Caring for Statement Plants

Statement plants are large floor plants that shape a room. Monstera and rubber plant are easy. Fiddle leaf fig is a diva. All of them want a steady spot and a regular routine.

Light

Give them bright indirect light. Place the plant near a window, but out of the hottest midday sun. Monstera and rubber plant also cope with partial shade. Fiddle leaf fig needs the brightest spot you have. Once it is happy, do not move it. Turn the pot a quarter every few weeks. Wipe the big leaves with a damp cloth, because dust blocks light.

Water, soil and feeding

Water weekly in summer and a little less in winter. Water thoroughly, then let the top few centimetres of soil dry. Use a chunky potting mix with bark or perlite. The pot needs drainage holes and a saucer that you empty. Repot every two years into a pot one size larger. A pot that is too big holds water for too long. Feed every two to four weeks from spring to late summer with a diluted fertiliser.

Common problems

• Drooping leaves: often thirst, sometimes soggy roots. Feel the soil before you decide.
• Yellow lower leaves: overwatering or too little light. Water less and move the plant to a brighter spot.
• Brown spots on fiddle leaf fig: usually root trouble from too much water, or a cold draft. Check the drainage.
• A leaning plant: it grows toward the light. Turn it regularly.
• Leaves drop after a move: this is change shock. Keep the routine steady and give it time.

Seasonal tip

Winter light is weak. Move the plant as close to the window as the cold allows and water less. In spring, repot if the roots fill the pot.