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[Oznell]

Her faux 5' tree is H210720,  and I finally took a chance on it.

Have always wanted a tree in the house, but conditions not exactly right for a flourishing, healthy tree.  So, looked at a LOT of faux--  and Valerie's looked very good, compared to the many, much more expensive ones out there.

So my review is, it's pretty good!  The trunk is excellent, very realistic, and I love that they show "new growth", etc.

The weakest link might be the leaves, which are the hardest to replicate, but still, if you are not too close, they look fairly realistic.  At first glance, when you walk into the room, it looks like you have a beautiful, rich green-leafed tree!  A very stylish look.  I agree with designers who say, a dramatic tree automatically enriches a room.

I have a small, antique American Empire desk in living room.  On one side, a vintage Art Deco torchere, with the dramatic 3 tiered flared shade at the top.  Needed something else fairly tall to flank the other side of desk. Voila, fiddle leaf fig!

Having my real plants near by helps with the illusion!   Here are some more things I learned.

A bigger container also helps suggest "real".   First I put the tiny, weighted "starter pot" of the fig in an old rattan planter I had.  Too small-- it looked silly.  Finally foraged a bigger wicker basket from the bathroom.  Dropped fig in it, filled all around with torn-up paper bags, then covered them all over with real preserved Spanish moss.  Or you could cover with pebbles, or mulch or real dirt, if you're a purist!

So I think you need a basket or planter at least 17 or 18 inches across, for the most realistic suggestion that there are real roots in there, growing.  And bigger would be better-- 2 feet across or more would look great. 

Baskets are a great container, b/c it gives you texture, it's not heavy and you might even have one already.  Valerie suggested her round baskets, set of 3, but they seemed pricey.  I knew I could do better....

In the video, you can get a good look.  I thought it was cute when Valerie said, they can take away other things from her house, but they are never taking away her shutter lamp or her fiddle leaf fig.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlKaxhQhJZc  

[Oznell]

Ooops, I forgot to add that you do have to play with the leaves, pulling them out and down, and arranging them to look nice and full and lush.  I heard of one person who took a steamer to her leaves, to get a few unrealistic looking "bends" out of them, but I didn't have to do that!

[Lali1]

I have wanted one but wasn't sure about a faux plant. I found a small real Fiddle Leaf at at store nearby for only $16. I bought it to see if I could keep it alive.Home Depot had huge ones for $125.  It's been many many months before the lockdown and it is still alive but it looks sad. It drops leaves I have no idea if it needs more or less water and I'm afraid I'll be dead before it gets big. I may just go for the faux one maybe for Christmas for me. 

[Azcowgirl]

@Oznell I too have this tree in the tallest version and I love it. It's my favorite one out of the four faux trees I have in our main living areas...I still haven't yet placed it in a larger vessel although I wil eventually. 

[Oznell]

You're a braver woman than I, @Lali1 , to tackle a live fiddle leaf fig!   I've heard they are tricky to keep healthy.  I have heard that they like lots of indirect light (direct light apparently burns their leaves) and only like to be watered when the first one to two inches of their soil feels dry...  Perhaps you can find an easy-care guide online.  Fiddle leafs are so popular, their might be some good info.

If you do get Valerie's too, I'd love to hear your verdict!

Oh, so good to get your validation, @Azcowgirl -- your rooms must look fab with all those trees!   I like mine so much, I sort of wish I'd gone with the 6' one you got also....   I'd love to get a faux olive tree too, their wispy, old world look is so appealing... 

[Kachina624]

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@Lali1 wrote:

I have wanted one but wasn't sure about a faux plant. I found a small real Fiddle Leaf at at store nearby for only $16. I bought it to see if I could keep it alive.Home Depot had huge ones for $125.  It's been many many months before the lockdown and it is still alive but it looks sad. It drops leaves I have no idea if it needs more or less water and I'm afraid I'll be dead before it gets big. I may just go for the faux one maybe for Christmas for me.  

@Lali1   I once had a part-time job at a mall in Houston.  They had a huge 2-story window by the entrance about 25-30 ft high.  There was a Fiddle Leaf Fig growing there that went all the way to the ceiling.  They had to periodically whack it off at the top.  They can get huge, this one had SSW light.

[Oznell]

Wow, what an impressive height for an indoor tree, @Kachina624 .  It would look so striking in the setting you describe.  I've read that in its natural habitat, in west Africa, it can grow close to 50 feet.

[itsmetoo]

I also have this tree but the smaller one before she came out with the taller one.  I put blocks of wood in a tall basket to elevate it then covered everything with moss.  I think at the time I only paid $69 for it and for that price it was a good buy for me.  Mine certainly isn't as full as the one in the picture though.

[Katcat1]

@Oznell That's a beautiful faux fig tree.  I thinki the pot could be a little bigger.  All you have to do is dust it.  Enjoy.

[spiderw]

I also like the Fiddle Leaf Fig tree and I am glad you bought it, Oznell.  It is a lovely piece of decor and enhances a room, I would assume the quality is excellent.  As far as what to put the tree in, I lean toward baskets but there are many lovely pots to choose from.  My problem is where to put it and if I did purchase the tree I would buy the small one.  The best part is you don't have to worry about light as you do with many live plants.  Enjoy!!!!!!