Are you frustrated or worried that your Fiddle Leaf Fig doesn’t seem to be growing? You’re in the right place! These plants can be notoriously tricky to figure out. But the good news is that there are steps you can take to make sure your plant is happy, healthy, growing & loving life.
Below I’m sharing some common reasons that can cause these plants to slow or stop growing, and some tips on how to encourage your Fiddle Leaf Fig to grow. Read on for details!
It’s normal that when plants are in an environment that is different to their natural habitat (like our homes), their growth will be somewhat inhibited by the conditions. Because Fiddle Leaf Figs are naturally tropical plants, they grow best in bright, warm and humid conditions.
Fortunately there are some things you can do to improve the conditions in your home and help encourage your Fiddle Leaf to grow.
Why isn’t my Fiddle Leaf Fig Growing?
Keep in mind that there are a couple of instances where it’s actually normal for your Fiddle Leaf Fig to not grow, and everything is actually fine with your plant (phew!).
Your Local Climate has a Winter Season
Because these plants are tropical, they can sometimes slow or stop growing when they are living in climates that have a winter season. Winter seasons bring cooler temperatures and less hours of sunlight during the day, which can affect their growth rate.
While this may not happen everywhere, if you do find your Fiddle Leaf isn’t growing and it’s winter, remember this is a normal plant reaction. It is storing it’s energy and you should begin to see new growth as spring arrives.
It’s in a New Environment
Another completely normal reason why your Fiddle Leaf might not be growing is if you’ve just brought it home. Or if it has just experienced a change such as moving location or repotting.
Fiddle Leafs are notorious for not liking changes, and so you may notice that it can take a little while for your plant to settle in if you’ve just brought it home or changed something about its environment.
Even if you don’t notice new growth for a couple of months, this can be normal. However read on to make sure that your Fiddle Leaf is in an ideal situation to grow again when it is ready!
Remember: Fiddle Leafs Grow in Bursts
Lastly, one characteristic I have noticed with Fiddle Leafs is that their growth often comes in bursts. While some plants have slow and consistent growth, Fiddles generally have a burst of growth that can result in 3-4 new leaves at a time.
Between these bursts, you may not see individual leafs coming through. This is my personal opinion, but I think that because FLFs have such large leaves, they need this time between for their new leaves to strengthen and mature. And to stock the energy required to grow more of these epically large and lush leaves!
How Fast do Fiddle Leaf Figs Grow?
The good news is that given the right conditions, Fiddle Leaf Figs can be quite fast-growing! Like all plants though, their rate of growth (and general health) does depend on how suitable their environment and care is, so growth rates do vary.
Because Fiddle Leaf Figs are tropical plants, the closer their environment is to their natural growing conditions, the faster they’ll grow and the more healthier the plant will be in general.
Three Things That Can Help your Fiddle Leaf Fig Grow:
More Light
Hands down – the most important aspect of growth for Fiddle Leaf Figs (or generally any plant) is giving them enough light! Not many people realise that Fiddle Leafs are notorious light lovers.
Light is the key requirement for plants to create energy through photosynthesis, so it makes sense that if they’re not getting enough light, they can’t produce the energy required to grow. I heard someone refer to the FLF’s large leaves as solar panels recently, and this is a perfect analogy of how they work!
Solar panels can only create energy if they’re subjected to light. So the brighter indirect light your plant can get, or the more direct light you can give them (provided they’re acclimatised so they don’t burn), the better they’ll grow.
So what should you do? Fiddle Leaf Figs grow best when they’re positioned directly in front of a window or door. Because plants use light differently to us, what you may not realise is that the light level dramatically decreases as soon as a plant is more than a couple of feet from a window. or even if they’re against a wall next to the window instead of directly in front!
I know – those Pinterest pics of lush Fiddle Leafs in the corner contradict this point. BUT if your FLF is stuck in a corner, sooner or later you are going to notice a lack of growth, dropping leaves or just a lanky, unhappy & unhealthy plant in general.
If for some reason it’s not possible to place your plant in front of a window or give it more light, you may want to invest in a grow light.
A Well-Formulated Fertilizer
Fiddle Leafs aren’t necessarily big feeders when it comes to fertilizer, but one of the major increases I saw in my plants’ growth rate was when I started fertilizing.
Not only did the plant double its size in around a year, but the leaf size itself doubled and the leaves grew closer together (this helps strengthen their trunk and makes them look more full).
If you can, try to use a fertilizer that is especially formulated for Fiddle Leaf Figs’ nutrient requirements. This means having an NPK ratio of 9:3:6 (aka 3:1:2). I have more information about fertilizer here, including my recommendations.
