If you’re a Fiddle Leaf Fig owner, you already know that these plants make an outstanding focal point with their oversized leaves and graceful appearance. However, they can be stereotypically more demanding than other plants, and one of the first symptoms that indicates a problem with these is drooping leaves. So why do Fiddle Leaf Figs droop?
The most likely causes of drooping leaves are over- or underwatering, shock from environmental changes like repotting, or sudden temperature changes. It is better to avoid these problems than to try to remedy them, but in most cases, consistent and proper care will return your Fiddle Leaf Fig back to normal in a week or two.
If your Fiddle Leaf Fig is looking a bit sad lately, read through the sections below to identify what the issue could be and how to fix it. After that, I cover how to avoid the problem happening again in the future.
Diagnosing a Droopy Fiddle Leaf Fig
Before we get into the things that can cause a Fiddle Leaf Fig to droop or wilt, it’s helpful to clarify what types of leaf growth are normal and not a cause for concern. First off, note that a Fiddle Leaf Fig’s leaves don’t all stand upright. There are different types of natural growth, especially as the plant matures and gets taller. In general, the leaves on the top of the plant will be the most upright, while those lower down on the trunk point downward.
Also, be aware that a certain amount of leaf droop is natural, and you may see some older leaves drooping before they fall off the plant. This usually happens to the lowest and most mature leaves toward the base of the trunk. If your plant otherwise seems healthy, but a few lower leaves are drooping, this is probably natural and not a cause for concern. However, if your Fiddle Leaf Fig’s stems feel soft or weak, or if the entire plant wilts at the same time, it is time to figure out what’s wrong with your plant.
Reasons a Fiddle Leaf Fig Might Be Drooping
Drooping (or wilting) is one of the main ways that a Fiddle Leaf Fig will signal that something isn’t right. While it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what is causing your Fiddle Leaf Fig to droop, you should be able to troubleshoot the issue and make necessary corrections. Drooping is the first symptom of a more serious issue, so if you catch it early, your Fiddle Leaf Fig should be able to recover.
Reason #1: Overwatering or Underwatering
It’s difficult to get the right balance when watering a Fiddle Leaf Fig. Too much or too little water can cause the plant to droop. If the issue isn’t remedied, both overwatering and underwatering can kill the plant.
While many people tend to overwater their plants, dire warnings about how sensitive Fiddle Leaf Figs are can sometimes cause the opposite reaction out of an abundance of caution. Overwatered plants have brown or yellow leaves that feel limp. This is because there’s not enough air circulation around the roots, and they are basically being suffocated – and therefore unable to absorb water.
On the other hand, underwatered plants will also have drooping leaves, but they’ll be crispy and dry. Luckily it is easy to tell whether your Fiddle Leaf Fig has too much or too little water– just check the potting soil with your finger or a moisture meter.
Solution
If your Fiddle Leaf Fig needs water, the solution is obvious: water it! But don’t go overboard since that can lead to unintentional overwatering.
If you have overwatered your Fiddle Leaf Fig, it’s a bit more difficult (but not impossible) to fix. If the soil feels just slightly wet, you can leave it to dry naturally. Make sure there is plenty of air circulating in the room and that the temperature doesn’t fall below 60 degrees.
If the soil is extremely saturated, remove the plant from its container and set it on a baking rack to dry out more quickly, though this is arguable much simpler to accomplish with a smaller plant. Do not add any more water until the top one to three inches of soil have dried out and you’ve placed the whole thing back in its container.
When Fiddle Leaf Figs are habitually overwatered, they can develop a nasty problem called root rot. If you remove your plant from its container and notice a musty smell or roots that are gray or brown and mushy (instead of white and crisp), read this article to help you identify and treat root rot. Left untreated, root rot will most certainly kill your Fiddle Leaf Fig.
Prevention
Follow good watering practices by allowing your Fiddle Leaf Fig to dry out between waterings, providing plenty of drainage holes, using free-draining soil, and checking the soil every time before you water. Many factors play a role in watering aside from the amount of water you actually provide the plant.
If you are in doubt, it is better to err on the side of too little water than too much. With experience, you should get better at judging your Fiddle Leaf Fig’s water needs.
Reason #2: Environmental Change
Fiddle Leaf Figs hate change. They tend to react poorly when moved to a new location, or after being pruned or repotted. It’s not uncommon for the plant to go from perky and healthy to wilted and sad-looking overnight. One hallmark of this type of shock is that the entire plant becomes droopy, and the change happens suddenly.
Solution
Sometimes, an environmental change is unavoidable, like when you’re moving your Fiddle Leaf Fig to a new home or repotting it into a larger container. If your Fiddle Leaf Fig reacts poorly, try not to panic. Provide it with the best possible care and give it time to recover.
Prevention
Try to keep your Fiddle Leaf Fig care consistent, and when you must make a change, only change one thing at a time and do so gradually. If possible, make changes in the spring or early summer, so the plant has the best chance of recovering during the active growing season. Don’t change anything in your Fiddle Leaf Fig’s environment unless absolutely necessary.
Reason #3: Temperature Changes
As mentioned above, Fiddle Leaf Figs dislike change, and that includes temperature changes. They prefer temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees and for any temperature fluctuations to be gradual, not sudden. This kind of shock very often leads to drooping leaves.
Solution
If your Fiddle Leaf Fig was exposed to an expected temperature change – maybe your air conditioner failed, or someone left a window open overnight – there’s not a lot you can do other than give it time to recover.
If the plant was allowed to get too hot, be sure to check how moist the soil is since it may have used up the available moisture more quickly than usual. The good news is that a Fiddle Leaf Fig usually will not be permanently damaged by temperature extremes unless it is allowed to get too cold for an extended period. The best thing to do is monitor it and avoid this in the future.
Prevention
Do your best to be sure that your Fiddle Leaf Fig is not exposed to drafts. Do not place it in a location that is not temperature controlled. If you know an unavoidable temperature change is coming, you can mitigate hot temperatures by watering thoroughly and placing the Fiddle Leaf Fig in a shady location, and mitigate cold temperatures by providing plenty of sunlight and perhaps insulating the pot to keep the roots from getting chilled.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes it can seem like a Fiddle Leaf Fig droops at the drop of a hat, and these plants can indeed be a bit more sensitive than other popular houseplants. The key to preventing a droopy Fiddle Leaf Fig is to keep things as consistent as possible and avoid sudden changes. However, even if it does droop sometimes, your Fiddle Leaf Fig is likely resilient enough to recover with a little extra attention and care.