Is your violin being picky? Some of the most striking and lovely houseplants you can own are fiddle leaf figs (Ficus lyrata), but they can also have a number of perplexing issues. Use this brief reference to help you spot and fix the most typical problems with these lovely trees!
Yellowing Leaves
One of the most frequent issues with fiddle leaf figs is yellow, discolored leaves, which is frequently brought on by a well-intentioned caregiver who has simply overwatered the plant. Although the soil shouldn’t be continually wet or drenched in moisture, fiddles grow in a moderately damp environment. The roots may rot as a result of over watering, especially if there is inadequate drainage, which will result in dull-looking leaves.
How to Correct It
Check the pot first; clogged drainage holes or even a lack of drainage holes may be the source of the issue with your fiddle leaf fig. Give the pot extra time to dry out in between waterings if the water can escape in some way. If the soil is dry up to your second knuckle, check the soil every day with your finger and water it once more.
Other Possible Causes:
Lighting requirements for fiddles are somewhat specific; they require an abundance of bright indirect light. When a source of bright light is nearby but not directly overhead, fiddles thrive. It might be the ideal place for your fiddle if your house has a location that receives indirect light from two windows (perhaps a south-facing and east-facing, or south-facing and west-facing).
Dropping Leaves
Overwatering may have caused the yellowing of your plant’s leaves before they fell off. Your fiddle leaf fig may be suffering from severe temperatures, but, if the leaves appeared to be a typical color before dropping off the tree.
How to Fix It: Look for any vents or potential heat sources around your plant. Your plant may become stressed and lose leaves quickly if there are drafts from chilly air conditioning or too much heat. If required, relocate your fiddle to a room with steady lighting and temperatures.
Presence of Insects or Damaged Leaves
An infestation of pests is never good news, but it’s also not always the end of the world. To identify pest issues early, check your fiddle leaf fig frequently, paying careful attention to the undersides of the foliage. Act immediately if you spot any clear indications of bugs, such as webbing, tiny holes, discolored “dots,” or the insects themselves. The more quickly you address the problem, the simpler it will be!
A natural pesticide like insecticidal soap, neem oil, antiseptic, or pyrethrin spray can be used to control the majority of houseplant pests. Always follow the directions on the packaging, and reapply as needed for a few weeks to make sure your unwanted guests are completely gone.
White or Tan Patches
Your plant has a sunburn, oh no! When maintained in direct sunlight, fiddle leaf figs frequently have this issue. (It’s a shame that SPF isn’t available for houseplants!)
To disperse the strength of the rays, consider moving the plant to a position with less direct light or covering the light source with a sheer drape. You might choose to remove the worst-damaged leaves for aesthetic reasons as they won’t grow back.
Black or Brown Spots on Leaves
Even though the source of various illnesses may differ, the symptoms and the associated treatments may be the same. Fiddle leaf fig infections can be quite challenging to treat, but it’s worth a shot.
Lack of moisture may be to blame for browning if the leaves are dry and crisp. Make sure you’re watering your plant properly and that the area around it is relatively humid.
Too much fertilizer application can harm or discolor foliage and burn roots. Water thoroughly to flush your plant, and always apply fertilizer after watering in the future.
Do you have a fiddle leaf fig issue that isn’t covered on this list? Visit our garden center in Newport Beach and don’t forget to snap lots of pictures. You may get specialized guidance from our indoor plant experts to help you heal your violin!
How are yellow fiddle leaf fig leaves repaired?
Due to their lush green leaves, fiddle leaf figs are popular houseplants. As a result, it is typically alarming when these leaves become yellow as a result of excessive watering, dim lighting, a lack of nutrition, and a variety of other issues.
Fiddle leaf figs’ yellowing leaves can be treated by altering your watering schedule, providing strong indirect light, and fertilizing the plant. To prevent the leaves from yellowing, you should also raise the pH of the soil to 6.67 and give the plant time to adjust after repotting.
Should I prune my fiddle leaf fig’s fading leaves?
You won’t risk shock that way, but they won’t look good for a while and the tree won’t waste resources on fully dead leaves. Either prune them or leave them alone. You have the choice.
Why do the lower leaves on my fiddle leaf fig have a yellow tint?
There are three likely reasons why a fiddle leaf fig plant’s leaves are yellow. Lack of sunlight is the most likely cause, followed by inadequate nutrition. Insect problems are a third potential reason, though they are considerably less likely. If you suspect insects, look for small brown spots where the insects will attach to your plant and bleed the sap, causing the leaves to turn yellow and fall off. (Remember that our Houseplant Leaf Armor will help keep insects away from your plant.)
The more likely explanation for your plant’s browning leaves is that it is receiving too much water and too little sunlight. Make sure your plant is receiving adequate light and let it dry out. If the issue persists, make sure your plant receives fertilizer at least every other time it receives water. This will ensure that it has the nutrients necessary for dark green development.
Can yellow leaves revert to green?