(Lastly) Checking if its Root Bound
This point is last because there is a myth that if plants aren’t growing, they should automatically be repotted. But as I mentioned above, Fiddle Leafs don’t love change. So even if you do repot your Fiddle, it still may need time to adjust to the repotting before you see any positive changes.
These particular plants do prefer to be snug in pots. So unless your plant is extremely root bound, or the soil is so old that it is nutrient deficient, repotting won’t always have a big impact on growth rate.
However if your plant IS root bound and the soil has not been changed for more than 2-3 years, there is a chance that it is hindering the growth of your plant.
One thing to be aware of when repotting is that you should only go up one pot size. This means choosing a pot that is only 1-2 inches wider than the current pot. This is because if the new pot is a lot larger than the current pot, Fiddle Leafs can spend their energy growing new roots rather than the growth we want to see – new leaves!
You can find out more about soil & repotting here.
What NOT to do if Your Fiddle Leaf isn’t Growing:
If you find your Fiddle Leaf isn’t growing, there’s a couple of common things I’ve noticed people try that probably aren’t going to help the situation.
Cut off the Top Growing Bud
I’m often asked about the seemingly dry, crispy brown sheath at the top of the plant. People often mistake this as dead. However this is totally normal, and does NOT need to be cut back to encourage growth! When the plant is ready to grow new leaves, they will emerge from within those protective sheaths.
Cutting this growing tip back won’t necessarily harm the plant, but it means that the plant will need to grow from new buds rather than the top point and you can even end up with branches. Once pruned, new growth will no longer come from the cut stem itself.
Move the Plant Around
Another thing people try is to keep moving the plant to new locations. Fiddle Leafs don’t like to be moved around, so once you find a suitable (bright!) location for it, the best thing to do is leave it be. This will allow it to settle in and get into a routine.
Repotting As Soon as You Get it or Even if It’s Not Root Bound
And as I mentioned above, people will often repot their plants as soon as they bring them home or as a ‘solution’ for not seeing any growth.
Fiddle Leafs are unique in that they are quite ok being snug in their pot! So only repot if it’s been years since the soil has changed, or if it is very root bound.
Changing the soil otherwise will not necessarily impact the growth of the plant.
So if you’re struggling with a Fiddle Leaf Fig that isn’t growing, first ask if it is in a natural period of little growth due to winter or recent changes.
Then to encourage growth, increase light levels either by moving it in front of a window or using a grow light. Make sure you’re using a well formulated fertilizer at least once a month during growing season. Lastly, check if its rootbound or needs a soil change.
If you’re a new Fiddle Leaf owner or are experiencing issues with understanding your plant’s needs, download the free Grower’s Guide on this post! It has a bunch of useful tips and info on the A-Z of Fiddle Leaf Fig care.
43 Comments. Leave new
I just found your blog posts this morning, and I haven’t stopped reading since!!! Thank you so much for sharing your success, your trials and errors, and your journey. I will be purchasing my first FLF and I cannot wait to document the progress for myself! I started with the cutest Bambino and he is doing great!
Again, thank you for blessing all of us with your knowledge. I am your newest #1 fan 😉😉 hahaha!!
I recently propagated a FLF and potted it after it grew some roots. The pot I used though is pretty big, about 8 inches in diameter. Should I repot it again to a smaller pot or leave it as is? Thank you!
I would probably leave it rather than disturb the new roots again! You can address the pot/soil size by altering your watering 🙂
I’ve had mine in a bright-ish corner and it only grew a few leaves since i got it years ago… this year i made a commitment to take care of my plants better, after researching, moved my FLF to a location that ought to suit it well and… of course it got angry at me and is dropping leaves. I don’t want to move it to its previous location, especially since it’s been a month and it’s gonna get upset again! What should I do in the meantime? I talk to her every day about the location change, and that she is not alone, i clean her fertilize her, take care of her and… what do you recommend?
Hmm it shouldn’t have a negative reaction if the location you moved it to was more ideal (eg brighter). If it needs more light I would consider getting a grow light or assess whether something in the location is causing leaves to drop, eg a drafty window or air vent!
Thanks Emily, the location has no draft or air vent, it’s in a very bright room with other thriving plants. the soil is fine, i doubt it has been overwatered…. it’s dropped yet another leaf in its lower trunk now it’s a bare stick with good looking leaves on top..
I have the opposite problem… I bought a FLF a few months back and it was probably just over 5′ tall. Now it’s well over 6′. I didn’t realize it was going to grow this quickly! How can I slow it down? I water it once a week, and give it a quarter turn when I water. It’s in front of 3 big windows in my office. It was pruned at the greenhouse where I bought it, so there are three main branches. 2 are super tall and lopsided, the third is barely 2′ long. I’m just concerned that if it continues growing at this rate I’m going to run out of room!
