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Fiddle Leaf Fig Root Rot: Overpotting and Low Light

Diagnosis: Fatal Combination

Your Ficus lyrata in an 18" pot with moisture-control soil, 6 feet from north window, has brown leaf edges and spindly stems—classic overpotting + low light + root rot.

Why This Happened

18" pot = massive excess soil stays wet too long
Moisture-control soil = retains water LONGER (worse)
North window at 6 feet = barely adequate light
Roots suffocate = rot = can't absorb water = brown edges
Low light = weak, spindly stems

Emergency Measures

Remove loose surface soil not touching roots
Dry top 3 inches before minimal watering
Water tiny amounts to dry again in ≤1 week
PRUNE and root tip cuttings in small pots (insurance)
Large tree likely lost to established root rot

The Repotting Lesson

#1 cause of plant problems = unnecessary repotting. Your 8-month-old repotting into too-large pot with water-retentive soil doomed this specimen. Cuttings offer the only realistic continuation.

House Plants: Ficus Oozing White/Red Powder at Drainage Holes: Fungus from Overwatering; New Fiddle-Leaf Fig Losing New Growth: Light, Water, and Return Policy; Why Repotting Often Kills Ficus Trees: Root Rot, Identification, and Recovery; Fiddle Leaf Fig: Repotting and Outdoor Care in Florida; Fiddle Leaf Fig Brown Spots: Watering, Light, and Pest Checks; Fiddle Leaf Fig Brown Patches: Light, Water, and Quality; New Zealand Laurel (Corynocarpus) Brown Tips: Moisture Meter Solution; Corn Plant Leaf Spots: Root, Water, or Soil Issues; Cat Urine in Ficus Soil: Acidification Risk & Remediation; Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata): Iconic Large-Leaved Statement Plant

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