Fiddle Leaf Fig root stress

Droop, leaf drop, and brown patches can follow dry roots, wet roots, crowding, or recent disturbance. Check moisture inside the original root ball, not just in surface or surrounding fresh soil.

Choose the change the roots need

Rewet a dry center slowly. Empty runoff from a wet pot and inspect roots if decline continues. A tightly packed root mat with little mix may need a modestly larger pot; decomposed mix may need replacement without upsizing.

Keep the trunk at its original depth when repotting. With firm roots and suitable drainage, a watering adjustment can be enough; repeated root disturbance adds no benefit.