What causes fiddle-leaf fig leaf drop?

You have probably all seen the fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata), but may not have paid it much attention, especially friends in southern regions who may have seen it more often. The fiddle-leaf fig is a fairly common indoor foliage plant with a very wide range of uses; it can appear in restaurants, hotels, and bank lobbies. As a foliage plant, the last thing we want to face when growing it is a problem with its leaves, so today Qinnong Wang is here to explain what to do if a fiddle-leaf fig drops its leaves.

I. Causes of fiddle-leaf fig leaf drop

Leaf drop is actually not an odd or unusual thing for most plants, nor does it require special attention, but the fiddle-leaf fig is different: it is an evergreen plant in all four seasons, so if continuous leaf drop occurs, you need to pay attention. The causes of fiddle-leaf fig leaf drop are undoubtedly insufficient nutrient supply, too few nutrients in the soil, and, in addition, insufficient or excessive watering can both cause fiddle-leaf fig leaf drop. Insufficient nutrients and insufficient water have the same effect on fiddle-leaf fig leaf drop, which is to make the leaves withered and yellow, while excessive watering makes the leaves still look green and glossy, but they fall off easily at a touch.

II. Effects of leaf drop

When a fiddle-leaf fig loses its leaves, it is like a soldier on the battlefield without a gun. This is because the fiddle-leaf fig's main ornamental value lies in its evergreen leaves; besides being ornamental, the leaves can also absorb some impurities from the air. Once the leaves drop, not only does the fiddle-leaf fig's ornamental value decrease, but its leaves' ability to absorb impurities is also greatly reduced, which is fatal for the fiddle-leaf fig.

III. What to do if a fiddle-leaf fig drops its leaves

So if the fiddle-leaf fig we are growing starts dropping leaves, what should we do? First, we should find the cause of the fiddle-leaf fig's leaf drop. Generally speaking, as long as the cause is found, the problem is easy to solve. If it is a lack of fertilizer, it is recommended to fertilize the plant once every one to two weeks. If it is a water problem, then it is recommended to water once a week, not too much at a time, with the amount each time just enough to completely moisten the soil.

The above is what Qinnong Wang has introduced about the causes of fiddle-leaf fig leaf drop and the solutions, and we hope it can be of some help to everyone. For more knowledge related to plant growing, please keep following Qinnong Wang.