If you ’re seeing roots belt down out of the soil on your fiddle leaf fig , do n’t panic ! It ’s totally normal for the etymon to show once the plant life becomes root word - bound .
In this article , we ’ll cover why your violin leaf fig ’s roots are showing and what you may do about it .
We ’ll also provide wind on how to repot a fiddle leafage fig with its roots exposed .

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Quick Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Guide 💚
⭐ deprivation one?Grab asmaller Fiddle Leaf Fig hereoryour very ownindoor Fiddle tree diagram here !

💧 pee : Water when the top 1 - 2 inches of soil are dry . Avoid leaving it in standing body of water to prevent root rot .
🌱 stain : Use a well - drain potting mix designed for indoor industrial plant -I in person usethis tropical potting admixture . A mix with peat , perlite , or coco coir is great for avoiding soggy roots .
☀ ️Light : Bright , collateral light is ideal . Too footling visible light can cause leaf drop , while lineal Dominicus may sear the leaves .

🌡 ️Temperature : Keep it between 60 - 75 ° F ( 15 - 24 ° C ) and away from swig or heat sources .
🌿 Fertilizer : Feed with a balanced , water - soluble fertiliser ( my top pick isthis Miracle - Gro one ) once a calendar month in outflow and summertime . Skip feed in surrender and winter when growth slows .
Why are my fiddle leaf fig roots showing above the soil?
Whenfiddle leaf common fig tree roots are showing , this is a sign of a root - bound plant . This have in mind the roots have outgrown the pot and are starting to wrap around the interior of the mint . The only elision is if the plant is grow aerial roots .
aeriform ascendent are base that naturally grow out of the body and cast down into the soil . They should n’t be conceive as being a problem for your plant .
A root - bound violin leafage fig will often hold on growing and producing new leaves . This is because the stem are admit up all the blank in the muckle and the industrial plant ca n’t get the food or hydration it needs .

Should the roots be exposed on a fiddle leaf fig?
If the roots are coming from the bottom of the pot , it ’s meter to repot your plant . These roots are call “ bottom source ” and they should be bury in the soil . When they crop up above the filth , they put on the line dry out , which can damage the etymon .
If you see any roots coming out of the drain maw , these are called “ top root ” and they should be trimmed back . This will help the roots to reach the nutrient and wet found in the territory rather than sitting in the drain piss .
Do fiddle leaf figs like to be root bound?
No , violin folio figs do not wish to be root bound . This is because a root - bound works ca n’t get the nutrient or hydration it necessitate . If a fiddle leaf fig is left in a pot that ’s too small , the roots will start to suffocate and the industrial plant will die .
Some plants like to be root bound ( like sealed types of succulents ) , but fiddle leaf fig are not one of them . This is because they are tropical plants and need lots of distance for their roots to grow .
How to fix a root-bound fiddle leaf fig
If your violin leaf fig is root - bound , here are some fixes that will help the plant to thrive :
1. Repot the plant
The main resolution for a root - take a hop violin leafage fig is to repot it into a larger gage . This will give the roots more space to grow and allow the plant to get the nutrients and hydration it needs .
When you ’re ready to repot your fiddle leaf fig , check that you take a gage that ’s only somewhat bigger than the current one , about 2 to 3 inch larger in diameter . This process needs to be done about once every two years to ensure enough room for your plant ’s root .
2. Trim back any roots
If you note that roots are growing out of the drainage holes , you ’ll need to trim them back . This will help preventroot moulder in your violin leaf figand check that the plant can get the moisture it need from the soil .
To trim the root , apply a sharp knife or pruning shears and cut them back to about an inch from the pot . ensure to apply uncontaminating tools and desexualize them with rubbing alcoholic beverage before trimming the roots .
Find out more : How to Prune a Fiddle Leaf Fig

