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Fiddle Leaf Fig Root Rot: Drainage and Patience

A fiddle leaf fig with mass leaf drop, brown spots, and soil wet for 3 weeks has root rot from a plastic-lined basket blocking drainage. Removing the liner was correct.

Recovery Plan

Ensure pot has drainage; clear any clogged holes.
Water only when top inch is dry (remove moss top-dressing to check).
Trim mostly discolored leaves; snip brown edges on others.
New growth will improve only after soil dries properly and stays properly moist—takes months.
Can summer outdoors in full shade (no direct sun), protected from wind, nights above 50°F.

No quick fixes; patience is essential.

House Plants: Philodendron Yellowing at Base: Adjustment or Overwatering?; Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaf Drop: Light & Water Fixes; Fiddle Leaf Fig Repotted in Winter: Damage Control; Fiddle Leaf Fig Brown Spots: Fixing Light and Water Issues; Sunburned Fiddle Leaf Fig: Hard Prune in Spring for Bushy Recovery; Saving a Declining Fiddle Leaf Fig After Purchase; Fiddle Leaf Fig Seasonal Leaf Drop: Normal Winter Shedding; Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) Lower Leaf Loss: Tree Habit, Not Shrub; Fiddle Leaf Fig Dropping Leaves After Repotting Root-Bound Plant? Wait for New Growth Before Fertilizing; Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) Care: Iconic Statement Plant

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