The huge, lush leaves of fiddle leaf figs make them Instagram-famous plants because they enhance the appearance of any indoor environment. They do considerably better outside and are not the easiest plants to grow indoors. However, as long as you provide your plant the finest cultural care available, it ought to be alright.
Root rot in figs causes soft, mushy, brown or black roots as well as browning leaves, drooping stems, foul-smelling soil, algae, and mold growth.
You need to repot your fiddle leaf fig right away if it develops root rot. Remove the plant from its previous container, wash out the dirt, cut off any rotting roots, and then plant it in a fresh container with enough drainage holes and soil that drains properly. To help the plant recuperate after being repotted, water it.
Use porous, airy soil, water the plant only when the soil is dry, inspect the drainage pores to make sure they are not blocked, and aerate the soil by poking holes in it with a chopstick to prevent root rot.
How do you get rid of fiddle leaf figs that have root rot?
Although diagnosing root rot in Fiddle Leaf Figs early on is crucial if you want to save the plant, it does not always guarantee death. Remove your plant from its pot as soon as you notice any problems, and thoroughly examine the roots. Are the plants’ bases surrounded by a buildup of moisture? Are the roots becoming mushy or dark brown in color?
If so, repot your plant right away by taking the following actions:
Thoroughly rinse the roots with water. After cleaning them, use a pair of clean scissors or pruning shears to remove any that are broken.
Repot your plant in a new, well-draining container with fresh, quick-absorbing soil. To enhance drainage and aid in keeping your plant dry, you can think about placing some pebbles or a foam block at the bottom of your pot.
Because these plants are finicky about light, put your Fiddle in bright, indirect light and give it one watering. Until you are certain that the roots have dried up, do not water again. Depending on the size of the plant and the climate it lives in, this could take one to two weeks or longer. It’s usually best to err on the side of underwatering!
Repot your fiddle leaf fig in the well-draining container with new potting soil. Once more, water the plant and check to see if any extra water is draining out the bottom of the pot. then hold off. Until you are certain that the roots have had a chance to dry out, do not water again. To examine the soil at the base of your plant, you can also use a moisture meter.
Be patient and wait for the plant to stabilize since your plant may still lose a few leaves at first. Remove the leaves that have been severely damaged, and cut some of the leaves that have just minor damage to get rid of the brown edges. A good general rule is to not remove more than 30% of the plant at a time because doing so could further shock the plant. Whatever the situation, your Fiddle has a high chance of healing with a little water, light, and love!
This article was modified from Claire Akin’s Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource. For additional information on how to take care of the fiddle leaf fig, see their website.
What symptoms indicate root rot in a fiddle leaf fig?
These dots might be anything from dark brown to black in color. They may begin at the leaf’s base, close to the stem (fungal root rot is more prevalent), or towards the leaf’s edges, moving inward. A few root rot infections begin as brown patches on the center of a leaf, resembling the spots on a dalmatian dog.
In contrast to the strong and flexible roots of a healthy plant, roots that have experienced root rot will be black and feel mushy.
Root rot is most likely the cause of a fiddle leaf fig that has brown spots and is losing leaves. Your plant may lose the unhealthy leaves until it is left with no leaves in an effort to rescue itself.
Root Rot
Fusarium Root Rot: Fusarium is a widespread soil fungus that has several species. It can cause rotting symptoms in plants on the roots or stems, particularly if there is a cut or other lesion. Overwatering and oversaturating roots can cause fusarium fungi to quickly overgrow since they can also take over dead or dying tissues.
Pythium Root Rot: Pythium is a parasitic bacterial organism that feeds on decaying plant materials, making it a great candidate to transform overwatering into a serious case of root rot. This bacteria can be spread from plant to plant by fungus gnats, which are covered in our blog post on common houseplant pests.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Root Rot may be caused by Pythium or Fusarium, particularly in inactive climates with excessive watering. Without the help of fungi or bacteria, overwatering can also result in root rot. The roots of your plant will start to rot if they are left in excessive moisture without drying out, and even after the soil has dried, healthy roots may get infected.
How to Identify Root Rot: Since the roots are unable to adequately absorb moisture and nutrients, withering and discolored leaves are an external indicator that something is wrong with the roots. The roots will be fragile and spongy and appear dark brown or black.
In order to effectively treat root rot, you must act soon after spotting its symptoms. You will also need fresh potting soil, bleach, sanitized scissors or shears, and a fungicide from your neighborhood nursery or garden center.
Break the soil from the root ball and remove the plant from the pot. To remove the soil, wash the plant roots under running water.
Your plant’s leaves should be pruned back. Although it’s sad, fewer foliage means the new, smaller root system won’t have to work as hard and will have more time to develop. Trim the foliage back at roughly the same rate as you did the roots; for example, if you only had to remove 1/3 of the roots, only need to remove 1/3 of the foliage.
