The fiddle leaf fig, with its huge, iconic leaves, has become one of the most popular houseplants in recent years. But caring for a fiddle leaf fig can be tricky. These trees don’t like change and can be prone to shock and leaf drop when their environment is disrupted. So how often should you repot a fiddle leaf fig before the shock does more harm than good?
When Repotting is Necessary for Fiddle Leaf Fig Health
While repotting fiddle leaf figs does carry risks sometimes NOT repotting poses even greater dangers to your plant. Here are some clear signs it’s time for a new pot
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The tree has outgrown its current pot. If it’s been about a year since you last sized up if soil is pulling away from the edges or if you see roots coming out the drainage holes, it’s time. A growing tree is a healthy tree that can likely handle repotting.
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There are animal accidents. If pets have started using your fig’s pot as a bathroom, the chemicals in their urine can damage roots. Repot right away to rinse away contaminants.
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There’s a bacterial infection. Bacterial leaf spot spreads rapidly and can kill fiddle leaf figs. First remove infected leaves, then repot at the first sign of new spots. Your plant has a 50/50 chance at this point, so repotting is worth the risk.
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Severe root rot. Root rot is a fiddle leaf fig owner’s nightmare. If caught early while soil still drains well, it can sometimes be treated without repotting. But if drainage is poor and soil stays soggy, repot into a well-draining pot.
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The nursery pot isn’t ideal. Sometimes nursery pots don’t drain well. If yours dries out too fast or stays soggy, repot when bringing your new fiddle leaf fig home.
Signs That Repotting Can Wait
Fiddle leaf figs are notoriously temperamental, so you don’t want to repot unnecessarily. Here are some issues that don’t require immediate repotting:
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Yellow leaves – This is usually a sign of overwatering or underwatering, not a pot issue. Adjust watering instead.
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Dryness – Again, this is a watering problem. Increase watering frequency.
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Sunburn – Move the plant to a shadier spot.
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Pests – Treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap first.
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Drooping leaves – Can indicate underwatering, overwatering, or environmental factors like cold drafts.
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Fungus – Remove by hand and sprinkle with cinnamon. Only repot if it returns quickly.
How Often Should Fiddle Leaf Figs Be Repotted?
So when is it time to repot your healthy, growing fiddle leaf fig? Here are some guidelines:
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Repot young plants every 6-12 months. Young, actively growing trees need frequent upsizing.
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Mature plants can go 1-2 years between repotting. Their growth slows, so they don’t outgrow pots as quickly.
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Move only 1-2 pot sizes up at a time. Going too large can cause soil to stay wet and increase rot risk.
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Repot in the spring when plants are actively growing. Avoid winter.
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Don’t repot on a schedule. Pay attention to signs your specific plant needs more space like roots appearing or slowed growth.
Step-By-Step Repotting Process
Follow these steps when it’s time to repot your fiddle leaf fig:
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Water the plant deeply a few days before repotting to loosen soil.
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Check for roots emerging from drainage holes. You may need to cut holes bigger.
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Fill the new, lightly larger pot with fresh potting mix and lightly firm it.
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Turn the fig on its side and ease it out of the old pot gently. Don’t yank or force.
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Prune away any dead or damaged roots.
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Place the fig in the new pot at the same soil depth as before.
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Backfill with a mix of fresh potting soil and a bit of the old soil.
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Gently tap down soil, taking care not to over-compact it.
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Water well and keep out of direct sun while it recovers from shock.
Preventing and Treating Repotting Shock
Repotting is stressful for fiddle leaf figs. To prevent and treat shock:
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Water the day before repotting.
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Keep the plant at the same depth in new pot.
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Water thoroughly after repotting.
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Place out of direct sun while recovering.
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Hold off on fertilizing for a month.
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Watch for drooping or dropped leaves as signs of shock.
