There are a lot of articles written about Fiddle Leaf Figs (Ficus lyrata) and the numerous health and care issues that come with them. It makes sense. We typically don’t take the time to research our plants until we see a problem developing. However, a good understanding of what a healthy plant looks like can go a long way in identifying and preventing any issues before they get out of control. So, what does a healthy Fiddle Leaf Fig look like?
When all their environmental and care needs are being met, Fiddle Leaf Figs are robust plants that put out strong, uniform growth. New leaves are green and glossy, without any discoloration or spots, and grow from strong stems or branches. The plant’s habit tends to be rather upright, without any noticeable leans and new growth is hearty and sturdy, with leaves developing along the stem from uniform, compact nodes.
Healthy Fiddle Leaf Figs can be truly stunning showpieces in your home. By knowing what to expect from your Fig and the environmental and care factors that are responsible for their vibrancy, you’ll be better equipped to recognize potential issues before they ever become a serious problem.
Sings of a Healthy Fiddle Leaf Fig
Let’s break down all the characteristics of a happy Fiddle Leaf Fig so that we know what we can expect from our plants and learn which environmental or care aspect can be attributed to the plant’s overall health.
#1 New Growth
The first one is pretty obvious, but a healthy Fiddle Leaf Fig should be producing new growth. These plants can actually be quite vigorous, putting out several inches of growth in a season when raised under good conditions.
When considering how healthy your plant is, be sure to evaluate how much growth it is putting out. Typically, new leaves produced at the tips of the stems look fragile and discolored, but you’ll notice how quickly they unfurl and green up when the plant’s needs are met or exceeded. Vibrant, thick leaves and sturdy stems will grow uniformly and nicely stacked on healthy plants.
Several things can hinder growth, including low light, improper watering habits, nutrient deficiencies, or compacted soil. You may notice that your plant’s growth rate has slowed significantly or stopped altogether, both of which are signs that something isn’t right.
Your Fig may still produce new growth in some cases, but it looks leggy or scraggly. Likely, your Fig is searching for more light and is putting its energy into creating this weak growth as a last-ditch effort to stretch for more light.
Also, consider the time of year when evaluating how much growth your Fig is putting out. Like many other houseplants, Fiddle Leaf Figs often go dormant in the winter months, and growth ceases until the springtime. This is totally normal and does not indicate a health issue. Instead, wait until the plant is fully into its growing season (spring through early fall) to make any conclusions about how much growth your plant is producing.
#2 Well-Stacked, Compact Growth
I mentioned this briefly above, but a healthy Fig will continue to produce strong, well-stacked growth under ideal conditions. Basically, this means that the plant has ample resources and enough water and light to provide what it needs to continuously create consistent growth. What this looks like is new stem and leaf growth being added from the stem tips.
It often looks like there is a dry, wrinkled sheath at the top of each stem, and many people assume this is a dead part of the plant. However, inside that sheath is where the action is happening, with new leaves budding from the growth tip. Uniformly sized leaves will continue to form from these tips and will stack evenly along the stem, so the space between leaves (the internode length) should be similar.
In cases where light or nutrients might be a limiting factor, you’ll often see growth suffer as a result. Leggy growth is often more spindly or weak, and if the plant is lacking a reliable source of nutrients, it can manifest in oddly shaped leaf growth. For help with a leggy Fiddle Leaf Fig, read this article.
#3 Uniform Habit
Typically, when you have a healthy Fiddle Leaf Fig that’s producing strong, robust growth, the plant will often look sturdy and centered, with main stems growing skyward and a uniform distribution of healthy-looking leaves. Even if you do some strategic pruning to encourage your plant to branch or control height, you should still notice that new branches continue to put out strong growth, and leaf production is still creating nicely shaped leaves that are well-stacked, without long stretches of bare stem.
Figs tend to lose some uniformity in shape and consistency of new growth when conditions are less than ideal. Inconsistent water habits interrupt smooth growth rates while limiting nutrient availability (perhaps due to old soil or infrequent fertilizer applications) and can cause lopsided growth and disfigured leaf structures.
In cases of low light levels, you may find that your Fig starts leaning towards a window or other light source to try to secure more exposure. Not only will this give your Fig a very lopsided look, but, over time, your plant may start to lose leaves that aren’t getting enough light, and any new growth will likely only occur on one side of the plant. If you find that your plant is leaning, you may want to consider a spot with brighter, more uniform light exposure or start rotating it on a weekly basis to keep the habit of the plant upright and well-balanced.
