Overwatering
Yellowing lower leaves with soil that won't dry out point to overwatering.
Diagnosis
Overwatering
What's happening
When a fiddle leaf fig is watered too often, the roots sit in soggy soil, can't take up oxygen, and begin to fail. The plant responds by yellowing and dropping its oldest, lowest leaves first, and the soggy soil may smell sour or grow a film on top.
How to fix it
Stop watering and let the soil dry well down before the next drink — check the roots if drop is severe and trim any soft, brown ones. Make sure the pot has drainage holes and never leaves the plant standing in a saucer of water. Going forward, water only when the top 2 inches are genuinely dry; a fiddle leaf fig is far happier slightly dry than constantly wet.
What fixes it
- Pots with drainage holes — Repotting into a pot with real drainage stops water from pooling and rotting the roots.
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