Gardening is best when you add fulfilling plants to the collection. This is where the Rubber plants and fiddle leaf figs kick in. They are getting more popular each day because of their unique features.
When it comes to rubber plants vs. fiddle leaf fig plants, you must wonder, which is really better?
Rubber plants offer tropical features, a glossy outlook, and various color patterns. Fiddle leaf figs, on the other hand, offer dark leaves, a modern theme, and seasonal beauty.
Before you go on to choose one, you need to know the differences between them. Here is a full comparison of rubber plants and fiddle leaf figs. We have a lot to cover. Let’s begin.
Rubber Plants Vs. Fiddle Leaf Fig: Comparison Chart
| Features | Rubber Plant | Fiddle Leaf Fig |
| Form | Spreading canopy formation | Round canopy formation |
| Height | Naturally, 6 to 10 feet indoors | Can grow anywhere from 3-10 feet indoors. |
| Leaf Length | Each leaf is 8-12 inches long. | 15- 18 inches each. |
| The texture of leaf | Leathery, glossy shine | Slightly hairy texture |
| Shapes of leaves | Oblong, oval, elliptical | violin-shaped leaves. |
| Humidity | Standard room humidity | Between 35-65% humidity |
| Ideal Temperature | 70 to 80° Fahrenheit during daytime | 60 to 80° Fahrenheit |
| Variations | Decora, Tricolor, Rubra, Robusta, Foliis | Fiscus lyrata, Bambino, Suncoast, Compacta |
| Resilience | Drought resistant | Can survive with just the stem |
| Climate | Tropical | Tropical, temperate |
Rubber Plants: Why choose it?
Every gardener wants a plant with unique features that will flourish easily. Being downright beautiful in appearance to being a natural air purifier, rubber plants have various unique traits. Here are some features of rubber plants:
A beautiful addition to your garden
A moderate-sized rubber plant fits in all types of gardens, increasing the aesthetics of the garden itself. These plants look beautiful with their enchantingly peaceful appearance.
Often pruned to the users’ will, rubber plants fit in well with almost any theme.
A thin stem with full broad leaves represents blooming nature. You can place one in a designed pot, instantly turning it into an eye-catching piece of work.
Inexpensive tropical plant
You will not have to spend much on a rubber plant during its overall lifespan. These plants grow sufficiently well under low maintenance while requiring very little fertilizer.
Reproducing new rubber plants also requires little to no cost at all. One can easily grow rubber plants from cuttings, hence reducing the cost of the plant.
Soothing color variations
In nurseries, you will find the plain dark green colored rubber plants, which are the most common variety. However, variegated rubber plants have a mixture of colors in their leaves, providing various different options.
The leaves of variegated rubber plants usually contain various white and pink marks. Ribs of rubber leaf also take on different colors like creamy gray, pink or reddish depending on the type.
Other types, such as Foliis Aureo-marginata have golden margins at the end of their leaves. While the Rubra rubber plant changes color from reddish to deep green with red patches as it matures.
Beneficial to health
Rubber plants make your living place healthier by improving the air quality. It absorbs formaldehyde and other airborne toxin chemicals. The plant breaks the chemical components of these toxins, making them harmless.
These plants also have ant-bacterial properties. Rubber plants suck in bacteria from the air, killing them as part of their defense mechanism. A single rubber plant reduces the number of bacteria in a room by around 50 to 60 percent.
Non-allergic plant
Benefits of rubber plants are also in the area of keeping an individual free from allergies. Rubber plants work especially well in preventing people from suffering from allergic reactions like asthma.
The plant’s large leaves help to increase the overall humidity in the room the plant is kept in. Due to this, dust particles in the air cannot flow around as freely. Humidity from the rubber plants also prevents numerous pollutants from turning into dust particles.
Pros
- Well-suited for indoor use
- Helps to purify the air
- Low maintenance and cost
- Can grow to large sizes
Cons
- Can be harmful if the sap is ingested
Fiddle leaf Fig: Why choose it?
