Try to choose a location for your plant where it receives bright, indirect, sunlight. Use collected rainwater, distilled, or filtered water when possible to avoid a build-up of minerals and chemicals in the soil. After all, they’re pretty slow creatures so issues are slow to show up. Wiping the leaves off on a regular basis will get rid of dust and get rid of mites, as well as other pests. They were small and hidden. You’ll have to address the root cause or it’ll just come back. Fiddle-leaf fig is a kind of leaf-watching plant, its leaves are relatively large, thick, and green luster. To rule out overwatering, lift your plant out of its pot and inspect the leaves. You will wish to make nice tidy cuts on your plant. With all this being said, I have to mention that fiddle leaf figs aren’t the easiest indoor trees out there. Again, this is also normal unless it’s happening at a disturbing rate. This makes them somewhat challenging for the home grower, who is likely to have trouble duplicating these steamy conditions. Leaf Curl Leaf curl in figs is caused by lack of moisture or Taphrina deformans, a fungus that curls the leaves of peach, nectarine, almond, fig and other ornamental fruit trees. The most important thing is to adjust your watering schedule. Root rot is one of the more serious conditions that a houseplant can suffer from, so you’ll have to take a peek at the roots as soon as you can. Thanks for your help! In many cases some adjustments will take care of the problem. If you catch the fungal infection early enough when there are only a few affected leaves, remove them with sharp, sterilized pruning shears. The amount of water a plant needs is not the same all year round! The plant will lose moisture through its pores, and this moisture is not easy to replace through water from the roots alone. Basically, if a plant’s roots accidentally take up more water than it can actually handle, the cells in the leaves burst, leaving those tell-tale red spots (or dead, blister-like spots). Hi, Thanks to our tropical climate, this ornamental tree can also be grown indoors. Again, remove damaged leaves. Fiddle Leaf Figs like to be fertilized with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in a ratio of 3:1:2. If you need to supplement the light in your space trying adding a grow light. Fiddle leaf figs, or ficus lyrata, love to be fed! Fiddle Leaf Figs also like to get moisture from humidity in the air. In the first month or so, two interior leaves turned yellow/brown spots and dropped. What you need to know about a fiddle leaf fig Name: fiddle leaf fig, banjo fig, Ficus lyrata Height: 10–12m tall. Maintain good care techniques to avoid fungal infections spreading. Use a water meter as an accurate way to read if the soil is dry enough to water. If it is not humid enough, this will affect your Fiddle Leaf Fig in the following ways: There are a few tricks for increasing humidity if you live in a dry environment: Fiddle Leaf Figs need light soil which drains easily and is well aerated. Mild oedema in your fiddle leaf fig is not really much to worry about. They don’t particularly like that. In addition, insects like mealybugs can leave behind a residue which creates mould on your plant. With root rot, the leaves will typically remain dark green with brown spots, but with bacterial leaf spot, the leaf will turn yellow as the brown spot spreads. Fig Tree Leaves Turning White. If you’re seeing black spots on your fiddle leaf fig’s leaves (as well as possible brown spotting and leaf loss), that might be a sign you’ve been watering the plant too much. I’ve asked several other people who have years of experience with indoor plants working in plant centers and they seem to think its too much water. Use a liquid fertilizer and dilute it using the instructions on the pack. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Avoid fertilizing more frequently than this. Do you maybe tend to let the plant dry just a tad too much before watering again? With root rot, the leaves will typically remain dark green with brown spots, but with bacterial leaf spot, the leaf will turn yellow as the brown spot spreads. These plants should be watered when the surface of the soil feels dry. If you’ve seen a similar change in your plant, you may be feeling at a bit of a loss about how to revive it. Fiddle leaf figs are not opposed to a bit of sun but things can sometimes get a bit too intense for them. