Hi, I’m a horticultural consultant. People often want to know about drooping leaves, but today someone asks me “Why are my fiddle leaf fig leaves pointing up?”. If it is your question too, I must say generally it is a good sign! Your lovely indoor fig is healthy and looking for a little lighter. Anyway, it can also be signs of other things too. keep reading to discuss it.
Why Are My Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves Pointing Up?
As I said above, generally, fiddle leaf fig leaves pointing upward is a good sign! that often indicates a healthy and happy plant. Here, I provided a list of all the reasons why your fig’s leaves might be pointing straight upward.
Most are good signs; however, some may hint at trouble situations. First, let’s start with good things.
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New growth
younger leaves often start pointing straight up before gradually opening out. It is a common growth habit in most Ficus plants. can you tell me other plants which their new leaves appear straight up?
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Sufficient light
The plant is receiving adequate light, causing the leaves to position themselves optimally. In low light conditions, your fiddle leaf fig leaves will be pointing down. Anyway, to provide a bright place for your fiddle leaf fig plant, never put it in direct sunlight. It will also cause other problems like leaf sunburns.
If you have a dim room, read my other post about the best living room low-light plants.
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Good Hydration
“Fiddle-leaf fig leaves pointing up,” tells you the plant is well-hydrated and has sufficient water to support healthy leaf growth. Well down, you care for it properly. It implies you have a correct watering schedule which protects your plant from underwatering or overwatering.
Both underwatering and overwatering will damage to root and cause leaf drooping in your fiddle leaf fig plant.
However, if you notice that all the leaves are rigidly pointing straight up and the plant seems overly stiff, it might be a sign of:
Overwatering
While important, too much water can cause issues. Your fiddle leaf fig proper a wet soil but not soggy. In waterlogged soil, the roots cannot breathe and will go to die (root rot). After a while, the leaves will turn yellow and droop (fiddle leaf fig leaves pointing down).
So, you must check the soil moisture to ensure it’s not overly saturated. The best way is watering when several inches of topsoil dry out. you can check it with your finger, stick it in the soil and avoid watering while feeling cold.
Nutrient Deficiency
A lack of some essential nutrients like Nitrogen can affect leaf growth and position. But don’t worry because detecting this problem is easy. For instance, in nitrogen deficiency, however, the leaves of your fiddle leaf fig may be upright, but they are also pale, and yellowish or light green. You will spot the burnt symptoms in severe cases.
In addition, if your fiddle leaf fig plant suffers from Nitrogen deficiency, it will also look weak and weedy. Furthermore, its stems will be too spindly to hold your plant upright. To fix it, I recommend using a balanced houseplant fertilizer. I discussed the best liquid fertilizers for houseplants in my other post.
In conclusion,
If the “fiddle leaf fig leaves pointing up” is not associated with signs like unusual leaf colour and low growth rate, it is a good sign. So, your plant is healthy, it receives Sufficient light and water and can produce new upright leaves. Congratulate!
But, if you spot signs of yellowing, it can be due to overwatering or nutrition deficiency. In this situation, you must improve your watering manner or consider a proper fertilizer for your fiddle leaf fig plant. I recommend feeding it with a dilute NPK and liquid algae fertilizer.
If you have any questions about caring for your houseplants, please ask me in the comments below this page or contact me on Instagram (inhouseplant2017). I will help you.
Elahe Rabiei
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.