With the right timing and care, repotting doesn’t have to be traumatic for your fiddle leaf fig or you. Pay close attention to signs it’s time for a larger pot, take repotting slowly, and be ready to care for shock. With a little TLC, your fig will be back to thriving in no time!
Choosing the right container size
One of the most common questions when repotting any plant is what size planter to use. When I interned in a botanical conservatory, the strategy was to repot so the plant didn’t need to be transplanted again for at least 2 years. Predicting two years growth though isn’t easy, especially if you aren’t a botany PhD.
The recommendation I see most often is to only size up about 1-2 inches larger than its’ current pot, or 2-3 inches for larger pots. The problem with this is it doesn’t take into consideration the size of the plant itself, and it only marginally addresses it’s current pot size. It’s more of a one-size-fits-all approach vs. a “sizing up the current plant situation” approach, so to speak.
Case in point – my fiddle leaf fig. It badly needed transplanting. My fiddle leaf, which I affectionately call Mrs. Figg (Harry Potter ref), was so underpotted from growing so fast that if I had only sized her up two or three inches, it would have accomplished almost nothing.
She had grown very quickly in the year plus that I’d had her, so the 8”pot was drying out all the time and the tree would sometimes topple over because it was top-heavy.
My fiddle leaf fig had more than doubled in size in about 16 months. This was how it looked even after pruning 16” to propagate it. It dried out quickly and would sometimes fall over.
Plant to pot ratio – a visual guide
Part of the equation of what size pot to transplant your fiddle leaf into is the ratio of the plant size to the pot.
Visually, a rule of thumb is for the pot to be 1/3 the size of the plant. (Or conversely, the container should be 2/3 of the size of the plant for a lower spreading or trailing type plant.)
So a 6” pot would look good with a plant that’s 12” tall (shoots only, not the soil and roots) for a total of 18” from bottom of pot to top of plant.
This is a general guideline, and it will likely not hold up for a tall tree-like plant, nor for a new transplant where you’re hoping to encourage future growth. But I do think it’s valuable for the following:
a) It indicates for when it’s time to transplant into a bigger pot
b) It provides a visual cue to when a pot is too big for a plant, which could lead to your plant staying too wet for too long.
One guideline for choosing a planter size is to use the design rule of thirds. Your plant and pot will look visually balanced if the plant is either 2/3 the size of the pot or 1/3 the size of the pot. Graphic | Greenhouse Studio
STEP 1 – Use a planter that is large enough so your fiddle leaf has grow-room and is visually balanced (or will be after it grows a bit.)
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Choose a planter that visually balances the size of the plant while providing some room to grow. I sized up my Fiddle Leaf Fig from an 8” pot to a 15 gallon container. As you can see, it could have gone even bigger.
How to Repot Your Fiddle Leaf Fig the RIGHT Way (& Avoid Transplant Shock)
FAQ
How do I know if my fiddle leaf fig needs repotting?
Fiddle Leaf Figs only need to go up a pot size when they are root bound. These plants generally like to be snug in their pots. So only once you notice roots circling the outer edge of the pot, or masses of roots showing on the surface or coming out the bottom of the pot, is it time to repot.
Do fiddle leaf figs need big pots?
Don’t go too big, as too large of pots can promote root rot. At most, the new pot should be 6 inches larger in diameter than the current pot. Most large fiddle leaf fig trees at Home Depot are in 12- or 14-inch containers, so a 16- or 18-inch pot will work.
How often should a fiddle leaf fig grow a new leaf?
A healthy fiddle leaf fig tree should be putting out new leaves every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season. Growth tends to be in spurts, where the plant will grow 2 to 4 new leaves in a matter of a few days. In the winter, it’s normal not to have any new growth.
Should you remove old soil when repotting fiddle leaf fig?
I use Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix, which is good for a wide variety of container plants. Always use fresh potting soil when transplanting as old potting mix tends to be soggy and depleted of nutrients. The pot is filled about a third of the way up.