Hi all! This is my first fiddle fig. I had been wanting a large indoor plant and as luck would have it I saw a fiddle fig sitting next to the compactor in my neighborhood. It wasn’t in terrible condition but based on the browning pattern of the leaves and the layer of mold across the top of the nursery pot it was in, my best guess was root rot.
I took it home and allowed it to dry out for a week or so until I could get a pot and soil. I got a larger pot (only a couple inches in diameter from the nursery pot) and used a soil mixture of container soil, perlite, and maybe cactus soil (I exactly recall if I used it). Additionally, it looked root bound however the roots weren’t mushy when I repotted but if anything may have been too dry.
Now it looks pretty dehydrated and the leaves are drooping, feeling a bit crunchy and starting to brown. At the node where it connects a lot of the stems and soft. The stem of the plant overall looks pretty dry and brown though I’m not sure if that’s normal.
I know this was probably a lot of stress for the plant. Is it too late? Any advice on what to do?
by Historical_Remote755
4 Comments
Never!! Mine “died” three times (that is, only a few leaves left.) but somehow I managed to bring it back from the brink every time
Nah you can rehab that! Just looks thirsty
In April mine was a stick. No leaves at all. She is thriving now with ten beautiful leaves! Don’t give up!
Not too far gone at all! FLFs can look rough but bounce back with steady care. A few things I’d do in your case:
• Check the stem: If it’s green and firm when you scratch a bit of bark, it’s alive. Brown/woody is normal on older stems, but soft/squishy = trouble.
• Light: Put it right in front of the brightest window you’ve got (east or south-facing is best). They love consistent bright, indirect light.
• Water: Water deeply, then let the top 2 inches of soil dry out before watering again. Consistency is key here—no sitting in soggy soil.
• Humidity: Dry air can make leaves crispy. If you can, add a pebble tray, humidifier, or group plants together.
• Patience: It’s been through a lot (root issues + repot shock), so don’t expect instant change. Watch for new buds along the stem—that’s your sign it’s recovering.
When mine was rescued in a similar state, it perked up once I stabilized care and started feeding lightly with a liquid fertilizer in a 3-1-2 ratio during the growing season. That really helped it push out stronger new growth.
I’d say give it a stable environment for a few months and see how it responds—you might be surprised how resilient they can be 🌱.