Grow a stylish fiddle leaf fig in your house! Here is how to care for it:
Updated: Jun 4, 2020
Native to the rainforests of western and central Africa, the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (Ficus lyrata) is a stunning plant with huge, waxy, dark-green foliage that perfectly contrasts with light, neutral walls and furnishings. And that is the reason this plant, for last several years, has been gracing the covers of magazines across the country.
Once you have it home, here is what the plant likes and dislikes:
Light: Bright consistent light, like a place beside a sunny window where it may get around 6 hours of light.
In front of a southern or western facing window is ideal; eastern exposure also works well.
A few hours of direct sun will help the plant thrive.
Soil: Requires well-drained soil, like cactus/palm potting mix.
Add some sand to make the potting mix loose and aide drainage.
Re-potting: It easily becomes root-bound, causing air circulation problems and even root rot. So you have to re-pot about once a year.
You can either re-pot in a slightly larger pot or trim the root ball, not more than 20 percent.
Late Winter is a good time to re-pot your Fiddle Leaf Fig.
Water: It loves humidity, so water thoroughly. But let the top 1 inch of soil dry completely before you water again.
Wipe the leaves once a week with a wet cloth to make them glossy.
Investing in a humidifier could be a great idea for Indian weather.
Fertilizer: Feed with a water-soluble plant food throughout the growing season (Spring/Summer).
Sea weed solution works well.
Pests: Figs are prone to mealy bugs, aphids, mites and scales. Inspect the foliage regularly.
If signs of infestation occur, wipe them off with a hot-and-soapy cloth or a mild insecticide.
- Team Garden Up