Here are the essentials for maintaining the beauty, health, and greenery of your fiddle leaf fig.
- Make certain that the drainage on your fiddle leaf fig is ideal.
- Use a Soil That Drains Quickly.
- Provide your plant with a lot of sunlight.
- Water with caution.
- Take Soil Aeration Into Account.
- Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Needs Food.
- Befriend your plant.
Why is my fiddle leaf fading to a pale green color?
In my experience, a fiddle leaf fig’s golden leaves typically indicate one of two things:
- a scarcity of fertilizer or light
- a mixture of too much water and little light
The color chlorophyll, which a plant must produce, is what turns the leaves green in the first place. It needs nourishment and energy to accomplish that!
In order to create chlorophyll, plants need nutrients from the soil and sunlight for energy. Chlorophyll, on the other hand, aids plants in generating energy from water, sunshine, and carbon dioxide.
The leaves may begin to become lighter between the veins and develop a lighter shade of green before becoming brilliant yellow if your plant isn’t receiving enough energy or nutrients.
Root rot, which can result in leaves falling, can also create yellow leaves. Try our Root Rot Treatment to stop root rot if you believe your plant may have it.
Can the leaves of fiddle leaf figs revert to green?
Change your watering routine, check for excellent drainage, create ideal lighting conditions, and fertilize your fiddle leaf fig plant to prevent leaf yellowing. Ficus lyrata leaf yellowing can be treated by doing post-transplant maintenance, repotting in neutral pH soil, and applying insect control measures.
Change your watering schedule to once every 7-10 days
Reduce the frequency of your hydration to combat the overwatering-induced yellowing of leaves. Usually, watering your plants once a week is plenty. This might still be excessive, though, depending on the soil and temperature circumstances. The topsoil should be checked for dryness before you water your fiddle leaf fig again for this reason.
When deciding whether the soil needs another irrigation, use a moisture meter or stick your finger into the ground. Finally, reduce watering outdoor fiddle leaf figs in the winter and wet seasons.
Improve the plant’s drainage
Consider tilling the soil to promote enough drainage and aeration if the excessive soil moisture is caused by dense garden soil that doesn’t drain adequately. For fiddle leaf figs that are in pots, you might need to repot the plant.
For quicker drainage, the new soil mix should include gritty sand. In the interim, use a new growth pot if the old one doesn’t have drainage holes in the bottom.
Provide bright indirect light
Move your indoor fiddle leaf fig to a location near the window where they will receive bright indirect sunlight if their leaves are turning light green or yellow as a result of inadequate lighting. Alternately, you might set up fake grow lights.
Consider moving outdoor fiddle leaf figs that are significantly covered by taller garden plants to a different location where they will get enough sunshine. Within a few weeks, the leaf yellowing issue ought to go away if there are no dense canopies obstructing sunlight transmission.
Note that fiddle leaf figs prefer direct but bright sunshine. As a result, avoid setting your fig plant on a window sill that faces the west because doing so exposes it to intense afternoon sunlight that can burn it.
Feed the plant with a 3:1:2 NPK fertilizer
Feed the soil with a fertilizer that has a 3:1:2 NPK ratio if the leaf yellowing is being brought on by plant famine. Nutrient requirements increase for fiddle leaf figs during the growing season. As a result, from spring through summer, make sure to fertilize your fig plant at least once every month.
The proportions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium nutrients in the fertilizer are referred to as the NPK ratio. The ideal ratio for fiddle leaf figs is 3:1:2, as it allows for enough energy production while lowering the possibility of having too much residual nutrient salts (particularly phosphorus) in the soil.
Repot in neutral pH soil
Repot your Ficus lyrata plant in a soil mixture with a pH of neutral if the plant’s leaves are turning yellow because of excessively acidic soil. Alternately, you can use alkaline drops to bring the pH of the soil down to 6.5-7.
Adding a liming material is another typical method of reducing the acidity of the soil. These comprise several varieties of ground limestone, such as hydrated, crushed, granular, and pelletized lime.
Acclamitize the plant after repotting
Various transplant aftercare techniques can be used to prevent transplant shock, which causes fiddle leaf fig leaves to yellow following transplant. For starters, water the plant thoroughly to minimize transplant shock.
Additionally, make an effort to maintain the plant’s pre-transplant temperature conditions. Keeping the fiddle leaf fig in the same location even after repotting is another helpful precaution.
Get rid of pests on your fiddle leaf fig
Use an appropriate pest control method to address the yellowing of Ficus lyrata leaves brought on by pests like mealybugs and aphids:
- Introduce ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps as natural enemies that consume mealybugs.
- Spray the foliage of your fiddle leaf figs with a water jet to physically control mild mealybug and aphid infestations. The pests will be forced off the plant by the water.
- Use natural pesticides on the leaves, such as neem oil, horticultural oil, and isopropyl alcohol. Aphid control using diatomaceous earth is also quite effective.
