Root rot from overwatering
Dark spots spreading from the center of the leaf, with soil that stays soggy, is the fiddle leaf fig's most common killer — root rot.
Diagnosis
Root rot from overwatering
What's happening
Fiddle leaf figs want their soil to dry out between waterings. When the roots sit in waterlogged mix they suffocate and begin to rot, and the plant can no longer move water and nutrients up. That damage shows as dark brown blotches that start near the midrib and spread outward, often joined by leaf drop from the bottom up.
How to fix it
Slip the plant out of its pot and check the roots — healthy ones are firm and tan, rotted ones are brown, soft, and smell sour. Trim every mushy root away with sterilized snips and repot into fresh, fast-draining mix in a pot with drainage holes. Water only when the top 2 inches are dry, and never let the pot sit in a saucer of standing water. Expect to lose the worst-spotted leaves; focus on new growth coming in clean.
What fixes it
- A soil moisture meter — A moisture meter removes the guesswork — only water when it reads dry 2 inches down, which is exactly what a fiddle leaf fig wants.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Fiddle Leaf Fig care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this