yellowing Leaves

Younger fiddle-leaf fig leaves that are yellowing can have bacterial issues. The plant might not be able to be saved. However, you might try removing the harmed leaves and repotter the plant in new soil.

Dropping Leaves

Losing leaves on a fiddle-leaf fig typically indicates that the plant is either receiving too much or not enough water. The plant could also be subjected to abrupt temperature changes, which could potentially cause the plant to lose leaves. Remove the plant from any vents, drafty locations, or heating or cooling systems. Reduce the amount of watering slightly so the soil is never wet and is always just damp.