Some people buy a fiddle leaf fig tree and expect it to bear fruit similar to the fresh figs you might purchase down your local supermarket.
But in reality, it’s very difficult to get this type of plant to fruit outside of its native environment.
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Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Fruit?
Yes, fiddle leaf figs fruit, but they mainly fruit when they are in their native environment. People who keep fiddle leaf figs at home should not expect them to fruit in an indoor, non-tropical environment because there are no pollinators and not enough sunshine to provide the energy needed.
The fiddle leaf fig is native to the tropical rainforests of West Africa, where they regularly receive rain and humidity.
The fruits of fiddle leaf fig are green and round, have leathery skin, and do not taste good.
They can be bland or tart-tasting and will leave your mouth incredibly dry.
The reason they don’t produce fruit in indoor settings is that they need a lot of bright light to get the energy they need to bear fruit.
They must also be pollinated by fig wasps, which enter the fiddle leaf fig flower and lay eggs inside, producing chemicals to help it ripen into fruit.
In its native environment, the fiddle leaf fig thrives in warm, wet, bright surroundings.
The plant will frequently start its life growing on a different tree.
And can sometimes even kill their host tree by sending roots down, surrounding and slowly strangling it.
These plants like to stay in one place and will not do well if they are moved from place to place in your house.
Try to give your fiddle leaf fig time to adjust and get used to its new environment.
Also Read: Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Like To Be Root Bound? (All You Need To Know)
Can I Eat The Fruit Of A Fiddle Leaf Fig?
Although not poisonous, fiddle leaf fig fruit is very unpleasant to eat (even when ripe). It has tough, leathery skin and tastes bland, bitter and it has an unpleasant drying effect on the inside of your mouth.
When kept in most homes, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see so much as a flower or a fruit from this plant, because there isn’t enough bright, indirect light, and there aren’t any insects to pollinate your fiddle leaf fig.
But if you do live somewhere where there’s a tropical climate and you keep your fiddle leaf fig outdoors, it may produce some small fruits for you.
Although unpleasant to eat, it’s worth noting that the fruit is not toxic so it won’t poison you.
There are hundreds of different species of figs, but usually, only fruits from the F. carica variety are used as food.
Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Flower?
Fiddle leaf figs do not normally flower in indoor environments because they need a lot of bright sunlight to get the energy they need to produce flowers.
They need the right environment with the proper humidity and light exposure to flower, which is the precursor to producing fruit.
The flowers of a fiddle leaf fig are quite pretty and usually red in color.
Although it’s unlikely you’ll ever see flowers of fruit on your fiddle leaf fig, you’ll still want to recreate as close as possible the environment your tree likes to live in.
Here are a few more common questions that will help you to properly care for your fiddle leaf fig.
Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Need Direct Sunlight?
Fiddle leaf figs need lots of medium to high natural light, but they like indirect light, not direct sunlight.
We recommend bright, filtered light like you would get through a large window with a sheer curtain
Place these plants in an area of your home with a lot of very bright light, but don’t let the light touch your plant directly.
You should also turn your plant every week so that all of the leaves get the chance to get light and the plant won’t grow toward the light unevenly.
Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Like to be Misted?
Fiddle leaf fig plants like to be misted because it helps to create a bit of humidity, which mimics their native tropical environment.
If your house is dry, mist your plant about once each week.
To help your plant soak in the water, wipe the dust off of your fiddle leaf fig leaves.
This will help keep your plant healthy.
You don’t need to use coconut oil on them because this could make it harder for the plant to get water.
Just use a microfiber cloth to dust them.
Watering your fiddle leaf fig is an important step in keeping it healthy, but you need to be careful not to overwater.
These plants need an average amount of water, and you should be watering them every 7 to 10 days.
Let the soil mostly dry out before watering again.
You also need to make sure your plant has the proper amount of drainage.
When you water your plant, let it drip dry for an hour or two outside or over your bathtub before replacing it.
You could also place a drip tray underneath your plant to catch excess water.
Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Grow Fast?
Fiddle leaf fig plants grow more than a foot taller each year if they are cared for properly.
They can grow to be well over 6 feet tall indoors.
Most people use them as floor plants because they can get so tall.
If your fig gets to be too tall to handle, trim the top of its trunk and it will begin to get wider and bushier.
These plants can be grown outside, but only in the right conditions found in the most southern regions of the U.S.
Your plant will do best if the temperature outside stays above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Go Dormant?
Yes. During the winter months between November and March, you will notice that your fiddle leaf fig will stop growing and go dormant.
This is because they will not be getting the natural light they need and will stop growing to conserve energy.
The peak growing season for fiddle leaf figs is from March to May.
Final Thoughts
Although you’re unlikely to see fruit or flowers from your fiddle leaf fig, taking greet care of this plant will present you with gorgeous visuals in the form of large, heavily veined, deep green, violin-shaped leaves that reach for the ceiling and instantly transform any space in your home.
