Can You Really Grow a Fiddle Leaf Fig From Seeds?

Growing beautiful lush fiddle leaf fig trees from tiny seeds sounds like a fun gardening project. The large, iconic leaves of the fiddle leaf fig make it one of the most desirable houseplants. Wouldn’t it be great to grow your own fiddle leaf fig from seeds?

Unfortunately, growing a fiddle leaf fig from seeds is extremely difficult, almost impossible for the average gardener Here’s a detailed explanation of why it’s so hard to grow fiddle leaf figs from seeds, and better ways to get your own fiddle leaf fig tree

Fiddle Leaf Figs Have Complex Pollination Needs

In nature, fiddle leaf figs grow in tropical rainforests in Western Africa and Australia For the fiddle leaf fig tree to produce seeds, a few things need to happen

• The tree must produce flowers
• The flowers need to be pollinated
• Pollinated flowers will then develop into fruits with seeds inside

Here’s the problem – fiddle leaf fig pollination relies on a very specific species of fig wasp native to Africa and Australia. These tiny wasps have co-evolved with fiddle leaf figs over millions of years. The wasps pollinate the flowers and lay their eggs inside the developing fig fruits.

Without this special fig wasp, pollination won’t occur and the fiddle leaf fig won’t produce any seeds. Since we don’t have the native pollinator wasp outside of Africa and Australia, our indoor fiddle leaf figs rarely get pollinated or produce seeds.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Seeds Have Low Viability

On the very rare chance a fiddle leaf fig does get pollinated and produces seeds, germinating the seeds is extremely difficult.

The seeds have thick outer coatings that need to be scratched or nicked with sandpaper or a file for water to penetrate. Even with this process, only about 10-20% of fiddle leaf fig seeds will germinate successfully.

The seeds also need warm, consistently moist conditions for 3-4 months to sprout. If the seeds dry out even once, they likely won’t germinate.

Even if you manage to germinate some fiddle leaf fig seeds, the seedlings have low survival rates. They need bright light, high humidity, perfect drainage and precise watering to grow. It’s very challenging for beginner gardeners.

Buying Seeds Online is Risky

Some websites advertise fiddle leaf fig seeds for sale. However, these are likely scam listings selling random, non-viable seeds. There’s no regulation on seed quality, so you never know if you’re getting real fiddle leaf fig seeds.

I ordered some fiddle leaf fig seeds online as an experiment. After 3 months of perfect care, nothing ever sprouted. I cut some seeds open and found they weren’t even seeds at all, just little pebbles!

Don’t waste time and money on questionable online seed sources. Genuine fiddle leaf fig seeds are extremely rare.

Reliable Ways to Get Fiddle Leaf Figs

While growing fiddle leaf figs from seeds isn’t realistic, there are a few good options to get your own plant:

Buy a Nursery Grown Fiddle Leaf Fig

Visit your local garden center and choose a healthy, established fiddle leaf fig plant. Reputable nurseries graft cuttings onto rootstock to grow trees faster. This yields strong, mature plants ready for your home in 1-2 years.

Buying from a nursery lets you pick the perfect fiddle leaf fig for your space. Just watch for pests, overwatering and other stresses.

Propagate a Cutting From a Mature Tree

Take a cutting from a friend or family member’s fiddle leaf fig tree. Use a clean, sharp knife or pruners to cut a 6 inch stem right below a leaf node.

Remove the bottom leaves and place the cutting in water. Change the water weekly. In 4-6 weeks, you should see roots. Plant the cutting in fresh potting mix and voila – a cloned baby fig tree!

Start With a Smaller Ficus Variety

Other ficus species like Ficus pumila, Ficus benjamina and Ficus elastica are easier to find as seeds or small starter plants. Grow one of these first to get experience caring for ficus. Once you’re more confident as a ficus parent, graduate to the fiddle leaf fig.

While growing fiddle leaf figs from seeds sounds appealing, it requires expertise way beyond most home gardeners. Buying from a nursery or propagating cuttings are much more realistic methods. Don’t be fooled by seed scams – stick with trusting reliable sources for your own gorgeous fiddle leaf fig tree.