How to repot your fiddle-leaf fig
Repotting your fiddle-leaf fig before it becomes root bound is key to healthy growth. Fresh soil and a bigger pot make space for growing roots and help keep tall stems stable.
Is it time to repot?
Signs your plant needs repotting
Roots are poking through the bottom drainage holes, or you see a network of roots wrapping around the outside of the root ball or coiling near the bottom when you unpot the plant
The plant has grown taller and the pot starts to look small in comparison to the height of the plant and the amount of foliage
The soil dries out much quicker than usual
Signs to hold off on repotting
Soil falls apart easily when you check the root ball
Soil stays wet for a long time after watering
Roots look dark, shriveled, mushy or moldy, and the plant shows other signs of stress. Pause repotting and visit Dr. Planta (stethoscope icon 🩺) in the app to diagnose the problem first
Recommended soil types for fiddle-leaf figs
Fiddle-leaf figs prefer a chunky, well-aerated substrate that holds moisture without staying soggy.
Recommended soil types
This is how you repot your fiddle-leaf fig
Prep your space, materials and equipment
Avoid direct sunlight. If you're working indoors, lay down a repotting mat, some old newspaper, or a flattened plastic bag to catch falling soil.
Keep your soil, pot, and any tools you might need close by.Remove the pot
Avoid pulling hard on the leaves. It can help to tilt the pot on its side and pull the pot off the root ball rather than lifting the plant straight up.
If the root ball is stuck in the pot, we have some tips:Gently squeeze or press the sides if it’s in a flexible pot.
Run a dull knife or similar tool along the inner edge of the pot to release the roots.
If the rim is narrower than the body, you might have to break ceramic pots or cut thin plastic ones open to free the roots safely.
Choose the new pot
Pick a pot about a quarter wider in diameter (a 25% increase). For smaller plants, this typically means a 1- to 2-inch (2.5 - 5 cm) upgrade.Prepare the root ball
If the roots seem very densely entangled, it’s best to leave the root ball alone. Otherwise, gently untangle larger, loose, coiled outer roots. Taking care not to break them in the process. Remove some of the old soil if you can.Add soil to the bottom
Pour a bottom layer of fresh soil into the new pot. Set the plant inside. The top of the root ball should sit slightly below the rim.Center the plant
Place the plant in the pot. Check that it is centered and positioned as you want it before adding more soil.Fill with soil
Add soil around the root ball and tap the sides of the pot to help soil settle without packing it too tightly. Do not plant it deeper than it was in its previous pot.Water
Water until a bit of water drains from the bottom holes.Top off soil
Watering can cause the soil to settle. Check the soil level after the first few waterings, and add extra soil if necessary.
Additional tips
Pot type
Fiddle-leaf figs grow tall and foliage-heavy as they get bigger. Heavy clay, ceramic, or terracotta pots provide a sturdy base to keep top-heavy plants from tipping over.
Pot size
If in doubt, err on the smaller side when picking a new pot. Stepping up just one pot size at a time is also a safe bet. Repotting more frequently in small increments is better than jumping to a massive pot all at once.
Pot drainage
The pot holding the plant needs at least one bottom drainage hole to allow excess water to pass through freely when you water it.
(Self-watering pots and semi-hydroponic setups are exceptions to this rule)
Clean reused pots
Wash plastic or glazed ceramic containers with soap and water before reusing them. Removing old soil residue eliminates potential hidden pests that could otherwise transfer to your fiddle-leaf figs.
Protect exposed roots
Open air quickly dries out their tender roots. Keep a spray bottle handy to mist exposed roots if you need extra time during the repotting process.
Where to repot
Try to repot your plant in the environment it is used to. If your plant lives indoors, repot it inside to protect it from sudden shifts in temperature, wind, or light. You can repot an indoor grown fiddle-leaf fig outside in a sheltered location as long as the outdoor temperature is close to your indoor temperature, and you move the plant back inside shortly after you’re done.
After repotting
Repotting can be a stressful event for a fiddle-leaf fig, especially if the roots got untangled, pruned, or accidentally damaged in the process. It can take about a month for a plant to recover and start thriving in its new pot again.
To help your plant bounce back quickly, and avoid potential harm:
Keep an eye on soil moisture over the next few weeks. Root disturbance and a larger pot can temporarily slow down how much water the plant drinks. Be prepared to snooze watering and liquid fertilizer tasks in the app if the soil is still too moist.
Do not add plant food right away. Fresh soil already has nutrients, and adding extra fertilizer can burn sensitive or stressed roots. The app will automatically pause feeding tasks for a safe period after a repotting task has been completed.
Frequently asked questions
My plant is not yet root-bound, but I suspect it lacks nutrients. Do I need to repot it anyway?
No. Repotting gives roots more physical room to grow, improves moisture retention, or replaces compacted soil. Repotting it too early purely to supply nutrients is unnecessary and can easily lead to other problems like overwatering and root rot.
If your plant is hungry, start feeding it fertilizer on a regular schedule instead.
When is the best time of year to repot fiddle-leaf figs?
Spring and early summer are generally the best times because the plant is actively growing and will settle into its new pot faster. If you live in a place with dark winters, avoid repotting at other times of the year unless strictly necessary.
Should I repot a new plant immediately after bringing it home?
It’s best to hold off on repotting for at least a week or two. The plant will benefit from adjusting to the light, humidity and temperature of its new home before facing the stress of repotting.
What should I do if my decorative pot does not have drainage holes?Â
It is completely fine to keep your indoor plant in a plastic nursery pot with drainage holes and place it inside a decorative pot without holes. The key is ensuring the pot holding the soil can drain properly. Using a decorative cachepot or saucer makes it easy to lift up the inner pot and empty any collected runoff water after you finish watering your plant.
Just keep in mind that if the plant is outdoors, both pots need drainage holes. Otherwise, rainwater can collect inside and drown the roots.
Can I plant in a pot without drainage holes if I put rocks or gravel at the bottom instead?
We don't recommend doing this because it makes watering much harder to manage. Over time, that gravel layer can still fill up with water, drastically increasing the risk of overwatering and root rot. On the flip side, you might end up underwatering your plant out of fear of pooling water at the bottom.
I have a dying fiddle-leaf fig. Will repotting it save it?
Not necessarily. While repotting can be one of the necessary steps for certain issues, in many cases it adds unnecessary stress to an already struggling plant rather than helping it. We suggest diagnosing your plant using Dr. Planta (stethoscope icon 🩺) in the app before taking action.
What should I think about if I need to change the soil?
Replacing old soil with fresh soil carries some risk of repotting stress, but it is sometimes still necessary. Especially if the nursery soil the plant comes with is too dense and moisture-retentive, or if it has decomposed and compacted over time.
If the root ball is dense and the old soil is rather stuck, try gently rinsing the root ball in water. This helps dislodge stubborn soil with less damage. Work carefully, as the finest roots can be brittle, and keep in mind that you don't need to strip away every last bit. It is better to leave a little old soil behind than to break healthy roots trying to get them completely clean. If the root ball hasn't expanded much after removing the old soil, you can reuse the same pot with a fresh mix.
To prevent soil from compacting over time, use soil amendments that increase porosity, like perlite, pumice, volcanic gravel or burnt clay pebbles. When choosing between multiple suitable soil types listed for the plant in the app, we recommend picking ones that include coarse amendments like these.