Fiddle leaf fig leaves curl when the leaf is short of water, and the reasons are thirst, dry air, hot sun, cold draughts, or roots damaged by wet soil. New leaves that curl are a separate matter. The direction of the curl, the feel of the leaf and the state of the soil separate the causes.
What the curl tells you
| What you see | Most likely cause | Check this first |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves curled inward and limp, edges crisp, soil dry to the bottom, pot light | Underwatering | Soil; pot weight |
| Leaves curled at the edges with brown crisp margins, room dry or heated | Low humidity | Position near heaters; season |
| Leaves curled and bleached or brown on the window side | Too much direct sun | Hours of direct light through glass |
| Sudden curling and dropping after a move, a draught or a cold night | Cold or a change of position | Recent moves; where it sits |
| Curling with yellowing lower leaves and brown spots, soil wet, sour smell | Overwatering and root damage | Root check |
| Only the new leaves curled or crinkled, older leaves fine | Normal new growth or dry air during unfolding | Watch the new leaves for two weeks |
| Curling with fine webbing or sticky residue | Pests | Undersides of leaves with a lens |
Underwatering
A dry fiddle leaf fig curls its leaves inward, goes limp, and browns crisp at the edges, over soil that is dry to the bottom and pulling from the pot. What to do: water thoroughly until it drains, rewet from below if the soil has shrunk by standing the pot in water for half an hour, and afterwards water whenever the top few centimetres are dry, checked by finger. The leaves relax within a few days.
Low humidity
In heated rooms in winter the leaf edges curl and brown in a crisp line, with the soil moist. What to do: move the plant away from heaters and vents, group it with other plants or run a humidifier.
Too much direct sun
Fiddle leaf figs like bright light but scorch when moved suddenly into direct sun through glass, curling and bleaching the leaves that face it. What to do: move the plant back from the glass or filter the light, and introduce more sun gradually over a few weeks.
Cold or a change of position
Fiddle leaf figs react to draughts, cold nights and being moved by curling and dropping leaves within days. What to do: keep the plant in one warm spot away from doors, windows and air conditioners, and leave it there. It settles within a few weeks.
Overwatering and root damage
In soil that stays wet, the roots suffocate and the plant cannot supply its leaves even in a wet pot. The leaves curl, the lower ones yellow and drop, brown spots spread from the centre of the leaf, and the soil smells sour. What to do: slide the plant out, trim brown mushy roots, repot in fresh airy mix in a pot with drainage, and water only when the top few centimetres are dry.
New leaves curling
New leaves unfold soft and crinkled and flatten as they mature. New leaves that stay curled or tear as they open are unfolding in dry air. What to do: nothing for ordinary new growth; raise the humidity if new leaves keep tearing.
Pests
Spider mites and scale suck the leaves, which curl and dull, with fine webbing or sticky residue. What to do: wipe the leaves top and bottom with a damp cloth weekly for a month, and rinse the plant under the shower.
What to do today, by cause
- Underwatering: soak thoroughly, rewet from below if needed, check by finger.
- Low humidity: move from heaters, raise humidity.
- Direct sun: move back from the glass, introduce sun gradually.
- Cold or moves: settle it in one warm spot.
- Overwatering: unpot, trim, repot in airy mix.
- New leaves: wait; raise humidity if they tear.
- Pests: wipe and rinse weekly.
Frequently asked questions
Will curled fiddle leaf fig leaves uncurl?
Leaves curled from thirst, cold or dry air relax within a few days of the fix. Leaves gone crisp at the edges do not recover but stop spreading, and new leaves come in flat.
Why are my fiddle leaf fig leaves curling and dropping?
Curling followed by dropping is usually a cold draught, a move, or wet roots. Check the soil: dry and limp is thirst, wet with brown spots is the roots, and a recent move with normal soil is the move.
Why are my fiddle leaf fig's new leaves curling?
New leaves unfold soft and crinkled and flatten as they mature. If they tear or stay curled, the air is too dry while they open.
How often should I water a fiddle leaf fig?
Whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry, checked by finger, which is roughly weekly in summer and every two weeks or less in winter. Water thoroughly and let the excess drain.