What Brown Spots on a Fiddle Leaf Fig Mean and How to Stop Them

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Plus, how to trim and repot your plant to keep it healthy

Co-authored by Amy Bobinger, BA Reviewed by Ben Barkan

Last Updated: December 17, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Causes & Treatments
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• Should you remove leaves with brown spots?
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• Repotting
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• Video

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Ficus lyrata—also known as the fiddle leaf fig or banjo fig—is a favorite for many houseplant lovers. But if conditions aren’t right, the fiddle leaf fig is susceptible to developing brown spots on the leaves. We’ll explain why your fiddle leaf fig might develop brown spots and how to keep your plant looking healthy and green.

Common Causes of Brown Spots on Fiddle Leaf Figs

• Overwatering or underwatering
• Sunburn or not enough light
• Fluctuating temperatures
• Pests or diseases

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

What causes brown spots on fiddle leaf figs and how do you treat them?

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1. 
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   Overwatering Too much water can cause the leaves to turn brown and fall off. If overwatering is the issue, you may notice brown spots near the base of the leaf, spreading outward, or new leaves might have tiny reddish or brown dots.

   • How to fix it: Instead of sticking to a regular schedule, pay attention to how dry the soil feels, and only water when the top 2 in (5.1 cm) of soil dries out.
   • If your fiddle leaf fig is very heavy, it may be difficult to lift it out of the saucer when you water it. In that case, dip the excess water out of the saucer with a cup or remove it with a turkey baster.
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   Root rot Root rot, usually caused by overwatering, is an infection that spreads from the roots of the plant up through the stems and leaves. To determine if your fiddle leaf fig has root rot, dig in the soil or lift the plant from the pot and check for brown, mushy roots with a moldy smell.

   • How to fix it: To revive your fiddle leaf fig, trim the damaged parts of the roots and replant the pot in fresh soil.
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   Underwatering If you’re underwatering your fiddle leaf fig, you might notice light-colored spots around the leaf veins. Over time, these will turn brown. The leaves might also get a crispy texture, and you might notice the soil pulling away from the edges of the pot.

   • How to fix it: Regularly check your plant’s soil to see if it needs water. When the top 2 in (5.1 cm) of the soil feel dry, water your fiddle leaf fig thoroughly—ideally, until water drains freely from the bottom of the pot.
   • If your fiddle leaf fig is in a container and you can’t lift it, water the soil evenly until water pools in the saucer, then remove the excess water.
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   Stunted growth If your plant's pot is too small, it may not be able to thrive. Fiddle leaf figs prefer a slightly smaller pot, but they do need to be repotted when roots start coming out of the pot’s drainage holes or up above the soil line.

   • How to fix it: Choose a planter that’s only one size larger than the pot it’s already in. A pot that’s too small can prevent the roots from growing, but if the pot is too big, the roots could rot. Either of these can cause the leaves to turn brown. Be sure to choose a pot with drainage holes.
   • If you want to put your fiddle leaf fig in a decorative planter that doesn’t have drainage holes, place it in a plastic nursery pot, then put that inside the decorative planter. Just be sure to pull the nursery planter out of the decorative pot when it’s time to water.
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   Low humidity If humidity is the issue, you’ll likely notice brown spots forming on the tips of your leaves. Fiddle leaf figs like a fairly humid environment, so it’s a good idea to use a hygrometer to monitor the humidity in the air near the plant.

   • How to fix it: Keep the humidity around 40%, although anywhere from 30–65% is probably fine, as long as it’s consistent. If the humidity is too low, mist the fiddle leaf fig about once a day, or place the pot in a large tray full of damp pebbles.
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   Temperature fluctuations While fiddle leaf figs are generally fine staying anywhere between 60–80 °F (16–27 °C), these plants are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. If the temperature is inconsistent, the leaves on your fiddle leaf fig may turn brown and fall off.

   • How to fix it: Keep the temperature consistent. Don’t place your fiddle leaf fig under any drafts, like near an AC or heating vent, stove, or furnace.
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   Too much direct sunlight Fiddle leaf figs like plenty of sunlight, but it should be filtered. If your fiddle leaf fig gets too much direct sun, you’ll notice the leaves that get the most light will scorch and turn brown.

   • How to fix it: If you keep your plant near a window that gets direct sunlight during the day, use a sheer curtain to soften the sunlight.
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   Not enough sunlight If your plant isn’t getting enough light, the bottom leaves may turn brown. The large, broad leaves of the fiddle leaf fig are prone to developing a light coating of dust, which can block sunlight from reaching the leaves, which can cause the leaves to turn brown over time.

