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Dropping leaves · Fiddle-leaf fig
Why is my fiddle leaf fig dropping leaves?
A fiddle leaf fig usually drops leaves because something changed: it was moved, the light dropped, it got cold or caught a draft, or the watering swung between soggy and bone dry. Put it in one bright spot with no direct afternoon sun, away from vents and doors, and water only when the top 3 to 5 cm of soil are dry. Then leave it alone; it takes a few weeks to settle.
Check these first
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Think back over the last few weeks: was the plant moved, repotted, brought home from the shop or put near a heater, air conditioner or door?
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Push a finger 3 to 5 cm into the soil. Wet soil days after watering points to overwatering; soil that is dry and pulling away from the pot points to underwatering.
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Notice which leaves fall: only the oldest bottom leaves is usually age; green leaves from all over the plant point to stress.
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Check the light: a spot far from a window or behind a curtain in winter may be too dim.
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Look under the leaves and along stems for small brown bumps, sticky residue or fine webbing.
Causes and fixes
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Moving the plant or a sudden change in light
How to tellGreen, healthy-looking leaves fall within days or weeks of bringing the plant home, moving it to another room, or a drop in light.
What to doChoose a bright spot with indirect light and keep it there. Avoid moving, repotting or feeding a newly bought plant for its first few weeks so it can adjust.
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Too much or too little water
How to tellWith overwatering the soil stays wet, lower leaves often yellow or get brown spots before falling. With underwatering the soil is dry, leaves droop or turn crisp and the soil shrinks from the pot.
What to doWater thoroughly when the top 3 to 5 cm of soil are dry and empty the saucer. Use a pot with drainage holes. Cut back from autumn to late winter, but do not let the root ball dry out completely.
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Cold, drafts or a heater
How to tellSeveral leaves fall after a cold night, a spell near an open door or cold window, or once the heating comes on. Cold damage can also leave dark, wet-looking spots.
What to doKeep it between 18 and 27 °C and never below 13 °C. Move it away from outside doors, cold glass, radiators, heaters and air-conditioning vents.
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Too little light
How to tellLeaves fall slowly over weeks, new leaves are small and spaced far apart, and the plant leans toward the window.
What to doMove it to a brighter spot near a window with plenty of indirect light. Give it a quarter turn every few weeks so it grows evenly.
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Pests
How to tellSmall brown bumps on stems and veins, sticky leaves or floor below, or fine webbing and pale speckles on the leaves.
What to doScrape off scale and wipe the area with rubbing alcohol, repeating until they stop coming back. Wipe both sides of the leaves with a damp cloth to clear mites and dust.
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Normal ageing
How to tellOnly an occasional bottom leaf yellows and falls while the top keeps growing new leaves.
What to doNothing to fix. Remove the fallen leaf and keep caring for the plant as usual.
Stop it coming back
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Pick one bright spot with no direct afternoon sun and avoid moving the plant.
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Keep it away from heaters, air conditioning, cold windows and outside doors.
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Water on a steady routine, checking the soil first, and empty the saucer.
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Water less from autumn to late winter and do not feed in winter.
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Check leaf undersides for pests when you wipe the leaves.
When to worry
When to worry
Losing a few leaves after a move, or an old lower leaf now and then, is normal and the plant usually recovers in a few weeks once its spot and watering are steady. Worry when leaves keep falling from all over the plant for weeks, the soil stays wet and smells sour, or stems turn soft or shrivelled. Check the roots: if they are dark and mushy, cut away the rotten parts, repot into fresh well-draining mix and water sparingly until new leaves appear.
