Secret No. 6: Avoid letting a sick fiddle-leaf fig tree fully dry up. Make sure any extra water drains out the bottom of the pot when watering it once or twice per week. (I water mine in the shower and keep it there for a couple of hours so the pot can drain, then I put it back on the plant saucer.)
Secret No. 7: Even if the container is so tight that roots are visible at the surface, wait to transplant it until you notice fresh growth.
In conclusion, letting your fiddle-leaf fig tree heal slowly on its own is the greatest thing you can do to ensure its survival. Give it filtered sunlight, water once a week, and warm environments (a room temperature between 60 and 90 degrees would do). Furthermore, if there is even a remote chance that the temperature may drop below freezing overnight, don’t leave it outside.
Are you also attempting to preserve your fiddle-leaf fig? The Fig and I: 10 Tips for Caring for a Fiddle-Leaf Fig has more advice. Visit Fiddle-Leaf Fig Trees: A Field Guide in our selected plant guide for Tropicals 101 for additional growing, maintenance, and design advice.
Finally, consult our Creeping Fig: A Field Guide for additional guidance on how to effectively plant, nurture, and maintain a creeping fig.
Get additional tips on planting, growing, and caring for fiddle-leaf fig trees by reading our Fiddle-Leaf Fig Tree: A Field Guide.
Finally, use our Houseplants: A Field Guide to learn more about how to grow and care for different houseplants.
Are you looking for additional tropical plants for your indoor or outdoor space? With the help of Tropical Plants: A Field Guide, you can learn more about how to cultivate and care for different tropical plants.
Finally, consult our Vines & Climbers: A Field Guide for more guidance on how to cultivate and maintain a variety of vines and climbers.
Severe dryness
You could be better off giving up and buying a new fiddle if practically all of your leaves have dried out from extreme dehydration and several of your branches have died.
If a portion of the trunk or stem is still alive, you technically could resurrect your fiddle, but it would take a lot of time and attention. Many violin owners just don’t want to do that since then you’d have to chop off all the dead parts and essentially start over. Think of this as your “practice fiddle and begin again with a fresh, wholesome tree. Also, remember to water it this time!
Severe bacterial infection
It is quite challenging to treat bacterial infections once they have affected the majority of the leaves. Furthermore, such illnesses may really spread to your other indoor plants!
For the sake of your sanity and the wellbeing of your other houseplants, you should give up if those medium-brown blotches persist despite your efforts. If you intend to reuse the pot, make sure to carefully clean the violin before placing it in the trash so it won’t come into contact with any other plants.
Severe root rot
It could be simpler to purchase a new plant if the majority of your fiddle’s root system has rotted away or if root rot has caused your tree to lose almost all of its leaves.
Make sure to dispose of the plant away from other plants, just as you would with a bacterial problem. If you’re not careful, root rot can still spread to other houseplants even though it doesn’t spread as quickly as other bacterial illnesses do. Before utilizing the pot for another plant, make sure to give it a thorough cleaning.
Complete leaf loss
Even though the stem or trunk of your tree is still technically alive, it’s okay to buy a new plant if all or almost all of its leaves have fallen off.
It will take a lot of work to repair the tree and encourage it to grow again, and it will take a long time before your tree is restored to anything approximating its former splendor. Severe leaf loss frequently indicates a major condition that could possibly be harming the roots. It’s ok to purchase a new fiddle if you’re not up to the challenge. Nothing to judge here.
Before properly mastering fiddle leaf fig maintenance, it’s not unusual for owners to go through a few fiddles. That’s okay!
Bring that fiddle back to life if you enjoy giving plants that are close to passing away a second chance! However, it’s acceptable to give it a few attempts if all you want is a vibrant green plant to liven up your room.
Potential Cause 1: Root Rot
Brown stains on the roots from a fungus caused by too much moisture. Root rot is brought by by over watering and bad drainage, and it eventually affects your plant’s leaves.
How to Correct It
Removing the pot and looking at the roots is the only way to be confident that your plant has root rot. Root rot is at blame if the roots are mushy and discolored. Let your plant dry out for around two weeks if there are only a few brown patches on the leaves so that the roots have enough time to heal.
Make sure your plant gets enough light, and remove any damaged leaves. If there are several brown patches, you should remove any brown, mushy roots and the affected leaves before repotting the plant and being careful not to overwater it in the future.
Potential Cause 2: Bacterial Infection
In addition to the brown spots, your Fiddle Leaf Fig’s leaves will yellow as a result of bacterial leaf spot. In contrast to bacterial leaf spot, which causes the leaf to turn yellow as the brown spot spreads, root rot often causes the leaves to remain dark green with brown patches. Your Fiddle Leaf Fig’s leaves will eventually drop off due to both bacterial leaf spot and root rot. Since bacterial leaf spot tends to feed on new growth, it is likely to be to fault if your younger leaves are suffering more than your older leaves.