3. Water deeply and regularly
Since a rootbound plant ca n’t get enough wet from the dirt , you ’ll need to water it deeply and regularly . This meanswatering the fiddle leaf figuntil the water comes out of the drainage holes and letting the land dry out completely between lachrymation .
You may also want to inebriate the plant in a tub of water for about 30 minutes to help hydrate the roots . Just ensure you do n’t leave the flora in the tub for too long , as this can get root guff .
4. Add more soil
If there ’s enough room in the pot , you’re able to sparge an inch or two of soil on top of the current dirt and exposed radical . This will help the plant get the nutrients it needs and boost new emergence .
While this is n’t a permanent solvent , it can buy you some time as you bet for a raw plant life to channel your fiddle leaf fig into .
How to repot a fiddle leaf fig with its roots showing
If you require to repot your rootbound fiddle folio common fig tree works , here are a few tips :
1. Gather new supplies
First , you ’ll need to gather all of the supplies you ’ll call for . This include a pot that is 2 - 3 inch large in diam , fresh filth , a pair of scissors , and a little shovel .
You ’ll also require to place all of these cloth on a surface that you do n’t mind getting a bite messy since you ’ll likely get some soil on thing . you could also shroud the area with newspaper or plastic to minimise the mess .
2. Add soil to your new container
Next , add about 4 column inch of sassy soil to the new container . you could usepotting ground specifically made for fiddle leaf figsor you could use a tropic plant dirt portmanteau .
Miracle - Gro Tropical Potting Mix
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Thebest soil for Fiddle Leaf Figs , designed to support strong ascendent and plushy , upright emergence . With the perfect blend of nutrients and lava rock-and-roll for drainage , it keep your Fiddle Leaf Fig booming and healthy
Since violin folio figs do n’t like to sit in pee , go ahead and tot up some rocks or pebble to the bottom of the commode to help with drain . Also , ensure to add some holes to the bottom for drainage . you’re able to utilise a drill or a hammer and nail to make the holes .
3. Gently remove the plant from the old container
Now it ’s fourth dimension to move out your fiddle leaf fig from its old corporation . Be thrifty not to damage the roots as you do this . Once the works is out of the jackpot , gently loose up the solution with your finger . This will help them spread out when you put them in the novel peck .
If you see any deadened or damaged theme , go out front and trim them with your scissors hold . You may also postulate to use the scissors if there are expanse where the ascendent are holding onto the Mary Jane too tightly .
4. Place the new plant and cover it with soil
If you were able to remove all the roots from the old commode , go forward and target your plant in the unexampled one . endeavor to spread out the roots so that they are evenly distributed in the crapper .
Once your plant life is in the new pot , add more soil around it until it ’s filled to the top or one inch below the sassing of the smoke . Be sure to mob down the soil gently so that it ’s secure .
5. Water the plant
When you ’re done repotting , irrigate your fiddle folio fig works until the soil is moist . This will serve the plant to avert electrical shock and will also facilitate it to start growing new roots .
Do n’t use insensate water and view let the water posture out overnight so that all of the atomic number 17 can evaporate . It ’s also a in force idea to mist the leaves with water once you ’re done to help them recover from the repotting process .
6. Fertilize the plant after one month
From here on out , your flora should be able to take tending of itself with even attention . About one calendar month after you repot it , you canfertilize your fiddle leafage figwith tropical plant life fertiliser .
Miracle - Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food
Thebest fertilizer for Fiddle Leaf Figs , helping promote secure , vertical growth and deep green leaves . Packed with nutrient to keep your plant thriving year - unit of ammunition

Consider diluting the plant food with water supply to verify you do n’t overdo it . Once a month during the spring and summertime should be enough to keep your plant levelheaded and happy .
How do you know when to repot a fiddle leaf fig?
A just prescript of pollex is to call back to repot your fiddle leaf common fig every two years . If you ’re using a pot that ’s an appropriate size of it , this will give the plant enough elbow room to grow without becoming rootbound for this length of metre .
You may require to repot more frequently if you live in an area with very spicy summertime since the rootage will likely dry out out faster . If you find that your works is wilting or its leaves are flag , this is also a sign that it needs to be repotted .
Any signal of roots uprise out of the drain fix is also an denotation that it ’s time for a new pot . These solution may also break off through the actual container itself or climb over the boundary of your pot to find more room .
Remember , it ’s always better to repot before your plant becomes too rootbound since this can be detrimental to the plant . So do n’t hold off for signs of trouble to repot your fiddle leaf fig and stick to the method of repot it every two days .
How do you prune a fiddle leaf fig root ball?
When rationalise your violin leafage fig plant ’s roots , make certain not to remove more than 20 percent of the root . This can be prejudicial to the plant and may even bolt down it . Focus on lop any roots that are damaged , diseased , or excessively longsighted .
It ’s authoritative to not foul your plant so make certain to launder your scissors before the process . The tooth root organisation is very vulnerable and sensitive so even small sum of bacterium can induce problems .
There is n’t really a reason to snip healthy fiddle leaf fig root if they are n’t causing any problem . So do n’t prune them on a regular basis and only do so if there ’s an issue that needs to be addressed .
How do you repot a fiddle leaf fig with root rot?
The best way to repot a fiddle leaf plant with root rot is by rinse the roots with pee to remove fungus and any infected crap . Then you may trim off any mushy chocolate-brown ascendant . Once you ’re left with levelheaded solution , place the plant in a new wad with fresh soil .
If your plant has theme rot , it ’s important to act quickly and repot the flora as soon as possible . ascendent rot is do by a build - up of water system in the roots , which make them to become susceptible to fungous emergence . If you catch the job early on , it ’s potential to regain your plant .
However , if more than 20 % to 25 % of your plant ’s etymon are discolor or maudlin , it ’s likely too previous to save the plant and you ’ll need to protrude over with a new one .
Most common causes of root rot in fiddle leaf fig plants
Here are the chief rationality why your violin leaf Libyan Islamic Fighting Group plant might uprise ascendant rotting :
This is the most mutual cause of ancestor putrefaction and is often due to wrong watering practices . Make trusted you ’re only water your industrial plant when the soil is dry to the pinch , which is usually about once a week .
If the pot you ’re using does n’t have good drainage , the roots will sit down in water supply and develop ascendant rot . verify you ’re using a pot with drainage holes to avoid this problem .
you may add drain hole to a flowerpot that does n’t have them by using a drill .
If the grime in your potbelly is too compacted , it wo n’t allow water to drain decent and the etymon will become waterlogged . To ward off this problem , check that you ’re using a light-headed and airy potting intermixture .
you’re able to also mingle in pebbles , vermiculite , or perlite to improve drainage .
If you ’re using too much fertilizer , it can build up up in the grunge and burn the roots . This will cause the roots to become discolored and soppy . To invalidate this problem , only fertilize your plant every six hebdomad during the growing season and conceive thin the answer in one-half .