   • How to fix it: Move your plant to a sunnier spot. Rotate it weekly so all leaves get enough light. Every few weeks, use a soft, damp cloth to gently dust the leaves on your fiddle leaf fig. Don’t use any oils or polishes on the leaves, as this could damage them.
   • Dusting the leaves regularly can also help prevent mites from infesting your plant.
   • Low light can also cause fiddle leaf figs to get a “leggy” appearance, meaning the limbs are long and thin with sparse leaves.
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   Lack of fertilizer If your plant isn’t getting enough nutrients, it could wilt and turn brown. Fiddle leaf figs can benefit from a balanced liquid fertilizer with an NPK of around 3-1-2 or 20-20-20. NPK stands for nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium—the main elements in plant fertilizer.

   • How to fix it: Feed your plant with fertilizer diluted to half-strength twice a month from the spring through the fall.
   • Don’t fertilize your fiddle leaf fig during the late fall and winter. It will be dormant, which means it isn’t growing and doesn’t need to be fed.
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    Overfertilizing If you’re fertilizing too much, minerals can build up in the soil. Often, this will result in a white salt-like deposit on the soil, and you may notice the leaves browning.

    • How to fix it: If you see salt on top of your soil, pour as much fresh water as possible through the pot and allow it to drain thoroughly. If you have a very large fiddle leaf fig, you may need to add the water a little at a time, removing it from the saucer with a cup or turkey baster once it pools.
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    Bacterial or fungal damage Your fiddle leaf fig may have a fungal or bacterial disease if you notice lighter brown spots with an irregular shape. These spots can be anywhere on the leaf without much of a pattern, and they’ll spread over time.

    • How to fix it: If there’s bacterial or fungal damage, snip off the damaged leaves and plant the fig in fresh potting mix. If more than half of the leaves have damage from disease, the plant may not be able to recover from pruning and repotting.
    • Disease on a plant usually indicates another issue, so be sure to look for an underlying cause. For instance, if a plant is infested with aphids or mealybugs, the leaves can develop a black fungus known as sooty mold. In this case, you would also need to treat for pests.
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    Pests Fiddle leaf figs are susceptible to a variety of pests, including aphids, thrips, spider mites, and mealybugs. Bugs like these may create brown spots as well as holes in the leaves.

    • How to fix it: If you spot signs of any type of pest infestation, spray each leaf of the fiddle leaf fig with neem spray, coating both sides. Follow the label instructions and repeat this every two weeks until all signs of the insects are gone. Here are some ways to spot these common pests:
    • Aphids leave a sticky residue known as honeydew on leaves.
    • Thrips can cause leaves to develop silver or brown streaks.
    • Spider mites will leave small white spots on the leaf that will eventually turn brown. You may also notice a fine webbing on the leaves or stems of the plant.
    • Mealybugs leave behind a waxy coating on leaves, and the leaves will turn yellow or brown and fall off. They may also leave sticky honeydew on the leaves
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Section 2 of 3:

Should I remove brown leaves from a fiddle leaf fig?

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1. 
   Yes, snip off damaged leaves, but no more than 50% of the plant. Prune your fiddle leaf fig if the leaves have turned brown or show signs of pests or other damage. Use a sharp, clean pair of shears to snip off the entire damaged leaf, cutting as close to the stem as possible. To avoid shocking the plant, it’s best to avoid pruning more than 10 leaves at a time. But if the damage or infestation is severe, you can remove up to 50% of the plant to try to save it.

   • Be sure to sanitize the shears after pruning to avoid spreading pests or diseases to other plants.

Section 3 of 3:

How to Repot a Fiddle Leaf Fig

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1. 
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   Repot if the fig outgrows its pot or you spot signs of rot or disease. Fiddle leaf figs can often stay in the same pot for years, so in general, they should only be repotted if the roots need to be snipped, there's a bacterial or fungal infection, or the roots start to appear above the soil or through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Choose a pot that’s only one size larger than the pot it’s currently in—the new pot should almost look too small.

   • If the roots are mushy and brown, use clean, sharp shears to trim away only the damaged part of the root before you repot.
   • Use a well-draining soil-based potting mix, like one with extra perlite.
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   Give the plant time to recover if brown leaves appear after repotting. Repotting a fiddle leaf fig can stress the plant, and the leaves may droop or even turn brown and fall off. As long as all of the other care conditions are right for the plant—like the soil moisture and lighting—give it time to recover.

   • If you re-pot a fiddle leaf fig in late summer or fall, it may take longer to recover than if you repot it in the spring or early summer.
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