If you’ve heard the countless horror stories about fiddle leaf figs then you know how intimidating they can seem, but they truly aren’t as hard to care for as they seem. So today I’m going to show you how to keep a fiddle leaf fig alive!
The first time I laid eyes on a fiddle leaf fig I knew I had to have one, they are so gorgeous with their big bright green leaves and substantial size. Plus I knew just the right spot to put my new love once it arrived.
Honestly, I researched more about how to take care of a fiddle leaf fig than I had ever researched anything in my life and after reading all of the conflicting information out there my head was spinning.
So I put all of the things I read into practice, I watered once a week (but only one cup), I rotated weekly, I cleaned the leaves, I did every single thing I had read was the secret to keeping it alive but guess what? It didn’t work…
Within three months what once was my gorgeous new plant had now dropped almost every one of its leaves and the ones that were left had huge brown spots on the edges.
I was so disappointed but honestly not surprised because I had never actually kept any plant alive.
So while on a trip to Home Depot one day I spotted one that was much larger than the first one I purchased and somehow convinced Wayne that we needed to bring another unsuspecting victim home with us.
Once home we moved the dying plant into a little corner of our bedroom and brought in his new much better-looking replacement. Knowing that all of the things I had tried before didn’t work I knew I needed to figure something else out or the new one would most likely meet the same fate.
So I stopped watering weekly and only watered when the leaves began to droop a little. For the most part, I left both plants alone other than opening the shades every morning to give them the sunlight they love so dearly and guess what?
Something miraculous happened later that summer, within a week the one in our living area grew an entire foot and the one that was on the verge of death was sprouting new leaves as well!
I was so happy I couldn’t believe I had actually managed to keep not one but two fiddle leaf figs alive and they were actually growing!
While all of this was going on I had made a quick video and put it on Instagram stories so all of my local friends could snag one for themselves since Home Depot only gets them in store a few times a year.
As soon as I did the questions came rolling in and I suddenly realized that even with the information that is currently out there so many people still believe they could never keep one alive.
So I created this step by step guide on how to keep your fiddle leaf fig alive would be a great help and trust me if I can do it with my notorious black thumb so can you!
How To Keep A Fiddle Leaf Fig Alive
Watering: This is the number one thing that keeps my fiddle leaf fig happy and thriving. My secret is waiting for my tree to begin showing signs it needs water. I don’t test the soil with my finger or do any other magic tricks, I simply notice when the leaves start to droop just a tad then I know its time to water. When I water I stick my tree in the sink and make sure the water is not freezing then I let the water run gently into the pot. I usually leave it there for around 1-2 minutes then I let it sit there until the next morning giving all of the extra water time to drain out. Typically I do this around bedtime when the sink isn’t being used. They don’t like soggy feet so don’t skip this step.
Sunlight: They love indirect sunlight and I have had great luck with one right in front of the window but the smaller nearly dead one lives in a much darker corner of our bedroom where it doesn’t get as much light. This is the very spot that it came back to life so anything is possible, just make sure you open the windows in the morning and allow the light to come in most of the day. We always shut our shades around 4:00 pm because we have west-facing windows and the Oklahoma evenings can be brutal.
Clean Leaves: I know what your thinking and no you absolutely don’t have to clean the leaves of your tree every week or even every month but due to the large size they tend to get a little bit dusty so every now and then give the leaves a good wipe down. You can use just a bit of coconut oil and a soft towel to gently wipe the leaves clean.
Rotation: After every watering, I rotate our trees so the other side isn’t being deprived of the sun. When the trees aren’t turned periodically they do tend to lean one direction. This is not something you have to obsess over just give it a little spin when you feel like it has been a while or when you put it back in place after watering. If you notice your tree leaning and have tried spinning the container and that still hasn’t helped, you may need to invest in some garden stakes which when taped to your tree will help to keep it nice and straight. You can find those here.
Minimal Movement: They don’t like being moved from place to place, in fact, once you bring your tree home you may notice it acting a little grumpy due to the move but don’t worry it will settle down. Once you have a designated space for your tree it is a good idea to leave it there and not move it from room to room or even different areas of the same room. These trees get very comfortable and aside from moving them to the sink for waterings then 8 hrs later putting them right back in their spot, I wouldn’t play musical plants with this one.
Brown Spots: You may see brown spots start to develop on your gorgeous leaves, this is a clear indicator that your tree is either getting too much water or not enough. If you have only been watering when your tree looks thirsty then you know you need to water more frequently. Honestly, since I switched from scheduled watering to waiting until I can tell the tree is thirsty I haven’t had any new brown spots develop, so that tells me it is most likely caused by overwatering.
