Also known as Ficus lyrata, the Fiddle Leaf Fig is one of the most striking houseplants available today. Taking the form of a small tree with surprisingly large leaves, it’s a great addition to any home that needs a touch of nature and lots of additional benefits. However, it can do more than just brighten up a space when you choose its placement based on the principles of Feng Shui. This relative of the fig and mulberry trees will also benefit from being placed in a position that offers the suitable condition for its continuing growth. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the best position for Fiddle Leaf Figs in the home.
Where to Position Fiddle Leaf Figs in the Home
As a symbol of wood in the elements of Feng Shui, the Fiddle Leaf Fig is best placed in the north corner of the home to stimulate your career. It can also work well in the Southeast corner to encourage wealth to flow into the home. Ensure you position your Fiddle Leaf Fig in a location that receives sufficient bright, indirect sunlight.
About Fiddle Leaf Figs
Native to the rainforests of western and central Africa, the Fiddle Leaf Fig is perhaps best known for its violin-shaped leaves. It’s one of the few houseplants available today that takes the form of a true tree, much like the other Ficus that shares its genus.
Indoors, Fiddle Leaf Figs can reach between 5 and 10 feet tall. It may need pruning to keep it from pushing against the ceiling in shorter rooms once it reaches maturity. Fiddle Leaf Figs are toxic to pets, so avoid keeping them in the home if you have cats, dogs, or birds.
While it can flower in its native range, you’re unlikely to coax blossoms out of it when growing it indoors. The biggest Fiddle Leaf Fig care challenge when growing this plant inside the home is dust. If too much dust accumulates on the leaves, they can struggle to absorb light and quickly lose leaves in return. Depending on the air quality in the home, you may need to dust your fiddle leaf fig manually weekly or monthly to keep it growing and healthy.
Fiddle Leaf Figs are often sold as plants as short as two to three feet due to extensive pruning. As the plant grows taller, you can clip the tip to keep it as short as you want for a more manageable size.
Fiddle Leaf Figs and Feng Shui
Fiddle Leaf Figs are not native to China, where Feng Shui originated, but they are popular as a houseplant throughout Asia. In general, these plants are thought to symbolize:
- Fortune and wealth due to the large, dark green leaves
- Grace and elegance thanks to the slender and smooth trunks
- Good luck and growth
- Kindness and emotional support.
In Feng Shui, they’re often recommended for homes where peace and goodwill are needed because of family strife or similar issues. While they require quite a bit of attention and care, this also encourages family members to work together and pay closer attention to the energy of the home. It can result in smoother relationships when everyone commits to its care, especially when placed with the Feng Shui Bagua Map as guidance for placement.
Where to Position Fiddle Leaf Figs in the Home
Plants play an integral role in Feng Shui practices and placement is more critical than you might think to the Fiddle Leaf Fig. Its energy is maximized with proper Feng Shui consideration, but practical concerns also limit where you can successfully place a houseplant this big. With the ability to brush the ceiling and a full width of three to four feet, this plant deserves a place of honor where it can grow without limitation despite its size.
According to Feng Shui
There’s no need to do too many esoteric calculations in order to use simple Feng Shui practices in your home design. In order to follow the energy map, or Bagua, that typically guides the placement of elements in the home, find the northern direction with a compass. Then determine which rooms or corners lie in the north and southeast parts of the home.
The north part of the Bagua symbolizes the career center of the home. Placing a large and bountiful live plant in this area will stimulate growth and development. The Fiddle Leaf Fig is an excellent choice due to the symbolic value of its large leaves as well.
If you’re more concerned with wealth directly, try a placement in the Southeastern corner instead. This is the section of the Bagua aligned with money and investments, not just income. It’s the perfect place to put a large and leafy tree like the Fiddle Leaf Fig, which is believed to stimulate a lot of energy and growth.
According to the Plant’s Needs
Despite its relative ease of growth outdoors in tropical areas, the Fiddle Leaf Fig can be touchy to grow indoors. It needs as much morning sun as possible without direct sunlight in the afternoon. Since it’s hard to get the light bright enough without causing sunburn, using a large plant light is usually the best solution.
