Made famous by social media, Fiddle Leaf Figs are on everyone’s favorite houseplant list. However, they can be tricky to care for if conditions are not perfect, especially when it comes to light levels.
Fiddle Leaf Figs can adapt to different lighting conditions but grow best in bright indirect light with a few hours of direct morning sun. They react dramatically to changes in environments, so consistency in lighting is incredibly important. These trees are not suitable for low-light areas as they will stretch and drop their leaves when not given enough sunlight.
About Fiddle Leaf Figs
With their classic fiddle-shaped leaves, Fiddle Leaf Figs are instantly recognizable. From the popular Ficus genus, they are scientifically known as Ficus lyrata, related to other members of the fig family like Rubber Plants and fig trees themselves.
These trees became one of the most famous indoor plants around the world a few years ago. Thanks to social media boards, particularly Pinterest, every houseplant lover wanted a Fiddle Leaf Fig. However, they have been houseplant staples for decades, especially in the houseplant boom of the 1970s.
Unfortunately, despite their wide popularity, Fiddle Leaf Figs are quite fussy houseplants. They can drop their leaves at the slightest sign of stress and grow slowly unless given perfect conditions. When considering this perfect placement, the first thing to look out for is light levels.
Fiddle Leaf Fig native habitat and sunlight conditions
Although they have spread and naturalized around the world, Ficus lyrata trees are originally from Western Africa. They can be found in countries along the coast, concentrated around Cameroon.
In these native habitats, they form an integral part of the tropical rainforest. They may look slightly different from what you can expect indoors, with impressive thick trunks reaching over 40 feet high. Fiddle Leaf Figs often form part of the understory, slightly shaded by the taller canopy above in large forests.
However, Ficus lyrata has naturalized in many tropical areas, growing in both forests and out in the open. This means they can adapt to a wide range of lighting conditions, from partial shade to almost full sun.
How much light do fiddle leaf figs need?
While Fiddle Leaf Figs are known to adapt well to different lighting conditions in their native habitats, it’s important to consider where they come from first. These trees do not handle changes in conditions well and need as much consistency in growth as possible to avoid leaf drop.
For example, if you’ve purchased a young Fiddle Leaf Fig tree from the houseplant section of your local nursery, it has likely been grown in greenhouse conditions up to that point. If you thrust the plant into full sun after years in the shade, it’s going to struggle.
Similarly, if you’ve propagated from cuttings left in a few hours of full sun per day, bringing them indoors with lower lighting will lead to several problems.
For the best results, aim to give your Fiddle Leaf a full day of bright indirect light. This provides the perfect balance between sunlight and protection from harsh rays to avoid burning. Some gentle direct morning sun can also be beneficial if you’re looking for quick growth.
Can Fiddle Leaf Figs grow in low light?
Unfortunately, of the many houseplants that are low-light friendly, Fiddle Leaf Figs are not one of them. A minimum of bright indirect light is required to prevent leaf drop and stunted growth. Some trees may be able to handle moderate light for short periods, but won’t grow successfully long-term under these conditions.
Signs the light levels are too low for your Fiddle Leaf Fig
If the light levels are too low for your Fiddle Leaf, it will quickly let you know. The first sign is slow growth during spring and summer and a lack of new leaves. This occurs due to the lower rates of photosynthesis in low-light areas.
The branches may also begin to lean towards the nearest light source. Rotating your pots can help prevent this leaning, but won’t resolve the larger gaps between leaves and thin branches that occur in low light.
Finally, the tree will start dropping its leaves. Stress causes the plant to ditch leaves so it has fewer to maintain, leaving the branches looking sparse and diminished.
Signs the light levels are too high for your Fiddle Leaf Fig
Without a period of adjustment, placing your Fiddle Leaf in full direct sun can also cause problems with growth. In areas closest to the light source, you’ll notice washed-out patches that appear white or silver.
The edges of the leaves may also turn brown due to lack of moisture. If you brush past the plant, you’ll find the leaves splitting and cracking easily as they become thinner over time.
Although these leaves won’t recover, providing some shade in the hottest parts of the day will stop any further damage to the foliage. Newer leaves that grow in the higher light conditions will be better adjusted to the brighter light.
Tips for adjusting light levels
If you notice any of these signs, it’s important not to react too drastically. As they hate changes in environments, sudden and dramatic changes can cause further leaves to drop, making recovery that much more difficult.
Instead, introduce the plant to new light levels slowly. If low light was the problem, increase the light by an hour or so per day to avoid scorching. If the light is too high, rather than moving the plant to the extreme of low light, simply filter the direct sun with a sheer curtain to protect the foliage.