Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Grow Ficus Lyrata Trees
How to Grow Ficus Lyrata Trees. Ficus lyrata, commonly known as the fiddleleaf fig, is a 50-foot tree with large, dark green leaves up to 15 inches long and 10 inches across. The leaves are shaped like the body of a fiddle. Ficus lyrata is native to tropical Africa and can be grown outdoors in USDA Zones 10b and above. It is often grown as a...
Ficus lyrata, commonly known as the fiddleleaf fig, is a 50-foot tree with large, dark green leaves up to 15 inches long and 10 inches across. The leaves are shaped like the body of a fiddle. Ficus lyrata is native to tropical Africa and can be grown outdoors in USDA Zones 10b and above. It is often grown as a houseplant and needs bright light and regular watering to prevent it from losing leaves.
Place a potted Ficus lyrata plant in a bright spot close to a south or west facing window. Some direct sun is beneficial; low light levels will slow down growth. Rotate the plant regularly to encourage even growth.
Water your Ficus lyrata generously as soon as the top inch of the soil gets dry. Allow all excess water to drain away. Reduce the frequency of watering to about once a week during the winter. Never allow the soil in a Ficus lyrata pot to dry out completely or your plant will shed its bottom leaves.
Fertilize your plant every week during the warm months of the year using a liquid feed formulated for houseplants. Fertilize once a month during the winter.
Prune your Ficus lyrata by cutting the top off its main stem once it has reached the desired height. This stops the plant from getting any taller and encourages branching. Remove any unsightly aerial roots with secateurs or a sharp knife as soon as they appear.
Repot your Ficus lyrata when its roots start to circle the pot or it becomes top-heavy. Repot in a container slightly larger than the original and use standard potting compost mixed with some perlite or sand to aid drainage.
Monitor your Ficus lyrata for signs of scale insect or red spider mites. Scale insects are small, brown bumps on the leaves and stems while spider mites cause irregular discoloration on leaf undersides. Spider mites also leave fine webbing on the leaves. Treat scale insects with a systemic insecticide and red spider mites with regular misting (at least twice a day) of a miticide spray.
Tips & Warnings
Place your Ficus lyrata outdoors during the warmer months in a bright spot in the garden or on a terrace. Make the transition gradually to prevent leaf burn. Move the plant back indoors in the fall in stages.
Prune Ficus lyrata in the spring to give it a whole growing season to develop.