#4 Strong Stems and Branches
Healthy stems are the main reason for your Fig’s uniform habit and what gives Fiddle Leaf Figs their structure. Happy plants tend to have thick and strong stems and branches that are sturdy enough to support the weight of the plant, yet still pliable and flexible enough to bend and move as the plant grows (or gets blown by the wind, if you have yours outdoors).
Usually, as your Fiddle Leaf Fig grows, newer stems or branches start thin and small but get thicker over time as they support the weight of new growth further up the branch. In some cases, the plant’s growth rate may outpace how much weight the stem can support, but they can often catch up with the aid of a well-placed stake or trellis.
In cases where the plant isn’t receiving adequate nutrients or, more commonly, isn’t getting enough light, you might see new stem growth come out as leggy and weak, with leaves spaced further apart. This type of growth isn’t built for the long run and, even after the care issues are corrected, could eventually collapse under the weight of new, healthy plant growth.
#5 Green, Glossy Leaves
One fairly obvious sign of a healthy Fig is full of the big, green, lustrous leaves this plant is known for. Fiddle Leaf Figs can communicate a lot through the appearance of their leaves, so any drastic changes in color or texture can be indications that something has changed and needs your attention.
Healthy Fiddle Leaf Fig leaves are generally large, with solid petioles to attach them to the plant’s stem. They are usually pretty uniform in shape, meaning they unfurl evenly into their signature fan shape (wider at the ends and slightly tapered toward the stem) and gently scallop along the edges.
Texture-wise, the leaves are strong and leathery, with a thick, glossy cuticle, but remain pliable when gently bent or rolled. New leaves are more delicate when they first unfurl and may be pale or even a bit yellow, but they toughen up and take on a much greener appearance over time.
If you notice any brown or yellowing leaves, this can indicate issues with watering. Overwatering tends to saturate the root system, so the plant can’t easily absorb oxygen and nutrients, resulting in leaves turning yellow. Severe overwatering can cause brown, mushy spots on leaves, which means the plant is suffering from rot.
If you notice a change in leaf texture, you may have an issue. Dry, brittle leaves often indicated underwatering, while a super-leathery texture with brown or white spots could be a sign that the leaf was sunburned from overexposure to sunlight. Some pest infestations, like spider mites or aphids, can cause texture changes, as the leaf tissues are destroyed by hungry bugs.
#6 Healthy Roots and Soil
Although you may not notice the state of your plant’s root system very often, it plays an important role in the overall health of the plant. While you may not dig around in the dirt every day, a quick check on the soil, roots, and spacing in the pot goes a long way to ensure your plant remains strong and healthy.
Your Fig is most happy in well-drained, aerated soil. Essentially, a good potting mixture, perhaps with some added pumice or perlite to lighten it up, keeps your plant and its root system secure in the pot while maintaining moisture, so water is readily available when needed. Old, compacted, or depleted soil can often cause water and nutrient retention issues, making it harder to care for your plant and often leading to overwatering or drainage issues.
Occasionally, it’s a good idea to check the root system of your Fig to make sure everything is looking healthy. This is, admittedly, much easier to do with smaller plants, but taking a peek at the root ball every once in a while (even when your Fig is big) goes a long way in ensuring your plant’s long-term happiness.
Healthy roots are creamy white, have pliable but strong sheaths, and are often plump and turgid. The roots are well distributed throughout the soil and branch often. Overwatering can cause these healthy roots to turn brown and mushy. This is a sign of root rot, which has detrimental effects on your Fig’s health and needs to be corrected as soon as possible.
It is also important to occasionally consider how much room your plant has in its container. Fiddle Leaf Figs prefer to have a bit of space in their pots to spread their root systems as they grow. Ideally, each time you transplant your Fig to a new pot, you pick a container that allows about two additional inches around all sides of the root ball. Severely rootbound plants tend to be harder to water correctly and might experience a decrease in water and nutrient absorption, causing their growth rates to slow significantly.
Final Thoughts
By taking the time to learn what a healthy, productive Fiddle Leaf Fig tends to look like, we can be more prepared to recognize signs that our plant is experiencing stress, identify the underlying cause, and take actions to correct it before it ever becomes a serious issue.
I also think that when we understand what a happy Fig is capable of, we tend to make the extra effort to ensure our plants are not just healthy but amazingly vibrant spectacles in our homes that become the envy of our friends and neighbors. That is something to strive for.
Do you have a less than healthy Fiddle Leaf Fig? Visit this page to see all of our articles pertaining to treating ailing Figs.
