Fiddle Leaf Fig Care

Q: I was just given a fiddle leaf fig but have no idea how to take care of it. Can you give me some pointers?

A: Fiddle leaf figs hail from West African rainforests, which means they like bright, filtered light, bright enough to easily read a newspaper. But no direct Colorado sun to protect those huge leaves from sunburn. Giving the pot a quarter turn with each watering will ensure even exposure all around the plant resulting in symmetrical, balanced growth.

Water with room-temperature water when the top couple of inches of soil is dry. Use your index finger or a moisture meter. Do not water on a regular schedule, like every Tuesday morning. Water enough for water to run out the drainage hole into a saucer. After 10-15 minutes, discard the water in the saucer. Underwatering slightly is preferable to overwatering, so if you’re still not sure, wait a day or two and check again.

Since this fig is a tropical plant it does not go “dormant” in the winter. This means it will need to be fed on a regular basis, year round. I like to use a water soluble feed at about ¼ strength with every other watering.

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 Read our Q & As with Keith Funk answering common Colorado gardening questions here. You can also hear him on the Garden Wise Radio Show