The Ultimate Guide to Watering Your Fiddle Leaf Fig
Watering can prove challenging to even the proudest houseplant owners, especially when it comes to members of the ficus family. The Fiddle Leaf Fig (ficus lyrata) is especially notorious for frustrating its owners with its picky watering needs. First-time owners of these plants are prone to overwatering, which can lead to health issues such as root rot. Those fearful of overwatering thus underwater their Fiddle Leaf Figs. So how to find a happy balance when watering? Read on to find out.
How to Tell How Much Water Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Really Needs
It can be hard for some to diagnose whether their Fiddle Leaf Fig has been getting over or under-watered. But your plant will always tell you what it needs through its leaves and soil. Luckily, reading these signs gets easier with time. Some simple questions to ask yourself to know if you are overwatering are:
Am I watering more than once a week? Watering once a week at most is what your Fiddle Leaf Fig needs. Depending on the conditions of the environment (light, humidity, temperature), it could be even less!
Do I feel my plant’s soil before watering? You should always stick your finger an inch or two into your plant’s soil to feel how damp it is. If the soil is wet to the touch from the last time you watered, wait until it dries out more. If you aren’t checking in before watering, it can be easy to overdo it.
Do my plant’s leaves have dark spots or edges? Brown spots around the edges or center of leaves is a symptom of overwatering and root rot.
Is there a musty odor coming from my plant? Make sure that your plant is not sitting in a pool of water in its decorative container. Besides leading to fungal infections, this can also attract insects.
Does my plant’s pot have a drainage hole? Ideally, your plant should be in its plastic nursery pot inside of its decorative container. This allows for the best drainage and lets you maneuver your plant more easily. If you want your plant to just be in a decorative container make sure that it has a drainage hole.
For all the reasons listed above, owners of this plant can become leery of overwatering. But being too withholding with water can lead to its own batch of health issues for the Fiddle Leaf Fig. Here are some questions to ask yourself if you suspect you’ve been under-watering your plant:
Are the newer leaves smaller than the older leaves? If the newest leaves on your Fiddle Leaf Fig are much smaller than older ones your plant is likely struggling to get what it needs. Smaller leaves can point to a lack of water, nutrients, or light.
Is your plant rapidly dropping leaves? This can be caused by low humidity or thirst. Make sure that your plant isn’t in front of a vent where it is getting blasted with dry air.
Is the top inch of its soil dry to the touch? While you should let your Fiddle Leaf Fig dry out a bit between waterings you do not want to let your plant become bone dry. Allow your plant to dry out for brief periods before watering.
Are the edges of leaves brown and crumpled? These brown patches will start at the edges of leaves and work their way inwards. If they feel dry then your plant is probably thirsty.
Are the leaves curling inwards? This is a sign of a severely underwatered Fiddle Leaf Fig. You can give your plant a shower but it will probably need some time to fully recover.
If asking yourself these questions did not make it any more clear whether you are over or under-watering your Fiddle Leaf Fig, it’s usually safe to assume that you are overwatering. You are not alone! Concerned plant parents tend to overwater, and most indoor plant failures are a result of loving the plant a little too much when it comes to water! Try to check in with your plant more regularly and take time to inspect its leaves. Your plant will communicate to you what it needs through them. Once you have learned to properly read the signs, taking care of it will feel far easier.
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So How Often Should You Water Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant?
A general rule of thumb is that Fiddle Leaf Figs do not need to be watered more than once a week. This can of course depend on the time of year, the amount of sunlight your plant receives, and the temperature and humidity levels of your home. But picking a day of the week to water on can take some of the guesswork out of when you need to water next. If on your designated day your plant still feels moist to the touch simply check back in with it later. Over time you may be able to determine exactly how many days your unique Fiddle Leaf Fig needs between waterings!
But remember — this strategy will only work if your plant has proper drainage. If your plant is in a pot without a drainage hole or has compacted soil you will struggle to improve its condition. If your plant’s soil is still wet to the touch a week after you watered it likely needs better drainage. If you’re unsure how to give your plant the drainage it needs try reading our guide on how to create the perfect drainage for Fiddle Leaf Figs.
The thing that your plants want most from you is consistency— don’t stress and change too many things at once. Simply make small changes, like moving your plant to a new window or adjusting your watering routine, and observe how your plant responds. Once you’ve found a rhythm, also try to give your plant the same amount of water every week.
How Much Water Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Need?
The amount of water your Fiddle Leaf Fig needs each week is unique and depends on the conditions of your home.
A simple rule that many owners like to follow is to give a cup per two feet. So if your plant is two feet tall from the base of the soil to the tallest leaf then you would give it one cup of water a week. This scales upwards, two cups if it is four feet, and so on. This rule can be helpful if you are just figuring things out but it doesn’t take the unique needs of your plant into account. So if you are following carefully observe how your plant responds. Is it drying out quickly? It needs more water. Is it still wet after a week? Scale back the water. Most importantly, always make sure that your plant is not sitting in water!
How Should You Fertilize A Fiddle Leaf Fig?
The growing season for most plants is the spring and summer. This is when your Fiddle Leaf Fig will be dedicating most of its resources to developing new branches and leaves. You will want to supplement your plant’s soil with fertilizer during this time to make sure that it is getting all of the nutrients that it needs. This is quite easy and can be done when you water. During the growing season simply dilute some liquid fertilizer into water and water your plant like usual. When your plant is winding down for a restful winter in the fall you should only fertilize every other time you water. You don’t want to fertilize in winter because your plant is dormant and not growing.
It’s best to use a liquid house plant fertilizer like our Boost Vitaminé, formulated to provide optimal nutrition for your plant.
This post was adapted from the Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource by expert Claire Akin. Head to their website to learn more about caring for the Fiddle Leaf Fig.
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