Unfortunately, this is the Fiddle Leaf Fig condition that is most difficult to treat. It can already be too late for your plant, even with the right care and watering. Cut off all of the leaves that have brown spots if the damage is not severe, then repot your plant in new, sterile soil. While it is healing, give it lots of light and don’t water as frequently.
Potential Cause 3: Insect Damage
Although uncommon, insect illnesses leave clear signs. Check your plant for webs or insects using a magnifying glass. Small patches that develop into holes on the leaves are a sure sign of insect damage.
Treatment for insect infestations is simple. Use neem oil products made specifically for indoor plants. Alternately, you might make your own cure by mixing a few teaspoons of mineral oil and baking soda in a spray bottle with water. Spray the entire affected area of the plant after thoroughly shaking the solution. Your other houseplants should not be near diseased plants. Neem oil has an overpowering odor, so move your plant outside if you can. Spray your fiddle leaf fig’s leaves with a strong mist. Don’t forget to spray the area where the leaf meets the stem after turning each leaf to cover the underside. If more spraying is required, wait two weeks, inspect once more, then repeat the process.
Potential Cause 4: Your Plant is Too Dry
Dry tan or brown regions that originate at the edge of the leaf and force the leaf to curl make dry plant brown spots simpler to identify. Your plant will occasionally appear dry or wilted overall, and the dirt may have retreated from the pot (shrinkage). This may result in the water never reaching the root ball and instead running between the pot and the soil.
Consider transferring your Fiddle Leaf Fig to a more moderate area if it is currently close to a heater or in an extremely dry environment. When the soil is 50 to 75 percent dry, water as needed, and keep an eye on your plant to make sure it’s getting enough hydration. Use a humidifier close to your plant or try misting it once to three days. Make sure the root ball of your plant is completely submerged in water by giving it a long sip. Make sure the pot’s bottom is dripping with water. Before placing the plant back on its saucer, let it to rest and drain any extra water.
Can you still rescue a fiddle leaf fig that has none?
I frequently get inquiries regarding the possibility of reviving a fiddle leaf fig. With the right care, plants may be incredibly robust, thus it is absolutely possible to rescue a plant from the brink!
How may root rot in a fiddle leaf fig be detected?
By simply examining a potted plant, it can be challenging to identify root rot. Even a fiddle that seems to be rather dry on the top of its soil could be rooted underground. Only by looking at the roots underneath the surface can one truly know. Remove your plant from its pot and take a look if you notice any signs of distress, such as dropping or browning leaves.
Here are a few telltale symptoms of root rot in your fiddle leaf fig:
Once a portion of the roots starts to decay, the disease can spread throughout the entire root system and start to climb up to the plant’s leaves.
The dying fiddle leaf fig: why?
Overwatering or a change in temperature are typically the causes of a fiddle leaf fig’s demise. Fiddle leaf figs require the potting soil to gently dry out in between waterings and prefer temperatures between 65°F and 75°F. The fiddle leaf fig loses its leaves when the temperature changes abruptly.
The leaves droop, become brown in areas or regions, and eventually fall off due to overwatering.
Because they are delicate plants, fiddle leaf figs can react negatively to a variety of conditions, including temperature changes, drafts, low humidity, excessive direct sunshine, insufficient light, too much fertilizer, overwatering, underwatering, and inadequate drainage.
Ficus lyrata, or fiddle leaf figs, are very sensitive to a rapid change in environment and dislike being relocated or repotted frequently.
If a fiddle leaf fig is on the verge of dying, you should try to replicate its natural environment by keeping the temperature between 65°F and 75°F, misting the leaves to enhance humidity, placing it in bright, indirect light, and only watering it when the top 2 inches of the soil feel dry.
Here is a reference table to assist you in determining the reason why your fiddle leaf fig is dying:
It can be challenging to pinpoint the precise reason why your plant is dying because fiddle leaf figs are so susceptible to environmental change.
To find out the probable cause (or causes) of your dying fiddle leaf fig and how to apply the remedies to revive your plant, keep reading.
A fiddle leaf fig’s ability to withstand root rot
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.
My fig tree is withering; why?
It might be challenging to determine what is wrong with your plants at times. Has the damage to your weeping fig tree gotten worse or have you observed it starting to lose leaves? What might be the root of these problems? We put forth the effort to deliver you the solution.
Your weeping fig tree is dying for a few basic reasons. Lack of water, insufficient sunlight, overwatering, poor soil quality, and illness are some of the main contributors. There is still hope if you start to see your tree’s leaves fall off or even if its limbs start to break or decay. To rescue your fig tree, we advise new soil, relocation, fertilizer, pruning, or even just a pesticide treatment.
We’ll go over how to save a failing weeping fig tree and warning indications as we get started. There are strategies to assist resuscitate your dying tree, whether or not you know the exact reason of death. Having said that, let’s investigate this subject!
My fig plant seems lifeless.
It most likely still alive if you can see green under the bark. Start at the tree’s peak. If the region beneath the bark is not green, go down the trunk to see if you can find any areas that may still be alive.
