4 Warning Signs Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Is Craving More Sunshine

Fiddle leaf figs have a reputation for being difficult to grow, and with good reason. If you don’t meet this tall, large-leaved plant’s growing requirements, its leaves will turn yellow, develop brown spots, or even fall off all at once.

Fiddle leaf figs need lots of bright sunlight, and a lack of light is one of the biggest reasons yours might be struggling.

Here’s what to know about how much light a fiddle leaf fig needs and why it’s probably more than you think—plus symptoms to watch out for and a few alternatives for tall, lower-light plants.

How Much Light Does a Fiddle Leaf Fig Need

The conventional wisdom around fiddle leaf figs is that they need lots of bright, indirect light, but direct sunlight can be too harsh for them.

However, fiddle leaf figs can absolutely handle direct sunlight—in fact, they’re often grown outdoors in full-sun conditions in subtropical climates.

That means an indoor fiddle leaf fig tree can absolutely handle direct sunlight. The key is to slowly acclimate your fiddle leaf fig to brighter conditions to avoid burning the leaves and harming the plant.

You’ll have the best chance of meeting its needs by keeping it in a large, sunny, south-facing or west-facing window. An east-facing window that receives direct sunlight may also work, but the morning light it provides will be weaker.

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4 Signs Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Isn’t Getting Enough Light

With lots of light, your fiddle leaf fig should be able to thrive indoors. However, some spaces simply don’t get enough sunlight to keep a fiddle leaf fig happy. Here are 4 signs that your fiddle leaf fig might need more light.

Yellow or Brown Leaves

An early sign that your fiddle leaf fig isn’t getting enough light is that its large, pear-shaped leaves develop brown spots or begin to turn yellow. This can also be a sign of overwatering or poor drainage, but these two factors are related: The more light a plant gets, the more water it needs, so what seems like an overwatering issue could actually be remedied by giving the plant more sunlight.

Leggy or Spindly Shape

If your fiddle leaf fig is looking leggy or etiolated—meaning lots of upward stem growth with lots of space between leaves or branches—that’s a telltale sign that it isn’t receiving the light it needs.

Note that a fiddle leaf fig that has lost its leaves in the past may have a bare stem or branches with only leaves growing at the tips, which is not the same as etiolation.

Lack of Growth

A fiddle leaf fig with a dull appearance and slow or no new growth is likely suffering from a lack of sunlight. Without sufficient light, the plant’s leaves can’t photosynthesize the food it needs to put out new leaves.

Leaf Drop

The most drastic sign that your fiddle leaf fig is unhappy, with its light or anything else, is a quick and dramatic drop in all leaf growth.

The good news is that with proper care and conditions, your plant can regrow at the tips of its stem and branches, so don’t throw out that bare brown stick yet. However, other leaf growth won’t return.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Tips

• Provide lots of bright light. Put your fiddle leaf fig in the brightest window in your space if it isn’t there already, ideally one with a southern or western exposure. Start by giving your plant a few hours in the new space each day, gradually increasing to avoid burning the leaves or shocking the plant into dropping leaves.
• Rotate fiddle leaf figs regularly. Give the pot a quarter turn after each watering to ensure even exposure to light.
• Avoid overwatering. Water your fiddle leaf fig only when the top two inches of soil have dried out. Allow the soil to drain completely before placing the pot back into its cache pot or saucer.
• Use well-drained soil. Use loose, well-drained potting mix that retains some moisture without holding onto excess water.
• Bring plants outdoors for summer. If you have outdoor space, consider bringing your fiddle leaf fig outdoors during the warm months to give it the bright light it needs. However, be sure to acclimate it gradually to the outdoors, starting with an hour or two of full shade each day and gradually adding more light. Provide afternoon shade for outdoor plants to protect them from the harsh afternoon sun.

Plants to Grow Instead of Fiddle Leaf Fig

• Rubber plant: This fast-growing cousin of the fiddle leaf fig is more easygoing and more affordable.
• Kentia palm: A low-maintenance palm that can thrive in lower-light indoor spaces.
• Corn plant: Dracaena fragrans can grow up to 6 feet tall indoors and requires indirect light.
• Weeping fig: Another ficus that’s less finicky and known for its long lifespan.
• Umbrella tree: Also called schefflera, the umbrella tree will grow up to 6 feet tall and can handle lower-light conditions.