The popularity of fiddle leaf figs is ever-increasing due to their distinctive features. These plants are stunning, shiny, and highly resilient. Here are some features of fiddle leaf figs:
Beautiful appearances
Whether it’s in modern home decor or an office theme, a fiddle leaf fig plant looks marvelous.
Rather than being a side decor, oftentimes a fiddle leaf plant becomes the main attraction.
Its eye-catching leaves make it even more charming. The visible vine pattern in the leaves pops out like designs of an art piece.
Large-sized houseplant
In the proper growing conditions, fiddle leaf figs will grow up to six feet or even more. Having smaller plants is a joy in itself, but a large, boasting green plant speaks volumes.
A properly grown plant will have large leaves with a thick stem holding them all together.
These plants are one of the largest in the category of houseplants due to their sheer size.
Fast growth of fiddle figs
Under proper care, fiddle leaf fig plants grow faster than other houseplants. About 2-3 feet per year. Its fast growth will motivate and excite any gardener.
The plant changes with the seasons
With spring and summer, fiddle leaf figs get more vibrant. These plants love to stay in warm temperatures, and thus they are at their best in spring and summer.
Fiddle leaf figs suffer in winter due to low temperature. At this time, growth is slow. Leaves tend to take a darker shade, giving a new vibe to the tree.
Pros
- Beautiful and decorative
- Color changes with season
- Contain air cleaning properties
- Has psychological benefits
- Lifts mood and helps with focus.
Cons
- Require high maintenance.
Rubber Plant vs. Fiddle Leaf Fig: Head-to-Head Comparison
Both the plants are great for indoor plantations and bring nature close to you. But they are very different from each other.
For starters, rubber plants have a spreading shape, while fiddle leaf figs are much more rounder. However, fiddle leaf figs are mostly much larger than indoor rubber plants.
Even though a rubber plant can reach similar heights, it takes a fiddle leaf much less time to arrive at that level of growth.
The texture of rubber plants is leathery and smooth to touch, while fiddle leaf figs have small hair on them. Leaves of fiddle leaf figs are much larger than rubber plants.
Fiddle leaf figs have a much stronger structure than rubber plants because of obvious differences in the diameter of the stem. Though, rubber plants live for longer durations.
How to take care of a rubber plant?
Getting the plant is only half the ordeal, but taking proper care is also important. Follow these steps to ensure your rubber plant grows healthy and fast:
- Place your rubber plant in a position with indirect sunlight.
- Water the plant once a week. Wait for the top of the soil to try before watering again.
- Make sure to water your plant when the leaves look droopy but avoid watering if leaves look brown or yellowish.
How to take care of fiddle leaf figs?
Fiddle leaf figs, like any other plants, stay the best under proper care. Here is what to do:
- Place fiddle leaf figs right in front of a window or any place with direct sunlight.
- You should water it once a week. When watering again, check for dry soil surface.
- If you are in a dry climate, use a humidifier to promote growth.
FAQs
How fast can a rubber plant grow?
Rubber plants planted indoors will grow around 24 inches each growing season. However, indoors, the height is seriously affected by the size of the pot. Pruning also impacts the growth of the plant, reducing its size. Specialized rubber plants for indoors can keep growing for 10-15 years at a much slower rate than outdoors. In this long course of time, they can reach up to 13 feet in height.
Are fiddle leaf figs toxic to pets?
Fiddle leaf figs are mildly poisonous as the leaves have crystals of calcium oxalate, which is a toxic chemical. If your pet dog or cat eats a leaf, it will get sick. So, you should keep your pets away from the plant as they have a tendency to bite plants. You should check your kids around it as well for their safety.
End note
Both types of plants are wonderful options for any garden. They are unique, user-friendly, and look damn beautiful in any household.
Rule of the thumb, if you hardly have time for maintenance, go for the rubber plant. On the other hand, fiddle leaf fig plants are more colorful but will require more maintenance time.
Anyhow, just take care of your plants regularly regardless of which type you choose.
This is all for today. Bye and have a good day.