Meet the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
My fiddle leaf fig tree in my living room.
Let me introduce you to the fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) tree! It’s one of my absolute favourite indoor plants. It’s beautiful, it thrives indoors, and it instantly brings life into any home.
If you’re living in the suburbs of Nairobi with a lovely flat and you want to add some green to your space, I honestly couldn’t recommend this plant more.
Big Pots, Small Pots
You can get it in a big pot that lasts for years and years, or in a small pot that you simply repot after two to three years. Either way, it grows beautifully.
What Makes It Special
The “fiddle” has those wide, stunning leaves with a light green colour and a natural shine. I reccomend that from time to time because of the dust, one takes a light wet cloth and polishes the wide leaves. This keeps your plant clean. I’ve seen online, some owners of the fiddle leaf fig spritz and polish the leaves just to make them pop even more.
It creates an instant, grand, natural feel in any living room. A focal point too in any room. And truly, it’s very easy to care for.
Aerial view of Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree by a door way.
Easy Weekly Care
The fiddle leaf fig doesn’t like too much water, and it also doesn’t like to be extremely dry. I water mine once a week—just one jug until it starts to trickle out the bottom. Then I wait for exactly one week and repeat.
Fun fact: in its native West Africa, this tree grows wild in the rainforest and can reach over 12 metres. No wonder it loves bright spaces.
A Plant Everyone Loves
I really recommend having a fiddle leaf fig at home. It’s not only a gorgeous houseplant, it also makes a perfect gift. People gift it to new homeowners all the time. Newlyweds especially get so enchanted by it—and honestly, because it’s such a simple plant to care for, the plant can last for many years to come making it a memorable gift!
My son sitting next to a young Fiddle leaf fig in a small pot
When It Drops Leaves
If your fiddle starts dropping leaves, don’t panic. It usually means it needs more sunlight. I just take mine outside, especially when the sun is hot.
Here in Kenya, we’re blessed with amazing weather, so I leave it out for three to four months. I also hold off on the watering. Sometimes it takes six months to a year to fully recover. New leaves will bloom and the plant will bounce back to its old self! You can then return the plant indoors once it does.
I hope this article helps you learn a thing or two about the tree and inspires you to consider this as an ideal houseplant for your home!
Images by the author (2025).