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Make sure you’re not watering the plant too heavily. Too little sunlight, on the other hand, will cause its leaves to turn yellow or brown, or worse, fall off. Ficus lyrata leaves and pot, drainage,garden tools, soil on wooden floor. Keep a close eye on the soil of your Fiddle Leaf Fig. First off, the common suspect: are you overwatering? (And How to Fix It). White areas your fiddle figâs leaves generally indicate one of two issues: Mildew or sunburn. Otherwise, the fiddle-leaf figâs pretty green leaves may burn and develop brown marks. If you accidentally let your Fiddle Leaf Figâs soil dry out completely, you may see branches go limp or leaves droop and crisp up. Check the soil before watering and don’t water if it’s still very moist. Drafts and spots prone to temperature swings are not appreciated either. To prevent rotting, allow the soil or potting mix to dry thoroughly between each watering. I tried to resuscitate the tree by pruning it, dusting it, changing its location, watering it more, spritzing it more, bringing it into the bathroom for steam sessions, pleading with it to give me another chance—but nothing I did seem to pause its steady decay. Reddish dotting on new leaves is very common in fiddle leaf figs and as the leaves darken they won’t seem so prominent. Lack of that lifegiving sunny goodness can turn this indoor tree into a sad shell of a plant with pale yellow leaves, lack of new growth, leaf drop and pretty much everything else that can go wrong. However, over-fertilizing or applying plant food at the wrong time can also lead to brown spots on the leaves: fertilizer burn. Improper drainage can also be a big contributor to root rot. Remove any leaves that appear to have signs of it and try repotting your fiddle leaf fig. Rotting roots will appear wet, brown, and mushy. If the leaves are dropping at all, it could also be a sign that they aren't getting enough water. Keep your Fiddle Leaf Fig in a place with lots of bright, indirect sunlight. Water after the same interval each time, and use the correct amount of water depending on the size of your Fiddle Leaf Fig. They require humidity to be between 30 and 65%. Thankfully, these marks will slowly fade as the plant continues to grow. If necessary to move your plant, be prepared for some leaf drop until it is acclimated again in approximately 2-3 weeks. If the room is too cold or too warm move it to another one. Clean rotting debris, such as old leaves, from the pot. This will cause your Fiddle Leaf Fig to dry out and its leaves will curl. Plants require water to carry out many of their life-sustaining processes, and Fiddle Leaf Figs are no different! Check the humidity in your home, it should be between 30 – 65%. Sometimes a fig’s stems and/or leaves start “growing” a white powder. If you live in a place with dry air, use a humidifier. 5 â The price of buying a fiddle leaf fig is more affordable than ever before. Root rot happens when the roots have been kept in the soil which has been damp for too long. Your fiddle won’t really be growing if it’s darker and cooler so it won’t need nearly as much water. Fig Tree Leaves Turning White. While the thought of fiddle leaf fig pruning might seem challenging, cutting back fiddle leaf figs is actually really easy. 12 Causes of Snake Plant Brown Tips (solution and Prevention). Is it summertime? Root rot causes curling leaves because it results in immense damage to the roots. My fiddle leaf fig went through quite a bit and I believe I definitely overwatered it, the leaves started to get spotted with brownish/red dots and the edges of the leaves were turning dark brown and brittle. This water best represents the water that your plant would have access to in its natural habitat. These are easy enough to buy and instantly increase the humidity in your home. If you want screaming success with your fiddle leaf fig, read on my friend! Cleaning the Leaves of the Fiddle Leaf Fig. Using diluted neem oil is very effective, though if you don’t have it on hand (yet) you can even just try a mixture of water and some dish soap. Nodes look like little rings around the stem, and are often where the crispy brown leaf casings on your Fiddle Leaf Fig sit. What I’m trying to say here is: Do not panic! Climate: prefers a warm-temperate or tropical growing environment outdoors, but will grow in indoor environments. Propagating a Fiddle Leaf Fig. Once your cutting has been in the soil for 2 – 3 months and has started to grow new leaves, it’s time to feed it. Remove any afflicted roots and leaves and re-examine your watering schedule: root rot will often be caused by overwatering. The fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is an increasingly popular house plant, but many people are intimidated by the particular nature of the tree.Never fear! Fiddle leaf figs, or ficus lyrata, love to be fed! If the leaves of your Elephant Ear plants are curling, there are several reasons. The most common cause for this is oedema, which can plague all houseplants. Keep a thermometer in the same room as your Fiddle Leaf Fig to give you an accurate reading of the temperature. Let’s go into some of the common problems with fiddle leaf figs, their causes and what you can do to solve them and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Annoyingly, brown spots on fiddle leaf fig leaves caused by bacterial infection can be similar to those caused by root rot. The new pot should be, at most, 6 inches (15cm) larger in diameter than the previous pot. Overuse of fertilizer, or using the wrong amount, will cause the leaves of your Fiddle Leaf Fig to curl. Fungal infections can also cause localized black spots on fiddle leaf figs. You broke a lot of its precious hair roots, so it’s not able to take up water as well. If your fiddle leaf fig was recently transported or moved around, its leaves might have sustained some damage in the process. If you can’t get hold of rainwater, use filtered or distilled water. Place the plant in a more protected spot and introduce it more gradually to the sun if you do want to keep it in that lighter location. 