Over the past few months, I have noticed that my Fiddle Leaf Fig roots have begun to emerge from the top of the soil line. In fact, two very large roots are visible as you can see from the picture below. I’ve scoured the internet and done my research on this topic. I wanted to write a post to help others that might experience the same thing with their Fiddle Leaf Fig. Read on to find out if it’s a problem, how the roots end up above the soil, and what if anything can you do to fix it.
Fig Tree Roots Exposed. Oh No!
Is it a problem if your Fiddle Leaf Fig roots are above the soil? Not really. Think of all the trees you see outside that have visible roots. It doesn’t make them unhealthy. Could the roots dry out a little more quickly if the roots are exposed? Sure, but it is not a dire problem that you have to solve immediately there are way more roots below the soil line than above. As long as you’re checking your soil moisture to keep your plant healthy, you shouldn’t have any problems.
In fact, Fiddle Leaf Figs are known for putting out aerial roots towards the base of their trunk. These are small spindly roots that emerge about an inch or so above the soil line. Some eventually find their way into the soil and some just stop growing or break. In the picture below, you can see my Fiddle Leaf Fig aerial roots. There are a few growing. I typically just leave my Fiddle Leaf Fig aerial roots be. You can remove them if you find them unsightly. It shouldn’t hurt the plant at all. Just make sure you use a sterile knife or pruning shears. If you do trim the aerial roots try to keep the area dry and free of dirt until it callouses over.
Why Are My Fiddle Leaf Fig Roots Above Soil?
Why does this happen? It could be a number of factors. If you’re watering heavily it could wash the soil away from the roots closest to the top of the soil line. Or you may not have planted your Fiddle Leaf Fig deep enough when repotting it, or the nursery didn’t if you haven’t had a chance to repot. It could be that the roots are growing down into the base of the pot and starting to push the whole root ball up out of the pot. Or it could be a combination of all these things.
How to Fix Roots Above Soil?
I just want to reiterate once more that this isn’t something you have to fix. Although I understand that many plant owners will want to. The easiest fix, if you have the room in your pot, is to add soil to the top. If you are able to add enough soil to the top of the pot so that the roots are covered without dirt spilling out, that’s the easiest bet. If you go this route, you will want to be careful when you’re watering your Fiddle Leaf Fig in the future, or you may end up washing the soil away and exposing the roots once more.
You may also repot your whole Fiddle Leaf Fig. If you choose this route, you’ll need a pot that is about 1 to 2 inches in diameter larger than your old pot. You also want to make sure that it is deeper than your old pot, which generally they are if you size up in diameter. When repotting you want to make sure that you plant the Fiddle Leaf Fig deep enough so you can cover the roots you intended to. However, I want to caution you from burying it too deep. If soil is too far up the trunk it can cause problems as well. You see this a lot in outdoor trees where people put mulch up too high on the trunk and it rots it. It can be a problem for indoor trees as well.
I have a whole separate post discussing the ins and outs of repotting including ways to avoid Fiddle Leaf Fig repotting shock. Fiddle Leaf Figs are known to be a little bit finicky so it’s best to be cautious. I personally don’t recommend repotting until you have to just to avoid repotting shock.
Does your Fiddle Leaf Fig have roots above the soil? If you have further questions share them in the Comments section below.
I'm a long time plant lover on the quest to happily coexist with as many plants as I can. Let's grow!