Fiddle Leaf Fig
Ficus lyrata
A sculpturally beautiful plant that has killed thousands of hopeful plant parents. The secret isn't skill - it's honest light measurement and never, ever moving it once it's happy.
Photo: Topher McKee / Unsplash What this plant actually wants.
Best window: South-East or East, right up against the glass.
This is the general recommendation. When you map your actual windows in Planterra, the app compares each one against this plant's lux range and tells you which of your specific spots are best - accounting for depth from the glass, obstructions, and how the light shifts by season.
What usually goes wrong.
Brown spots on leaves
Almost always root rot from overwatering or a cold draft. Check the pot has drainage, wait for the soil to dry, and move away from any door or window that opens.
Leaves dropping suddenly
Stress from being moved. Fiddle Leaves take 2–4 weeks to adapt to a new spot. Pick a location, commit to it, and don't let anyone rotate it "just to check the light."
Bottom leaves yellow and fall
Natural if it's one or two per season. If it's many, the plant isn't getting enough light. Get a lux reading - you probably need 3× what you have.
New leaves are small
Under-fertilised or under-lit. Feed monthly during growth season and confirm you're actually hitting 5,000+ lux at leaf level.
Before you buy a Fiddle Leaf, measure your best spot's lux at midday in your darkest month (December, in the Northern Hemisphere). If it's under 3,000, don't buy one. If it's 5,000+, you're going to have a beautiful tree.
Add this plant to Planterra.
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