Hey Brian, most Fiddle Leaf owners would love to have your problem of growth! 🙂 It sounds like your plant is happy where it is, so I wouldn’t change anything. You can aways prune it back if it gets too tall!
Hello. I have a FLF that has 3 branches. The 2 branches are consistently pushing out new growth but the 1 branch has not shown any signs of a new leaf since I bought it. What would you suggest to encourage growth on that 1 branch?
This can be pretty normal, as plants generally have a dominant or ‘leader’ branch that will grow more than others. Pruning the two that are growing back so that they are just shorter than the third branch can redirect the growth hormone to the third and encourage more growth there.
Hiiii! What are some signs of root rot? I think I’m doing all the right things. My flf is in its original plastic black pot they usually come in and it’s elevated within my decorative pot- so water should be draining- unless I need to physically add more draining holes? I water once 1-2 weeks (not sure if it’s enough say around 300 ml for a tall FLF)
However I’m noticing some leaves are yellow and brown on end tip of the leaves.
Hi Mel, This post on brown spots has more info on root rot and watering, and should help you to determine the cause of the discoloured leaves!
I recently bought a FLF, I found your advice very useful. Thank you
Hi—
I have had my fiddle leaf fig since June 2020, and it has been growing and thriving until now. I want to preface this by saying that I live in OH. So, over the last few weeks I have noticed that my FLF is not retaining water. I have a moisture meter and no matter how much water I add, the moisture level reads “3”. To add to my concern, I’ve noticed that the soil feels compacted on one side of the pot. When I water it, basically all of the water runs straight through the plant. Sadly, I started losing leaves over the past few weeks—first, they turn yellow, and then they fall off. I have lost 3 and 2 more are starting to turn yellow now. What should I do? My plant has a grow light. I only water when dry, but now that doesn’t even matter because the water runs straight through the soil. I feel the urge to replant it, but am worried that will exacerbate the situation. If you have any suggestions, I’m all ears.
Hey Tiffany, by the sounds of things, the soil might be the issue if it is quite old or the plant is rootbound, this can cause the water to drain quickly as the soil in the pot will be depleted. I generally feel the soil with my finger rather than using moisture meters as they can sometimes be unreliable. My post on soil & repotting should have some helpful info for you!
Thank you! I agree regarding the water meter. I use my finger as well. My concern is whether or not it’s a bad idea to repot it now with it being root bound due to it being winter or should I wait until the spring? I don’t want to cause more stress, but I also feel not addressing the issue now might cause more damage. I will read your post on soil & repotting!
I bought my flf around over a year ago. Repotted it into a larger pot, gets good bright south and west light in front of a bay window, hasn’t shown any signs of dying by any means but still not growing much. I water about 1x week or when the soil 3+ inches down is dry.. I can’t figure out why it won’t produce new leaves, maybe it’s just a winter thing?
Hey girl, so my FLF had been in its original pot that it was bought in for a hot minute before i was told to repot it but then i put it in a smaller pot and thought it may have been struggling so around 2 weeks later i put it in a new pot- he seems to be doing alright but is there anything i can do to help him adjust to so much change?
The best thing to do would be to leave it be in one place to settle in and adjust 🙂 Fiddle Leafs generally don’t like change or being moved around so leaving it alone for a while in a nice and bright location will be best for the plant.
i had a 5 ft tall tree outside in texas all summer and fall, i moved to covered patio for winter but the wind is so strong it’s leaves are almost all lost 🙁 i cannot bring it inside since a stray cat has been using it as his den, should i cut it short and bag it for the winter/ hope to see new growth in warmer weather?
hey Ashley, I’m not sure how cold it gets there but if you can get it out of the winter weather (indoors), that would be the best option! I don’t know that the cutting/bagging option would work as Fiddle Leafs are tropical plants and I doubt would be able to withstand freezing temps or regenerate once spring arrives unfortunately!
Hi Emily, you say not to move the FLF too much and give them time to acclimatize however how does that work when you are supplementing the light it receives in winter? i find myself having to move the plant from the window when there seems a to a bit of sunlight (usually very cloudy and grey outside) to my grow light station which is offset in a little corner away from the window. Worried that this will affect my plant. i bought the plant in August (just under 3 foot) and it has not grown at all. Instead I’ve lost about 5 or 6 leaves (3 this week) starting from the soil level and at the bottom of the plant. I don’t think I’ve over watered but it is possible. latest leaves have turned yellow slowly and have just dropped off. Previous dropped leaves seems to have black patches on them.
Hi Ayo, Fiddles don’t like to be moved too much so I would choose the better environment (if you think the window or the grow light station has more light) and leave it there, even if it means for the winter season. Fiddles are ok with some direct sunlight if it is gentle and if they are able to slowly be exposed to it. The leaf issue could be linked to over watering, remember that their watering needs will change and most plants will need to be watered less often in the cooler months. For example in summer mine need watering close to weekly but in winter they can go two weeks and still be ok. Always check that the top inch or so of soil is dry before watering!
