When can’t you? Dirty tools can spread fungus, bacteria, and other nasty stuff to your plants and dull tools can crush the stems, which only makes matters worse. Overwatering and under-watering is the most common issue beginners face when caring for their fiddle leaf fig tree. If more than half the leaf is damaged you should remove it so that energy is sent to healthy leaves instead. Leaf spot occurs when leaves are splashed during the watering process. This one may or may not require pruning, because it’s really up to you. Sickness- If some leaves are developing brown spots … Here’s our advice to prune and when to leave the leaves alone. Brown leaves almost never go back to green, but there’s hope for yellow leaves! If the fig tree does show signs of yellow to brown leaves, the problem may be twofold. Multiple Trunks – some fiddle leaf figs will develop more than one trunk from their roots. See more ideas about Fig plant, Fiddle leaf fig, Fiddle leaf. Dark brown spots will appear on the edges of the leaves and in the middle and will spread. Too much water creates an excess of moisture, leading to root decay, aka “root rot”. You can also remove leaves to alter the overall shape of your fig tree. If you're angling for a more tree-like look, your fiddle leaf fig pruning will involve removing the older lower leaves on the trunk, provided you have healthy growth happening on top of your plant. Burns can happen anywhere on the leaf. The node will still be attached, and you’re making your cut right above that. The fungal infection then travels up, leaving brown spots on the foliage. If you’ve flipped through an interiors magazine, scrolled through Pinterest, or even wandered into a hip shopping space you have been met with the biggest greenery trend—the fiddle leaf fig. The rule of thumb is, when in doubt – don’t cut. When a fiddle-leaf fig has brown spots on its leaves or drops its leaves it’s usually because it’s getting too much or too little water. If the brown spots bother you, you can remove the entire leaf from the plant with clean, sharp pruning shears. Fiddle leaf fig – more correctly called Ficus lyrata – is a member of the Moraceae family, which also includes edible figs and mulberries. Unfortunately, damaged fiddle leaf fig leaves will not repair themselves. This means the spot may appear in the middle of a leaf, near the edge or towards the stem. Checking the roots can confirm the presence of root rot. However, the condition causing the spots in the first place may result in dropping leaves. Once the problem is gone, you can prune the damaged leaves easily. If a few leaves tear when being moved or after run-ins with a child or pet, a healthy tree can stand to lose those leaves without going into shock. If your tree is suffering from root rot, treat the roots with our Root Rot Treatment and remove the damaged leaves to keep the rest of the tree healthy. Both show up as brown spots on the leaves, but leaf spot also causes black spots, which are the fungal colonies. One of the most common issues we see with this plant is brown spots on the leaves. In Zone 12, it is more likely to develop sunburn, so grow in dappled shade. If all or most of a leaf is brown, then it is best to cut off the entire leaf. Withdraw the water for two or more weeks until the soil and the roots get dry. The rule of thumb is, when in doubt – don’t cut. In this case, remove the affected leaves and re-pot your tree. Tree – an older version, these have a bare trunk with leaves at the top. Both root rot and bacterial leaf spot will cause the leaves of your Fiddle Leaf Fig to eventually fall off. Sigh. You’ll want to get a sharp pair of pruning shears because dull tools or scissors can crush the stems and damage your plant. If the small brown spots on the fiddle leaf fig have just started, you can deal with the plant while keeping it potted. Indoors, it will not produce either, but is valued for its shiny, distinctive leaves. 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. In its native habitat, the fiddle leaf fig produces both flowers and inedible fruits. Dry leaves will not recover, but the tree will most likely drop them naturally. Once the leaves are affected by the fungal infection, they will slowly turn brown and then eventually fall off. How to water correctly is another must-know fiddle leaf fig care tip. As an added bonus, it also cleans and adds shine to your houseplant’s leaves!). Once the problem is gone, you can prune the damaged leaves easily. Read this post for more help: How to Prune a Fiddle Leaf Fig. Brown spots on leaves & leaves falling off. If you are watering more than once a week, or if you have brown spots on the edges of your leaves, you might be overwatering. Brown spots on fiddle-leaf ficus leaves may also result from insects feeding on the leaves, causing injured portions to brown and eventually die. Does it need its roots trimmed? A Fiddle Leaf Fig will show signs of root rot in its leaves. On fiddle leaf figs, the lower leaves tend to droop naturally and may eventually fall off on their own, but you can trim up to 10% of the leaves from a healthy tree without causing problems. Rotting roots will appear wet, brown, and mushy. The excess water means the plant can’t get enough oxygen, and to protect itself, it will start to lose leaves. It can also be grown in a container and moved outdoors for the summer. If it seems to handle it well, remove a few more a week or two later. Classic root rot. Unfortunately leaves with sunburn damaged leaves will not revert back to green again. The main way to propagate a fiddle leaf fig tree is by taking a cutting from the stem. Watering is a relatively basic skill – but it’s easy to get it wrong. The best time to prune your fiddle leaf fig is in the spring when there will be plenty of light to fuel recovery and new growth. The trouble is, what do you do with those damaged leaves? Why Lower Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves Exist Before deciding when to hack those bottom leaves away, you should know what they do . Fiddle Leaf Fig brown spots caused by overwatering can start at any place on a leaf. Don’t expect to see any improvement before April (and warmer temperatures). Facebook: Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource Group. Should you leave them on the tree or remove them? It’s common for the edges to turn brown first – then the brown spreads throughout the leaf. Trim off any damaged leaves with shears. Repot into fresh, dry soil immediately and cut off any roots that have begin rotting. The plant that I topped now has two branches at the top which I want to cascade down when they get a little heavier. Native to west Africa, it is a popular houseplant because it is adaptable and attractive. 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. Fiddle leaf figs either have bare or leaf-covered stems or trunks. Oct 11, 2020 - Fiddle Leaf Fig Plants sometimes come with many issues. Cutting off brown spots might be fine – then again, it might not. Unfortunately it can be quite difficult to diagnose the issue, as most brown spots on Fiddles are caused by two opposing forces: over watering or under watering. When in doubt, remove a few leaves and wait to see how your plant reacts. Otherwise, here’s how to give it another chance: Cut off any brown or badly damaged leaves. Take care not to remove more than 10% of total leaves at once to avoid shocking your plant. Ah, the age old question, how often should I water my fiddle leaf fig tree? Bush – these are younger plants, about 18 to 24 inches tall; typically used on table tops or shelves. I have only been watering once a week and the soil has definitely been dry. If your plant has too much water the leaves will wilt, turn brown/yellow, and drop off. Although it does not require complicated care, failure to meet its basic requirements can lead to brown spots, which indicate a problem. Mealybug colonies may look like a small puff of cotton at the leaf joints. Read more about Red Spots on New Growth on Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees here. If you correct the problem, the spots will disappear as the leaf grows. If your new leaves have red speckles, it’s likely edema and caused by irregular watering. 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