- Fiddle leaf fig leaves with aphid infestations should be dusted with flour to induce constipation.
Why is the color fading on my fiddle leaf fig?
Don’t think that every single one of your Fiddle Leaf Fig leaves needs to be flawless all the time. No, they won’t. Others will truly appear flawless, while some will have blemishes or be slightly discolored. I’m trying to convey that slight leaf discoloration might not be a cause for concern.
Causes
Fungal or bacterial infection
This frequently occurs when the soil is kept moist and there is a high humidity level. Unfortunately, these are the circumstances that the fiddle-leaf fig frequently encounters.
Removing all of the sick leaves is the best course of action because the infection is typically concentrated in the afflicted leaves. Additionally, it would be worthwhile to repot your plant and attempt in the future to wait until the soil has dried out a bit more before watering it once more.
Overwatering.
Root rot may be brought on by excessive water, which may then harm the leaves. They could become a bit mushy or lose their green hue. Splotches and patterns in black or brown are also typical. (As opposed to underwatering, when the brown portions will be dry and crisp. These sections feel like the rest of the leaf, despite their poor appearance due to overwatering. If you think this might be the case, read more in the section on root rot.
- Pests. Pests can begin to deplete the leaf of nutrients, which can lead to a variety of symptoms, including discolouration.
- Sunburn. Your plant may have burns, which appear as crispy brown markings, if it isn’t used to sunlight and you suddenly start giving it too much direct sunlight.
How do I determine whether my fiddle leaf fig is content?
Fiddle Leaf Figs are infamously difficult to grow. There are a few typical maladies of this plant, like brown spots and leaf drop, that can make it sick or, worse, fast bring about its demise. The secret to keeping your plant happy and healthy is to keep an eye out for them and catch them early. Keep an eye out for these indications of a possibly sick fiddle leaf fig.
Brown spots on the leaves
The leaves of fiddle leaf figs are incredibly prone to browning. Brown spots that start to form and spread should be investigated even though a few small markings here and there are not a cause for concern.
Due to two opposing factors—either overwatering or underwatering—most brown patches on fiddles are unfortunately difficult to diagnose. Here’s how to distinguish between them:
Overwatering, which results in root rot, is probably to blame for brown patches that appear in the center of the leaf and spread outward. A fungal illness called root rot will eventually kill your plant by spreading to the leaves. You should repot your plant as soon as possible if it has root rot. Take the plant out of the ground, wash the roots thoroughly, and cut off any that are brown or mushy. After that, repot the plant in new soil with adequate drainage and remove the damaged leaves.
Are the brown spots on your fiddle beginning at the outside border of the leaves and moving inside? The plant is probably too dry for this to be the cause. Give your Fiddle a thorough rinse, and make sure it’s not too close to any heaters or air vents because that will likely cause the plant to dry out more quickly than is desired.
Finally, trauma may cause brown spots to form at random. A plant can suffer trauma just by changing homes (i.e. changing environments). If only one or two of your plant’s brown, damaged leaves are present, remove them at the stem and give your plant some time to heal.
The new growth is smaller than the older leaves
A healthy plant always shows new development, and if your Fiddle’s leaves are getting big and strong, your plant is doing fine.
The presence of little, stunted new leaves, however, may indicate that your plant is deficient in nutrients. Consider repotting your plant if it has been a while since you gave it fresh soil, or just fertilize it in the spring and summer to give it the extra nutrients it requires.
Dropping leaves
Fiddle Leaf Figs can appear to drop their leaves out of nowhere. One leaf here and there is normal; but, if several leaves have fallen off in a short period of time, you must act quickly to rescue the tree. Once more, underwatering or overwatering are the most likely causes of leaf drop in fiddle leaf figs. How then can you distinguish between them? Look at the direction in which the leaves are falling from the plant: if the older leaves (at the bottom) are dropping first, overwatering is probably the cause. On the other hand, if the plant’s leaves are falling off all around, it’s probably not getting enough water. Here are a few more techniques for differentiating.
Leaves turning yellow
Do your fiddle leaf fig’s leaves appear to be yellow? There are several potential reasons:
inadequate lighting Fiddle Leaf Figs require as much direct, strong light as they can get. Even a little direct sunshine is acceptable, but stay away from locations with medium or low light. Remember that a Fiddle that receives insufficient light is more likely to overwater.
a lackluster diet. Due to a deficiency of nutrients in the soil, your Fiddle plant may have yellow leaves. You may want to attempt fertilizing it with liquid fertilizer.
Pests. If fiddles are being attacked by insects, their leaves may also turn yellow. If you have a suspicion that this is the case, thoroughly check the leaves’ top and bottom surfaces for any potential bugs.
Stunted or slowed growth
During the spring and summer, healthy fiddles typically produce new leaves every four to six weeks. It’s possible to see your plant add numerous new leaves in only a few days or weeks because growth usually occurs in spurts. It’s typical for there to be no new growth during the winter. Again, if you don’t observe the expected growth in this plant, it may require new nutrients in the form of a quality plant fertilizer.
