Fiddlestick figs are exotic trees that decorate rooms with their showy leaves. Once it has found the right location, the plant will thrive without much care. But there are some things that the plant does not like.

The violin fig is a houseplant in our country

Table of Contents

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  1. origin
  2. blossom
  3. leaves
  4. growth
  5. use
  6. offshoot
  7. Is fiddlestick fig poisonous?
  8. Which location is suitable?
  9. What soil does the plant need?
  10. In the greenhouse
  11. Propagate fiddle fig
  12. cuttings
  13. Fiddle fig in pot
  14. Pour violin fig
  15. Fertilize the fiddlehead properly
  16. Cut fiddlesticks correctly
  17. How do I plant correctly?
  18. hibernate
  19. pests
  20. Losing leaves
  21. sorts

    22. origin

    The fiddlehead fig is a species of the fig genus. It bears the Latin name Ficus lyrata and originally comes from tropical areas. Fiddle figs grow in the rainforests. Their range extends from western to central Africa. It is a popular houseplant not only in Europe but also in topical and subtropical regions. As a result, it has spread to many places. Wild plants that come from cultivated stocks occur in Hawaii.

    blossom

    Fiddler figs develop cup-shaped flowers that are small and inconspicuous. Flowering only occurs when conditions are perfect. The specimen cultivated as houseplants bloom very rarely.

    leaves

    The foliage of these plants was the inspiration for the naming. They look like they unfolded after being crumpled up. The leaf margin is wavy and entire. The shape of the leaves is reminiscent of the shape of the well-known stringed instrument. The leaves are heart-shaped at the base of the blades. Fiddlestick figs develop leaves in an alternate or spiral arrangement.

    Raised leaf veins are clearly visible on the dark green colored leaves. The entire leaf blade is rough and leathery. Their surface appears shiny. The leaf blade can be between 20 and 45 centimeters long. In width, the leaves reach dimensions between twelve and 28 centimeters.

    growth

    This species grows as a shrub or tree. It is evergreen and does not shed its leaves in autumn. Fiddler figs grow between 10 and 16 meters high. With a pot cultivation, the plants remain significantly smaller. In the pot, the tree reaches heights of growth of between two and four meters. In their natural range, the plants grow on the ground, as epiphytic plants on other trees, or as strangler figs, which develop aerial roots and entwine other trees with them.

    use

    Fiddlehead figs grow to a stately size, which is why they are particularly suitable for beautifying high rooms. As a houseplant, they decorate offices or large entrance areas. The attractive green plant has several functions at the workplace. It sets visual accents and improves the room climate, because its huge leaves have an air-purifying effect.

    offshoot

    With the moss you can successfully propagate your violin fig. To do this, you have to cut a semi-lignified shoot diagonally in half so that the branch is still supplied with nutrients by the plant. So that the resulting gap does not close, you should clamp a stone between them. Wrap the base with a moistened moss. Finally, wrap some cling film around the moss to stabilize it. It takes about four to six weeks for new roots to form at the cut point. Then you can remove the foil and moss and cut off the shoot completely.
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    Is fiddlestick fig poisonous?

    All parts of the violin fig plant have a milky sap that escapes when damaged. The liquid can cause skin irritation in sensitive people after contact. Consuming leaves can cause general discomfort. The plant is also poisonous to cats and horses.
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    Which location is suitable?

    Fiddlehead figs prefer a bright location that gets sun in the morning and evening. The brighter the place, the more compact and dense the trees grow. They do not tolerate blazing midday sun. A curtain protects the plants from direct sunlight in the midday hours. The plant likes to spend the summer outside in a sun-protected place. Look for a location where there are no drafts. Avoid frequent changes of location as this will damage the plants.

    Temperatures should not fall below 15 degrees Celsius. The plant also thrives well under artificial light. However, it should not be exclusively under artificial light. Since the plants do not like cold feet, underfloor heating is ideal. Alternatively, you can place the tub on wooden pallets to insulate the roots from the cold soil. So that the plants can spread unhindered, they should not be placed directly in the corner of the room. It doesn't do the trees any good when the leaves press against a wall.

    What soil does the plant need?

    The trees have no great demands on the plant substrate. Young plants thrive best in conventional potting soil. Mature plants prefer potting soil. Mix in perlite (37.51€) or sand into the substrate. This ensures good permeability so that no waterlogging can form.

    The ideal substrate mixture:

    • two parts garden soil
    • part compost
    • part coconut

    In the greenhouse

    Fiddle figs originally grow in regions with high humidity. This makes them ideal plants for cultivation in greenhouses, as long as they offer enough space. If you want to grow your fiddlehead fig in a greenhouse, you should consider the light conditions. If the sun shines unhindered on the greenhouse in the midday hours, the plant can be damaged.

    Propagate fiddle fig

    The trees can be grown from seeds. You can get these from specialist retailers. Since violin figs bloom extremely rarely in indoor cultivation, seed formation is also a rarity. The seeds are scattered on potting soil and moistened. Make sure that the seeds are not covered by the substrate. They are light germinators and need lots of light and warmth. If you cannot provide a bright location, we recommend using a plant lamp.(21.99€)

    Cover the planter with cling film to ensure a high level of humidity. As soon as the seeds germinate, you should remove the foil.

