Light
Bright, indirect
Ideal spot
Ficus lyrata · Foliage plant
Bright, indirect
Ideal spot
about weekly
In the growing season
Moderate
Moderate grower
Toxic
Cats & dogs
Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) belongs to the Moraceae family and is a moderate houseplant to look after. This moderate grower plant is happiest in bright, indirect and reaches 60–250 cm indoors.
For watering, the rule is simple: let the top dry out. In the growing season it needs water roughly every 7 days, dropping to every 12 days in winter. Use the watering calculator below to tune that rhythm to your pot size, light and household humidity.
Important: Fiddle Leaf Fig is toxic to pets — keep it out of reach of cats, dogs and children.
Set your pot size, light and humidity — the calculator tunes the watering rhythm to your home.
Light at the spot
Humidity
Season
Water Fiddle Leaf Fig
every 7 days
≈ about weekly · 4.3× per month
Let the top 2–3 cm dry and finger-check before watering again.
Fiddle Leaf Fig prefers bright, indirect but will cope with medium to bright. Harsh midday sun can scorch sensitive leaves, while too little light leads to leggy, sparse growth.
Keep Fiddle Leaf Fig between 16–27 °C and aim for around 55% humidity (40% minimum). Below 12 °C it risks cold damage — keep it away from draughty windows and radiators.
16–27 °C
Not below 12 °C
55%
40% minimum
Let the top dry out
Soil between waterings
Pot Fiddle Leaf Fig in free-draining, loam-based mix. A drainage hole is essential — soggy, airless soil is the single most common way houseplants die.
The milky sap contains ficin and irritates skin, mouths and stomachs — toxic to cats and dogs and an allergen for some people.
The best ways to propagate Fiddle Leaf Fig are stem cuttings and air layering. Late spring and summer are ideal, when the plant is growing most actively.
Its large, violin-shaped leaves made it an interior-design icon, but it sulks if moved or over-watered.
In the growing season Fiddle Leaf Fig needs watering about weekly (about every 7 days in a 16 cm pot at medium light), and much less in winter — roughly every 12 days. Use the watering calculator above to get the exact interval for your conditions.
Fiddle Leaf Fig thrives in bright, indirect. A spot near a bright window out of harsh midday sun is ideal; give it a little more light in winter.
Fiddle Leaf Fig is toxic to pets. The milky sap contains ficin and irritates skin, mouths and stomachs — toxic to cats and dogs and an allergen for some people.
The most common problem with Fiddle Leaf Fig is leaf drop. Check your watering and drainage first — most issues trace back to too much or too little water.
The best ways to propagate Fiddle Leaf Fig are stem cuttings and air layering. Late spring and summer are ideal, when the plant is growing most actively.
Indoors Fiddle Leaf Fig typically reaches 60–250 cm. With the right light and occasional repotting it stays compact and bushy.
Care data last verified on 15 June 2026.
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