A fiddle leaf fig is gorgeous when it is healthy and when it is not, it can be a sad sight.
Droopy leaves can be due to several conditions, and the most common reason is too little water.
To get your lovely plant back on track, you need to determine the problem before proceeding.
For example, fig plants have a bit of a natural droop to their leaves, but you have a problem when they are drooping and lacking luster.
Do not just presume that too little water is the problem.
Adding water to a plant could harm it, especially if the issue with your fig plant is root rot. Water would make that problem worse.
Besides, under watering and root rot, your fig plant could be suffering from a lack of sun, or it might need fertilizer.
If your fiddle leaf fig has droopy leaves, follow along, and we will explore what you can do to perk it up.
Why Is My Fiddle Leaf Fig Droopy?
The most common reason for droopy fig leaves is a lack of water. If a plant’s soil is too wet, it can also cause droopy leaves. Likewise, overwatering or a container that lacks proper drainage can cause limp leaves and root rot. The location of your plant can also cause your fig to take on a sad visage if it is not getting enough indirect sunlight.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Too Dry
If you are the proud new owner of one of these tropical beauties, then you may not have gotten the hang of watering yet.
First, you need to learn what your plants need and stick to a schedule to keep them healthy.
Droopy leaves indicate that you have a problem, but that problem may not be due to under-watering.
To test the soil your fig plant is in, stick your finger into the dirt to a depth of about two inches. If the soil is the least bit damp, do not water it.
Bottom watering your fig plant may be the best way to ensure that you are not overwatering. A tray under your plant can help you facilitate bottom watering.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Too Wet
If it is too wet, which means the soil is almost soggy, DO NOT water it until the soil is dry to the touch.
Tropical plants are used to getting heavy rains, then long bouts of dry weather. Your fiddle leaf fig has those needs.
Overwatering can lead to root rot, which will kill your plant rather quickly.
A tensiometer is an effective way to check the soil’s moisture level. They are inexpensive and easy to use, and the price is worth having the aid to keep your fig plant healthy and perky.
Now you know that improper watering of your fiddle leaf fig can cause it to have droopy leaves.
If improper watering is not the issue with your fig, then you may need to relocate your plant.
Providing Adequate Sun For Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant
Fiddle leaf fig plants like indirect sunlight. They need a lot of indirect sunlight and warmth, which they would get in a tropical setting.
A fiddle leaf that does not get enough sunlight may exhibit the same symptoms of a plant that is improperly watered, drooping leaves.
It seems that keeping your fig plant healthy is quite a balancing act, and it can be, but if you get the soil, watering, and the location of your plant right, you will have a plant that you can enjoy for many years to come.
Doing Something Different With Your Fiddle Leaf Fig
Fig plants can be demanding, and relocating them, repotting them, or pruning them can cause them to droop.
Of course, that is just their nature, but if they do not perk back up after performing one of these acts, you need to figure out what is making them unhappy.
Even though repotting will allow your figs roots to spread out, it will take a week or so to acclimate to its new home.
Also, the change from a smaller to a larger pot and fresh soil can cause it to appear unhappy until it gets seated well in its new home.
If it is still droopy after a week, check all the reasons it may still be unhappy and make adjustments.
Whether that is the amount of water it gets, the amount of sun it gets, or if the area it is in is too cool.
You may need to change the location of your plant until you find the perfect spot in a south-facing window, if possible.
Plenty of indirect sunshine and a warm room should keep your plant happy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Why My Fiddle Leaf Fig Is Droopy
Are insects a problem with indoor fig plants?
Like most other houseplants, your fiddle leaf fig can get infested with aphids, mealy bugs, mites, scale, or whiteflies. A healthy plant, though, is less likely to be bothered by pests than a sick plant. Therefore, insects on your fig can be a sign that you have a problem other than pests.
What’s the best fertilizing frequency for fiddle leaf figs?
For fiddle leaf figs, fertilizing with a liquid fertilizer once a month is the best timing, although there are growers who fertilize every time you water. That may seem excessive, but you should only be watering every week to ten days, and container plants leach nutrients from the soil they are in very quickly.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.