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Fiddle Leaf Fig, or Ficus lyrata, is a large-leaved member of the fig family and a popular floor-standing houseplant.
Latin name
Ficus lyrata
Pronunciation
(“FY-kus ly-RAH-tah”)
Common name
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Origin
Tropical West Africa, from Cameroon to Sierra Leone
This species originates in the tropics of West Africa, where in the wild it climbs up the trunks of larger trees before getting large enough to form its own trunk.
They are excellent small specimen houseplants, although they are also often used as large trees inside buildings.
The leaves are shaped like a lyre (an ancient guitar-like instrument), or fiddle (hence both its scientific and common names) and they can grow up to 40cm long. One of their most attractive features are the prominent pale veins that contrast nicely against the dark green leaves.
Ficus lyrata (fiddle-leaf fig) is considered toxic to cats, dogs and potentially harmful to children if ingested.
caring for your plant
Light
Medium to high light.
Watering
Can tolerate quite dry conditions, so allow the soil to dry a little between watering.
Pruning
Prune when it gets straggly, but most plants have a compact head and rarely need pruning.
Feeding
Either use a controlled release fertilizer in the spring, or add some dilute fertilizer to the water every time you water the plant.
pest & diseases
Mealybugs and scale insects can be troublesome – if you see them, wipe them off with a clean cloth. Two-spotted spider mites are also an occasional problem, especially in dry areas (mites hate humidity), but once established can be quite damaging. As soon as you see the characteristic webbing, spray with tepid water and wipe off all the webbing – you may need to repeat several times.
Where the Ficus Lyrata originates from
This species originates in the tropics of West Africa, and has been introduced into El Salvador
Our plants are grown in Ecoponic, an alternative to soil. Officially known as a vulkaponic substrate, it replaces traditional compost with a clean, mineral-based medium that helps protect peatlands.
According to the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, “A loss of only 5% of UK peatland carbon would be equal to the UK’s annual greenhouse gas emissions.” As well as storing carbon, the natural wetlands where peat is found are critical to the survival of plants and wildlife. Ecoponic also improves plant health and uses water more efficiently.
Find out more about Ecoponic here.
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