Brown ends on Fiddle Leaf
Any advice on what’s going on here? A handful of mature leaves are turning brown on the ends / tips. Thanks 🍀 #FiddleLeafFig
15” pot
Last watered 2 years ago
8
Hi @Levi, per your plant card, your pot doesn’t have drainage. If this is correct, then you may have root rot. Might I suggest you pull the plant from the pot and check for damages roots? It what I would do if there was no drainage. Your plant may be sitting in a pool of water and the roots are rotting away. I’m also unsure of what the trunk look likes. Could you share a snapshot of the trunk where the leaves meet for signs of pests (if there are any)? This could be a case of bacterial fungus brought on my stagnant wet soil at the roots. This is dependent of whether there is drainage or not. Thank you.
Hi Levi!
Fiddle leaf figs tend to be finicky. Browning leaves usually point to a watering issue, but not all the time.
Since it is winter in New York I would suggest increasing its light. Your plant card says it gets indirect light but these guys love a lot of sun. This year I've been using grow lights and they have been a huge life saver!
Since it can be an indication of inconsistent watering (common with season changes), I'd be sure to check the soil with a kebob stick before you water. When you insert a wooden stick and pull it out you'll know if the soil is still wet (soil sticks) or is dry (soil doesn't stick). In a pot without drainage like yours, water can pool at the bottom and we don't even realize the plant is still too damp. You could always repot it during growing season if this is the case!
Keep us posted and let us know if you need any more assistance!
Oh, one more thing, figs do drop leaves when their spot gets changed. It happens much less when it moves to more light but still reassuring to know if it does happen!
Fiddle leaf figs tend to be finicky. Browning leaves usually point to a watering issue, but not all the time.
Since it is winter in New York I would suggest increasing its light. Your plant card says it gets indirect light but these guys love a lot of sun. This year I've been using grow lights and they have been a huge life saver!
Since it can be an indication of inconsistent watering (common with season changes), I'd be sure to check the soil with a kebob stick before you water. When you insert a wooden stick and pull it out you'll know if the soil is still wet (soil sticks) or is dry (soil doesn't stick). In a pot without drainage like yours, water can pool at the bottom and we don't even realize the plant is still too damp. You could always repot it during growing season if this is the case!
Keep us posted and let us know if you need any more assistance!
Oh, one more thing, figs do drop leaves when their spot gets changed. It happens much less when it moves to more light but still reassuring to know if it does happen!
Hi, there, Levi. Just my two cents: this plant relishes light and humidity.
Think of the BRIGHTEST SPOT in your home- that's where this plant needs to be. I actually move mine FLFs outside in the spring, summer, and fall to encourage more growth.
Down here next to the Mississippi River, we are blessed/cursed with LOTS of humidity and this plant needs humidity too. Some summer days, it can be 100° and 100% humidity and my plants seem to love it!
@PlantMompy also pointed out the seasonal changes going on, so keep in mind, when it's cold, we turn on the heaters and heaters zap the humidity out of the air.
I hope one day my plant can be as big as yours!
Think of the BRIGHTEST SPOT in your home- that's where this plant needs to be. I actually move mine FLFs outside in the spring, summer, and fall to encourage more growth.
Down here next to the Mississippi River, we are blessed/cursed with LOTS of humidity and this plant needs humidity too. Some summer days, it can be 100° and 100% humidity and my plants seem to love it!
@PlantMompy also pointed out the seasonal changes going on, so keep in mind, when it's cold, we turn on the heaters and heaters zap the humidity out of the air.
I hope one day my plant can be as big as yours!
Hey Levi, it looks like your plant could be under watered. The most common cause of fiddle leaf fig brown edges is under watering or not enough water. This will cause FLF leaves to turn light brown starting at the edges. Incase of underwatering your edges will brown first and spread inwards.
If you notice browning in the middle of the leaf along with the edges, it is most likely overwatering and a sign of root rot.
