Why are my leaves turning yellow?

This is often a sign of overwatering or poor drainage.

How often should I water it?

Water when the top 5 cm of soil feels dry to the touch.

Plant guide

Fiddle Leaf Fig.

Ficus lyrata

Pronounced FY-kus ly-RAY-tuh

Also known as Fiddle-leaf Fig, Fiddleleaf Fig, banjo fig, lyre-leaf figtree, fiddle leaf fig

The Fiddle Leaf Fig is a popular houseplant known for its large, violin shaped leaves. It makes a bold statement in any room with enough space to accommodate its height. It thrives when it has a consistent routine and plenty of bright light.

Another photo of Fiddle Leaf Fig — Photo by Eric Knight (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Evergreen tree
Light: Bright indirect light
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: Up to 3 meters indoors
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Rarely blooms indoors

Care

Keep your plant in a spot with plenty of bright, filtered light and rotate it occasionally for even growth. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust and help it breathe. Watch for brown spots on leaves, which often signal overwatering or root issues.

Watering: Water when the top few centimeters of soil feel dry to the touch.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Prune in early spring to encourage branching or control height.
Repotting: Repot when the plant becomes root bound or growth slows significantly.
Soil: Well draining peat based potting mix
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: 15 to 29°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for decades with proper care.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.
Stunted growth during the active season.

Safety

People: The milky sap contains latex that can cause skin irritation and is toxic if consumed.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant away from small children because the leaves are heavy and the sap is irritating if touched or ingested.
Contact allergens: The milky sap can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There is no significant respiratory allergen risk.
Edibility: The plant is not edible and can cause significant gastrointestinal distress if ingested.

How to identify it

Large violin shaped dark green leaves
Prominent light green leaf veins
Waxy leaf texture
Upright woody trunk

Height: 1.8 to 3m
Spread: 0.6 to 1.5m
Leaves: dark green, evergreen
Flowers: greenish white, 2 to 4cm
Fruit: green, rarely produces fruit indoors

Problems to watch for

EdemaCommon
Leaf DropCommon
Spider MitesCommon
Fungus GnatsUncommon
MealybugsUncommon
Root RotUncommon
Scale InsectsUncommon
Leaf ScorchRare

By symptom

Check your fiddle leaf fig from a photo

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, air layering
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Keep the plant away from cold drafts and heating vents during winter. Reduce watering slightly as growth slows down.
In containers: It grows well in containers, provided the pot has excellent drainage and is at least 30 cm in diameter.

Stem Cuttings

1. Take a 15 cm cutting with at least two leaves.
2. Place the cutting in a jar of clean water.
3. Change the water weekly until roots appear.
4. Pot into well draining soil once roots are 5 cm long.

Group plants with similar water needs to make maintenance easier.

Grows well with

Snake Plant — They share similar light and water requirements.
Peace Lily — It adds a nice textural contrast beneath the large leaves.

Similar species

Rubber Plant — It is a related species with similar care needs but different leaf shapes.

Science

Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Western Africa
Conservation: The species is considered vulnerable in its native habitat due to deforestation.

It begins life as an epiphyte in the canopy before sending roots down to the forest floor.

Value to wildlife: provides habitat in native range
Pollinators: wasps
Uses: indoor ornamental, architectural focal point

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Salinity: 2/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why are my leaves turning yellow?: This is often a sign of overwatering or poor drainage.
How often should I water it?: Water when the top 5 cm of soil feels dry to the touch.

Where the name comes from

The specific epithet lyrata refers to the lyre or violin shape of the leaves.

Good to know

It is commonly called the fiddle leaf fig because of its unique leaf shape.
These plants thrive in bright, indirect light.
They are native to the lowland tropical rainforests of West Africa.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your fiddle leaf fig growing

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.