Beware of Drafts: Having our tree too close to an exterior door during the winter is what set the wheels of death in motion. It did great in that spot all summer long but the moment it turned cold it immediately started dropping leaves. Once the plant was moved away from the cold draft it slowly started to perk up.
Re-potting: Do not re-pot your fiddle leaf fig until you’ve seen a substantial amount of growth. They do not like to be in pots that are too large, they would rather be nice and tight. All of ours are still in the same pot they came in the day they were purchased, I just throw them in a basket to make them look better plus the basket adds texture to the space as well. Nursery pots are also wonderful for proper drainage and if you’re new to plants I highly recommend keeping your plants in these type of containers, at least for a little while until you learn more about the plant.
This post may contain affiliate links for your shopping convenience, this is at no extra cost to you. For information see my disclosures here.
To some of you, this may seem like a lot of work just to have a live tree in your home but I promise it is totally worth it and when you have a system in place it really doesn’t take much effort.
The amount of style this gorgeous tree can bring into your home is unmatched by any other and you may find after a while you get addicted to them just like I have.
You can order them online from Home Depot here or you can check your local store, I have done both because our store only gets them in around spring/summertime.
Ordering online was actually a much better experience than I thought it would be. I received not one but two plants in one pot and they were both substantial in size, very well cared for and the packaging completely protected the plant during shipping.
They are very affordable and worth every penny in my opinion and you never know, you may get lucky and find one the size of an actual tree for $34.99 like I did!
You can shop the images below directly by simply clicking on the image.
Don’t forget to pin the photo below to save these tips for later.
These are great tips! I can’t even keep succulents alive so I’ve always been too scared to try a fiddle leaf fig. Maybe I’ll give it a try! Pinning for later, thanks Ashley!
Beth I’m the exact same way my succulents die fairly quickly but I’ve become a master at these fiddle leaf figs and I’m addicted! You can totally do it, the main issue is overwatering for most people so just follow the steps above and you’ll be good!
Hi Ashley,
Great tips! I received a Fiddle for Christmas and I love her but she’s starting to develop a few brown spots and has been dropping a leaf or two a week. I have a rather tall Fiddle that wouldn’t fit in the sink due to height so soaking it isn’t an option. What would you do in this case?
Thanks so much!
Thank you Caitlin 😊 Mine usually always drop a few leaves in the winter or when they are adjusting to our home but they usually calm down after a bit. Since it won’t fit in the kitchen sink I would try the shower or bathtub. I have read of people using the shower as well as letting them sit in the bath to let all of the water drain properly. I would just make sure to water it very well then let it sit in there until it is done draining. Just make sure to keep the water Cool and not cold because they tend to hate the cold water in my experience. Thanks again for stopping by!
Where did you buy your plants online?
Thanks for stopping by Jessica, I bought them through Home Depot they have a great online plant service and the plant I’ve recieved have always been in good shape. Here’s a link to the fiddle leaf fig- Affiliate **
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Costa-Farms-Ficus-Pandurata-Bush-in-8-75-in-Grower-Pot-10PAN/203380954?AID=11210757&PID=4441350&SID=.MjcxMzUzLTA.19f216ae-32fd-11e8-8a79-67ad208e8029&cm_mmc=CJ-_-4441350-_-11210757&cj=true
Dear Ashley, Like you, I to have somewhat of a black thumb, but a Fiddle Leaf Fig would be SO wonderful to have and take care of. They are SO beautiful. Since I live in a place where the sun goes East to West almost directly over my place., could I put one in a corner next to the patio window (where the sun comes through)? Also, I’m afraid to leave it there in the winter months. The sun would be lower but the cold from the glass might upset my plant. Could I move it away a little bit without upsetting the plant too much? They are LOVELY plants to have in your home!!!!! Thanks, Ashley!! Frank
Thank you Frank, yes you 100% can place it by the window and I wouldn’t worry about it getting chilly in the winter, we have one that lives by our back window year round and it seems to love it there. The one thing I have had a problem with in the winter is having them by the back door that my husband goes in and out of all the time, it hated the draft and dropped a few leaves. But I think the window will be great as long as there isn’t a huge draft of cold air coming in it will be fine. 🙂 thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you find a beautiful fiddle leaf fig!
What if you bought the tree when it was already 6ft tall and cannot lift it into a sink to water it? TIA! Loved all these tips. Do you fertilize?
Thank you Kim, I am so glad you found the tips helpful! For one that size, I would say start with a cup of water every 1-2 weeks in the summer (less often in the winter) and see how it acts if it’s super dry and droopy you may need to increase the frequency or amount of water. Mine are pretty big and I am wrangling them into the sink for as long as I can because they really love being soaked then drained overnight so if there is any way you can do that it would help take the guesswork out of the amount of water your tree needs. Even scooting them into the shower then letting it drain overnight would be good just make sure the water temp is okay before turning it on.
