This Is How You Tell the Difference Between a Dry and Over Watered Fiddle Leaf Fig
Striking the perfect watering balance Fiddle Leaf Figs is a key factor in ensuring the health and beauty of this popular indoor plant, and funnily enough, two of the most common problems Fiddle owners face are either overwatering or underwatering their plant. What’s more, telling which is which is a task in and of itself!
Because Fiddle Leaf Figs are prone to leaf drop and browning, it may seem simple to jump to conclusions about your plant. But keep in mind that the amount you water your plant is also tied to the conditions it lives in—what type of light, temperature and humidity levels the plant experiences in its home. Underwatering, for example, may be more common in homes that are very very bright and also very warm, as the plant dries out faster than you water it. Being aware of your plant’s light situation is the first step in ensuring a proper watering cadence.
But even if you think you’re watering your Fiddle properly, it might not always be clear what’s going on. In a nutshell, overwatering leads to root rot, a fungus in the roots that can eventually damage leaves and even kill your plant. Underwatering, however, can also lead to leaf damage and potential demise. At first glance, the brown spots, dropping leaves, and curled edges can be a symptom of either one, but here are a few subtle differences between an overwatered and underwatered Fiddle Leaf Fig.
Symptoms of a dry Fiddle Leaf Fig
Determining if your Fiddle is underwatered or overwatered requires a bit of intuition, but chronically dry Fiddles do show a few kew differences from overwatered ones, and one is curled leaves.
Another way to tell your plant is underwatered is noticing where the brown spots lie. Oftentimes, brown spots on a dry Fiddle will show up on the edge of the leaf, versus in the middle near the “veins”. The brown spots will also often appear all over the plant, from top to bottom, whereas root rot usually starts to affect only the bottom leaves first.
Finally, and probably most importantly, the leaves of your dry fiddle leaf fig may look otherwise healthy, whereas the leaves of a plant with root rot will begin to look sickly, with either yellow, droopy, or “spotted” leaves. Furthermore, while both cases will show leaf drop, usually overwatered Fiddles drop their bottom leaves first, whereas a dry Fiddle will drop leaves from anywhere on the plant.
Symptoms of an overwatered Fiddle Leaf Fig
A telltale sign of too much water and/or root rot in Fiddle Leaf Figs is brown spots near the center of the leaves, as well as around the edges. Multiple yellow almost always means too much water.
Overwatered Fiddles will also show a general browning, with tiny dark spots or shady areas, that can spread quickly from one leaf to another over the course of a week.
As mentioned above, you may also notice that your plant drops its bottom leaves first. That could be a sign of root rot, as plants tend to protect their new growth and shed the older leaves first.
If you’re still not sure, try using a moisture meter to check the moisture levels in your plant’s roots.
What about erratic watering?
To make things even more confusing, sometimes plants will show signs of both underwatering and overwatering. You aren’t going mad! Your plant may experience both, and that could be a result of erratic watering.
Fiddle Leaf Figs thrive on routine, so if necessary, set reminders to water your plant more or less at the same time every week (or two!)—whatever makes the most sense to water your plant consistently to ensure that the roots dry out just enough between waterings.
Our ultimate watering guide for Fiddle Leaf Figs has more information on determining the best watering situation for your plant. Léon & George customers also have 24/7 access to our digital plant doctors, should you need personalized assistance. Good luck!
This post was adapted from the Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource by expert Claire Akin. Head to their website to learn more about caring for the Fiddle Leaf Fig.
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