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Indoor Plant Spotlight

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Fiddle Leaf Fig

Is a fiddle leaf fig a good indoor plant?

The fiddle leaf fig is one of the world’s most popular indoor plant/ tree. And they are rather Instagram worthy! It can be positioned indoors, which is one of the reasons it is so popular, they can transform a room for instant greenery and a tree like feature. So yes, they certainly are a great indoor plant!!

It has large, heavily veined and violin shaped leaves that grow upright on a sleek trunk. It is a relatively fast grower (even our dwarf fiddle leaf fig grew to 2.2 metres!). 

If the top leaves begin to die off you can trim that section off and it will reshoot from the trunk, often adding a lovely new branch (with visual appeal). 

They do prefer a more humid climate but do very well in a dry one too (we live in one of the driest states in Australia and have about 7 of them!). 

Is a fiddle leaf fig high maintenance?

Like a  lot of indoor plants the fiddle leaf fig will attract pests and disease. However they are a relatively low maintenance plant. Often it will drop it’s leaves (which will tell you something is up!). 

It’s large leaves will gather dust, so regular dusting with a damp cloth will help remove the build up and ensure longevity. You can mist the leaves with a spray bottle of water, which increases humidity. This is important during winter when rooms have heating. 

We recommend repotting every spring when the plant is young but only replace the top soil once a year for a mature plant.

How much does a Fiddle Leaf Fig need watering?

When it comes to watering, only water if the top 5cm of soil is dry to touch. It does love a good drink but not to be over watered (speaking from experience here).

Scientific Name: Ficus Lyrata

  • Family: Moraceae
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Soil Type: Loamy, well drained, med. moisture
  • Mature size: 3m (indoors)/ 15m (outdoors)
  • Growth width: up to 4m wide (indoors)
  • Plant Type: Broadleaf Evergreen
  • Native Area: Tropical western Africa
  • Toxicity: Toxic to cats & dogs

Fiddle leaf fig indoor

How do you take care of a fiddle leaf fig in Australia?

Due to our exceptionally intense sunlight we recommend a bright spot near a window (for indoors). They also do well on a patio or verandah in the shade with a bit of sun. We have one out the back on a north facing patio which is fine in winter but in the warmer months it gets too much heat. They love the bright indirect light and a little sun. 

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