What is this houseplant?

[reikiwes]

This plant is a "rescue", for lack of a better term.* Plant is about 3-4 feet tall, without the pot.* Leaves are about 8-12 inches long, and very broad.* Does anyone know what the name of this plant is, and also why the edges of the leaves turn brown?* The ends turn brown, dry, and brittle, until the whole leaf dies and falls off.* Has about 4-6 leaves with the issue at any one time.

Thanks guys and gals!* Cool place...* first time here.* Have about 4 other plants I would like to have identified, so if I have time, I'll put them up today.

[Newt]

Hi Reikiwes,

Your rescue is a Ficus lyrata - fiddle leaf fig.* Yours is looking chlorotic and the browning is either from overwatering or from flouride and/or chlorine in the water.* You can fertilize after repotting (if you haven't repotted already) and try using something organic like fish emulsion or fish emulsion mixed with seaweed.* Let the soil dry about 2" down between watering.* You can stick your finger into the soil up to your second knuckle.* Try and use distilled water to see if the brown edges go away though I suspect it's too much water that has caused the browning.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/i...us_lyrata.html
http://www.evergrowing.com/tips/fiddleleaffig.htm
http://ag.arizona.edu/gardening/news...rown_tips.html

So, what other plants do you have?
Newt

[JMH3]

I also have one of these and I was wondering if I could plant it outside in Zone 8.

Thanks!

[Newt]

JMH, Ficus lyrata aka fiddle leaf fig is native to western Africa and won't tolerate frost.* You would have to bring it indoors before you turn on the heat and the night temps dip below 50*F at night.* I wouldn't suggest growing it outdoors in a zone colder then 10 or 11.* Even in zone 10 it would be marginal and could get knocked to the ground in a sudden frost.

Newt

[JMH3]

Thanks!* That's what I thought, I wouldn't want to kill it.

[Newt]

JMH, you are very welcome!

Newt

[JMH3]

The plant I have is about the same size as the one pictured but has darker green leaves.

The leaves all have brown edges and I am thinking it is a water issue.

[Newt]

JMH, it could be too much water or air that is too dry.* Water when the top 2" of soil is dry.* You can stick your finger into the soil up to your second knuckle.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/i...us_lyrata.html
http://ag.arizona.edu/gardening/news...rown_tips.html

Newt

[Aussie Dogs Mom]

I had one of these for years.* Very tough plant.* Whenever it would lose too many leaves at the bottom I would just cut off the stem and it would come out at the cut ends again, nice and bushy.* I only got rid of it when it became just too big for my office.*