A cousin of the strikingly similar Ficus Audrey (Ficus benghalensis), fiddle leaf figs require a lot more patience as houseplants. They love a warm and wet environment, making them hard to keep indoors by nature. In their native environment, these beauties can grow up to 100 feet tall and bear fruit. As a houseplant, however, they tend to max out around 10 feet—still fairly tall! As a symbol of abundance and good luck, they’re magnificent to look at when they’re healthy, and they can make any space feel more inviting. A word of caution: Fiddle leaf figs are known to be divas about their environment. Knowing the kind of conditions they enjoy can help you determine where in your home you should put the plant. Ideally, you’ll want to find a space that receives consistent light throughout the day; “Not direct hot sun but very bright light,” Ananda Yankellow, home and garden designer behind A Piece of Rainbow, tells mbg. Steer clear of vents, drafts, and doors. And know that a humidifier will make your fiddle leaf fig incredibly happy. “The most important part is figuring out the best location for the fiddle leaf fig before you bring it home,” Meg Renninger, the founder of Southside Plants, adds. “I recommend getting a baby plant because this allows the plant to adapt to your house and you don’t risk spending hundreds on a mature specimen that will wither away.” It’s a good idea to let your new fig hang out for a few days in one spot before repotting or moving it. Let it get acclimated to its new home. And when you do find a space for it, let it do its thing. It hates being moved. You can use a soil moisture meter to see when your plant needs a drink or just dip your finger into the top layer of its soil. Use distilled water or rainwater to give your fiddle leaf moisture without the extra nutrients found in tap water. During the winter, water less frequently and either group your plants together or invest in a humidifier to keep the environment moist and fiddle-leaf-fig-friendly. With a unique view on life, she taps into her own experiences to guide folks to live life for themselves, empowering them to explore their inner wild and find their own way in adulthood. Her weekly newsletter is a tiny way she furthers her mission to hold space for the unfathomable, romantic, and messy parts of life that make it that much more beautiful.