Keep Fiddle Leaf Figs away from drafts and heating vents that might dry them out. Even outdoors, high winds give them trouble. Watch out for sources of dust as well, like cooking vapors or debris that comes in a nearby window. Reducing the dust that settles on the plant’s leaves will also reduce how often you have to wipe down the plant.
Try setting up a small humidifier or placing the plant near a bathroom door to ensure it gets as much humidity as it prefers.
Where Not to Place Fiddle Leaf Figs in the Home
Avoid areas with cold or hot drafts and extreme temperatures. Places where direct sunlight hits the entire plant, especially past noon, will potentially lead to sunburn, drooping, yellowing leaves, brown spots, and leaf drop.
The Fiddle Leaf Fig needs as much humidity as you can supply, so avoid dry areas. According to Feng Shui, large, leafy, and maintenance-heavy plants like the Fiddle Leaf Fig don’t belong in the bedroom.
It’s also not a good idea to place a plant like this in the very center of the home since its energy could get muddled or trapped in the space.
Where to Place Fiddle Leaf Figs Outdoors
The Fiddle Leaf Fig can handle growing outdoors in USDA zones 10b and up. They can’t handle cold winters, but they thrive in areas with humid and long summers.
If you’re planting it in the ground, give it plenty of space since it can reach 50 feet tall with time. Plants that are brought outdoors just for the summer must be kept out of direct afternoon sun and drying winds that might trigger leaf drop.
Try a shaded patio with protection from drafts to help it enjoy th
e summer heat. There’s no need to wash the leaves on a plant outdoors unless it is not exposed to the rain or there is no rain for a few weeks.
Essential Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Care
Fiddle Leaf Figs like contradictions such as indirect but bright light. They prefer temperatures above 60 degrees F but under 85 degrees F if possible. Humidity should be high, even if you need to use a small humidifier to supply the moisture. Fiddle Leaf Figs will benefit from a light fertilizing in spring and summer as well.
The biggest challenge for plant owners that are used to low-maintenance plants is the washing routine. If the leaves of this plant accumulate too much dust, they stop absorbing enough light to stay healthy.
Water the plant at least once a week and only let the top inch of soil dry out before the next watering. They can’t handle drought or dry conditions for very long, even when planted outdoors. Keep an eye out for common pests and diseases.
Propagating Fiddle Leaf Figs is possible as well if you’re ever looking to expand your collection. You’ll also need to consider repotting your Fiddle Leaf Fig every few years once it’s outgrown the current pot.
Where to Position Fiddle Leaf Figs FAQs:
What room is best for a Fiddle Leaf Fig?
In the traditional practice of Feng Shui, the Southeastern and Northern rooms of the home offer the best placement for live plants like the Fiddle Leaf Fig. Avoid parts of the home like the bedrooms or the very center of the floorplan.
How far away from window should a Fiddle Leaf Fig be?
Fiddle Leaf Figs need bright light but don’t like direct sunlight to fall on their leaves, with the exception of soft morning light. Try keeping the plant at least two to three feet from the window to prevent sunburn.
Can I put my Fiddle Leaf Fig in a corner?
Fiddle Leaf Figs may not get enough light in a corner. If you supply a bright enough plant light, you may find that a corner placement protects the plant from drafts.
Can a Fiddle Leaf Fig thrive in low-light environments?
Fiddle Leaf Figs need plenty of light for four to six hours a day. If you only have low-light rooms available, try a supplemental plant light.
Can a Fiddle Leaf Fig tolerate drafts?
This plant is more sensitive to drafts than most houseplants. Protect it from both hot and cold air.
Finding the Best Location for Your Fiddle Leaf Fig
Maximize both the beauty and energetic potential of your Fiddle Leaf Fig with a careful location in the home. Try a few different spots in the room until you get just the right spot for this eye-catching houseplant.
For more, see our in-depth guide to the meaning and symbolism of fig trees.
Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. He holds a BSc degree in Plant Sciences and has trained professionally at leading floristry schools in London and Paris. In amongst overseeing a global editorial team, Andrew's a passionate content creator around all things flowers, floral design, gardening, and houseplants.
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