How to Fix Dying Fiddle Leaf Fig

How to Fix Dying Fiddle Leaf Fig – A fading fiddle-leaf fig is mainly caused by overwatering or temperature fluctuations. To grow fiddle-leaf figs, the potting soil has to dry somewhat between waterings. The fiddle leaf fig loses leaves as the temperature changes.

Overwatering causes leaves to droop, become brown, and fall off.

Plants that respond to temperature changes, draughts, low humidity, too much direct sunshine or not enough light, excessive fertilizer, overwatering, and inadequate drainage include fiddle leaf figs.

Fiddle leaf figs (Ficus Lyrata) dislike being relocated or repotted too often.

To resuscitate a dying fiddle leaf fig, spritz the leaves to enhance humidity, place them in bright indirect light, and only water until the top 2 inches of the soil feel dry.

Because fiddle-leaf figs are so sensitive to environmental changes, it might be difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for their death. Continue reading to uncover the reasons for your dying fiddle leaf fig and how to revive it.

Fiddle-Leaf Fig Leaf Fall

Symptoms: The fiddle-leaf fig loses leaves after being transported. Sometimes just the bottom leaves fall.

Causes: Transplant shock, draughts, or indoor heating. Dessication, low humidity, and submersion Overwatering or inadequate drainage may cause the fiddle-leaf fig to shed leaves. Leaves fall off due to too much fertilizer and not enough light, forcing the plant to tilt.

The most common reason for a fiddle-leaf fig’s shedding leaves is a relocation. Fiddle-leaf figs are very sensitive plants that can get stressed and lose leaves when the temperature, light, humidity, or air flow changes.

When establishing themselves in their micro-environment, fiddle-leaf figs develop a set of constant circumstances.

They shed their leaves to signal that something is wrong with their surroundings, and they might do so for a variety of reasons.

Specifically, the fiddle-leaf fig’s leaves fall off when the temperature goes outside of its normal range. In many cases:

• Too close to the heater.
• Draughts from open windows or AC
• Temperatures declined overnight.
• Heat wave.
• Moving from a hotter to a cooler room.

Fiddle leaf figs are only found in tropical woodlands in West Africa. They like temperatures between 65°F (18°C) and 75°F (24°C).

A quick and large temperature change may cause the fig to lose its leaves as a symptom of stress. They also need the top 2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Root rot occurs when the fig’s soil is persistently moist.

Using pots with drainage holes and using saucers, trays beneath the pot, or attractive outside pots may also produce flooded soil.

If the fiddle-leaf fig doesn’t get enough water or gets too little, the leaves will fall off to keep the plant from drying out.

Because figs are native to tropical Africa, they are accustomed to living in 60% humidity and may suffer in 10% humidity.

Because of this big change in humidity, the fiddle-leaf fig loses its leaves as a way to stay alive and keep from losing more water. Too much fertilizer may harm fiddle-leaf figs.

While a little fertilizer is desirable throughout the growth season, too much or too regularly might cause the fig to shed its leaves.

Fiddle-leaf figs are very picky about lighting. They like early sun, followed by midday shade or intense indirect light. If your fig isn’t in the sunniest room in your home, it will lose part of its bottom leaves to save energy.

How to Resurrect a Dropping Fiddle-Leaf Fig

It is crucial to increase humidity with frequent misting, reduce watering so the top 2 inches of the potting soil dries between waterings, and maintain a temperature range of 65 oF to 75 oF.

Fiddle-leaf figs need only water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. Fiddle-leaf figs like well-draining soil and will not grow in wet potting soil. When the top 2 inches of soil feel dry, water vigorously.

Reduce irrigation in winter. Fiddle-leaf figs are a dry season for fiddle-leaf figs; therefore, carefully check the soil before watering. In the summer, you need to water your plants more often, but you should always check the top 2 inches of soil to make sure you’ve changed your watering plan to fit the season.

Empty water saucers and trays periodically to avoid water accumulating around the pot’s base. To avoid root rot, fiddle-leaf figs need good drainage. Check saucers, trays, and decorative outer pots for extra water that could stop the soil from draining properly.

Keep fiddle-leaf figs at temperatures ranging from 65°F to 75°F (18°C to 24°C).The ideal temperature for fiddle-leaf figs Keep an eye out for inside heat sources, draughts from open windows, and other variables that create temperature fluctuations, which is the most prevalent cause of falling leaves.

In arid regions, they mist fiddle-leaf figs daily. Mist the remaining leaves and branches to create a humid micro-climate reminiscent of the tropical jungle. This is required for regrowth. You may also use a plant humidifier, which you can place directly next to the fig and control the humidity level. Create a humid micro-climate by clustering tropical houseplants.

