Not too long ago, I noticed the leaves on my fiddle-leaf fig tree was falling off, and I got confused. Why were they doing this? Have I not been careful enough?
So, I looked everywhere and went through any source of information I could find, and now, my plant is back to doing well.
Don’t worry; I will share what I learned with you so you don’t have to go through the same stress that I went through.
Causes of Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves Falling Off and How to Fix It
There are various reasons why leaves are falling off your fiddle leaf fig tree, and that is what we will focus on now and how to fix the situation.
1. Overhydration
As much as too little water is bad for your plant, too much water can be equally dangerous.
When you overwater, you are oversaturating the potting soil, leaving the roots unable to absorb nutrients and water properly. It also leads to root rot.
To prevent overwatering, water your fiddle leaf fig plant when the top 2 or 3 inches of the soil are dry. Maintain a watering schedule depending on the size of your plant and its growth rate, and consider environmental factors.
2. Extreme Temperatures
Another factor to consider if your fiddle leaf fig plant is suddenly dropping leaves is the temperature. Fiddles prefer temperatures ranging from 65 degrees Fahrenheit to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Although they generally perform well with the expected temperature variations between nighttime and daytime, they prefer consistency.
If the location of a fiddle leaf fig is too hot, the plant will lose water through its leaves, causing dehydration, which will make the leaves fall.
If your plant is affected by this issue, moving it to a room with a lower temperature would solve the problem.
3. Dehydration
I am a very busy person, and my day is packed with back-to-back activities, so I rarely have time for much else.
This affected my fiddle leaf fig because I wasn’t watering it consistently, and it started to lose leaves.
Underwatering your plant would leave it struggling to survive because it lacks enough water to support its growth.
So, I did water the soil enough to saturate it at first and let the excess water drain out, then I watered again after the top of the soil was dry. Now I maintain a regular watering schedule.
My plant slowly recovered with time and is doing a lot better now!
4. Change in Lighting
A friend of mine told me recently about her fiddle leaf fig tree that was suddenly dropping leaves. I asked where she was growing it, and she described it as in an area with good enough lighting.
So, I asked her if anything about her place had changed. It turns out that she had recently gotten some work done that was blocking the light.
I told her to change the plant’s location to one that would supply bright but indirect light. Placing it in direct sunlight would lead to more loss of leaves.
5. Bacterial Infection
An indication of a bacterial infection in your fiddle leaf fig plant is the appearance of dark spots with irregularly shaped or cracked leaves.
The best way to prevent this is to avoid watering the leaves. However, if you notice your plant is already affected, remove the spotty leaves immediately to prevent further contamination and treat them immediately.
6. Root Rot
Root rot is a prevalent cause of a fiddle leaf fig losing leaves. It has several causes, but it often occurs from a combination of overwatering, poor soil drainage, or extremely high humidity.
It is essential to treat root rot immediately because it can lead to the death of your plant. You should
- Change the soil to a better draining one.
- Use a new pot with holes in its bottom to allow drainage.
- Reduce the amount of water you give your plant.
- Try to separate your plants to reduce the moisture in the air. Clumping plants together usually makes the air surrounding them moist.
7. Stress
Dropping leaves is one of the first and most telltale signs of stress in a fiddle-leaf fig plant. This plant is quite temperamental and does not like being moved, especially from a place it was thriving.
If you are planting one in your garden or buying a seedling, try to use a permanent spot or place it in a quiet room with little to no movement.
8. Overcrowded Roots
One interesting reason for a fiddle leaf fig to lose leaves is due to overcrowded roots.
If a plant spends too long in one container, it will certainly outgrow that pot, and then the roots become tightly packed together.
They crowd the bottom of the pot, and some of these roots start to grow out of the container through the drainage holes.
This exposes them to extra air, drying them out quickly, so the plant starts to dehydrate, leading to leaf loss with time due to the lack of water.
If you notice the roots of your fiddle leaf fig plant coming out of the drainage holes, it is time for you to repot it. Use a container slightly bigger than the original one.
If your fiddle leaf fig is dropping leaves, monitor the number of leaves lost to confirm if it is a severe problem or due to something superficial.
Carry out the necessary processes to help it recover and be consistent with your care. Your plant will be back to its best in no time.