The fiddle-leaf fig is a large potted green plant suitable for keeping at home.

I really enjoy growing fiddle-leaf figs. I remember the first time I saw a fiddle-leaf fig in a friend's office, potted in a very striking white cylindrical ceramic pot. It looked especially grand, fresh and natural. Its leaves are very large, and the leaf surface has a bright gloss. I really admire this plant.

Five things to pay attention to when caring for fiddle-leaf figs.

1. Appropriate moisture

When growing a fiddle-leaf fig indoors, you must avoid watering too frequently. You must wait until the soil 3 to 5 cm below the surface is dry before watering.

When caring for a fiddle-leaf fig indoors, you cannot pour water directly onto the leaves, and you should not mist the leaves often either. Otherwise, yellow or brown spots easily form on the leaves, and eventually the leaves may become infected with fungal diseases, which easily causes leaf drop.

You can spray water around it to maintain a certain level of air humidity and prevent the air from becoming too dry.

2. Appropriate lighting

Caring for a fiddle-leaf fig requires a bright environment, ideally with appropriate scattered light every day, giving about 3 to 8 hours of light per day, so it can grow more vigorously.

A fiddle-leaf fig kept indoors should avoid excessive shade. It is best to grow it by a south-facing or east-facing windowsill, or you can place it in a bright living room, keeping the environment ventilated and letting light through, and avoid keeping it in a closed-off space.

3. Fertilizing tips

Caring for a fiddle-leaf fig does not require frequent fertilizing; its demand for fertilizer is not very high. You can fertilize once a month in spring and summer. The fertilizer can be a balanced fertilizer or a slow-release organic fertilizer solution.

4. Repotting and potting soil selection

The fiddle-leaf fig belongs to the tree and shrub plants. The container for growing it should have drainage holes, and be a large clay pot or earthenware pot. You can also choose a relatively heavy ceramic pot. The container should be relatively deep and wide. The soil for growing a fiddle-leaf fig should be a loose, well-draining humus soil, rich in organic matter, which helps promote better growth of the fiddle-leaf fig.

The fiddle-leaf fig does not need frequent repotting. Generally, it is repotted once every 3 to 5 years. When repotting, you can appropriately remove some of the surface soil. Afterward, if you find withered or crossing roots, you can prune them appropriately, but do not cut too much.

5. Leaf cleaning

If you want an indoor fiddle-leaf fig to grow more beautifully and freshly, you also need to pay attention to cleaning the leaves regularly. If too much dust accumulates on the leaves, it will affect the health of the fiddle-leaf fig, because dust blocks light absorption and photosynthesis. You can directly wipe off the dust with a damp soft cloth.