How to Treat Brown Spots on Your Fiddle Leaf Fig

Any spots on fiddle leaf figs are all the time regarding, however brown spots particularly, principally as a result of they imply one thing severe is improper. The spots themselves received’t kill the plant, however the underlying challenge inflicting them would possibly for those who don’t handle it.

Brown spots on a fiddle leaf fig aren’t as frequent as issues like yellowing, leaf drop, or leaning. However for those who do discover the problem, it’s vital to deal with it as quickly as doable. In the event you don’t, you would possibly find yourself with naked branches or unhappy, drooping leaves.

When you’ve recognized the trigger, treating brown spots is fortunately easy. The broken leaves sadly received’t get better, however you’ll be able to cease new spots from forming and forestall the issue from spreading.

Determine the Trigger

Earlier than you begin eradicating leaves or altering care routines, take a look at the entire plant. The sample of the brown spots in your fiddle leaf fig tells you a large number about what’s inflicting the harm.

Pests and Illnesses

Pests are a standard reason behind brown spots on fiddle leaf figs. Spider mites and scale each trigger brown recognizing, although the spots present up in another way for every.

Spider mites create stippled spots that begin small and regularly unfold because the infestation progresses. Examine the undersides of affected leaves for positive webbing or tiny transferring specks.

Scale bugs trigger brown spots round their feeding websites, often alongside the veins or on the branches. The bugs themselves appear like small brown or tan bumps that don’t transfer. Individuals typically mistake them for a part of the plant till they discover the spots spreading.

Fungal and bacterial leaf spot illnesses create brown or black spots with yellow halos round them. The sample is often scattered throughout a number of leaves, and the spots could have distinct darkish borders that differentiate them from environmental harm.

If pests or illnesses are the issue, you’ll sometimes see the harm on a number of leaves scattered throughout the plant somewhat than concentrated in a single space. New development would possibly look positive initially, however spots will develop as pests transfer to feed on recent leaves or as illness spreads.

Direct Solar

Sunburn creates crispy brown or tan patches on the components of leaves that obtain probably the most intense gentle. The harm typically seems all of a sudden after you’ve moved the plant nearer to a window or throughout summer season when the solar angle modifications.

These spots present up on the perimeters of leaves going through the sunshine supply, not evenly distributed throughout the plant. That’s what makes this challenge comparatively straightforward to diagnose. The brown patches really feel dry and papery to the contact. The tree may additionally lean in the other way.

Lack of Humidity

Low humidity causes brown edges and suggestions somewhat than distinct spots in the midst of leaves. The browning begins on the leaf margins and works its means inward as the issue continues, finally turning into bigger spots. Fiddle leaf figs tolerate common family humidity fairly effectively, so this sometimes solely turns into a difficulty in winter when indoor air will get very dry from heating programs.

If humidity is the issue, you’ll see the browning on the outer edges of a number of leaves throughout the plant. The brown areas really feel crispy and dry, much like sunburn, however positioned in another way on the leaf.

This drawback develops regularly over weeks somewhat than showing in a single day. Newer leaves would possibly present much less harm initially, however they’ll develop brown edges as they mature in the identical dry circumstances.

Bodily Injury

Bumping into leaves, pets brushing previous (or attacking, relying in your pets), or dealing with the plant roughly throughout repotting all trigger brown spots or patches the place the tissue was broken. These spots seem inside a day or two of the harm and don’t unfold to different leaves.

Bodily harm is often remoted to at least one or two leaves somewhat than affecting the entire plant. The spots could be irregular in form, following the sample of no matter brought on the harm somewhat than the uniform circles or patches you see with different issues.

In the event you bear in mind transferring the plant just lately or discover harm solely on leaves close to a heavy-traffic space, bodily harm is the seemingly offender.

Assess the Injury

When you’ve recognized what’s inflicting the brown spots in your fiddle leaf fig, take a look at how a lot of every leaf is affected. A couple of small brown spots on in any other case wholesome leaves aren’t value eradicating, however leaves which are greater than 50% brown aren’t contributing a lot to the plant anymore.

Examine whether or not the spots are nonetheless spreading or in the event that they’ve stopped. Energetic issues (like ongoing pest infestations) create spots that develop bigger over days, whereas resolved points go away spots that keep the identical measurement. This tells you whether or not your intervention is working.

Additionally think about the plant’s total well being. If the fiddle leaf fig remains to be producing new development and most leaves look good, a couple of noticed leaves received’t set it again considerably. But when the whole plant is fighting widespread harm, you’ll must be extra conservative about leaf elimination to protect the plant’s means to photosynthesize.

Take away Majorly Impacted Leaves

Leaves which are principally brown serve no goal and really drain power from the plant because it tries to take care of broken tissue. Use clear, sharp pruning shears to take away these leaves on the base the place they meet the stem.

Give attention to leaves which are greater than half lined in brown spots or leaves the place the browning has reached the central vein. These received’t get better, and eradicating them permits the plant to redirect assets towards wholesome development.

Don’t take away greater than 20% of the plant’s leaves directly, even when many are broken. The fiddle leaf fig wants these leaves for photosynthesis whereas it recovers. If the harm is in depth, take away the worst leaves first and wait a couple of weeks earlier than eradicating extra ones.

Wipe your pruning shears with rubbing alcohol between cuts for those who’re coping with a pest infestation or illness. This prevents spreading the issue from broken leaves to wholesome ones.

Forestall the Similar Drawback in Future

Prevention relies upon completely on what brought on the brown spots within the first place. For pest points, examine your plant repeatedly (a minimum of weekly) and isolate it from different houseplants till you’re sure the infestation is managed. Deal with with insecticidal cleaning soap or neem oil based on package deal instructions, reapplying as advisable to catch newly hatched pests.

If sunburn was the issue, transfer the plant again from the window or add a sheer curtain to filter intense gentle. East or west-facing home windows work higher than south-facing ones for fiddle leaf figs, offering vivid gentle with out harsh afternoon solar.

For humidity points, enhance moisture within the air across the plant utilizing a humidifier or by grouping it with different crops. Misting doesn’t assist a lot for the reason that moisture evaporates too rapidly to make a distinction.

Bodily harm simply requires extra consciousness of the plant’s location. Transfer it away from high-traffic areas or door swings, and deal with leaves gently when cleansing or repotting.

The brown spots which have already shaped received’t disappear, however new development ought to emerge wholesome when you’ve addressed the underlying trigger. If new leaves proceed creating brown spots after you’ve made modifications, revisit your analysis and search for different components you may need missed.