Temperature
65–80°F
Keep away from winter window glass and heating vents.
Fiddle leaf fig
Ficus lyrata
Fiddle leaf fig wants bright indirect light and water every 7 to 12 days, once top 2 inches dry. Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans.
Light
Bright indirect
LowMediumBright indirectDirect
Directly in front of an east or south window. This plant does not tolerate low light and is frequently sold as though it does.
Water
Every 7–12 days
Baseline for a 6-inch pot indoors. Check first: water when top 2 inches dry, not on a schedule.
Humidity
40% and up
Wants 65%. Struggles in dry winter air.
Difficulty
Demanding
Scores 4 of 5: Narrow light requirement, hates being moved, and drops leaves in response to almost any change.
Habit
Arborescent
Grows to 72–120 inches. No support needed.
Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans — poison severity low
Contains proteolytic enzyme, psoralen. Reported signs include oral irritation, salivation, vomiting.
If a pet has chewed a leaf, rinse the mouth with water and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Full detail for cats → Full detail for dogs →
What each authority says 2 sources concur
- ASPCA
- Toxic to cats and dogs · proteolytic enzyme, psoralen
- NC State Extension
- Poison severity: Low · insoluble calcium oxalates · Oral irritation, burning of the mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
Light
Bright indirect light. Directly in front of an east or south window. This plant does not tolerate low light and is frequently sold as though it does.
Water
Every 7 to 12 days in a 6-inch pot, when top 2 inches dry.
Treat the interval as a starting point and the test as the actual instruction. Pot size, light level and season all move the number.
| Method | top-water until draining |
|---|---|
| Test before watering | top 2 inches dry |
Soil and potting
Equal parts potting soil, orchid bark, and perlite.
Repot roughly every 2 years, or when roots come through the drainage holes and water runs straight through without absorbing.
Common problems
Ranked by how often each turns out to be the cause for this species. Each links to a diagnosis page with the causes ranked for this species.
- Brown spots monitor
- Leaf drop this week
- Yellow leaves this week
- Root rot act today
Pest and disease guidance for this species consulted at the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, checked 2026-09-11.
Pests
Recorded for this species. Each links to identification and treatment.
- Spider mites act today
- Scale insects this week
- Mealybugs this week
Propagation
Stem cutting in water or soil. Roots in 28 to 56 days.
A cutting without a node will not root. It may stay green in water for months and never produce a single root, because it has no growth point.
| Preferred method | stem cutting |
|---|---|
| Medium | water, soil |
| Time to root | 28–56 days |
| Node required | Yes |
| Best season | Spring and early summer |
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Ficus lyrata Checked 2026-09-11.
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Ficus lyrata Checked 2026-09-11.
- Wikidata entity Q1498748 — taxonomy and entity identity.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Ficus lyrata Accepted name; family Moraceae. Checked 2026-09-11.
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Ficus lyrata Pest and disease guidance. Checked 2026-09-11.
- Photograph: Alejandro Bayer Tamayo from Armenia, Colombia, Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 2.0.
Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-02
Tony Valcarcel is the editor and publisher of this database, not a horticulturist
or a veterinarian. Every fact above is drawn from the sources listed, and
toxicity severity is reported only where one of them stated it.
How this is sourced.
Last updated 2026-09-02