How To Propagate Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) From Cuttings

Fiddle leaf figs are one of the most popular houseplants today. But they have a reputation for being a bit fussy. I sometimes joke that mine will drop a leaf if I look at it crossly or utter a naughty word. Learn how to propagate fiddle leaf figs and some mistakes to avoid.

Native to humid and warm parts of Africa, its botanical name is Ficus lyrata. You will likely find them for sale in all sizes, from small six-inch pots to miniature trees in 10-gallon containers. While the small ones can be a bargain, the large ones are prohibitively expensive.

With leaves that can be bigger than a dinner plate, F. lyrata is a real tree in the wild, reaching as high as 50 feet tall. Constrained in root volume by the size of a pot, most indoor fiddle leaf figs will top out at 6-10 feet tall.

When happy with their conditions, fiddle leaf figs can grow up to 2 feet per year. Several cultivars are available, including:

• ‘Compacta’ grows to about 5 feet tall and has smaller leaves that grow in bunches.
• ‘Bambino’ is a dwarf variety and will stay a more manageable 2-3 feet tall, perfect for smaller spaces.
• ‘Variegata’ is hard to find but has beautiful green and cream leaves.

Jump to:

• How To Propagate Fiddle leaf figs
• Growing fiddle leaf figs from cuttings
• Common Mistakes Propagating Fiddle Leaf Figs
• Tips For Growing Fiddle leaf figs

How To Propagate Fiddle leaf figs

Despite being a bit picky to care for, these plants are quite willing to propagate. Pruning the stems to control height or force a more bushy growth habit provides an excellent opportunity to multiply your fiddle leaf fig population.

Growing fiddle leaf figs from cuttings

1. lyrata is most commonly and easily propagated by stem cuttings. Cuttings can be rooted in water or soil, but rooting in water is the standard method for larger cuttings.

Cuttings taken from small diameter sucker branches on the main stem or immature branches can successfully be rooted directly in potting mix.

To take a stem cutting:

1. Cuttings of fiddle leaf fig will be larger than cuttings you may be used to for other plants. You’ll need pruning shears, not scissors. For the best results, find an actively growing branch or stem.

If it has new green growth, look down the stem until the color changes from light green to brown and woody, and make your cut just below that point.

2. If you are trimming a long branch, go ahead and make two or three cuttings out of it. Each cutting should be about 12-18 inches long.
3. Remove all but 1-2 leaves from your cuttings. Grab the leaf at the base of the petiole and snap it off. They will separate easily. The remaining scab will quickly heal over.

If rooting cuttings in water:

1. You’ll need a tall vase with a heavy bottom to hold the cuttings upright and prevent them from tipping over.
2. Fill the vase with room-temperature water. If your tap water is treated, use bottled water or let your water sit on the counter for 24-48 hours for the chlorine and other volatiles to dissipate.
3. Add some liquid rooting hormone, sometimes called propagation promoter, to your container, following the directions on the package.
4. Place your cuttings in the container. Several may be in the same vase. Place the container in a warm spot with bright indirect light.
5. Change the water every week to keep it fresh, more often if you notice it is cloudy.
6. In 2-4 weeks, white bumps will appear at the base of the stem in the water. Keep waiting. A couple of weeks later, white roots will grow from the bumps.
7. Once the roots are about an inch long, repot your new fiddle leaf fig using any general-purpose potting mix. Keep the mix moist while the plant is becoming established.

If rooting cuttings in soil or another medium:

1. Small cuttings may be directly rooted in potting mix. Trim all but one or two leaves off.
2. Dip the freshly cut end of the cutting in powdered rooting hormone. A general-purpose 1000ppm strength works fine.
3. Stick the cutting(s) and firm the medium around the stem. The potting mix should be evenly moist.
4. Place it in a bright location and keep it slightly moist.
5. In 3-4 weeks, check the progress of your new plants’ roots by gently giving the stem a little tug. If there is resistance, your fiddle leaf fig cutting has grown roots. Let it grow roots for a month or two, then transfer it to a larger pot when ready.

Common Mistakes Propagating Fiddle Leaf Figs

While propagation for F. lyrata can be simple, avoid these common mistakes and increase your success rate.

• Starting with an unhealthy plant. Propagation attempts using cuttings from plants already on their way out are less likely to succeed. If your plant is not growing, is dropping leaves, is sun-scorched, or otherwise unhappy, nurse it back to health first.
• They are big and beautiful, and removing them may make you cringe, but most of the leaves have to go. Each leaf remaining on the cuttings is a drain on already scarce (since there are no roots) resources. Force yourself to prune it down to 1 or 2 leaves, no more than 3.
• Don’t skip the rooting hormone. While you may have success skipping it with healthy cuttings, each plant only yields a few cuttings a year. Make the most of the opportunity and enhance your chances of success.
• Pay attention to the growing season. Fiddle leaf figs propagate much more readily if cuttings are taken during the growing season when natural growth hormones are present in the plant. Wait for spring and summer to try propagating.
• Not enough light is a big problem. While the cuttings, and the parent plant, don’t want direct sunlight, they do need some light. A mature plant can struggle along with less-than-perfect light, but a cutting needs things to be just right to succeed at rooting. Give it a spot with bright, indirect light for the best chance.
• Old, cloudy, stinky water is a sure way to fail. Change that water weekly and add some rooting hormone the first few times until the white bumps appear.

Tips For Growing Fiddle leaf figs

Fiddle leaf figs can be a bit temperamental. They like to grow in the tropics, and most of our homes are not quite tropical.

• Keep it moist. While some houseplants like to dry out between waterings, lyrata enjoys an even, lightly moist environment. Use your finger to test the soil and water when the top inch feels dry. Your plant will let you know if you gave it too much or too little by dropping leaves or wilting, but with practice, you’ll get it just right.
• Fiddle leaf figs like humidity. If your home is dry, you can mist the plant, place it on a pebble tray, or use a room-sized humidifier. Group humidity-loving plants together, and they will all get a little boost from each other from transpiration.
• Repot it as necessary. Young fiddle leaf figs may need to be repotted every year. They may not need repotting as they reach maximum size, but they can still benefit from a soil refresh. Salts and minerals can build up to toxic levels, a common problem in long-term houseplants.
• Fertilize your Ficus with a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer. Higher nitrogen solutions are OK. Don’t overdo it. Once or twice a month during the growing season is sufficient.
• Fiddle leaf figs hate drafts–who doesn’t? Keep it away from doors, open windows, and heating or air conditioning vents.
• Rotate your fiddle leaf fig weekly to help it maintain even growth and form. Don’t spin it all the way around. About a quarter rotation per week works well.