If the sunburn is not too severe, a fiddle leaf fig can quickly recover. To give your plant a chance to recover, you must relocate it out of direct sunlight. Affected leaves won’t grow back and could need to be pulled off. How badly each leaf is burned will determine how this turns out.
Fiddle leaf fig sunburn can sometimes result in very slight plant damage that only affects the plant’s appearance. However, in more serious instances, entire leaves may be impacted, which will compromise both the appearance and general health of your plant.
This is due to the fact that sunburned leaves in particular are unable to heal and will continue to drain your plant’s energy while still attached to the stem. Your fiddle leaf fig’s overall health will suffer from improper energy utilization, which can also lead to other diseases.
The plant, however, will easily survive a small amount of fire damage. While you wait for new growth, your fiddle leaf will, at worst, appear a little neglected. In order to prevent having a fiddle leaf fig with no leaves, you may need to take more serious steps if more than 30% of your plant’s leaves are burned.
You must take immediate action in both situations. The longer you let your fiddle leaf burn, the more probable it is that there will be permanent harm.
A fiddle leaf fig may receive too much sunlight.
Tropical trees with fiddle-shaped leaves are native to West African rainforests. It can reach heights of up to 50 feet in nature, but it often dwells in the understory of larger rainforest trees. It doesn’t require direct sunlight, despite the fact that it enjoys the sun. How does this affect the plant you have at home?
It implies that your fiddle leaf fig tree should thrive as long as you have a sunny, open area. Although it doesn’t require direct sunlight to live, a lot of light will help it grow the best. Make sure your fiddle leaf fig tree is not in a drafty area either, as it doesn’t tolerate significant temperature changes well.
How Much Sun Does Fiddle Leaf Fig Need?
Fiddle leaf fig trees do enjoy bright, sunny areas, but they need time to get used to direct sunlight if they are going to be there. They thrive in filtered indirect sunlight because they are planted in the rainforest’s understory. In an extremely sunny location, there are a few ways to get around this.
Avoid placing your fiddle leaf fig right next to a window that receives full sun all day if you live or rent an apartment, unless you can close a sheer to block the light. Your fiddle leaf fig should be good if the window provides 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. Simply move it a little bit away from the window if you observe any symptoms of stress, such as browning or drooping leaves.
Your fiddle leaf fig will thrive best when planted outside in partial shade provided by other plants, under a shade screen, or on a covered patio or porch. Remember that if you move the tree from indoors to the outside, you will need to gradually adapt it to the bright sun.
Can Fiddle Leaf Figs Grow In Low Light?
In the ideal environment, fiddle leaf figs will develop into large, tall, and stunning trees. Sadly, low light isn’t the best environment for them. While too much direct sunlight can cause their leaves to burn, not enough light will only result in their leaves turning yellow and falling off. Your best option is to locate a bright area close to a sheer-covered window that is illuminated for six hours each day.
How can fig Burns be eliminated?
Phytophotodermatitis can be brought on by a variety of plants, including parsnip, cartwheel flower, fennel, parsley, caraway seed, aniseed, coriander, celery, and fig.
[7] The fig tree is a well-liked tree that has been widely planted throughout West Asia. In these places, it is typically hot and sunny; this may make phytophotodermatitis reactions more likely. The fig tree has substantially larger concentrations of psoralen and bergapten in the summer and spring, which means that these seasons can be more irritating to people.
The fig tree’s leaf and root sap are the most effective components of the tree in triggering the reaction.
All of these circumstances were unlucky for our patients at the time the incident occurred.
According to some writers, the production of acute phase proteins including interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor may contribute to the body’s hypersensitivity to UVA. It may help to understand why symptoms and signs take so long to manifest and present because the synthesis of acute phase proteins takes time. [8]
This problem can be treated effectively with a straightforward non-adherent dressing and analgesic medications. Some researchers have advised using topical or systemic steroids. It is advised to wear sunscreen to avoid hyperpigmentation brought on by UV radiation exposure.
Impetigo, child maltreatment, superficial lymphangitis, and larva migrans are among the differential diagnosis of phytophotodermatitis.
[9] Our patients’ histories were uncomplicated, and their parents brought a sample of fig tree leaves to the hospital with them.
Bathing with fig tree leaf tea has been observed to cause severe burns that can cover 81 percent of the body’s surface area.
[10] Therefore, raising people’s knowledge of the dangers of unprotected touch with fig tree leaves can be helpful. This type of sensitivity is particularly common in people who pack and harvest figs as well as those who work in the food business. When pruning fig trees, it may be beneficial to wear gloves, a long sleeved shirt, full-length pants, a cap, and full-coverage eye goggles (not just glasses).
Declaration of patient consent
The authors attest that they have all necessary patient permission paperwork on file. The patient(s) has(have) indicated in the form that he/she/they are/are willing for his/her/their clinical imaging and other information to be reported in the journal. The patients are aware that while every attempt will be made to keep their identities hidden and their names and initials kept confidential, anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
What does a fiddle leaf look like when it has sunburn?
Your fiddle is probably sunburned if the leaves have a light-brown dusting to them rather than brown stains or patches, especially if it has been in indirect sunlight. This frequently occurs when fiddles are left outside by their owners or when they are placed in windows that face the south or west. This is the most visible symptom of too much sun exposure or excessively close-set or strong plant lights.
Fading
Your fiddle may be a touch sun-stressed if its leaves are pale green rather than yellow (we’ll deal about this later). Consider moving your plant a few feet back if it is in a particularly bright window to see if that helps.