Thanks!! It’s a bit of makeshift set up but i found a way to keep the plant by the window while keeping the grow light suspended above for supplementary light.
One more thing Emily, should i be worried that I’ve had no new leaves since August? There’s a bud at the top of the plant but its done nothing since i bought the plant. Will see how it goes and fertilize in Spring.
Just wanted to say that as an update. I stopped moving the FLF, starting taking more care of it with consistent watering and especially light and the dormant bud i’ve been complaining about has started growing!!
That’s great to hear Ayo! 🙂
I heard that keiki paste helps fiddle leaf figs to grow. Is that encouraged? If so, how is it best done?
I haven’t used Keiki paste before but understand it encourages plants to grow when put on the nodes of plants like orchids. There’s a lot of talk about whether it actually works and what plants it works on but I’m sure it wouldn’t harm the plant to just give it a go!
The best information given yet!
Hi Emily!
Just found your site. What an amazing resource! My lovely FLF that is growing lopsidedly. It has 4 arms are growing from one trunk, although they all started at about the same height, one is over 8 feet tall and the other are all about 5 feet tall. The 8 foot arm is pulling the trunk the trunk toward it. All arms show growth but the large arm seems to grow exponentially compared to the other arms. Any ideas on how to balance my FLF’s growth? Huge thanks in advance.
Hey Cody, this is quite a normal thing! Plants will generally have a dominant or ‘leader’ branch that tends to grow more than the others. There is a simple fix – prune the leader branch to be slightly shorter than the other ones, which will redistribute the growth hormone to the other branches.
Do you have experience with edema in FLFs? My recent growth has lots of red spots on it (I think I overwatered… guilty) but the leaves seem to be becoming more green so hopefully the plant is recovering.. any tips with how to deal with this and avoid it in the future?
Cut back on how often you water! Edema is often linked with watering too frequently. As the leaves mature the dots will get less noticeable 🙂
i bought a FLF 5 days ago and noticed that the leaves looks like its been curled inwards and thought it just needed sunlight or is just under watered, so i checked the soil and was 2 inches dry, i proceeded to water it down until water came out of the drain then placed it in direct sunlight for about 6 hours. i now realized that i made a big big big mistake! i’ve noticed that 5 of the leaves (including the small new 1) got sunburned and 4 other leaves fell off.😭😭😭 just today i checked the soil again, and it still feels dry despite waterimg it down 5 days ago. I am feeling down and stressed about it, can you please advice what else i could do save it? thank you!
Hey Sheila! Sorry to hear your FLF got sunburnt. If the leaves are over 50% damaged/browned, you can remove them. If there’s only a little browning on a leaf, it is best to keep it on the plant as it will still be creating energy for the plant (even though it may not look the nicest!) If the soil is drying out quite quickly or not retaining moisture when watering, you may want to give bottom watering a go. Place the pot in a shallow tray of water to allow the soil to soak it in for a couple of hours. This should help the soil soak in the water properly rather than running through. Other than that, it probably best to leave it be to adjust to its new location and settle in 🙂
I’m a new mom to m 1st FLF so I did repot instantly but I think the pot is too big. So, I’m not sure if I should reply again to prevent root rot or just keep her the way she is? I’m so confused 😩
Hey Melisa! I don’t think there’s necessarily a right or wrong thing to do here… If you don’t want the hassle of repotting, you could leave it be and just keep an eye on it and only water when it needs. This will probably be less often as the soil will take longer to dry out. If you notice early signs of overwatering or root rot (dark brown patches forming on leaves), then it would be a sign to repot. You should be able to manage though by just ensuring you’re watering correctly. More info on watering here. Root rot is a sign that the soil is holding too much water and/or the plant is being watered too often – a large pot can attribute to this but isn’t necessarily the main factor! So focusing on your watering is key 🙂
I bought a FLF and it actually has 3 in the pot. Should I separate them into 1 to a pot or just leave it?
There’s no need to! Separating them is more of a personal preference. 🙂
Awesome, so maybe just slowly increasing the time in front of the window? Don’t just put it there all day initially?
Thank you for responding!!
So about light, you say to place them in front of the window, i have a west facing window that gets a lot of afternoon light but wouldn’t that be direct light? My plant is struggling and im pretty sure its due to not enough light. I have it in the corner of that west facing room but not directly in front of the window because i feared it would burn.
Hi Lexi, FLFs love light and can take as much direct light as long as they’re acclimatised slowly (in nature they grow in full sun!). Afternoon light can be harsher so as long as you can slowly adjust it to being in front of the window it should be fine.