6: Don’t let an ailing fiddle-leaf fig tree dry out completely. Low humidity is also a common cause for leaf curl. Something to keep in mind, specifically for a new Fiddle Leaf Fig plant parent, is that Fiddle Leaf Figs (aka Ficus lyrata) do not like to be moved. I'm the owner of gardenforindoor.com. I'm really puzzled by my fiddle leaf fig behaviour. Overfertilization causes leaf curling because it leads to a build-up of minerals and salt in the soil. They survive by sucking the juices from your plant and bad infestations can be very problematic. [17] It can be due to a lack of light and too much water. This means they also use up more water and can go dry startlingly quickly! When you first notice insects on your plant, you should act quickly. Foliage: large green undulate, fiddle-shaped leaves with prominent veins. For example, tap water often contains chemicals like fluoride and chlorine. When plants donât get enough moisture, they start to wilt and dry out. It might need some fertilizer, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve last repotted. Checking the roots can confirm the presence of root rot. A lack of nutrition can be caused by the nutrients not being present in the soil, damaged roots unable to take up nutrients, or a lack of sunlight meaning the plant can’t create its food. The best way to care for and clean the leaves of the fiddle leaf fig plant is to just clean it with lukewarm water. Only water your Fiddle Leaf Fig when the topsoil has dried. Make sure your Fiddle Leaf Fig receives a lot of bright sunlight for a large proportion of the day to encourage photosynthesis. Both of these factors lead to leaves curling. Not surprising, since these indoor trees add a beautiful green touch to any interior! Well, if you’ve had the plant for just two weeks, then there’s a good chance that any damage you’re seeing now actually occurred before you got it. Mature Fiddle Leaf Fig is struggling. A Fiddle Leaf Fig will show signs of root rot in its leaves. When your fiddle leaf figâs soil starts to feel slightly dry to the touch, water it until the soil is moistened. Let’s get your plant healthy again! There are a few reasons why brown spots might be appearing on the leaves of your fiddle leaf fig. If you have any more questions about brown spots on fiddle leaf fig leaves, black spots on fiddle leaf fig, fiddle leaf fig dropping leaves or other issues with these indoor trees, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below. link to 12 Causes of Snake Plant Brown Tips (solution and Prevention), link to Why Are My Elephant Ear Leaves Curling? Brown, dropping leaves indicate overwatering root rot or fungal infection. If you still worry that your Fiddle Leaf Fig is getting too much direct sunlight, you can use solar shades on the windows to protect your plant. You might also see yellowing spread to the whole leaf rather than concentrated splotches. Tip: Before we get into this, I want to make clear that your houseplant is not always going to look like it did when you got it. One of the things you should always do if you see leaf browning is check the underside of the leaves, since that’s where critters like to hide out. Their large leaves and relatively fast growth demand plenty of nutrition. Use a diluted liquid fertilizer and don’t fertilize during your Fiddle Leaf Fig’s dormant stage. You can expect to see buds start to increase in size within a week or two. You May Also Enjoy: Why Are My Begonia Leaves Curling? Fertilize your plant frequently, at least once every 1 – 2 weeks, with a 3:2:1 ratio fertilizer. Overwatering is the most common problem with a fiddle leaf fig in cool or low-light conditions. Finding the leaves of your Fiddle Leaf Fig drooping and wilted can cause a lot of apprehension in the owner. Is it possible you’re underwatering? They range from an almost bleached look to yellow or light brown. Therefore, insufficient light will also result in leaves curling from a lack of nutrients. Leave the plant in the sink or outside for a few hours to let the water drain out the bottom so … When repotting, don’t use a pot which is more than 6 inches (15cm) larger in diameter than the previous pot. To bring it back to life, you have to figure out the issues and take action. These minerals can cause salt build-up in the soil and inhibit the roots’ ability to absorb necessary nutrients, causing leaves to curl. Common signs of root rot in your fiddle are, Drooping of the leaves. I left it in the original pot and started to take care of it. If the plant is just droopy and possibly a bit crispy, chances are higher you’re actually underwatering. Water sick plants when the soil at the bottom of the point feels dry, and do so in the shower. While this is often mistaken for mold, it’s actually a mildew infection. I did try a mixture of water, neem oil, dish soap, but it doesn’t seem to help, unless I am not using it enough? 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