Ficus lyrata
Ficus lyrata (Fiddle Leaf Fig) Care Guide
Featured photoficus-lyrata.jpgFicus lyrata is the fiddle leaf fig, a West African rainforest tree grown indoors for its large, violin-shaped, glossy leaves. It is one of the most fashion-driven houseplants and one of the most demanding — it dislikes being moved, dropping leaves at sudden changes in light or watering. With steady bright light, careful watering, and patience, it grows into a striking floor specimen reaching 2 metres or more.
Care facts at a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Water when the top 3 to 5 cm of mix has dried.
- Humidity
- 40–60 %
- Temperature
- 18–27 °C
- Soil
- Well-draining houseplant mix with extra perlite or bark.
- Toxicity
- Mildly toxic. Milky latex sap can irritate skin and the mouth. (humans) · Toxic to cats and dogs per ASPCA Ficus listing. (pets)
- Origin
- Lowland rainforests of western Africa from Cameroon to Sierra Leone.
- Mature size
- 1.5 to 2.5 metres tall indoors.
Overview
Ficus lyrata grows as a large rainforest tree in West Africa, often starting life as a strangler fig before becoming free-standing. As a houseplant it stays a slim juvenile and rewards steady conditions with continuous new leaves.
Care Priorities
- Steady, bright filtered light from a south or east window.
- Do not move the plant once it is settled; sudden light changes drop leaves.
- Water on a steady rhythm; both droughts and floods cause leaf drop.
- Wipe leaves regularly — dust matters and the violin shape collects it.
Common Problems
Brown spots on leaves are usually fungal leaf spot from wet leaves; water at the soil only. Sudden total leaf drop is a stress reaction to a move, repotting, or watering swing. Brown crispy edges are dry air or hard water.
Sources & further reading (3)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-28
- botanical-garden — accessed 2026-04-28
- toxicity-database — accessed 2026-04-28
Frequently asked questions
Why are my fiddle leaf fig's lower leaves dropping?
Sudden lower-leaf drop is almost always a stress reaction to a recent change — moving the plant, repotting, or watering inconsistency. Stabilise conditions and the plant usually settles within weeks.
How often should I water?
Once the top 3 to 5 cm of mix has dried — typically every 7 to 10 days in summer, every 14 to 21 days in winter. Stick to a rhythm; fiddles dislike erratic watering more than slightly off frequency.
Can I prune the top to make it branch?
Yes — cut the leader above a node and the plant typically pushes 2 to 4 new branches from below the cut. Best in spring.
