What to do about fiddle leaf fig leaf spots.
When your fiddle isn’t happy, the first place you’ll notice issues is in the leaves.
Yellowing, drooping, puckering, brown spots, they all mean different things. Some of these are good signs and some are signs that something is really wrong.
But how do you know what your fiddle is saying?
Which signs do you need to worry about and which are okay?
Here’s a guide to leaf troubleshooting for fiddle leaf fig leaf spots:
Brown Spots
The #1 sign that your fiddle is unhappy is fiddle leaf fig leaf spots that are brown. However, brown spots can indicate a bunch of different issues, including, but not limited to:
- Root rot
- Dryness
- Sunburn
- Fungal infection
- Bacterial infection
- Insect infestation
Learn all about brown spots and how to treat them here:
The Ultimate Guide to Fiddle Leaf Fig Brown Spots
How to Treat Brown Spots on Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves
Yellow Leaves
Usually mean a lack of light and/or nutrients and that your plant needs more light. The good news is that yellow leaves can recover once you reverse these issues! This is a common fiddle leaf fig leaf spots that you can correct.
Read our in-depth guide: How to Fix Yellow Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves
Dry Leaves
If your leaves are dry and crispy but not showing brown spots, it could indicate that your plant needs a little more water or that it’s cold.
Make sure your tree isn’t near a draft like a cold window, leaky door, or a cooling vent.
Severe drying can’t be fixed, but if your tree only has a few dry leaves, there’s still time.
How Dry is too Dry? When to Water Your Fiddle Leaf Fig
Droopy Leaves
This could also mean a lot of different things like root shock, slight underwatering, or that your plant is cold.
If you’ve just brought your fig home or repotted it, you can expect droopy leaves for a few days.
You’ll also see droopiness if it needs a drink. Droopy leaves can indicate some larger issues though, so make sure you cover all your bases. Read more about fiddle leaf fig leaf spots in this guide:
Read our guide to droopiness here.
Red Spots
Red spots on new growth is fairly normal and is usually caused by inconsistent watering. It typically fades as the leaf grows.
They could also indicate an insect problem, so it’s a good idea to check for signs of bugs as well.
Read more here: Red Spots on New Growth on Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees
Pockmarked, Puckered, or Curling Leaves
Fiddle leaf fig leaf spots are a tell tale sign something might be wrong.
If your leaves are covered in dimples, curling, or look like they got caught in a hail storm, that could be caused by a lack of humidity, especially while the leaves are growing.
To prevent this, make sure to mist your leaf buds while they’re growing and set up a humidifier near your tree. You can also use a pebble tray to create more humidity.
Extremely Stiff Leaves
If your leaves are really, really stiff (almost to the point of being brittle), this could also indicate a lack of humidity.
The exception here is bambinos or dwarf fiddles, because they tend to have smaller, stiffer leaves, so if you have a bambino, don’t worry!
Leaves That Point Straight Up
Healthy fiddle leaves either stick straight up or relax slightly. As long as they’re not drooping, you’re okay!
If a lot of leaves seem to be pointing toward your plant’s light source though, this could indicate that your tree wants a little more light. Check your tree’s lighting situation and if all seems to be well, you might just have a perky tree!
Thin, Flimsy Leaves
It’s normal for new leaves to be thinner than the older growth, but they should thicken over time.
However, if older leaves are still thin and floppy, your plant might need more light. Growing and thickening leaves takes energy, and light = energy!
It could also mean that your plant it too cold, so check your plant’s area for drafts from windows, doors, or vents. Read on for more fiddle leaf fig leaf spots to watch out for.
White Spots
There are different kinds of white spots. The spots could be powdery mildew or fungus or hard water stains.
If the dots rub off easily and feel powdery, you’ve probably got fungus.
If they’re a little harder to remove, you could have a hard water situation. If that’s the case, try watering your fig with filtered or distilled water.
Dropping Leaves
If you just brought your fiddle home, it’s normal for it to drop a few leaves. But if you’ve had your plant for a while and it starts dropping leaves, something’s up.
Here’s What to do if Your Fiddle Leaf Fig is Dropping Leaves
New Leaves Smaller Than Older Leaves
If new leaves aren’t growing as large as the older leaves, this could mean that your tree needs more resources or more room to grow. You might need to increase light, fertilizer, or water, or to repot your tree.
Learn to Read Your Fiddle Like a Book
The more you learn how to read your fiddle, the easier it will be to keep your tree healthy!
With a little practice, you’ll learn exactly how much water, light, humidity, and fertilizer your unique fiddle needs to look its best!
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