I just got my FLF yesterday! He is still small, and I have been debating if I should keep him in the nursery pot or if I should just go ahead a re-pot him in the slightly bigger (maybe 2 inches bigger) plastic pot that his nursery pot is placed in. Any advice?
Congrats on your new baby! To be honest I haven’t repotted mine and I’ve had them for nearly three years (I plan on doing it in the next few weeks) but from everything I know about them you should be totally fine repotting it now, just make sure you don’t go much bigger with the pot because they do like to be snug vs in a pot that is too big. Mine would probably be 3x’s the size if I had repotted them a long time ago!
Hi Aliyahp, I still have mine in the nursery pot 4 years later 🙂 I plan on repotting next season but mine have grown every year in the nursery pots just fine. As long as you only go a size up and don’t put it in a much bigger pot it should be fine, I have heard that they like to be kept nice and tight in the pot but I haven’t tried repotting yet so I can’t say for sure how much bigger you could go and still be safe but I think 2″ would be fine.
Ashley,
Great tips, I have had my fig for about a year and a half. its about 6 feet tall. It was full of leaves top to bottom. over the year it has continued to drop leaves from the bottom and has yet produced a new leaf 🙁 its a beautiful tree but not growing. I am watering it 1 x week 3 cups of water. what am I doing wrong? any suggestions?
Hi Krystalyn,
Dropping leaves from the bottom is a surefire sign of overwatering. Fiddles are very finicky and absolutely hate being watered too often. So the first thing you should do is stop watering immediately and wait 1.5-2 weeks before you water again.
The next thing and this is something I think is important since fiddles also hate standing in water so allowing the pot to drain is something that cannot be skimped on. Our trees are both over 6 ft tall and I am still able to lift them up onto our kitchen sink because we have high ceilings but if you don’t I recommend taking it to the shower and give it a good soaking before you go to bed then leave it in the shower to drain all night (make sure you have plenty of drain holes in your pot to keep the roots from soaking in water which will cause root rot) Basically you want to let cool water run in the pot for 4-5 mins then let it drain overnight, the next morning I tip my pot over to make sure all of the excess water drains out before I take it out of the sink then put it back in its spot. I recommend only doing this every few weeks in the winter and once a week in the summer months.
You should typically be seeing new growth every spring/summer. Mine are so crazy that they are still sprouting new leaves and its November!!! I hope this is helpful 🙂
Ashley, sorry to but in on this email but when I got my FLF, it was already in a pot that was way too big. Should I repot it in a smaller pot now? It has no leaves on the the bottom third of the tree and it has brown spots on leaves. This plant was given to me to try to save it? I’m not doing so good so far. Thank you for any advice.
Yes I would repot it in something more snug. They like being tight in the pot. Good luck ☺️
Oh no!! I just got a fig for my Birthday 1 month ago. I put it in a new pot today, bigger than the one it came home in (about 3″ all around). And…the new pot is sealed on the bottom but I did out some stuff in the bottom to help drainage…just no holes. It sits south facing ok no a corner. There may be a little draft so I could move it to a different spot during winter. I can follow your directions, but I’m concerned that I took it out of its original pot!!
It should be okay that you repotted it but I would definitely add some holes for drainage or it likely won’t do very well. They are so moody and don’t like sitting in water at all. Good luck with your baby!
Hello, I am getting a FLF in the mail tomorrow and I cantttttt wait! I am so excited! I don’t have a green thumb at all! So your tips have helped! I see that you said you kept it in the plastic container it came it, so does that mean you just used that soil too and didn’t change any of that? I’m going to try hard to keep alive! Thanks so much!
Yes I just left everything as is! Believe it or not it’s been years and they are still in the original container which I should have changed a long time ago but I’m planning on doing it this spring.
Where did you get your baskets that you have the plants in? Are they lined with plastic?
Caroline the baskets are just regular baskets from Wayfair and target, they don’t have lining but I bet you could make your own lining fairly easy with some plastic sheeting.
I’m confused. You said move it to the sink every time you water it but that it doesn’t like to be moved? Also mine is to heavy and too big to move to the sink.
Hi Kim, I can see how that might be confusing but what I mean is they do not like to be moved around to different areas of your home and left there. It can put them into shock and they start dropping leaves. Typically when you bring them home from the store they “freak out” a bit until they get used to. There are some that like to move their plants to different rooms or different spots in a room and the FLF is not the type of plant that likes that… When I move to water the tree is there roughly 8 hrs then I put it back into its normal spot by the window. I will update the post so that I’m more clear on that aspect.