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Why are my fig leaves turning yellow? If you own a fig tree, yellow leaves will be a concern at some point in its life. Questions about yellow fig leaves show up every year on every gardening site and the answers often seem to contradict each other. However, if you look at the short list of the causes of yellow leaves on fig trees, they all have one thing in common: stress. Fig trees and their sweet fruit are gaining popularity with home gardeners across the globe. Once confined to the regions around the Mediterranean Sea, figs are now found everywhere in the world where the winters are mild. The trees are relatively pest free and easy to propagate, so why does that one simple question keep popping up? Why are my fig leaves turning yellow?
If the leaves on your potted fig tree are turning yellow, it’s a sign that something is wrong. Yellowing leaves indicate the plant is stressed and unhealthy. But never fear – in most cases, yellow leaves can be fixed with a few simple changes to care.
Why Potted Fig Leaves Turn Yellow
There are 5 main reasons potted fig trees get yellow leaves:
- Underwatering
- Overwatering
- Potbound roots
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Pests or diseases
Underwatering
Figs need about 1-1.5 inches of water per week In pots, they dry out faster than in the ground If you aren’t watering enough, the leaves will turn yellow and drop. Figs show signs of underwater stress before other trees.
Overwatering
Too much water limits oxygen to the roots. Root rot can set in. Damaged roots can’t take up nutrients, causing deficiency. Yellow leaves leaf drop, and small fruit are symptoms.
Potbound Roots
After a few years, fig roots fill pots. This restricts water and nutrient uptake. Annual root pruning and repotting prevents binding roots.
Nutrient Deficiency
Figs are heavy feeders. Fast-draining potting mix doesn’t hold nutrients. Without fertilizer, figs show signs of nitrogen, iron, zinc, and manganese deficiencies – yellowing leaves!
Pests and Diseases
Spider mites, scale, and thrips suck juices from leaves, causing yellow spots. Viruses and fungal diseases also cause yellowing. Inspect leaves closely to identify pests. Apply appropriate organic treatments.
How to Fix and Prevent Yellow Leaves on Potted Fig Trees
Fortunately, it’s easy to get a potted fig thriving again with consistent care. Here are solutions to reverse and prevent each cause of yellow leaves:
Watering
- Check soil moisture before watering – don’t water on a schedule
- Water when top few inches of soil are dry
- Water until it flows from drainage holes
- Add water retaining amendments like coir and compost
Repotting
- Repot in early spring every 2-3 years
- Prune circling roots
- Choose a pot 2 inches wider than old pot
- Use fast-draining potting mix
Fertilizing
- Fertilize every 2-4 weeks during growing season
- Use complete organic fertilizer like fish emulsion
- Or give monthly balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer
- Test soil and address deficiencies based on results
Pest Management
- Check undersides of leaves for pests
- Remove heavily infested leaves
- Apply insecticidal soap weekly until pests are gone
- Use neem oil to deter and kill pests
- Introduce ladybugs and lacewings to eat pests
Disease Prevention
- Water at soil level, avoid wetting leaves
- Space plants for airflow
- Apply copper fungicide spray at first sign
Other Tips
- Move pot to warmer area in winter
- Prune to open canopy for light and air penetration
- Shelter from strong winds
With a little detective work and TLC, a potted fig tree with yellow leaves can make a full recovery. Consistent care tailored to the plant’s needs makes all the difference. Pay close attention and you’ll be rewarded with healthy green growth and sweet figs in no time!
Reasons for a Fig With Yellow Leaves
Just like people, plants can suffer from stress, and stress is the cause of those yellow leaves on fig trees. The trick is to discover the cause of the stress. There are four areas of stress that will give you a fig tree with yellow leaves.
Water, or its lack, is probably the largest cause of stress for your fig tree. Yellow leaves can be the result of either too much or too little water. We gardeners need to remember where our fig trees originated. The land around the Mediterranean is warm and dry. Fig tree roots grow close to the surface to absorb every drop of rain that falls. The water that isnt absorbed quickly drains through the porous soil. To avoid yellow fig leaves, make sure your trees get water about once a week through rain or your garden hose. Plant your figs in soil that drains well, and dont incorporate moisture retaining additives to the soil when you transplant. Instead, mulch well around the base of your tree to retain more water on the surface.
Has your fig with yellow leaves been transplanted lately? Transplanting from a pot or to a new place in the yard can be stressful and cause the loss of up to 20 percent of the foliage on your fig tree. Yellow leaves can also be the result of fluctuations in temperatures. Temperature changes from the nursery to your yard can be enough to cause leaf drop and if the nighttime temperatures drop below 50 degrees F. (10 C.) outside of the dormant season, the results will be yellow fig leaves. The shock of transplanting normally rights itself, but you can also take steps to prevent transplant shock by ensuring proper planting requirements are met.
Nitrogen is essential to healthy cell growth and division in plants. Without it, chloroplasts (the tiny cell structures that make your plant green) cant provide enough nutrients and energy to your fig. Leaves turning yellow or yellow-green when environmental factors are normal may indicate a deficiency in nitrogen. Yearly fertilization of figs should quickly cure the problem, but dont expect your fig trees yellow leaves to turn green again. Those leaves must fall and be replaced by new, healthy green ones.
Lastly, insect infestation can cause yellow leaves on fig trees. Though rare on healthy trees, scale, spider mites, and mealybugs can all cause enough damage to foliage to cause yellowing and leaf drop. Insecticides or insecticidal soap will easily cure the problem. While yellow leaves on fig trees may be disturbing to the gardener, the condition isnt fatal and with careful attention to the stressors your tree may be suffering, the condition should be easily cured.
Why Are My Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves Turning Yellow? | Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource Center
FAQ
How do you treat yellow leaves on a fig tree?
First Aid for Yellow Leaves
If it’s damp, hold off. If it’s dry, it’s time to hydrate. Water deeply until it drains out the bottom, then let the soil dry out a bit before the next round. Your fig’s thirst varies with the seasons and environment; adjust accordingly.
What does an overwatered fig tree look like?
A telltale sign of too much water and/or root rot in Fiddle Leaf Figs is brown spots near the center of the leaves, as well as around the edges. Multiple yellow almost always means too much water.
How often should I water my potted fig tree?
It’s important to note that even if you’re in the midst of a brown-lawn drought, you don’t want to water too much. Once every 10 days or two weeks is plenty. Worse than dry, thirsty roots is waterlogged, drowning roots.
How do you revive a potted fig tree?
To bring your fig tree back to life, trim away dead parts, give it plenty of sunlight, water it regularly, and use fertilizer. With care and patience, it should recover!