Fiddle leaf fig plants are beautiful – but finicky. Sometimes it seems like you can sneeze at them and their leaves fall off. However, yellowing leaves are a warning sign from the plant that something is going wrong. It’s your chance to fix it and make it happy again to keep your plant alive!
Should I remove yellowing leaves from fiddle leaf fig?
Brown leaves almost never go back to green, but there’s hope for yellow leaves! Yellow leaves indicate a problem, but they are still alive, so make sure to correct the problem so those leaves can recover.
How do you fix yellow leaves on fiddle leaf figs?
You can fix leaf yellowing in fiddle leaf figs by modifying your watering cycle, providing bright indirect light, and feeding the plant with fertilizer. Also, correct the soil pH to 6.6 – 7 and allow the plant to acclimatize after repotting it to stop the leaves from yellowing.
Why are my fiddle leaf fig tree leaves turning yellow?
Yellow, discolored leaves are among the most common problems among fiddle leaf figs, and it’s often caused by a well-meaning carer who has simply gone overboard with watering. Fiddles thrive in soil that is kept relatively moist, but it should not be consistently waterlogged or soggy.
Should you cut off damaged leaves fiddle leaf fig?
As with many types of trees – and fiddle-leaf figs are technically trees! – trimming and pruning can help F. lyrata plants to stay healthy. By removing dead or diseased leaves and branches, or trimming to promote better airflow between the foliage, you can keep this notoriously finicky houseplant happy.
How often should you water a fiddle leaf fig?
about once a week
Watering a Fiddle Leaf Fig
Water your plant about once a week or every 10 days. As we mentioned earlier, FLFs are native to a rainforest-like environment, which means they’re used to receiving a huge deluge of water with dry spells in between.
When should I prune my fiddle leaf?
The best time to prune your fiddle leaf fig is in the spring when there will be plenty of light to fuel recovery and new growth. Try to prune in the spring or early summer. You’ll want to get a sharp pair of pruning shears because dull tools or scissors can crush the stems and damage your plant.
Can yellow leaves turn green again?
Chlorophyll gives a leaf its green color. When the leaf loses its chlorophyll, the plant abandons it and begins to absorb leftover nutrients from the leaf. That’s why once the leaf turns yellow, you generally can’t make it turn back green again.
How do I make my fiddle leaf fig greener?
Here are the keys for how to keep your fiddle leaf fig healthy, green, and gorgeous.
- Make Sure Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Has Perfect Drainage.
- Use a Fast-Draining Soil.
- Give Your Plant Plenty of Sunlight.
- Water Carefully.
- Consider Aerating Your Soil.
- Feed Your Fiddle Leaf Fig.
- Bond With Your Plant.
How much sunlight do fiddle leaf figs need?
five hours
“Fiddle-leaf figs enjoy lots of light and they can often take up to five hours of direct light a day.” According to Greenery Unlimited, it does best “close to south- or west-facing windows, or directly in an east-facing window,” and nothing can be anything blocking that light (like a building or trees).
How often do fiddle leaf figs grow new leaves?
every four to six weeks
Stunted or slowed growth
Healthy Fiddles usually grow new leaves every four to six weeks during spring and summer. Growth tends to be in spurts, and it’s possible to see your plant grow several new leaves in a matter of just a few days or weeks! In the winter, it’s normal not to have any new growth.
Will a fiddle leaf fig regrow leaves?
Fiddle Leaf Figs do not regrow lost leaves the way the Rubber Plants can. So keeping them healthy is super important because once the leaf is gone, it’s gone.
How often should you repot a fiddle leaf fig?
Fiddle Leaf Figs usually need to be repotted every two years, and spring is a great time to do this because weather conditions can help your tree recover from potential root shock. Warmer temperatures also mean it’s possible to repot your fiddle outside, which is especially helpful if your tree is large!
Where do you cut fiddle leaf fig leaves?
Make the cut just above the top of your node. Do not cut into the node which would damage it, but just above. Cutting your fiddle leaf fig or any plant in the fig family will produce an oozing, milky, white latex sap.
How can you tell if a fiddle leaf fig has root rot?
Here are a few clear signs your Fiddle Leaf Fig has root rot: Wet, soggy, or mushy brown roots. Dripping, soaked, or waterlogged soil and roots. An unpleasant smell in the soil or around the roots.
Where do you cut a fiddle leaf fig?
I Chopped My Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
- Prune your trees at the right time!
- Find the tippy top of the plant where new leaves grow, go down a few leaves, and from there cut/prune the whole top of the plant off.
- Up your watering once pruned, to every three to four days.
Do fiddle leaf figs like misting?
Fiddle leafs are happiest at 65% humidity, which is much higher than most homes. The best way to mist is to fill a spray bottle and leave it beside the plant. This way, you can mist it with room-temperature water regularly. It is especially important to mist your plant after you’ve dusted its leaves.
How do I know if my fiddle leaf fig needs water?
Once you’ve established that the top few inches of soil have dried, the easiest way to tell if your Fiddle Leaf needs water is to look at the leaves. If the leaves are not rigid and upright, and they start to look floppy, they’re telling you they need water.
Can you bottom water a fiddle leaf fig?
1. Give it the proper amount of water. Mackenna recommends keeping this rule of thumb in mind when it comes to watering this plant: It’s better to underwater than overwater! She recommends allowing the top 1-2 in of soil to dry out between watering and strongly recommend bottom watering your fiddle.
How do fiddle leaf figs grow new leaves?
One way is to nip off the tip / top few leaves of the trunk to encourage new growth. Another process is called notching, where you make a small cut into the trunk just above a bud you want to branch. This will trick the tree into branching out at this point.
What happens if you cut the top off a fiddle leaf fig?
Don’t worry too much about your fiddle leaf fig regrowing if you decide to cut the top off. As long as plenty of nodes are left to regrow its leaves and new branches, it’ll bounce back. Happy planting!
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.