Next Step: Acclimation
Use this post to adapt your fiddle leaf fig to direct sunlight rather than cutting back on the light permanently if you find that it is receiving more light than it can manage. Fiddles actually thrive in bright light, but not if they’re accustomed to cooler surroundings!
I have a fiddle leaf fig. Can I use olive oil on it?
According to what I’ve read so far, you can use these to clean and shine up the leaves of your indoor plants; a mixture of milk and water, split 50/50. Peels of bananas within. Olive oil in a few drops.
Is it necessary to spray your fiddle leaf fig?
Our preferred approach for giving your violin humidity isn’t misting, but fresh leaf buds are the one exception.
The emergence of new baby leaves from their leaf sheaths can result in tearing since they are thin, sensitive, and have a tendency to stay together (see, that almost rhymes!).
New leaf buds should be misted, but only the lead buds, and not so much that the water runs off onto the surrounding leaves.
Give your new baby buds a nice sprinkling a few times each week, and if you’d like, gently dab up any surplus water with a clean, soft towel.
In a dry climate, you can still grow a healthy fiddle leaf fig. It requires a few additional tools, but it is entirely possible! Even if you reside in the middle of the desert, follow these recommendations for a beautiful, healthy tree.
Phytophotodermatitis: what does it resemble?
Depending on the cycle of the reaction, phytophotodermatitis exhibits a variety of symptoms. You can initially notice blister-like spots of skin all over your body. These have erratic shapes and are frequently irritating. Wherever the plant ingredient has been applied to your skin, these patches develop. The locations most frequently impacted are the:
- legs
- hands
- arms
The patches can also take the appearance of drips and streaks in addition to spherical blisters.
After the initial reaction wears off, the blisters don’t itch as bad. Additionally, the swelling and redness decrease. However, instead of the blisters, you might notice dark pigmentation. Post-inflammatory coloration is the term for this. This phase may last for a few weeks or even months.
Symptoms
The following are possible signs or symptoms of skin contact with harmful plants:
- within a few days of touch, a red rash
- bumps, crimson streaks or patches, or blisters that are bleeding. (NOTE: Blisters cannot spread from you or others due to fluid in them.)
- Swelling
- Itching
First Aid
The following actions should be taken by workers who have come into contact with dangerous plants:
- Rinse skin right away.
- Use rubbing alcohol, poison plant washes, degreasing soap or detergent, a lot of water, and degreasing soap (like dishwashing soap).
- Rinse typically. As a result, wash solutions won’t dry out on the skin and spread urushiol more. The plant’s urusel oil has the potential to result in contact dermatitis, an allergic reaction.
- Use a brush to clean between your nails.
- To lessen itching and blistering, apply damp compresses, calamine lotion, or hydrocortisone cream to the skin.
- Any creams and lotions should be used as directed. Do not apply to skin that is damaged or has open blisters.
- Baths with oatmeal may reduce itching.
- To assist reduce itching, take an antihistamine such diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
- Observe the instructions on the packaging.
- Be mindful that antihistamines can cause you to feel sleepy.
- If children come in contact with urushiol-contaminated work gear, consult a pediatrician to determine the proper dosage.
- If the rash is severe or if it appears on the face or genitalia, get medical attention.
- If you or another worker experiences any of the following:
- has a significant allergic reaction, including breathing problems or edema.
Why do the red spots on my fiddle leaf fig exist?
Edema is the most frequent cause of little red dots on fresh fiddle leaf fig plant leaves.
Edema, also known as oedema, is frequently a sign of moisture stress, which is brought on by inappropriate irrigation. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, a recognized nonprofit known for horticulture education, the ficus is particularly prone to edema.
Pressure rises till the leaf cells break when a plant’s roots absorb more water than the leaves can use or transpire. Dead cells then manifest as blisters or deep, 1- to 3-mm bruises.
Do not be alarmed; moderate incidences of edema are very common and even expected, particularly during periods of growth when you want to make sure your plants have enough water to support the growth of new leaves.
Fiddle leaf fig trees love to dry out between waterings, as you may have heard before. While occasionally true, a more accurate and healthy technique is to pay close attention to the health of the tree’s roots, boost watering when the tree is sprouting new growth, and take your signals from the plant’s growth cycles. This will allow you to tolerate minor edema without worrying about root damage.
Your newly speckled leaves may eventually grow out to seem fully normal and healthy, depending on how severe the condition was initially. A few weeks later, the above-mentioned problematic leaf is now recovering.
In fact, the spots will entirely disappear with the proper watering routine (going forward). New growth will eventually seem smooth, clean, and bright green. That is the most typical result for careful caregivers. Undoubtedly a promising prediction!
Unfortunately, the subsequent growth that appears after this spotty version will look even worse if the watering issue is not resolved. Leaves will soon arrive and look dead.
Why do the brown dots on my fiddle leaf fig exist?
When there is a problem, fiddle leaf figs can communicate very effectively. The most typical indications that your Fiddle Leaf needs assistance are as follows:
Brown spots are a sign that there is watering stress at play. Spots can develop as a result of excessive watering or inadequate drainage, which can also result in fungi such root rot.
Yellowing Leaves: This symptom is caused by a few different things. Yellowing leaves are typically caused by inadequate light, a lack of nutrients, excessive fertilization, and an imbalance of water. Check out our more detailed guidance on how to recognize and treat yellowing leaves if you’re not sure why your plant’s leaves are yellow and you’re not sure why.
Leaf Drop: This symptom can be caused by a variety of factors, but for Fiddle Leaf Figs, temperature and light fluctuations as well as irregular watering schedules are the main causes. Visit our page on how to prevent leaf drop to find out more about leaf drop problems with other houseplants.