Yellow leaves are beautiful in the autumn on trees like gingko and quaking aspens. However, if you notice a large number of them on your fern, green-leafed pothos, or other indoor plants, it can be a concerning sight. However, it’s not always a terrible thing.
All year long, tropical plants maintain their leaves. But the life cycle of houseplant leaves exists (like all living things). Each leaf ages, gets yellow, and eventually dies. It’s not a problem if one or two leaves are yellow. However, if several leaves start to turn yellow, it’s time to intervene.
The most frequent causes of yellowing leaves are inconsistent watering (either too much or too little) or improper illumination (too much, too little). You must determine the cause of the issue in order to prevent other leaves from becoming yellow. Learn more about additional reasons why leaves could yellow.
Usually, when a leaf on a houseplant turns yellow, it is about to die. A leaf’s green tint is caused by chlorophyll. The plant abandons the leaf after it stops producing chlorophyll and starts utilizing any remaining nutrients in the leaf. Because of this, you usually can’t convert a leaf back to green once it turns yellow. (However, in instances of nutrient deficits, yellow leaf color occasionally becomes green again with therapy.)
There are numerous types of plants that naturally produce leaves with splashes and streaks of yellow. Variegation is what we refer to as when this occurs in healthy plants. When plants are exposed to more light, variegation may appear brighter.
Conclusion: It’s not necessary to panic if a few leaves turn yellow. The yellow leaf is like a warning light, therefore you should pay attention to it. It might be a normal shedding process or it might be an indication that something is wrong.
How can my fiddle leaf fig be made greener?
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.
How often should fiddle leaf figs be watered?
Overwatering or failing to provide adequate drainage are the two most common ways to destroy a fiddle leaf fig. About once every 10 days or once a week, water your plant. As we just discussed, FLFs are accustomed to receiving a massive amount of water with intermittent dry spells because they are native to a rainforest-like habitat. Therefore, it’s recommended to water indoor plants until the soil is barely dripping before letting the soil dry fully in between applications.
There are two ways to accomplish this. Bring the plant inside after watering it and letting it drip for an hour or two outside or in the bathtub. Place your FLF on a plant stand above a drip tray if you don’t want to carry it back and forth to be watered. Make sure the roots don’t spend a long period sitting in extra water, whichever method you pick.
Watering a Fiddle Leaf Fig
Overwatering or failing to provide adequate drainage are the two most common ways to destroy a fiddle leaf fig. About once every 10 days or once a week, water your plant. As we just discussed, FLFs are accustomed to receiving a massive amount of water with intermittent dry spells because they are native to a rainforest-like habitat. Therefore, it’s recommended to water indoor plants until the soil is barely dripping before letting the soil dry fully in between applications. There are two ways to accomplish this. Bring the plant inside after watering it and letting it drip for an hour or two outside or in the bathtub. Place your FLF on a plant stand above a drip tray if you don’t want to carry it back and forth to be watered. Make sure the roots don’t spend a long period sitting in extra water, whichever method you pick.
Not sure of the next time to water? Simply press your finger into the soil’s top 2 inches. If it’s still wet, don’t touch it. Don’t believe in yourself? Purchase a cheap soil moisture meter, and water when it indicates that the soil is practically dry.
Having trouble deciding when to water your fiddle leaf fig? Simply press your finger into the soil’s top 2 inches. If it’s still wet, don’t touch it. Don’t believe in yourself? Purchase a cheap soil moisture meter, and water when it indicates that the soil is practically dry.
How much sunlight are required by fiddle leaf figs?
The fiddle-leaf fig will not withstand situations with both low light and high light, in contrast to other plants (looking at you, monsteras!). It must be placed in an area with lots of bright, indirect light. Furthermore, it requires a few hours of direct sunlight each day.
“Lighting is the first and most crucial factor you should take into account before purchasing a fiddle. Little did I know that by placing my fiddle in a room with a north-facing window when I first took it home, I was sort of setting myself up for failure “Greene explains. “Fiddle-leaf figs like lots of light, and they frequently need up to five hours of direct light each day,” says the author. It thrives “near to south- or west-facing windows, or directly in an east-facing window,” according to Greenery Unlimited, and nothing can be anything blocking that light (like a building or trees). Additionally, because it grows toward the sun, you must rotate it once a month.
In addition to these lighting requirements, you also need to gradually introduce sunshine; you cannot expose it to too much sunlight at once. Otherwise, the lovely green leaves of the fiddle-leaf fig can burn and get brown spots. On the other side, too little sunlight will cause its leaves to become brown or yellow, or even worse, fall off. It also hates being moved around a lot since it could lose its leaves. Most likely out of spite. Even if your plant sustains some combat wounds in the process, you’ll finally locate the best location for it, even if it takes some trial and error.
“Adding a grow lamp ($23) is one of the things you can do to supplement that light if you already have a fiddle-leaf fig but feel like it’s not getting enough,” advises Greene. They’re fantastic since you can automatically control how much light it receives each day, especially if they include a timer.
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.