Water-fiddle-leaf figs well to avoid leaf drop. While it’s necessary to let the potting soil dry between watering, the fig tree has to be completely moistened. This guarantees that water has penetrated the soil and reached the roots. Drought stress and leaf drop are caused by watering too gently. The pot should be submerged in water for 10 minutes if water is draining from the top of the potting soil and down the container’s side. This should help avoid drought stress the next time you water the fig.

To avoid leaf drop, apply half strength fertilizer in the spring and summer. The fiddle-leaf fig may use any houseplant fertilizer, but it must be used at half intensity since it is susceptible to fertilizer burn. Excess fertilizer does more harm than insufficient. Use no fertilizer if the fig has no leaves. Only use half-strength fertilizer if spring and summer regrowth are visible.

It prefers strong indirect light or early sun followed by afternoon shade. The sun’s rays are too strong for fiddle-leaf figs and may cause leaf loss in hot locations like Southern California and Arizona. Fiddle-leaf figs thrive in milder northern climates with early light and afternoon shade. This light balance allows the fig to renew its leaves.

Moving the fiddle-leaf fig is sometimes essential, for example, if it is in a dimly lit area. However, moving the fig to a new area typically causes the leaves to fall. With a few weeks of growth, the fiddle-leaf fig normally recovers from leaf loss.

But if the leaf loss is caused by root rot from over-watering, the fiddle-leaf fig might be able to get better if you cut back on watering before root rot or fungal infections get worse.

The Return of Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves

Fiddle-leaf figs may regenerate leaves in the spring and summer when circumstances are more suitable for growth, although they do not usually renew leaves. During the dormant season of the plant,

It is important to give your fiddle leaf fig the right conditions so that its leaves can grow back. When you cut a notch in the stem of a fiddle leaf fig, it grows new branches, which in turn help new leaves grow.

Symptoms: leaves with drooping or leggy branches. The fiddle leaf fig appears to be leaning.

Causes: insufficient light, underwatering, and low humidity. Overwatering may cause leaves to droop and fall. High temperatures may cause leaf drooping or withering.

Too much shade is the most prevalent cause of drooping fiddle-leaf figs. Fiddle-leaf figs need early sun and afternoon shade. If there isn’t enough light, the fiddle-leaf fig loses strength and its leaves and branches droop.

Fiddle-leaf figs are endemic to West African nations, where they thrive in damp tropical forests. The canopy above protects the fig leaves from the hardest sun.

So place your fiddle-leaf figs in the brightest area in your home to guarantee they grow well and don’t droop. No-light rooms are not ideal for a fiddle-leaf fig.

Insufficient light may cause the fiddle leaf fig’s lower leaves to drop. Fiddle-leaf figs thrive in early light and afternoon shade in northern latitudes (like New York or the UK).

The early sun gives the fiddle-leaf figs enough energy, and the afternoon sun, which is stronger and drier, can’t reach them.

In hotter areas like Southern California or Texas, strong indirect light is best for the fiddle-leaf fig to avoid drooping.

Drooping leaves suggest drought stress in the fiddle-leaf fig owing to:

• Not getting enough water
• Weakly irrigated

The potting soil has dried up and become hydrophobic (repels water from the surface), causing water to flow off the soil and down the pot instead of reaching the roots. Low humidity may cause the fig’s leaves to dry up and droop.

Fix a Dying Fiddle Leaf Fig

To revive a drooping fiddle leaf fig, place it in bright indirect light, water it well when the top 2 inches are dry, and spritz the leaves once a day to slow down water loss.

Place your fiddle-leaf fig in the sunniest room. Fiddle-leaf figs cannot adapt to shaded areas, so enough light is required. It’s vital to shift fiddle-leaf figs since they decay in low light. Fiddle-figs like early light and afternoon shade in cold areas. In warmer areas, bright indirect light is excellent (direct sunlight may burn figs).

After 2 inches of soil feels dry, water your fiddle-leaf fig well. If the soil is continually moist, you are watering your fiddle-leaf fig too often, which causes drooping leaves and root rot. Too much soil drying out causes fig leaf drooping and ultimately dropping.

Use your finger to detect soil drying in the upper 2 inches. If the soil is still wet, let it dry for a few days before watering deeply. This watering approach mimics the normal soil moisture cycle of the fiddle leaf fig.

Water your fiddle-leaf fig thoroughly, letting excess water drip from the pot’s base. If the potting soil is wet but not saturated, the roots will not be able to get enough moisture to keep their leaves from drooping. Because the roots can’t get enough moisture, the leaves droop. Empty any saucers or trays under the pot for drainage.

Assure water infiltration. Potting soil may sometimes dry up and become abrasive. Soak the fiddle-leaf fig in water for 10 minutes, making sure the root ball is immersed. This enables the water to soak in and reach the roots, preventing water from dripping off the top.

