One weekly email with tips, tricks, guides and discussions around our favourite thing – houseplants!
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The Fiddle Leaf Fig Edition
Rich here, and welcome back to Houseplant Digest, sponsored by Houseplant SOS.
In this week’s issue:
Big milestone achieved (stay tuned for tomorrow)
The diva of the plant world – why the Fiddle Leaf Fig is worth the drama
From African rainforests to your living room
Light, water, and humidity tips to keep your fiddle from sulking
My own Fiddle Leaf Fig care video
Leo season is here – and yes, you are the main character
Ficus lyrata
The wild side of fiddle leaf figs
And more…
🇬🇧 Sheffield Answers
Every week, I get tons of questions about growing houseplants. In “Sheffield Answers”, I’m going to pick one out each week and answer it. Want to submit your own and get it featured next week? Click here to ask me a question!
Question: "Does it matter what time of year it is for pruning the roots of your houseplant?" Regina
My Answer: To be extra safe you can prune in spring and summer. The roots will be growing fast and the plant will replace what you cut off in good time. I tend to not worry about it though. I’ve pruned in winter and the plant was fine.
🤫 PSSST…
We just passed a HUGE milestone with SheffieldMadePlants, and I want you to be a part of the celebrations. I’m sending you a special email tomorrow – so keep your eyes out!
Now, let’s get on with the newsletter.
🪴HOW TO & TIPS
Let’s be honest, the Fiddle Leaf Fig has a bit of a reputation. Gorgeous, sure. Easy? Not exactly. It’s the diva of the plant world, but with the right care, it will reward you with those huge, glossy leaves that make any room feel like a magazine spread.
Origins:
Native to the lowland rainforests of western Africa, the Fiddle Leaf Fig (botanical name Ficus lyrata) gets its name from its violin-shaped leaves. In the wild, these beauties can tower up to 15 metres tall. Indoors, they usually max out around 2–3 metres (unless you really want to push your luck).
Care tips:
Light: Give it bright, indirect light. Think “front-row seat near the window” rather than “back of the room.” Too little light and it will sulk by dropping leaves. Too much harsh sun and you’ll see scorched patches.
Water: They like a good soak, but not soggy feet. Let the top 2–3 inches of soil dry out between waterings. Overwatering is the fastest way to a sad, leaf-dropping fiddle.
Support: Once they get taller, a moss pole or sturdy stake will help keep them looking upright and elegant instead of tipsy.
Extra tip: Rotate your fiddle every week or two to keep growth even. They love to lean toward the light like a sun-chasing cat.
I actually recorded a full video on Fiddle Leaf Figs – you can watch it here:
To finish off, here are three of my favourite fiddle leaf figs I’ve come across recently. They’re absolute stunners in their own way.
credit: hot-ta-molly, Reddit
credit: LilithsLilac, Reddit
credit: hipster____doofus, Reddit
🪴JUST FOR FUN
August is Leo season. The boldest, brightest sign in the zodiac. The “main character energy” of the horoscope world.
So, which houseplant screams Leo?
Of course, it’s the Fiddle Leaf Fig.
Like Leos, fiddle leaf figs refuse to blend into the background. They want the best spot in the house, they sulk when ignored, and when they’re thriving? They light up the entire room.
If you’re not a Leo, that doesn’t matter too much. You can still borrow a bit of that confidence (and drama) by adding one to your home. Just don’t forget the care tips that I covered earlier in this newsletter… even divas need the basics covered.
Plant Of The Week
Ficus lyrata – fiddle leaf fig
Keep this guy’s soil moderately moist, letting the top layer dry slightly between waterings, and give it plenty of bright, indirect light to avoid scorched or dropping leaves. Steady temperatures between 18°C and 24°C will keep it happiest.
In its natural habitat, fiddles often start life as epiphytes, growing on other trees before sending their roots down to the ground. That’s part of why they love bright light and room to stretch out.