Dirty or dusty leaves
When was the last time you washed your plant’s leaves? Plants breathe through their leaves in addition to absorbing sunlight through them. Your plant won’t be able to carry out either of these tasks as effectively as we’d like if a layer of dust is present on its huge leaves. A fantastic technique to keep your Fiddle Leaf Fig plant bright, healthy, and vibrant is to clean the leaves every few months. You may read about various cleaning techniques for your fiddle leaf fig here.
Fiddle Leaf Figs are known to be pickier than most plants, despite the fact that they can be quite low maintenance. Maintain a regular watering routine, fertilize in the spring and summer, and most importantly, ensure that your plant receives enough light year-round (yes, this may require moving it in the winter!). Keep a watch out for any of these symptoms since treating them quickly is essential to keeping your plant healthy and looking nice.
This article was modified from Claire Akin’s Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource. For additional information on how to take care of the fiddle leaf fig, see their website.
Do fiddle leaf figs need direct sunlight?
Although they can withstand moderate sunlight, it’s not their preferred environment. It’s a good idea to put the plant near a south or west-facing window, but not directly in the sun, as it prefers steady, ambient light. They can tolerate up to six hours a day of direct sunlight, if necessary.
Finding a location where the conditions are as consistent as possible throughout the day is the finest thing you can do for these plants as they are creatures of habit. Placing your plant in low light is one thing you must never do.
Can my plant go outside?
Of course, you can take care of your fiddle leaf fig outside given the correct circumstances. It might perhaps act and develop to a height of more than 40 feet if you locate it in the ideal location. Your garden should, however, be entirely frost-free and never drop below 50 degrees at night in order to prevent any issues.
On summer days, you should use caution as well. Keep your plant from getting too hot too quickly and water it frequently so the roots have access to moisture all the time. Similar to when you keep it as a house plant, you should be watchful of how much direct sunshine it gets.
Why do the leaves turn brown?
You have some homework to complete if the leaves on your fiddle leaf fig are starting to turn brown. There are several potential causes, but light and water are the most frequent ones.
In most cases, water is the culprit if the edges of the leaves are becoming brown. If just the lower leaves are impacted, overwatering has created root rot. The likelihood of the plant being thirsty increases if all of the leaves are going crispy. Unhappy leaves that are going brown in the middle show that the plant needs more humidity since it is receiving too much light.
What’s the difference between a fiddle leaf bush and a tree?
An established fiddle leaf tree can cost hundreds of dollars, so you’ll probably end up nurturing a smaller plant to grow tall. Ficus lyrata likes to grow straight up if left unattended, but you can encourage branching by either pruning the new growth or notching the stem.
To notch, choose where you want a new branch to grow and make a 1/8-inch cut into the stem just above a node using a clean knife. The node should produce a new branch. The lower leaves can then be removed when your plant appears very healthy.
Should I mist my plant?
When caring for any rainforest plant, especially in the winter, misting is a need. Fiddle leafs prefer a humidity level of 65 percent, which is substantially higher than that of most houses.
Filling a spray bottle and leaving it next to the plant is the ideal method for misting. You can regularly spritz it with room-temperature water in this manner. Misting your plant is very crucial after dusting its leaves. For your plant, a humidifier is ideal if you can afford one, but regular misting with a spray bottle should suffice.
How long does it take for the plant to grow?
Most fiddle leaves can grow up to 10 feet tall indoors. They might even outgrow your home if they’re truly content. However, that may take up to 15 years. Of course you two want to stay together for that long, but it can be difficult to wait for a plant straight out of a magazine.
These are not the quickest-growing plants, but with proper care and fertilization, the 18-inch bush you purchased from the garden center should mature into a respectable-sized tree in 34 years.
Should I cut off brown spots off the leaves?
Although brown stains on the leaves are unsightly, you shouldn’t immediately remove them. After all, in order to photosynthesize, the plant requires its leaves. Your plant won’t thrive if the leaves are pulled out as soon as spotting appears.
Your plant is attempting to tell you something when its leaves turn brown, whether it’s water, fertilizer, sunshine, or pest control. The best course of action is to try to identify the issue, fix it, and then postpone pinching off the damaged leaves until your plant has produced some healthy new growth.
Are fiddle leaf fig toxic?
Yes. We’re not talking about plants that are aesthetically pleasing but dangerous here, but if you have kids or animals in your house, you should be cautious of them around any Ficus family plant, including your fiddle leaf fig.
A healthy adult won’t suffer long-term consequences from ingesting the plant, but cats, dogs, and small people can get hurt from the calcium oxalate crystals in the leaves. A burning, irritated mouth, trouble swallowing, drooling, and vomiting are indications of an adverse response. Consult a doctor straight away if you believe that your child or pet may have consumed a portion of the plant.