Plant
Fiddle-leaf fig.
Ficus lyrata
A West African fig with large, violin-shaped leaves that sulks after moves and drafts. Consistent light, temperature, and watering matter more to it than to almost any other houseplant.
How to help it thrive.
Light & placement
It needs at least 10,000–20,000 lux, right beside an east window or about 1 m from a south one, and benefits from a few hours of acclimated direct sun. Find that spot once and leave it there, turning the pot only slightly every few weeks.
Water & drainage
Water when the top 3–5 cm, about a third of the pot, is dry, and keep that rhythm steady. Irregular soaking and drying causes edema, red-brown spots on new leaves; keep it above 15 °C (59 °F).
One thing to remember
Red-brown speckles on young leaves usually mean irregular watering (edema), not disease; steady the routine rather than spraying.
Further reading: Horticultural source
