facebook Whats Wrong With My Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant? (Interactive Quiz)
Sick Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves

What’s Wrong With My Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant? (Quiz)

/ Ask the Doctor, Problems / By

Is your fiddle leaf fig having problems, but you’re not sure what’s wrong? We’ve created an online interactive quiz designed to help identify and treat fiddle leaf fig problems. Please take the quiz to find out what’s wrong with your fiddle leaf fig and get custom recommendations today!

Is your fiddle leaf fig green, happy, and thriving?
Field is required!
Field is required!
Fiddle Leaf Fig Lower Stress
Congrats!

Continue what you are doing and consider buying another plant to grow your herd!

Don't forget to enter our before and after photo contest to showcase your healthy plant. Be sure to fertilize your plant weekly with Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food for optimal growth. To learn more about plant care, purchase The Fiddle Leaf Fig Expert book.

To learn more about becoming a Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Expert, consider completing the Advanced Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Course.
Field is required!
Field is required!
Is your fiddle leaf fig dropping leaves?
Field is required!
Field is required!
Root Rot
Does your fiddle leaf fig have brown spots on the leaves?
Field is required!
Field is required!
Root Rot
Is your fiddle leaf fig yellowing?
Field is required!
Field is required!
Yellow Fiddle Leaf Fig
Is your plant possibly over-watered or not getting enough sunlight?
Field is required!
Field is required!
Overwatered
Has your fiddle leaf fig stopped growing?
Field is required!
Field is required!
Healthy FLF
Does your fiddle leaf fig have small holes in the leaves?
Field is required!
Field is required!
Holes
Root rot or bacterial infection

Generally, root rot and bacterial infections are treatable, especially if you catch them early. Since these problems are generally a problem of poor drainage, you'll want to address your drainage immediately. Make sure you have a well-draining container, fast-draining potting soil, and that you aren't watering too frequently.

The next thing you'll want to do is assess the damage. If there are just a few brown spots on the leaves, you do not need to repot your plant. Let your plant dry out for two weeks or more until the roots have adequate time to recover. Remove the affected leaves and make sure your plant has enough sunlight.

If you're not sure whether your plant has wet roots, you can use a moisture meter to make sure the roots are drying out between waterings. Then, your plant should recover with proper drainage and watering. Take a look at our Ultimate Guide to Watering Your Fiddle Leaf Fig here to learn more about proper watering.

However, if the damage is severe or spreading rapidly, you'll want to perform root surgery and repot your fiddle leaf fig. Remove your plant from its pot and hose down the root ball. Cut away any brown, mushy roots. Make sure you have proper drainage and repot with fast draining house plant soil. Use a Root Rot Supplement and follow good watering practices in the future to make sure the problem doesn't reoccur.

Be sure to fertilize your plant weekly with Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food for optimal growth. To learn more about plant care, purchase The Fiddle Leaf Fig Expert book.
Field is required!
Field is required!
Possible shock or trauma

Fiddle leaf fig plants love consistency and it's normal for them to suffer if their environment is changed or after a rough move. Dropping leaves, brown spots, and cracks or holes in the leaves are all signs of shock or physical trauma during a move. You can remove the damaged leaves if they bother you.

Then, make sure your plant has optimal growing conditions and give it plenty of attention and consistent care. To learn more about plant care, purchase The Fiddle Leaf Fig Expert book. Once your plant is established, fertilize weekly with Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food.

To learn more about becoming a Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Expert, consider completing the Advanced Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Course.
Field is required!
Field is required!
Does your plant get plenty of indirect sunlight for 6-8 hours per day?
Field is required!
Field is required!
Sunlight
Insect infestation

Insect infestations are easy to treat. Use a neem oil product designed for houseplants. Take your plant outside if possible, as the neem oil has an unpleasant smell that lingers. Spray all of the leaves of your fiddle leaf fig thoroughly. Turn each leaf to spray the underside and don't forget where the leaf meets the stem.

Wait two weeks, inspect again, then repeat the spraying process if needed. To learn more about plant care, purchase The Fiddle Leaf Fig Expert book. Once your plant is looking better, fertilize weekly with Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food.

To learn more about becoming a Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Expert, consider completing the Advanced Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Course.
Field is required!
Field is required!
Try repotting

Fiddle leaf fig plants need room for their roots to grow to support new leaves. If you are getting ready to repot a fiddle leaf fig tree, you may feel overwhelmed by the size of the root ball or the perceived delicate nature of the plant.

A lot of people out there may tell you that repotting a fiddle leaf fig is complex or difficult, but it's actually easy to do and is not a big risk to the plant! In fact, especially if you're repotting a plant you've just bought, your fiddle leaf fig will be much happier in its new pot, so don't delay.