Why are the leaves on my FLF curling?
A Fiddle Leaf Fig similarly lacks sufficient sunlight to use in the process of photosynthesis if it does not receive enough light.
Therefore, a lack of nutrients will cause leaves to curl as a result of inadequate light.
How to Fix
- Try to place your plant so that it gets plenty of bright, indirect sunlight.
- Use solar shades on the windows to shield your Fiddle Leaf Fig if you are still concerned that it is receiving too much direct sunshine.
- If you have rooms that are only bright for an hour or two at different times, you might need to shift your plant during the day.
Diseases Causing Fig Trees Leaves Curling
Leaf patches that are light brown and tan, leaf browning, and curled leaves are signs of fungal diseases.
Since the lowest leaves of a plant are typically afflicted first by root rot, this bacterial infection can be distinguished from that condition.
Try to move swiftly.
as soon as you think your plant might have a fungus problem.
- Use sharp, sterile pruning shears to remove the fungus-infected leaves if you catch it while there are only a few of them.
- Pot your plant again.
- Remove as much dirt from the root ball as you can to reduce the likelihood of the infection spreading.
- Before transferring your Fiddle Leaf Fig, clean the new pot.
- Utilize fresh or sterile soil.
- To prevent the spread of fungi, practice good hygiene.
- Avoid overwatering as it may cause the fungus to spread.
- Remove any rotting materials from the pot, such as fallen leaves. In these circumstances, fungus grows.
- Clean your equipment between plants.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Leaves Curling Because of an Insect Infestation
Floppy Leaf Mealybugs, scale, mites, whiteflies, and aphids are just a few of the frequent pests that figs may unintentionally provide food for.
Fiddle Leaf Figs are consumed by insects, which are frequently visible on the leaves or stem. They deprive the plant of essential nutrients by feeding off it.
Your fiddle leaf fig will suffer as a result since it will lose the nutrients that it needs to survive.
Insects like mealybugs can also leave behind a substance that causes mold to grow on your plant.
Because the plant begins to lack nutrients and is harmed by the presence of the insects, insect infestations cause leaves to curl.
Fortunately, the remedy is as easy as cleaning your plant with a moist, soapy cloth, being sure to give particular attention to the leaves and stem.
Additionally, you can spray your plant with the treatment by combining 1 liter of water with 1 teaspoon of dish soap.
Neem oil is a natural and efficient way to get rid of bugs on your fiddle leaf fig.
Low Humidity
Fiddle Leaf Figs prefer a moist setting. Their preferred humidity ranges from 30 to 65 percent.
Your fiddle leaf fig will suffer from inadequate humidity in the following ways:
- After watering, the soil will dry up too soon, leading to dehydration and curled leaves.
- The plant will lose moisture through its pores, and it is difficult to restore this moisture alone by getting water from the roots. Your fiddle leaf fig’s leaves will curl and dry out as a result of this.
If you reside in a dry climate, there are a few techniques you can do to increase humidity:
- Apply a humidifier. These are simple enough to purchase and immediately raise the humidity level in your house.
- assemble plants in a group. The water from one plant evaporates, giving the other plant moisture in the air.
- Employ pebble trays. Put clean stones in a tray or plate, then place the plant container inside. Don’t let the pot float in the water; instead, place water in the tray. The water will gently evaporate, leaving moisture all around your plant.
Soil Type
They may have issues with root aeration (the roots can’t breathe!) if they don’t have this.
Poor soil can also promote issues with bacterial or fungal growth, salt or chemical buildup, and other issues.
Your Fiddle Leaf Fig’s leaves will curl as a result of all of the aforementioned issues brought on by utilizing the incorrect soil type.
It will be difficult for the roots to adequately transport water and nutrients to the plant.
Pick a potting mix that claims it drains well when repotting your fiddle leaf fig.
Instead of using just soil, fill the container with a 12-inch (2.55-cm) layer of gravel before adding the soil on top. Drainage will benefit from this.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Leaves Curling Up Due to Pot Size
Make sure not to pick a pot that is too big or too tiny when repotting your fiddle leaf fig.
The new pot’s diameter should be at most 6 inches (15 cm) greater than the old one.
Fiddle Leaf Figs may have root rot, mineral buildup, or underwatering if they are placed in overly big pots.
The soil holds an excessive amount of moisture and minerals, or the size of the soil may lead you to believe incorrectly that it is not yet time to water it.
Your fiddle leaf fig will become pot-bound if the pot is too small. There won’t be enough dirt for your plant to receive enough nutrition, causing the roots to become injured.
Your fiddle leaf fig’s leaves will curl if the container is the wrong size since it won’t receive enough nutrients and water.
- Take a measurement of the pot that your fiddle leaf fig was packaged in.
- The diameter of the pot after that should be 34 inches (7.510 cm).
- Never use a pot that is more than 6 inches (15 cm) wider in diameter than the one you are repotting into.