Fiddle-leaf fig makes sweet music indoors
What is it?
The fiddle-leaf fig is aptly named. Its large leaves are nearly the size of a violin body and its prominent veins are reminiscent of musical strings. Even its Latin name lyrata alludes to the ancient violin-like lyre. And, I suppose, with a little imagination, one could even argue the glossy leaf surface resembles polished wood.
The fiddle-leaf fig is native to West Africa, where mature trees can grow 15 to 20 metres tall at maturity. The fiddle-leaf fig family also includes the infamous mulberry bushes, whose leaves are essential food for silkworms. And let’s not forget Adam and Eve were thankful to have had leaves of the edible fig (Ficus carica) around, although the fiddleleaf fig’s much larger leaves would have been a wiser choice, perhaps.
The best feature of the fiddle-leaf fig is, undoubtedly, its large, glossy leaves, but I also find the grey to reddishbrown bark to be rather attractive. As well, fiddle-leaf figs are unmatched for filling-up conservatories, large living rooms and big foyers with lush, green foliage.
Degree of difficulty: beginner
Now, one might assume the fiddle-leaf fig would be rather difficult to grow, but that’s not the case. My brother Bill has grown his fig for just over 23 years and he often reminds me how of much he enjoys it and how simple it is to grow.
His schedule for keeping his fig in top shape goes something like this. He waters it religiously — but never more than once per week, and only on Saturday mornings. He also prunes it twice per year and lops-off a total of about a metre of growth each time. Beyond that, he fertilizes three times per year and rotates the pot every two months to provide more even light distribution on the foliage, which helps to maintain a more balanced, symmetrical plant. And in nearly a quarter of a century of caring for it, he claims that has yet to see a single bug or disease.
How perfect is it?
On the perfection scale, I would give the fiddle-leaf fig a nine out of 10. It is troublefree to grow and very forgiving when one forgets to water. The only thing to keep in mind is that it does require a fairly large space and it doesn’t tolerate shady spots. South-facing windows are a must for growing a nice, full, thriving plant.
And yes, while they need occasional pruning, cutting off a branch or two is simple and certainly not an onerous task. But just don’t forget to prune. A number of years ago, my brother heard a crashing sound in the middle of the night and rushed out of his bedroom to find his fig lying horizontally on his living room floor. Apparently, the fig had toppled because it was excessively top-heavy.
Bill learned two things that night. First, put annual pruning in the schedule and secondly, fiddle-leaf figs make very un-fiddle-like sounds when they tip over.