Fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata): care, watering and pruning

Updated on 22 September 2026Published on 23 February 2022

Thick, shiny green leaves on an upright stem that can reach 10 feet (3 metres) indoors: the fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is grown entirely for that evergreen foliage. Give it abundant indirect light, air that is never dry and a spot it is not moved from, and the leaves stay magnificent year in, year out.

Fiddle-leaf fig at a glance
Name	Ficus lyrata
Family	Moraceae
Type	indoor plant
Height	10 feet (3 meters) indoors
Soil type	soil mix
Exposure	abundant indirect light
Foliage	evergreen

The fiddle ficus is always a favorite houseplant. With proper care, its magnificent lush green leaves will catch the eye year in, year out!

Caring for Ficus lyrata

This tropical plant, like other Ficus, abhors dry air and must be provided with as much moisture as is possible to compensate this lack.

It must be set in a luminous room but cannot be exposed to sunlight.
It likes temperatures from 60 to 75°F (15 to 25°C).
Watering is needed when the soil is dry, but not abundantly and always with water at room temperature.

Moisture needs and watering

Moisture needs of fiddle leaf — Misting and wet clay pebbles raise humidity around the leaves

Aside from regularly misting leaves, as shown here the fiddle leaf fig’s pot can be set on a 1 inch (3 cm) bed of clay pebbles.

These you can drench in water from time to time, so that evaporation can bring moisture up to the leaves.

More ways to give your plant more moisture

Exposure

Good light without being in direct sunlight is best. Avoid moving it too often because this plant needs time to adjust to its new setting.

What a fiddle-leaf fig actually needs

Almost everything that goes right or wrong with this ficus comes down to five things: light, warmth, water, air moisture and how often you disturb it. Here they are side by side.

What a fiddle-leaf fig actually needs
Need	What Ficus lyrata wants	How often
Light	A luminous room, but never direct sunlight	Constant; avoid moving the plant around
Temperature	60 to 75°F (15 to 25°C), out of draughts	All year round
Watering	Room-temperature water, never abundant, only once the soil is dry	At least once a week, spaced out in winter
Air moisture	Misted leaves and a 1 inch (3 cm) bed of clay pebbles under the pot	Regularly, above all in winter when the heating runs
Pruning	Light pruning only, to make it branch out	Once or twice a year, late summer and late winter

Get these five right and the foliage stays lush; most fiddle-leaf fig troubles trace back to one of them.

Watering Ficus lyrata

The Ficus lyrata tree is a tropical plant that needs water and high air moisture.

Water at least 1 time a week, but wait for the soil to be dry before watering again.
Oppositely, in winter, you may space the watering somewhat.
Feel free however to mist the leaves on a regular basis, this will increase leafage quality and keep the leaves from drying up, especially in winter when the heating runs at full blast.

Pruning and trimming Ficus lyrata

Light, regular pruning makes the plant branch out

Ficus lyrata copes with pruning very well.

Pruning fiddle-leaf fig on a regular basis will lead it to branch out more.
You can prune it once or twice a year, better at the end of summer and at the end of winter.
No need to cut the tree back severely, light pruning is enough.
This helps keep the foliage lush.

Ficus lyrata diseases

When it’s well cared for, F. lyrata is a pretty resistant houseplant, but there are a few mistakes that will lead directly to disease and to pest invasions.

Falling leaves

Potted fiddle leaf fig — Leaves often fall after a change of pot or place

This may be connected to a change of pots or of place.
It may also lack light, in which case you must provide more light to it.
Ficus lyrata loses its leaves if its roots wallow in water.
It should quickly bounce back more vigorous than ever.

Leaves turn yellow

The most common cause of this is a red spider mite attack.
Simply treat it with organic mite killer sold in garden stores.
Avoid chemical products, especially indoors!

White blotches on leaves

This is usually due to mealybugs or scale insects to which Ficus lyrata is very vulnerable.

Stunning Fiddle leaf fig varieties

Different varieties of ficus lyrata differ in size — Dwarf ‘Bambino’ suits apartments; variegated forms show pale markings

Though most Ficus lyrata are simply sold as such – Fiddle leaf fig – some varieties stand out. They deserve the extra recognition that uniqueness offers!

The ‘Bambino’ fiddle leaf ficus is a dwarf variety. It grows smaller than the normal Ficus lyrata. Perfect for apartments!
The ‘Variegata’ Ficus lyrata has beautiful light-colored markings on the leaves.

Smart tip about Ficus lyrata

It is a plant which which doesn’t like being moved around. It also doesn’t cope well with being in drafty spots of the house.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my fiddle-leaf fig dropping leaves?

Leaf drop usually follows a change of pot or of place, since this plant needs time to adjust to a new setting. A lack of light will do it too, and so will roots left wallowing in water. Correct the cause rather than watering more, and the plant should quickly bounce back more vigorous than ever.

How often should I water a fiddle-leaf fig?

Water at least once a week, but always wait for the soil to be dry before watering again, and never abundantly. Use water at room temperature. In winter you can space the waterings somewhat, while misting the leaves more often because the heating dries the air.

Why are the leaves turning yellow?

The most common cause of yellowing leaves on Ficus lyrata is an attack of red spider mites, which thrive in dry indoor air. Treat with an organic mite killer sold in garden stores and avoid chemical products indoors. White blotches, by contrast, point to mealybugs or scale insects, to which this ficus is very vulnerable.

How big does a fiddle-leaf fig get, and can I keep one in a flat?

Indoors, Ficus lyrata reaches around 10 feet (3 metres). Light pruning once or twice a year keeps it in bounds and makes it branch out, so there is no need to cut it back severely. If space is tight, the dwarf ‘Bambino’ stays smaller than the ordinary fiddle-leaf fig.

Images: adobestock: Pohkim; shutterstock: faak; Unsplash: Kara Eads, Kira Laktionov, Lauren Mancke

Written by Gaspard Lorthiois | Loves helping out, especially when it comes to growing things. Worked in herbal medicine, runs a farm, and dabbles in tech. Master's degree and engineer.

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