How to water a fiddle-leaf fig
Ficus lyrata
Quick answer
Check the mix about 5 cm (2 in) below the surface. Water Ficus lyrata when that zone is dry, then wet the root zone thoroughly and let the excess drain.
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- Starting point (summer)
- every 6 to 8 days
- Starting point (winter)
- every 11 to 17 days
How to water a fiddle-leaf fig
5 cm (2 in)
- 01
When to water
Check the mix about 5 cm (2 in) down and water when that zone is dry. Do not put a fiddle-leaf fig on a fixed weekly interval without considering light, pot size and season.
Expect the interval to lengthen when growth and evaporation slow in dimmer or cooler winter conditions, but keep using the mix’s dryness rather than a calendar as the trigger.
- 02
How to water thoroughly
When the checked zone is dry, water the root zone thoroughly and let excess leave the drainage holes. Empty collected water rather than leaving the pot in standing water. No universal volume is set.
Use a well-drained container and medium. Waterlogged soil and standing drainage water increase root-rot risk, while fully dry soil can also produce leaf problems.
- 03
Signs of too much or too little water
Premature yellow or brown leaves and leaf drop can follow too much or too little water. Brown spots can also follow temperature changes, so inspect the root zone and room conditions together.
All fiddle-leaf fig guides
Keep reading
Sources4 references
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Plants of the World OnlineAccepted name · classification · native range · common name
- North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Plant ToolboxDescription · indoor cultural conditions · insects, diseases, and other plant problems
- University of California Agriculture and Natural ResourcesHouseplant care · water when top two inches dry · feeding · humidity · toxicity
- Royal Horticultural SocietyPlant profile · position · soil · moisture · under-glass · pests and diseases
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