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Fiddle Faddle

Racheal
Apr 21, 2016
2 min read

Fiddle leaf fig...say what? No, it's not a tongue twister...it's a plant. But go ahead and try to say it 10 times really fast. Fiddle-de-dee! So let's talk about this gorgeous plant that has been appearing in all the magazines for several years.

According to Wikipedia...the fiddle leaf fig is a member of the ficus family (Ficus lyrata) and is a tropical plant native to western Africa. It is also a happy house plant and many are paying large sums of money to own a tree-like version of this plant.

Why the fiddle leaf fig? Why not...it has large, interestingly shaped (fiddle shaped) leaves, that while organic, seem almost architectural. It can be found in small, bush-like shapes or more amazing topiary tree-like forms. Some say they are low maintenance, but I have found that they are a bit finicky. I have already killed one and now on to my second victim. Granted, I jumped into owning one without researching beforehand. So, my first recommendation is a beautiful fake version! But if you really want to try one, do your homework. Make sure you have a good spot in your home that gets a lot of natural light, but not direct sunlight. Do not repot immediately! If you do, try not to disturb the root ball and pack firmly into a new pot that allows lots of drainage. They don't like their feet too wet...I think that's how I killed the first one. And my last tip is to water only when the soil has dried to the touch an inch or so from the top. I'm pretty sure we (my husband and I) accidentally watered ours too much. "We" thought the other had not watered said plant and then drowned it. But I've moved on and replaced it with my new version and it only cost me $8 at Walmart! Places like Walmart and IKEA are now selling these popular plants. Locations may vary and they don't last long on the shelf when a shipment arrives.

For now, I'm trying to accommodate my new house guest and we are more than a month into round two. I will update on my progress....or lack thereof.

This photo was taken of a very large fiddle leaf fig in Anna Maria, Florida.

I have seen one just as large near the pool at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort.