Ficus lyrata
Large violin-shaped leaves on a tree-like form. Popular but notoriously fussy about consistency in light, water, and location.
⚠️ Toxic to pets and people if ingested — keep out of reach.
Brown spots with a slightly yellow halo usually mean inconsistent watering — this plant wants a steady routine, not alternating between soggy and bone-dry. Dropped leaves are often a stress response to being moved, drafts, or a sudden change in light.
Take a stem cutting with 2-3 leaves and root it in water, changing the water every few days; expect roots in 4-6 weeks. Air layering (rooting a cutting while still attached to the parent plant) has a higher success rate for this notoriously fussy species.
Repot every 1-2 years in spring, sizing up gradually — fiddle leaf figs dislike having too much extra soil around their roots, which can lead to overwatering.