Here's the easiest way to repot a fiddle leaf fig tree and add a decorative container. Once your plant is established, fertilize weekly with Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food. To learn more about plant care, purchase The Fiddle Leaf Fig Expert book.

To learn more about becoming a Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Expert, consider completing the Advanced Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Course.
Field is required!
Field is required!
Try more sunlight and fiddle leaf fig plant food

Fiddle leaf fig plants are from Africa and they need plenty of sun to do well. To make sure your plant is getting enough sunlight, consider the direction that your home faces. If you're not sure, use your phone's compass app to see which windows face which direction.

If you live in the north hemisphere, the windows that face south will get more sunlight, since that's where the sun makes its rotation. This trend is exaggerated if you live very far north or south of the equator. If you live in the southern United States, even your north-facing windows will get sufficient light in the spring and summer months.

Placing your fiddle leaf fig in a west-facing window without protection from the strongest afternoon sun can risk burning the leaves. Yes, fiddle leaf figs live in full sun in the wild, but they also have protection from afternoon sun from the canopy of trees nearby.

Ideally, you should place your fiddle leaf fig in a south-facing window, where it will get steady sunlight all day long. If your window is not protected by eaves or an overhang on the outside of your home, you'll want your plant to sit back a few feet from the window so it doesn't get too much direct sun on its leaves.

If your plant has enough sunlight but isn't doing well, it may need fertilizer. Fiddle leaf figs thrive with the right type of nutrition.

Did you know that in the wild they commonly grow up to 40 feet tall? That's because they get plenty of nutrients from the natural soil. As a houseplant, it's important to provide them with plenty of the right fertilizer so they can grow tall and healthy.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food is specially formulated for a fiddle leaf fig plant and comes with instructions for how to properly feed your plant so it can thrive. To learn more about plant care, purchase The Fiddle Leaf Fig Expert book.

To learn more about becoming a Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Expert, consider completing the Advanced Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Course.
Field is required!
Field is required!
Submit
Fiddle Leaf Fig Rescue Drops

Fiddle Leaf Fig Rescue drops

3-in-1 formula

to protect and supercharge your plant!

Buy Now

Thank You!
 

Get it on Amazon with this Code

USE CODE BUYONEGET15
SHOP NOW!
close-link
Soil Meter

We've designed a professional grade meter for home use!

Use our three-way meter to give you accurate readings on how much water to give them, whether they are in the right place for sunlight and soil pH values.

BUY FIDDLE LEAF FIG SOIL METER
close-link
Book-cov

Claire is an expert on growing dozens of varieties of houseplants, especially fiddle leaf fig plants.

As a writer and a fiddle leaf fig lover, she created this resource with the aim for this to be the only resource on fiddle leaf figs that you'll ever need.

BUY THE FIDDLE LEAF FIG EXPERT
close-link
Fig Shear

Our scissors were carefully designed to fit the needs of any plant owner!

Whether you are pruning, shaping, or propagating, you'll do it better with our trimmers.

BUY PREMIUM HOUSEPLANT SCISSORS AND PRUNING SHEARS
close-link
Root Rot Suplement Bottle

Root supplement is a ready-to-use liquid that is easy to apply to your houseplants.

Simply add Root Supplement to your watering can and apply every two weeks for best results.

BUY ROOT ROT TREATMENT
close-link
Propagation Promoter

Our Houseplant Propagation Promoter helps increase your chance of success, grow new roots faster, and keep bacteria at bay to protect your cuttings.

The result is a healthy new plant in less time!

BUY HOUSEPLANT PROPAGATION PROMOTER
close-link
Fig Potting Soil

Our fast-draining, well-aerated soil is designed to correct brown spots, prevent dropping leaves, and encourage new growth.

Enjoy healthy, dark green leaves and stop stressing about your plant!

BUY PREMIUM FIDDLE LEAF FIG POTTING SOIL
close-link
Plant Food Bottle

Are You Starving Your Fiddle Leaf Fig?

Made specifically for fiddle leaf figs, our plant food will help guide your plants to a longer, more beautiful life and provide the most care possible.

BUY FIDDLE FIG PLANT FOOD
close-link
Leaf Armor

With a solution that is designed and specially formulated for houseplants, you can help promote their leaves' longevity and maintain their freshness.

Protect your plants from the elements. Give your houseplants the care they deserve!

BUY HOUSEPLANT LEAF ARMOR
close-link
Save 10% with code BUY1GET10
SHOP NOW!