Is a Meyer Lemon Tree the New Fiddle Leaf Fig? (2024)

FAQs

What plant is replacing the fiddle leaf fig? ›

It's easy to recommend a parlor palm or a dracaena in place of a fiddle leaf fig, since both are tall with showy leaves. But those options are too tropical to be a true replacement for the fiddle leaf fig. Instead, try a Ficus benghalensis, also called Ficus “Audrey.” The plant is a close cousin of the Ficus lyrata.

Fiddle leaf figs do best on fertilizer with a 3-1-2 N-P-K ratio, or 3% nitrogen, 1% phosphorus, and 2% potassium. You should see these numbers displayed prominently on the package of any fertilizer you're considering, so keep an eye out!

Your best bet is to keep the Fiddle Leaf Fig at 65°F-85°F (18°C-30°C) and avoid letting temperatures drop below 60°F (15°C).

You've probably seen two kinds of fiddle leaf figs — the tall, tree-like type with a long, bare trunk, and the short bushy type with leaves that start at the base. These are the same plant, but one has been manipulated through pruning and shaping.

There is no reviving a truly dead fiddle leaf fig tree. However, if you're not certain that it has died you should give it the optimum conditions to recover. Put it in a warm spot with plenty of indirect sunlight. Water every 1-2 weeks, allowing the medium to dry a little, and wait to see if it comes back.

There are risks to using diluted coffee or coffee grounds on fiddle leaf figs. Directly applying coffee grounds to indoor plant soil can cause excessive moisture retention, fungal overgrowth, and impair plant growth due to over-acidifying the soil.

Fiddle leaf figs like sunlight, but too much harsh sunlight can be a problem. Place in a sunny area where they receive at least 4 hours of sunlight a day, but avoid direct sunlight. I placed mine in a corner that receives lots of light, but I have drapes that filter the sunlight's effect. 3.

A month after planting, you'll want to add more nutrition to the soil for best growth of your fiddle leaf fig. Apply Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food, which is specially formulated for plants being grown inside, by putting it directly on the soil or mixing it with water.

Fiddles will grow fairly bushy if you do nothing at all, but you might want to grow a few branches or prune a few damaged leaves. If your tree gets TOO bushy, it's also a good idea to thin out any crowded areas to promote airflow between the leaves.

Also check for brown spots (root rot), aphids, spider mites, scale, and mealybugs. Fiddle Leaf Fig plants can go outside for "summer camp". They make a beautiful accent to your patio and porch. However, they must be acclimated to the sunlight.

When should I bring my fiddle leaf fig inside? ›

If you have outdoor fiddles, you'll need to bring them in at night once temperatures drop. If you live in a cold climate, you might also experience lower temperatures in your home during the fall and winter. This can reduce your fiddle's need for water, so keep a close eye on the moisture level of the soil.

2. Leggy | Fiddle Leaf Fig Needs More Light. Another surefire way to tell if your fiddle leaf fig tree needs more sunshine is to measure the distance between leaves. A fiddle that has plenty of indirect light exposure each day will sprout leaves closer together than one that must reach for its solar energy.

After several years of long-standing favorites, such as the fiddle leaf fig, featuring in interior designers' social posts, this year the experts at easyplant have hailed Dracaena 'Janet Craig' Compacta the hero plant of 2024 in its Plant Trends Report.

One of the main differences between these two types of ficus is their appearance. Ficus trees are typically tall with a single trunk, while fiddle leaf figs are shorter with multiple stems. Ficus trees also have smooth, leathery leaves, while Fiddle Leaf Figs have large, wavy leaves.

Ficus benghalensis (Ficus Audrey)

As a houseplant, it rivals the elegance of the Fiddle Leaf Fig. But instead of large violin-shaped leaves, it features smaller emerald leaves with prominent white veins. This tree can be trained to grow in a graceful pole-like shape with leaves all along the trunk.