How to Fix Common Fiddle Leaf Fig Issues
What’s Wrong with My Fiddle Leaf Fig?
Known for its gorgeous, broad, and shiny deep green leaves, the Fiddle Leaf Fig tree is among the most popular houseplants today. However, if you have one of them in your plant collection, you may also know that it has a bit of a reputation for being high maintenance, dramatic, and quite finicky. In this guide, we will discuss why your plant may be showing you some attitude and how to troubleshoot common problems such as watering stress, improper temperature or light exposure, and fungal infections.
Water Problems
Overwatering Symptoms: The signs of overwatering are easy to spot. Brown spots or brown shaded areas in the middle of the leaves along with around the edges, yellowing leaves, and leaf drop (lower leaves often dropping first).
Overwatering is one of the most common Fiddle Leaf Fig problems. If your plant receives too much water, it can lead to a fungal infection, commonly known as root rot. If root rot is the culprit, you will see spots and leaf droppage on older leaves first.
How to Fix It: To treat root rot, allow your plant to dry out completely before you water it again, and make sure it has plenty of indirect sunlight. You can trim brown edges and spots off the leaves with clean shears as well as remove any brown and mushy roots that may have formed.
Underwatering Symptoms: Just like overwatering, the symptoms of a dried-out plant are easy to spot as well. Brown spots start on the edges of its leaves, curling leaves from the edges inward, and leaf drop (can affect all leaves on the plant, not just the lower leaves).
Underwatered plants will also have dry, hard soil that recedes and shrinks away from the edge of the pot.
How to Fix It: Stick to a consistent watering schedule. Fiddle Leaf Figs will typically need to be watered once a week or when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. To help combat dry air, try running a humidifier nearby or misting the leaves with water every 1-3 days to increase the humidity in the surrounding air. It is also beneficial to make sure you do not place your plant too close to an air vent, which can dry it out in all seasons.
Try to stick to your watering schedule to help ensure that you are not overwatering or underwatering your plant. It is important to make sure your plant’s pot has proper drainage or your watering schedule could get thrown off if it is not draining properly.
