I got this fiddle leaf 3 months ago and it recently started acting up. It dropped 5 leaves after I got it within the first week which I was told was normal acclimation, and then was Perfectly fine until a couple weeks ago. I had been watering it once a week as it seemed to dry out easily, but I left on vacation and missed a week accidentally. When I came back a couple of the leaves had gotten floppy and started to yellow around the stem. I immediately watered it, and since then the leaves have stayed floppy and one has dropped off. I noticed today the stem of a leaf coming off of the base is brown, and there is a brown spot on the bottom of that same leaf with some white substance. Does anyone know what is wrong with my plant? I thought it was under watered when I left for a week and it became wilted, but the brown stems and floppy-ness have me concerned for root rot or overwatering. What can I do?

@drdawg I have noticed you have a ton of experience with FLFs on these forums, would you be able to guide me? If it helps, I have this plant placed here for the purpose of taking a picture but it is usually placed next to a west facing window (the only direction that is not shaded by large trees outdoors) so it only gets evening sun and not much at all.

I'll try to help you @Abby6996, but diagnosing problems such as this is difficult.

As long as you have well-draining soil and good drainage holes in the pot, in my opinion, you simply can't overwater. Dismiss "root rot" from your mind. It is a much overused term. Also, when you water, do so copiously, until lots of water runs out of those drainage holes.

Do not fertilize. So many people think that fertilizer solves all ills and that is farthest from the truth. Wait until you see nice, maturing growth to fertilize. Fertilizer now will only further stress your plant.

I don't really know how much light you plant is getting, but keep in mind that this is a tree and in nature, they get full sun. That's what my fiddle leaf ficus gets. Keep in mind that your plant almost surely was grown in a greenhouse/shadehouse, and thus probably got bright light all day long. These trees adapt to lower light levels, but still, they need really bright light to do well. I have a feeling that your plant isn't getting enough light.

There are other issues, such as lack of humidity in our homes and lack of air movement, but you need to deal with the basic problem(s) first.

Good luck.

@drdawg I agree about the light issue, what are your thoughts on artificial growth lights?

Huge commercial nurseries around the world use artificial lighting, Abby. Plants don't care where they get their light from.........LOL I used T-5 HO fluorescent fixtures in my three greenhouses for years. Practically all my tropical plants had to come inside in the fall, so that's when I would use those lights. Even though these were greenhouses, not a home, and had at least some natural light (I used 50% shade cloth), the supplemental light encouraged growth and blooming.

Ah thank you so much for the help @drdawg! I'll look into getting a supplemental light!

Again, Abby, good luck with your baby. I love fiddle leaf trees. I've grown them from seedlings by the 100's and air-layered my "mother" tree dozens and dozens of times. I've had my tree for 28 yr., and for the first 25 yr., she grew in pots. In fact, she was in the same pot for over 10 yr. when I moved to Vero Beach. Because I had to move her inside in the fall, and then back outside in the spring, I had to reduce her overall size 2' each and every year. I air-layered her branches constantly, supplying me with more plants and keeping her size in check. When I moved, she was about 6' tall. If I had been able to grow her in the ground, she would today be a 30' tree. After spending six months acclimating her to full sun, I finally removed her from her pot (destroying the pot to release her) and planted her. She was then a 7' tall tree. She's now been in the ground for two years and she's now a truly majestic tree. Here's photos taken last March and then in Oct. She was 12.' tall in March and now is 15' tall.

Ficus lyrata

@DrDawg that is so impressive! This plant was a gift when I moved to start medical school so I am doing my best to keep it alive. I have ordered a grow light that should be here today, and watered it very well yesterday. This morning however, I woke up to the most mature leaf looking like this. The darker color is rather crunchy and the white areas cannot be scraped off. Any ideas for how to handle this? Should I remove this leaf? Sad because there are only 4 on the plant right now

What's the temperature adjacent to your tree, Abby?

My home is 70 degrees right now but it has been rather chilly outside so it is possible that it is colder near the plant. I considered moving it from the window but I was worried it would then have zero light. Perhaps when I get my plant light in today I could move it from the window?

That's sort of why I asked, Abby. Do not have the leaves within 6" of window glass. That glass and adjacent space can be the same temperature as the outside. Touching the glass is a definite no-no.

Great, thanks @drdawg. Should I be concerned about the white substance on the leaves?

I am sorry, Abby, I don't know what that substance is, but I wouldn't be concerned with it. It doesn't represent fungi , mites, insects, or bacteria.

@drdawg, bad news. Today the plant lost all 4 of its remaining leaves. It is now merely a stick. However, the stem is still green at the end which gives me hope that I may be able to resurrect it with a grow light and a proper watering schedule. Sigh.

Water has now become pretty much unimportant. Without leaves, and their transpiration, the plant needs little water and certainly no fertilizer. If you can get it outside during the day, in the brightest area you have, with no midday sun, do that, Abby. Just bring it inside when the temperatures will dip below 60.

There's still hope but you have an uphill battle at this point. Good luck.

Just for future reference, when you plan on purchasing a tropical plant, do some research on its needs, whether growing outside or inside. Knowing this in advance will better prepare you for successfully growing the plant.

@drdawg, yes I agree however this plant was a gift so I did not have the opportunity to prepare unfortunately. It seems as if temperatures will be low outdoors for a bit so hopefully the grow light will be sufficient

Yes, you must watch and heed low temperatures, Abby.

If I may suggest something that hasn't been mentioned yet, have you taken the plant out of it's pot and had a look at the roots?

If not, lay it on it's side on a tarp, or some newspaper or something. Slide it out of the pot and check out the root ball. One of two scenarios can cause the symptoms you're seeing.

1. Either the root ball has dried out too much and it will be a solid brick of packed potting soil, so the water you've been giving it hasn't been absorbed into the soil, or

2. There has been water sitting in the bottom of the outer pot and the roots are rotting at the bottom.

If you find soft, spongy, slightly moist soil, just slide it back into the pot and let's hope for the best, but it can't hurt to look.

IF the root ball is dry and hard, you need to soak it in a bucket of lukewarm water for a couple of hours to re-hydrate the soil. Then it's not a bad idea to re-pot with new high-quality potting soil.