If you’ve discovered mysterious holes in your fiddle leaf fig’s gorgeous foliage, you’re not alone—and more importantly, you’re catching a signal that your plant needs a specific kind of attention.
These holes can’t be repaired once they appear, but understanding what caused them means you can prevent future damage and help your fig produce healthy, unblemished leaves going forward.
After years of growing fiddle leaf figs and troubleshooting countless leaf issues, I’ve learned that holes are actually one of the more straightforward problems to diagnose once you know what to look for.
The key is identifying whether you’re dealing with physical damage, environmental stress, or unwanted pests—each requires a completely different approach.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the four main culprits behind those frustrating holes and show you exactly how to address each one.
Physical Trauma: The Hidden Culprit
The most overlooked cause of holes in fiddle leaf fig leaves is simple physical damage. These plants might look sturdy with their thick, leathery leaves, but they’re surprisingly vulnerable to tears and punctures, especially when environmental conditions make the foliage brittle.
Think back over the past few weeks: Did you move your fiddle? Even carefully relocating these plants often results in leaves brushing against doorframes, walls, or furniture. The damage might not appear immediately but shows up as tears or irregular holes within days.
I’ve also found that older leaves positioned lower on the trunk are particularly susceptible because they’re in high-traffic areas where people and pets constantly brush past them.
Children and pets are common offenders here. Curious cats might bat at the large leaves, dogs can accidentally bump into the plant, and kids sometimes can’t resist touching that impressive foliage.
If you notice holes or tears on otherwise healthy leaves and your fig hasn’t changed locations recently, consider whether household members with two legs or four might be the cause.
The fix is straightforward: Create a barrier or relocate your plant to a protected spot with less foot traffic. The damaged leaves won’t heal, but by eliminating the source of trauma, you’ll see new growth come in perfect and unblemished.
Continue your regular care routine—there’s no need to adjust watering or fertilizing unless other symptoms suggest additional problems.
Low Humidity and New Leaf Damage
Here’s something many fiddle owners don’t realize until it’s too late: baby leaves are incredibly vulnerable to humidity issues as they unfurl.
When humidity drops too low, those tightly furled new leaves can actually stick to themselves or their protective casings, and as they continue growing and trying to open, they tear.
This problem is especially common during winter months when indoor heating systems create desert-like conditions, or when you first bring a fiddle home from the humid greenhouse environment.
The embryonic leaf might spend weeks slowly unfurling in these dry conditions, giving damage plenty of time to accumulate. By the time the leaf fully opens, you’re left with holes that won’t close because the tissue was damaged before it finished developing.
I learned this lesson the hard way with my first fiddle leaf fig. Multiple new leaves emerged with Swiss cheese-like patterns, and I couldn’t figure out why until I measured the humidity—it was hovering around 30%, far below the 50-60% these tropical plants prefer.
The solution requires daily attention to new growth: Mist the leaf buds specifically every single day to keep them lubricated as they unfurl. I don’t recommend misting mature leaves (which can encourage fungal problems), but those emerging buds benefit tremendously from this targeted moisture.
Consider adding a humidifier near your plant or placing it on a pebble tray filled with water. The investment in a small humidifier pays for itself when you see those new leaves emerging flawlessly.
Pest Infestations: The Growing Threat
If you’re noticing small holes on mature leaves that seem to expand over time, or if new holes keep appearing on leaves that have already finished growing, pests are the most likely explanation.
Common houseplant pests like spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects, and occasionally caterpillars feed on fiddle leaf fig foliage, creating tiny feeding holes that gradually enlarge as damaged tissue dies off.
Spider mites are particularly insidious because they’re nearly invisible to the naked eye. You might notice fine webbing between leaves and stems, or a speckled appearance on the foliage before holes develop. Mealybugs look like small white cotton balls clustered on leaf undersides and stem joints.
Scale insects appear as raised brown bumps that don’t move, while caterpillars leave behind irregular holes with clean edges.
Detection requires a thorough investigation: Grab a magnifying glass and flashlight, then systematically examine every leaf—top and bottom—plus all stems and the trunk. Look for the insects themselves, webbing, sticky honeydew residue, or white cottony masses.
Check where leaves meet stems, as pests love hiding in those protected spots.
Once you’ve confirmed an infestation, isolate your fiddle immediately to prevent the pests from spreading to other houseplants. Treatment options include neem oil products specifically formulated for houseplants, or a DIY solution of one to two tablespoons of baking soda and one to two teaspoons of mineral oil mixed into a spray bottle of water.
Apply the treatment outside if possible since neem oil has an unpleasant lingering odor. Spray thoroughly, making sure to coat leaf undersides and the spots where leaves attach to stems. Inspect again after two weeks and repeat treatment if necessary.
Moisture Stress and Inconsistent Watering
A less common but still significant cause of leaf holes is moisture stress from erratic watering patterns, particularly during active growth periods.
When fiddle leaf figs experience cycles of drought followed by heavy watering, the rapid changes in cell turgor pressure can cause tissue damage that manifests as holes or splits in leaves.
This differs from the classic symptoms of underwatering (brown, crispy edges with leaf curling) or overwatering (large dark brown spots starting at the bottom of the plant).
Moisture-stress holes tend to appear somewhat randomly on newer growth during periods when the plant was actively producing leaves but receiving inconsistent care.
The prevention strategy centers on establishing a reliable watering rhythm: Water thoroughly when the top half-inch of soil feels dry, adding enough water that some drains from the bottom holes. This ensures the entire root ball gets moistened rather than just the top layer.
During spring and summer when your fiddle is actively growing, it will need water more frequently—sometimes weekly or even twice weekly depending on your home’s temperature and humidity. In fall and winter, that might stretch to every 10-14 days. The key is consistency based on soil dryness rather than a rigid calendar schedule.
Prevention: Setting Your Fiddle Up for Success
The best approach to holes in fiddle leaf fig leaves is preventing them in the first place. Position your plant in a stable location with bright, indirect light where it won’t need frequent moving and isn’t in a high-traffic pathway.
Maintain humidity levels between 50-60%, using a humidifier during dry months and providing daily misting to emerging leaf buds.
Establish a consistent watering routine based on soil moisture rather than arbitrary schedules, and always ensure your pot has proper drainage holes at the bottom. Inspect your plant weekly for early signs of pests—catching an infestation early makes treatment far easier and less damaging.
When you do spot problems, address them promptly rather than hoping they’ll resolve on their own.
Remember that leaves with holes won’t repair themselves, but they’re still functional and can continue photosynthesizing. Unless the damage is severe or the leaf is mostly destroyed, there’s no need to prune it off. Your fiddle will naturally drop older damaged leaves over time as it produces new, healthy foliage.
Focus your energy on correcting the underlying issue so the next flush of growth emerges perfect. With proper care and attention to these four potential problems, your fiddle leaf fig will reward you with those stunning, unblemished leaves that made you fall in love with the plant in the first place.