If the leaves are drooping, mist daily. A humid micro-climate created by misting the leaves mimics the natural habitat of the fiddle-leaf fig and reduces water loss from the leaves, which may cause drooping or wilting. You may purchase a plant humidifier, but spraying the leaves is generally sufficient.

Keep the temperature between 65°F and 75°F to avoid drooping.Fiddle-fig leaves might droop if the temperature surpasses 75oF. Higher temperatures may speed up the drying of the pot and the loss of moisture from the leaves.

Fiddle-leaf figs are sensitive to air movement, so keep the environment cool and avoid draughts. Keep the fig away from interior heat sources.

After giving the fiddle leaf fig a good drink of water and misting it often, the leaves should start to grow back in a few days.

Because fiddle-leaf figs can not tolerate constantly moist or soggy soil, the precise mix of irrigation is critical. This phase is critical since figs need at least 40% humidity, although our homes normally have 10% humidity.

Increasing humidity decreases leaf water loss and helps drooping leaves recover. Mist the leaves liberally every day as they heal.

Brown Fiddle-Leaf Fig Leaves

Symptoms: The leaf edges are getting brown and crusty, occasionally curling.

Causes: low humidity from air conditioning or heating. Watering too seldom or too gently causes leaf edge browning.

Low humidity from air currents and interior heating causes fiddle-leaf fig leaves to brown at the margins. Fiddle-leaf figs are tropical plants that need at least 40% humidity, although indoor air is normally about 10%. This variation in humidity causes the leaves to brown.

Fiddle-leaf figs are native to Africa’s tropical rain-forests and thrive at 60 percent humidity. Fiddle leaf figs withstand 40% humidity but develop brown leaf edges at reduced humidity.

In most areas, interior humidity is roughly 10%, but winter heating, forced air, and air conditioning all diminish indoor humidity, providing an unfavorable environment for the fiddle leaf fig.

If you only water the top inch or two of the potting soil when you water your fiddle leaf figs, this can also cause the edges of the leaves to turn brown.

When the soil dries up entirely, water rushes off the top of the soil and does not reach the fig roots where it is needed.

How to Resurrect a Brown-Leaf Fiddle Leaf Fig

To revive fiddle leaf figs with brown leaf edges, mimic their natural circumstances by misting often, keeping the temperature between 65 and 75 oF, and properly watering the root ball.

Be sure to mist the edges of your fiddle leaf fig leaves daily. Misting the leaves simulates the fig’s natural tropical rainforest habitat. This reduces water loss from the leaves and reduces stress that causes browning of the leaf margins.

Low-maintenance plant humidifier If you can’t wet the leaves every day, a plant humidifier may help keep your fiddle-leaf fig happy. This may assist if you live in a dry area, but it is not required if you routinely spray the leaves.

Combine tropical plants to produce a humid micro-climate for the fiddle leaf fig. Grouping tropical houseplants like calathea or Boston ferns helps to raise the relative humidity, which keeps the air from getting too dry and causing the edges of the leaves to turn brown.

Rinse the fiddle leaf well (but wait for the top 2 inches of the soil to dry between each watering). To keep the plant healthy, this watering strategy replicates the plant’s natural watering cycle and soil moisture. Always water liberally, letting excess water touch the pot’s base to ensure the roots are getting water.

If the soil surface is water-repellent, moisten the root ball. Submerge the root ball for 10 minutes to allow water to soak into the soil and reach the roots. This enhances the soil texture, making it easier to irrigate your fiddle leaf fig. Due to inconsistent irrigation, the soil only repels water when it is entirely dry.

Once the climatic conditions that caused the leaf margins to brown have been addressed, the leaves should appear better. However, if the leaf edges have become brown and crispy, they are unlikely to turn green again.

Trim the brown edge off the leaf using a sharp pair of pruners, following the leaf’s shape.

While fiddle-leaf figs need special care, they are robust to pruning and may be trimmed back to maintain their beauty without harming the plant.

Browning’s Fiddle Leaf Fig

Symptoms: Brown dots or patches on leaves

Causes: Infection induced by overwatering or sunburned soil.

Root rot from overwatering or sunburn induces browning of fiddle leaf figs. The top 2 inches of soil must dry out between waterings. Overwatering causes root rot, which causes browning of the fig leaves. Direct sunshine browns the leaves.

Because fiddle leaf figs are native to Africa’s tropical rainforests, they have evolved to survive in brilliant indirect or filtered light rather than direct sunshine.

The fiddle-leaf fig leaves are sensitive to direct sunshine and may burn brown if exposed to too much. Browning of fiddle-leaf figs is caused by fungi such as root rot.

It needs well-drained soil. Saturated potting soil encourages fungal infections that discolor the leaves. Root rot causes leaf spots or patches to become brown (as well as leaves to drop off eventually).

Causes of root rot:

• Overwatering
• Not emptying any saucers or trays below the pot, causing water to pool.

The fiddle leaf fig can get more water around its roots if it is in a beautiful outer pot with no drainage holes.