Soft Rot
A bacterial ailment known as Erwinia Soft Rot, which also affects tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables, is common in succulents. In order for the Erwinia bacteria to break down the plant matter, this rot liquefies the interior of the fruit or succulent. We don’t blame you if you’re making a face because it’s a little gross.
When the bacteria are given to a plant stress area, Soft Rot begins to proliferate. Bacteria can enter the wound area if it falls over and bends a leaf. Using unsterilized scissors or shears increases the risk of introducing microorganisms. Cleaning your instruments is a must before pruning.
How to Identify Soft Rot: Soft Rot develops at the site of a cut, thus it initially resembles a scab before the surrounding region darkens to a dark brown or black color. Additionally, you can observe that the damaged leaf or area appears damp and waterlogged and may even leak liquid.
Once the plant has been infected with the Erwinia bacteria, there is no known treatment for Soft Rot. However, you can attempt to avoid Soft Rot by immediately treating any wounds on the plant with a fungicide. To prevent overwatering, allow the soil completely dry between waterings, and keep succulents away from places with high humidity levels.
How can a fiddle leaf fig be saved from being overwatered?
Your once-beautiful Fiddle Leaf Fig may have started to produce brown or yellow leaves, or its leaves may have started to droop, drop off, or develop red spots.
These are signs that your plant is receiving too much water, but how do you fix the issue?
Not to worry! You’ll have all the tools you need to restore your Fiddle Leaf Fig to health thanks to the knowledge in the following article.
Brown spots will appear all over the leaves of a fiddle leaf fig if you overwater it. Additionally, your plant’s leaves could drop off or become yellow, and it might cease developing. This harm to your plant is brought on by root rot, nutritional shortage, mineral buildup, and other issues that might result from overwatering.
- Set up a watering routine. To allow roots to dry out, water your plant at the same time each week.
- Use a soil and gravel potting combination, and make sure the pot has plenty of drainage holes.
- To make sure you only water your plant when it requires it, use a moisture meter.
Will a fiddle leaf fig’s root rot go away on its own?
The easiest approach to prevent root rot on your fiddle leaf fig is to spot the symptoms early and take rapid action. Examine the root ball of your plant after removing it from the pot. Does it rain? Are the roots submerged in water? Are they becoming mushy and brown? If so, you should do something.
Examine the roots and then rinse the root ball. Use a pair of razor-sharp pruning shears, like as these, to remove any that are brown or mushy. Start fresh with a container that has excellent drainage and dirt that drains quickly. To increase drainage and serve as a ballast to keep your plant’s root ball dry, think about adding Houseplant Smart Gravel to the bottom of your container.
Make sure the container you select isn’t too big for your plant. Large pots may hold on to water too long before drying out completely between waterings. The optimum container has a diameter that is only 4–6 inches bigger than the one your plant came in.
Additionally, you should ensure that your plant is receiving adequate light. Insufficient light can cause root rot in fiddle leaf figs, even those with good drainage.
Repot your fiddle leaf fig in the well-draining container with new potting soil. Once more, water the plant and check to see if any extra water is draining out the bottom of the pot. then hold off. Until you are certain that the roots have had a chance to dry out, do not water again.
Depending on the size of your plant, how much sunlight it receives, and the design of your container, it can take longer than a week for the roots to have a chance to dry. To determine how wet the bottom of the root ball is, use a moisture meter such to this one. Wait to water until the root level reading is 4 or lower.
Once you start watering your plant once a week or less, it should stabilize. Sharp pruning shears can be used to remove the damaged leaves, but you should be careful not to remove more than 10% of the total leaves at once. If you give your plant enough time and care, it can fully recover.
We’ve spent over a year developing a treatment to guard your plant from root rot infections in case your fiddle leaf fig still needs assistance or you want to protect it in the future. Our root rot treatment works as a natural bio-stimulator for plants, boosting their defense mechanisms and encouraging development.
How does root rot appear?
Root rot is frequently difficult to identify until significant harm has been done. Slow growth, squishy stems, and wilting, yellow, deformed leaves are indications of root rot (especially when the plant has been well watered, as wilting leaves can also be a sign of a dry plant). Typically, the soil will smell foul and the roots will be reddish brown in color.
The best course of action is to remove and replace the plant if root rot symptoms have been found. The plant frequently can’t change its direction.
Is root rot spreadable?
Root rot can, unfortunately, spread from one plant to another. In addition to being airborne, the fungi can also be spread by insects and soiled gardening equipment.
Due to their close proximity, increased outdoor air movement, and insects that migrate from plant to plant, garden plants are more prone to spore transmission from one plant to another. Although the root disease is less common in container plants cultivated indoors, it can still occur, especially if you are overwatering all of your plants.
