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If you follow us on Instagram then you already know that I recently brought home this adorable ($14!) fiddle leaf fig, and I am very DETERMINED to keep him alive. I bought one of these last year (around the same time actually) but sadly, I didn’t give it the TLC it deserved and it didn’t end well. RIP little guy. 
Thanks to You, This Time is Going To Be Different
But this time it’s going to be different. I asked our amazing followers on Instagram what tips or tricks they use to keep their fiddle leaf fig plants alive and I was blown away by the feedback and unbelievable success stories! Someone shared that her fiddle leaf is taller than she is (!!) and several others noted that they have kept their beloved fiddle leaf plants alive for several YEARS. Needless to say, I took note of every. single. tip you guys had to offer because it was very obvious that many of you know what you’re talking about.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Survival Tips
Then I realized, why not share these simple + specific tips to the rest of the DIY Playbook team so that the rookies (like us!) can learn from the pros, and together we can all keep our plants alive… and thriving! Here’s what our Instagram experts had to say:
1. Perfect Sun
Fiddle leaf plants need a lot of light but not necessarily direct sunlight. Display your fiddle leaf in a place that provides this bright light throughout the day.
2. Pots
Do NOT transplant your new fiddle leaf fig into a pot that is too big for it (btw here are some of our favorite indoor planters). This plant likes its roots to be root bound. See below for more…
3. What The Heck is ROOT BOUND?
Root bound means that the plant’s roots fill the entire container. Keeping the plant in its original pot, for now, is good because you won’t disturb the cozy roots. Eventually, you can transplant the plant into a larger pot when it’s big enough, but keep in mind that the roots do not like a spacious container.
4. No Drafts
Fiddle leaf figs do not like being placed in a room that may have a draft but let’s be honest, who does?!
5. Watering Schedule
Water your plant one cup 1x per week. Someone on Insta mentioned that they water theirs every Friday and call it #FiddleFriday. I don’t always have the best memory when it comes to water plants so I really LOVE this idea. I plan on celebrating #fiddleFriday now and hope to never forget to give this cutie a drink. #FF
6. Rotate
Remember that bright light we discussed? Well, it’s important that ALL sides of the fiddle leaf see this bright light, so rotating the plant every few days is a great strategy in making sure this happens.
7. Dusting
Wiping off the top of the leaves with a damp cloth can work wonders to keep the leaves clean. But whatever you do, do NOT use this cloth to wipe off the bottoms of the leaves because you could damage the leaf’s “veins”. I don’t know much about plants but damaging the veins sounds pretty darn serious to me!
Did I miss anything?!
Like I said, all of these AMAZING tips were from our sweet and supportive Instagram friends and I cannot thank you guys enough for your words of encouragement and expertise! If I missed any important tips, I would LOVE to hear what works for you so that I can add it to the list.
So far though…things are going well. #FiddleFriday and the rest of these genius tips have helped keep this little guy looking very healthy! Fingers crossed that this is still the case next time I pop in with a fiddle leaf update.
Bridget
P.S. For more rookie tips on indoor plants, check out this popular post! Or for those of you who are still hesitant, check out my FAKE fiddle leaf that I’m equally obsessed with…
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