How to Restore a Browning Fiddle Leaf Fig

Afternoon shade for your fiddle leaf fig In most regions, placing your fiddle leaf fig in the morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. In hot climates with high sunlight, bright indirect light is ideal for plant growth and protection against sunburn. Move your fiddle-leaf fig to a brighter place and wait a few weeks before analyzing the damage.

Remove any burned or brown leaves with a pair of pruners. Damaged leaves do not regenerate, but do not necessarily harm the plant. Spring and summer should bring new growth, restoring the fig’s look. If not, try notching to promote new branch formation and leaf growth.

Ensure the top 2 inches of potting soil is dry between waterings. This way of watering the fiddle leaf fig is similar to how it would be watered in its natural habitat, so it is less likely to get root rot.

Remove saucers and trays from fig pots with drainage holes after watering.Fiddle leaf figs need good drainage since they are suited to living in moist soils. This helps the soil dry out and stops root rot and fungus infections, which can cause the leaves to turn brown.

Prune any discolored leaves. To keep fungal infections from spreading to healthy growth, wipe the blades of the pruners with a towel that has been soaked in disinfectant between cuts.

Watering the fiddle leaf fig when the top 2 inches of soil dries up and allowing for sufficient drainage helps rejuvenate the sick fiddle leaf fig.

Withering roots and severe root rot make saving the fiddle leaf fig difficult. Roots that are damaged or dying can’t send enough water and nutrients to the rest of the plant to keep the fiddle leaf fig alive.

Some plants may be removed from the container and the sick roots cut down, but fiddle leaf figs are so prone to transplant shock that this is unlikely to work.

Propagating any healthy leaves from a cutting is preferable. Failing that, root rot may be the only way to rescue your fiddle-leaf fig.

Dying Fiddle Leaf Fig

Symptoms: After repotting, fiddle-leaf fig leaves droop or fall off.

Causes: Transplant shock occurs when fiddle-leaf figs are transferred from one site to another.

Fiddle-leaf figs die after repotting due to transplant shock and abrupt changes in circumstances. Fiddle-leaf figs respond to rapid changes in their surroundings by drooping or shedding leaves.

Changes in temperature, air movement, sunshine, watering, soil drainage, moisture retention, and humidity may all cause a dying fiddle-leaf fig after repotting.

Repotting your fiddle-leaf fig into a much bigger container might potentially cause it to die.

Larger pots store more soil and hence more moisture, and they dry out slower than your fiddle-leaf fig is used to.

Changes in weather can cause leaves to droop or fall off altogether.

Repotted fiddle-leaf figs suffer a lot. Remember that fiddle leaf figs may endure and even flourish with pot bound roots, so avoid repotting or moving the plant.

Repotting is necessary if the roots of the fiddle leaf fig grow out of the soil or block the drainage openings in the base.

After repotting a fiddle-leaf fig,

Keep the temperature between 65oF and 75oF, spritz any remaining leaves and stems to increase humidity, place in bright indirect light, and let the top 2 inches of soil dry between waterings.

The best way to help the fiddle leaf fig get better is to make a place that looks like its natural home. Fallen leaves should recover in the spring and summer.

Repotting your fiddle leaf fig in the spring is best since the plant is more robust, but repotting in the winter might cause more stress.

Keep your fiddle-leaf figs in the same pot. Repot is just one size larger.

If the new pot is only slightly bigger than the old one, the soil should dry at the same rate as it did in the old pot. This reduces the chance of root rot and gives the plant time to get used to the new conditions.

Notes

Overwatering or inadequate drainage frequently kills fiddle leaf figs. The top 2 inches of soil must dry between waterings for fiddle leaf figs. Constantly moist soil causes root rot, which causes leaf loss and the death of fiddle-leaf figs.

An abrupt temperature shift causes fiddle-leaf figs to lose their leaves. Fiddle-leaf figs prefer temperatures between 65 oF and 75 oF. Stressed by abrupt temperature changes, the fiddle leaf fig loses its leaves.

Low humidity and underwatering lead to fiddle leaf fig leaf margins turning brown. Indoor humidity is normally about 10%, but fiddle leaf figs demand at least 40%. The low inside humidity causes the leaves to lose moisture, becoming brown and curling.

Root rot caused by overwatering and inadequate drainage causes brown patches on fiddle leaf fig leaves. Fiddle leaf figs need 2 inches of dry soil before re-watering. Too much watering promotes root rot, which causes the leaves to turn brown and fall off.

The new pot is typically too large for fiddle-leaf figs, causing them to die. Repotted figs take longer to dry out after watering, causing root rot and leaf loss.

Recreate the original habitat of the fiddle leaf fig by increasing the humidity to roughly 40%, watering only when the top 2 inches of soil feels dry, and placing it in bright, indirect sunlight.