I’ve also seen browning edges as a result of mineral build up in the soil. It’s always good to flush the soil once in a while with distilled water.
Attaching a handy guide to help you narrow down what your plants issue may be.
Hope it helps. Happy Growing
If you notice browning in the middle of the leaf along with the edges, it is most likely overwatering and a sign of root rot.
I’ve also seen browning edges as a result of mineral build up in the soil. It’s always good to flush the soil once in a while with distilled water.
Attaching a handy guide to help you narrow down what your plants issue may be.
Hope it helps. Happy Growing
@Levi the brown spots on your fig appear consistent with a fungal pathogen brownspot. Although fungal diseases need not have a yellow halo, when you see that around the brown areas that is a big indicator that you are most likely dealing with a fungal pathogen. Be on the lookout for these lesions to start becoming mushy and necrotic, if they are not already. I do not believe this is a humidity related issue and I caution you against adding humidity as that will exacerbate a fungal outbreak and could create an ideal environment for the spores to attach to moisture on the leaves of your other plants. I do not believe it is humidity bc the markings on the right leaf—-there are some “islands” and it is not confined to the tip. A risk averse approach would be to go ahead and treat for disease as it can be fatal. The Clemson College of Agriculture advises that for the treatment of fungal leaf spots, like Brown Spot, the use of “sprays of copper soap,” and
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens,” which is a bacteria used to combat the fungus (often referred to as a “bioactive.” ). Bonide Liquid Copper Fungicide RTU (ready to use) Bonide Revitalize Biofungicide RTU.
For Bonide Revitalize, you mix the specified amount of the concentrate into a gallon of distilled water. You feed this into the soil so that the roots absorb it and give the plant systemic resistance. The solution is also utilized a foliar spray, so you will want a spray bottle.
Note: You can use the Bonide concentrate once a week as a soil drench to safeguard against future infections for all your houseplants
Clemson College of Agriculture also recommends removing any infected plant tissue: sterilize sharp scissors with rubbing alcohol and identify the leaves or plant tissue to remove and then remove the leaves, ensuring that the cuts are clean do not lacerate the plant tissue.
Treating fungus can require several applications. Be sure to quarantine the plant, as the pathogen is contagious. Increase ventilation; decrease humidity (as moisture will exacerbate fungus) a small fan can ideal for this. Wipe away an unnecessary moisture when you water and consider using pebbles as a top dressing to reduce exposure between the soil and the leaves.
A paper watering technique safeguards against leaf and brown spot and many potential pests and diseases. I use a long spout watering fan and put it below the leaves to water.
Hope this helps !
For Bonide Revitalize, you mix the specified amount of the concentrate into a gallon of distilled water. You feed this into the soil so that the roots absorb it and give the plant systemic resistance. The solution is also utilized a foliar spray, so you will want a spray bottle.
Note: You can use the Bonide concentrate once a week as a soil drench to safeguard against future infections for all your houseplants
Clemson College of Agriculture also recommends removing any infected plant tissue: sterilize sharp scissors with rubbing alcohol and identify the leaves or plant tissue to remove and then remove the leaves, ensuring that the cuts are clean do not lacerate the plant tissue.
Treating fungus can require several applications. Be sure to quarantine the plant, as the pathogen is contagious. Increase ventilation; decrease humidity (as moisture will exacerbate fungus) a small fan can ideal for this. Wipe away an unnecessary moisture when you water and consider using pebbles as a top dressing to reduce exposure between the soil and the leaves.
A paper watering technique safeguards against leaf and brown spot and many potential pests and diseases. I use a long spout watering fan and put it below the leaves to water.
Hope this helps !
@Levi I do not use AI to diagnose plant diseases as the technology is nascent; however if find it is helpful as a confirmatory measure. I evaluated the picture you send and noted the pattern and yellow halos, which made me suspect brownspot. The AI confirmed it.