    Another method is propagation by leaf cuttings. To do this, cut a healthy leaf from the mother plant and stick it with the stem to a maximum of two centimeters deep in a moist substrate. Make sure the soil is neither too wet nor too dry. It takes about five to eight weeks for new roots to develop. A new stem develops from the roots and the leaf slowly dies over time.
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    cuttings

    Fiddlehead figs can be propagated via head cuttings. Cut off shoot tips from your plant that are at least 15 centimeters long. Since milky juice will come out of the cut, you should hold the cut end briefly in a bowl of warm water. After the shoot has bled out, let the wound dry a little.

    Then put the offshoot in a planter filled with potting soil. Put a glass or a transparent bag over the pot so that the humidity remains constant. Place the growing pot in a light and warm place and ventilate it daily to prevent mold from developing.

    The best time to take cuttings is in early spring, before the growing season begins. This prevents the mother plant from becoming too weak and gives the cuttings enough time to develop a healthy root system until winter.

    Fiddle fig in pot

    The plants are cultivated as pot plants in central European latitudes. If there is enough space, they grow into small trees in the bucket. If you want a bushy growth habit, put two to three plants in a pot. Alternatively, you can remove the shoot tips to encourage branching.

    Pour violin fig

    Fiddlehead figs have a moderate water requirement. Keep the substrate evenly moist and prevent waterlogging and drought. While the plant dies when there is a lack of water, the roots rot when the conditions are too wet. Before you water the plant again, the substrate should be slightly dry.

    How to water correctly:

    • Substrate is wet after six days: reduce the amount of water
    • The soil is dry after two days: slightly increase the amount of water
    • The upper layer has dried after three to five days: the amount of water is ideal

    Fertilize the fiddlehead properly

    In the first year, the plants do not need fertilizer. Normally, the substrate mixtures in the pots are lightly fertilized. From the second year, the trees enjoy a regular supply of nutrients. Give your violin fig some liquid fertilizer over the irrigation water every 14 days. Alternatively, a long-term fertilizer in the form of sticks, pellets or granules is recommended. Only fertilize the plant during the growing season between April and September. Growth stagnates in winter, making fertilization unnecessary.

    Cut fiddlesticks correctly

    A cut is only necessary if you want to reduce the growth height or encourage branching. In this case you can shorten the shoot tips. Prune the plant in spring before the new growth spurt begins. During this period, the plant regenerates quickly. Pruning measures shortly before winter are less well tolerated by the wood.

    You should pay attention to this when cutting:

    • Thoroughly clean the cutting tool
    • Use secateurs or a knife with a sharp blade
    • wear gloves

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    How do I plant correctly?

    As soon as the tub is heavily rooted, the violin fig needs a larger container. Older plants should be repotted every two to three years. The best time for this measure is spring. Fiddlestick figs can also be repotted in summer. Choose a bucket that is about an inch larger than the old one.

    Mix some sand under the substrate. You can also use Perlite or Styromull. For a better nitrogen supply, you can mix some horn shavings (32.93€) under the soil. Before you fill the mixture into the bucket, you should spread pottery shards on the floor. They ensure good water drainage.

    Put the plant in the pot and fill it up with the freshly mixed substrate. Press the soil down well and water the plant deeply. After repotting, you should wait six to eight weeks before fertilizing for the first time.

    hibernate

    The exotic plants are bright all year round. They also thrive in winter in rooms with a warm room temperature, but prefer temperatures between 15 and 17 degrees Celsius. Make sure that the thermometer does not fall below 15 degrees Celsius. Especially in winter, the plant is sensitive to drafts and cold feet. Place a styrofoam sheet under the bucket to protect the roots.

    In winter, a location on the windowsill is suboptimal. The plant suffers from stress when its leaves lie against the cold window pane and are exposed to the rising air from the heating at the same time. Place the bucket in a place where the temperature is even. Reduce watering. The cooler the room, the less you need to water. The substrate must not dry out.

    pests

    Fiddlehead figs can be attacked by scale insects, which settle on the trunk, leaf veins and branches. If the infestation is advanced, the leaves will change color and die over time. Give the plant a systematically effective agent via the irrigation water, which is absorbed through the roots and distributed in the organism with the plant sap.

    An infestation with mealybugs or mealybugs can occur. They leave webs on the leaves and secrete a sticky mass. A contact poison provides a quick remedy. For a long-term effect, you should resort to systematically acting means. These also help against thrips, which settle on the undersides of the leaves and in the hollows of the leaf blades. The affected leaves show silvery or yellow discoloration. Act quickly to avoid major damage to the plant.

    If the violin fig has been attacked by spider mites, the leaves will turn yellowish. The pests lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves and deprive the plants of nutrients. Shower the entire plant with a strong jet of water to remove the pests. In the case of a severe infestation, you can use products with extracts from the neem tree. They have proven to be particularly effective against sucking pests.

    Losing leaves

    Fiddlehead figs react sensitively to frequent changes in site conditions. If they are regularly placed in a new place, the plant has to adapt to the new conditions again and again. This adaptation causes stress. Frequent turning of the tub in place causes changes in the incidence of light, which is not good for the plant.

    If the substrate is too wet, the roots will rot. They can no longer draw enough water and nutrients from the substrate, so the leaves slowly die off. As a first remedial measure, you should remove the wet substrate from the root ball and place the plant in dry soil. Allow the top layer to dry thoroughly before watering the plant again.
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    tips

    Choose a round bucket with a low center of gravity. The roots get caught faster in rectangular plant pots. This makes annual transplanting difficult. Pots with a low center of gravity are especially important. Fiddlestick figs form a lush crown that gains quite a bit of weight. The pot serves as a stabilizing counterweight.

    sorts

    • baby: Compact habit, stays small.

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Trees