Have had this tree for over 4 years, it was flourishing with green, waxy leaves until about a year ago. Started dropping leaves and now just looks really bad. We took it out of the pot and saw no indication of root rot, but I could be totally wrong. It's never been repotted but the roots didn't look too crowded. Is there even a chance of saving this anymore?

It might be root-bound. Aren't fig trees supposed to be outside? Or maybe I'm wrong. I've just never heard of them as being houseplants.

Doesn't seem rootbound and I'm not seeing any clear indication of root rot.

The root ball looks really dry, and it looks like your plant had gotten too tall to get much light from the window.

The tall, lanky growth habit of your Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) is due to inadequate light and the leaf drop is likely due to stress from overly dry soil. The soil should be thoroughly saturated until the entire root mass is moistened. Try to keep the soil damp throughout at all times. You can raise the humidity around the plant by sitting the pot atop a tray of moist pebbles.

Good posts.

Too dry and has outgrown it's available light.

Having never repotted, the dirt was packed in pretty hard so maybe wasn't really absorbing enough water. I broke apart and repotted with some new soil and watered, hopefully that will help. As far as the light, I'm not sure how I can remedy that. Will the lower leaves getting all that light not be enough? All windows in my apartment are west facing.

Does it look like it has much of a chance to come back?

sixiveoh said: Having never repotted, the dirt was packed in pretty hard so maybe wasn't really absorbing enough water. I broke apart and repotted with some new soil and watered, hopefully that will help. As far as the light, I'm not sure how I can remedy that. Will the lower leaves getting all that light not be enough? All windows in my apartment are west facing.

Does it look like it has much of a chance to come back?

I'd think with more water and closer to the window it will do better and hang on but keep getting taller and leggier.

Air layers?
Hack a tall plant down and plant a short pre-rooted cutting(s).

I think it will love the new soil and moisture.

It will always continue to get taller, that's what trees do. As the trunk and branches lignify (turn woody,) those areas no longer hold foliage. Leggy refers to the distance between nodes. I'm not sure if your plant is leggy, or just older, from the pics.

You can trim your plant if you want to keep it short enough to get plenty of light on all of the foliage. If it was mine, I would cut the longest couple stems where they emerge from the trunk. Since you just repotted, it should be easy to push the cut-off tops into the pot, all the way to to the bottom. They will (theoretically, no guarantees) take root and keep going.

When you start to see some new branches form on the trunk, then you could cut the rest of the original branches. This will be the least stressful way to do it, over time, so your plant doesn't have a time without any foliage, and so you don't have to look at a bare stick.

A year or two from now, your plant might look more like this:


Or you could use a separate pot for the trimmings if you want more than 1 pot of this plant.

Beware that Ficus plants have latex sap inside that leaks out when the plant is cut. This sap can cause a rash like poison ivy for some people who have a sensitivity to it. It will stain the trunk of the tree (and possibly your floor, furniture) so if you do decide to cut it, be prepared by spreading some newspaper or old towel around the plant. Spritzing the cut with a spray bottle of water will dilute it so it doesn't stain the trunk and helps the wound to stop oozing sap. If you do get some on your skin, wash it right away with cool water and soap.

Okay, will give this a go. Should I be trimming the top part off as well, as it seems it's too tall to get any light from the window anymore?

Yes, whether or not it is shorter, I would do the tallest part first, that is getting the least light. Be careful about your plant getting sunburned if the sun hits it. It will burn quickly, not used to that.

purpleinopp said: Yes, whether or not it is shorter, I would do the tallest part first, that is getting the least light. Be careful about your plant getting sunburned if the sun hits it. It will burn quickly, not used to that.

Good advice.

My assumption is that by starting at the top you divert energy back down to the the remaining bottom growth.

It looks very dry. I forget to water mine sometimes and a leaf or two will go yellow. They like light and moist compost but not soggy. If its damp to the touch then that is good. These trees can drink a lot of water as they grow bigger.

I would prune the top to keep it short and you'll get a thicker trunk by doing that and you can propagate the bits you prune off.

Good information on the fig. I've been hesitant to trim, but after reading this information I'll give it a go.