Is root rot reversible?
Wet conditions in the plant’s soil provide toxic fungi the chance to flourish, which results in the disease known as root rot. Because roots require air to function properly and prolonged immersion in water deprives them of oxygen, the roots decay. Since it’s more difficult to regulate moisture and water might become confined, houseplants in pots are more likely to develop root rot than their planted counterparts. While other causes can also contribute to root rot, overwatering is the main cause of root rot issues. So, we’ll focus on the precise method for treating root rot brought on by excessive moisture.
Root Rot Diagnosis:
You must first confirm that the roots of your plant are indeed rotting. Navigating the best remedy for your plant will be made easier by immediately removing any further potential problems. If you want to determine if your issue is genuinely indoor plant root rot, start by observing any obvious symptoms, such as:
Remember that it’s normal for older leaves to change color and fall, so pay greater attention to those younger ones. If you observe browning, yellowing, or dead leaves, it may be a sign that the roots are also dying. Wet soil and wilting foliage are two telltale signs of root rot.
Look at the saucer of the pot; if water is still there, too much water was supplied at some time, soaking the soil and roots of your plant. Standing water should never be present because it might create waterlogging of the soil and its roots.
Assess the roots at the bottom, which will have received the most water exposure, after slipping the plant out of the pot. Check the roots to see whether they are dark brown in color, squishy or spongy, or even covered in fuzzy moldy debris. These are all warning indications of rot. All of these are symptoms of weakened roots.
Root Rot Rx:
Firm roots and light colour are characteristics of healthy plants that are not rotting (usually either beige, green, or tan). The soil must be adequately moistened and the leaves must be in good condition. Once you’ve determined that your houseplant’s problem is actually root rot, it’s time to create a treatment strategy. Priorities first
1. Let the dirt dry out.
Allow the soil to air out if you’ve recently seen some standing water or a change in leaf color and are unsure whether it’s root rot yet. Allow the soil around the plant to dry out for 3-5 days. For plants that aren’t yet damaged, this technique occasionally works. Drying the soil is beneficial since plant roots require oxygen to function properly. However, if the roots of your plant are severely decomposing, go to the instructions below right away because it’s probably too late to dry the soil.
2. Get rid of all the browned leaves.
Attempting to remove any dead leaves is the first step in this process. As close to the plant’s root as you can, make sure to remove them from it.
3. Get rid of old soil.
The next step will be to repot. To do this, you must first dig the plant out of its present soil. As you take the plant out of the pot, carefully scoop out as much soil as you can. Brush off wet or clumpy soil being careful not to overly damage the root system.
4. Remove rotting and dead roots.
Trimming off rotten roots will be done carefully while the plant is still in its pot. Attempt to preserve as much as you can by removing dead roots and preserving good ones.
5. Replant in fresh soil.
Repot your plant next using sterile potting soil (one that is appropriate with your specific plant). Fresh soil will help ensure that any bacteria or fungi that may have developed have been largely eliminated. Additionally, it will provide nutrients that may have been lacking in the previous soil and aid in the plant’s recovery.
Remember that the plant is probably already susceptible and under stress from the root rot. And depending on how severe the damage is, repotting could make your plant much more stressed or even kill it. But given that the plant is already declining, it’s definitely worth a chance. Also, it’s actually your only opportunity. Allowing the root rot to continue in its current condition of decomposition will eventually kill the entire plant because root rot cannot be reversed and spreads swiftly.
Preventative Measures:
Always, prevention is the best course of action. So make an effort to develop a watering schedule that works for the particular indoor plant you have. Simple procedures like these can help prevent root rot in the future.
- Use pots that have a drainage hole.
- Use appropriate soil, and periodically check to make sure the water is draining properly.
- The plant roots must have access to some air, as was previously mentioned, in order to survive. The plant will be able to absorb oxygen and avoid probable root rot if the soil is allowed to somewhat dry out (only the top layer). The finger test—in which you wiggle your finger a few inches deep into the soil to gauge the moisture level—works well for determining whether to water many tropical houseplants. Its presence indicates that the soil’s bottom is noticeably moist. Therefore, you won’t water again until the top layer is mostly dried.
- Again, don’t let extra water build up and remain in the bottom dish of the pot.
- Depending on the season, you’ll also need to change how much water your plant receives. Plants typically require less water during the colder, drier months.
- Keep an eye on your plant. Knowing when the plant needs less or more will help you stay in the moment.
Since root rot affects the part of the plant that cannot be seen, it is frequently not discovered until major harm has already been done. Your houseplant may be saved if you swiftly follow the survival instructions. However, if your plant simply won’t survive, we strongly advise taking some cuttings to reproduce it. In this manner, some of the plant survives and everything is not lost!