Seasons of expansion as well as seasons of letting go exist throughout the human lifespan. Surprisingly, the first Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant I owned provided a very valuable lesson on letting go.

A little over a year ago, scrolling through social media this deep green, collards resembling leaves, peculiar yet attractive plant was trending everywhere I turned. So what did I do? Of course, purchase the first one I found.

New plant mom with excitement boiling over, I was eager to buy as many amazing green potted beauties as I possibly could. (Secret: I still suffer from this after more than a year in the plant game)

With no research at all, if it was trending or it just caught my eye, I was buying it. Honestly, that is pretty much how majority of the 20 plants I now own were acquired. 

What was not disclosed to me while admiring other people’s fiddles, that I likely could have learned had I done a little Google searching prior, was that this plant may not be ideal for beginner and less experienced plant owners. At least not this one.

It’s not impossible for beginners to successfully care for the Fiddle Leaf Fig but not easy.

I welcomed this Fiddle Fig Plant home, named her Maya, set her up in a spot I thought was perfect and I gushed over her foliage everyday.

Doing what any new plant mom would, I made sure she had light and was well watered; nothing more nothing less.

It wasn’t long before issues of drooping leaves, browning leaves and straight up leaves falling off, all started to arise. (I’m so mad I can’t find an early picture of her in all her fullness)

Days turned to weeks and weeks into months. I researched and followed the advice of different sources on how to care for the fiddle fig until before I knew it, Maya was literally naked. 

The dreadful mistake was made in moving Maya to what I gathered would be a more suitable location and truth-be-told, everything rapidly spiraled downhill.

Listen, she was staring at me bare stem and I was staring back at her helpless. Where are your leaves Maya? How can I make it stop?

I felt broken and discouraged but could not allow myself to give up. She also was the most expensive plant purchase I had made at $50. Let the record show, I do not like to waste money. 

There was restored hope when new fiddle leaves began to pop up. I was certain I had figured out what this popular plant needed and we were on the track to success.

However and very unfortunately, a year after much trial and error even the new leaves that I had hope for began to have holes, brown and I had to face the hard reality that it was probably time to let Maya go. 

In all transparency, letting go of this fiddle hurt much more than I could have ever anticipated it would. It still stings thinking about it with circling thoughts of, “Did I give up too soon?” “I could have done more, etc.”

When the time came, I was careful to disregard Maya respectfully; first thanking her for the time she gave and the valuable lessons taken away from our experience. That gave me a sense of peace.

Express gratitude even in the letting go, for there is great worth in the wisdom gained from every journey taken.

Tinita tennant

How was I confident in letting go?

Confidence in letting go came when there was no longer joy in my attempts to save her, only the selfishness of me not wanting to be considered a failure. I was holding on to the fantasy of having this beautiful fiddle plant like in the Instagram feeds but not committed to the work of having a beautiful fiddle plant.

These plants are work, they require patience and attention in a more finicky way then some other plants. 

Maya taught me the importance of knowing when to let go and being confident in that decision, as well as knowing that letting go of something in this season or this form does not mean done and final.

I’d like to introduce you to Victory. 

Victory is my new fiddle and as you can see she is much smaller than Maya was. This time research told me that “miniature” fiddle plants can be a little easier to manage. Yet, the same basic rules, which I’m about to share with you still apply.

I waited to name this fiddle until it felt right. Victory was given her name after I was featured on Dr. LaTasha Thomas’ virtual Build with Boldness series. There I shared for the first time my secret story about Maya.

Why in the world had I been ashamed and embarrassed as if people don’t kill or have to separate from plants often? After all, as my husband so kindly reminds me, it’s all about of the journey. We’ll get into that in another post at a later date though.

When I shared the story and the life lesson on letting go, learning to stop holding onto things that are no longer serving us, as well as holding on because it’s what’s popular and you think is expected of you, I found that it resonated with the ladies.

I love when we’re reminded that our journeys are bigger than us, even when it’s involving plants.

Tinita

Yes, my new mini fiddle has lost some leaves. That’s actually not uncommon when you bring plants home and they’re adjusting to their new environment but it was like PPTSD, “Post Plant Traumatic Stress Disorder” because I began panicking and experiencing real anxiety over it.

However, once I was able to calm down (with encouraging reminders from Ronell) and gather myself, I did what I’ve learned to do with fiddles and surely new leaves surfaced. Seeing new leaves is the most exciting part of the plant life/ plant parent journey and I don’t think it’ll ever get old.

While esteeming over these baby leaves one morning I spoke, “ We will be victorious. We will have the victory, immediately reflecting back to my virtual discussion with Dr. Thomas and her Facebook group.” It all made sense in that moment and that’s how she got her name.

As I’m determined to have Victory this second time around, I want the same for you. Be sure to check out my 5 Major Keys to Fiddle Leaf Fig Care.

I hope you find this encouraging if you too have or are wrestling with a fiddle leaf fig. Know that with any plant or situation in your life, letting go does not equal failure, it actually takes wisdom and courage to do so.

I’d love to hear your fiddle fig plant stories.