Fig trees are popular additions to home gardens thanks to their tasty fruits and ornamental qualities However, fig trees can develop issues like white spots on the leaves, raising concerns for gardeners. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the common causes of white spots on fig leaves and proven solutions to treat the problems
What Causes White Spots on Fig Leaves?
There are several potential sources of the white spots on fig leaves
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Powdery Mildew – A fungal disease that thrives in humid conditions. It causes white/gray powdery spots that spread across leaves.
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Sunburn – Direct sun scalds leaves, initially causing small pale spots that eventually turn white.
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Pests – Insects like mealybugs secrete honeydew that supports sooty mold growth (white spots).
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Environmental Stress – Fluctuations in temperature, light, or drafts stress the plant, causing spotting on leaves.
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Mineral Deposits – Water droplets containing dissolved minerals evaporate and leave white mineral crusts on leaves.
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Bacterial Infections – Bacteria like Pseudomonas syringae infect the leaves through openings, causing water-soaked spots that turn white.
Treating White Spots on Fig Leaves
Once you’ve identified the cause, you can take action to treat the issue:
For Powdery Mildew:
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Improve air circulation around the plant.
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Apply fungicidal sprays like neem oil weekly until the spots are gone.
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Remove and destroy infected leaves to prevent spreading.
For Sunburn:
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Move plant to a shadier location with bright, indirect light.
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Add a sheer curtain to filter harsh sunlight.
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Avoid fertilizing and just give regular water until it recovers.
For Pests:
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Apply insecticidal soap spray to kill bugs, getting under leaves too.
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Remove badly infested leaves/stems and destroy them.
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Consider using predatory insects like ladybugs to control pest populations.
For Environmental Stress:
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Eliminate sources of stress like drafts, heaters, cold windows.
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Provide adequate watering and humidity.
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Acclimate plant slowly when moving to a new location.
For Mineral Deposits:
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Wipe leaves with soft cloth to gently remove crusty deposits.
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Use distilled or rain water instead of tap water.
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Install a water softener if you have hard water.
For Bacterial Infections:
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Prune off infected leaves and destroy them.
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Apply copper-based bactericidal sprays.
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Improve air circulation and spacing between plants.
Preventing White Spots on Fig Leaves
Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to fig tree issues. Here are some tips:
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Choose disease-resistant fig varieties like Celeste, Brown Turkey, and Chicago Hardy.
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Water at the soil level rather than wetting leaves to reduce disease and deposits.
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Space plants properly and prune for optimal air flow.
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Check new plants thoroughly for pests before bringing indoors.
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Use row covers/shade cloth to protect from harsh sun.
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Avoid overhead watering late in the day.
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Apply preventative, organic fungicides before disease appears.
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Water with distilled or rainwater to prevent mineral buildup.
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Ensure proper lighting, temperatures, humidity for your variety.
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Clean up fallen leaves and debris around plants promptly.
When to Seek Professional Help
If you’ve tried the above treatments and prevention methods with no improvement, the fig tree likely requires professional care. Seek help from a plant nursery, garden center, or certified arborist if you notice:
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Rapid leaf drop or defoliation
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White spots covering most leaves
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Shriveled, dying shoots
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Visible signs of infestation like webbing or bugs
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Oozing lesions or sunken cankers
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Stunted growth and lack of new shoots
These symptoms indicate a severe case of disease, pests or environmental problems that require expert diagnosis and treatment. Specialized fungicides, pesticides or antibiotics may be necessary to save the plant.
White spots on fig leaves can be caused by various problems like pests, diseases, and environmental factors. With proper diagnosis, treatment and prevention methods, you can maintain a healthy, productive fig tree. Seek professional help if home remedies don’t resolve serious, widespread issues. With vigilance and care, you can enjoy the delights of fresh figs from your own backyard tree for years to come.
Common problems with fiddle leaf figs
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As mentioned previously, the most common problem with fiddle leaf figs is over-watering. You can usually spot signs of over-watering by observing the leaves – yellowing or droopy leaves are a sure sign that your plant is getting far too much moisture in its roots. To avoid root rot and infection, it is vital to resolve this issue as soon as you notice it. Move the plant to sunnier spot and reduce the frequency of watering until your plant is healthy again.
The large leaves of this plant are a useful way of discerning the issues it may be facing. Brown spots usually mean that the air is too dry or it’s been handled too much. One quick way to resolve the issue of air dryness is to mist your fiddle leaf fig leaves every other week. As for being handled too much? Make sure the plant is in a low-traffic area and away from curious hands (including yours!).
White spots on the leaves of the fiddle leaf fig is a sign that the water you’re using may be too hard. The white spots are essentially mineral residue from the water, and require removal to restore the vibrant shine of the leaves. Start by spraying a combination of purified or distilled water and a little bit of detergent-free soap like castile soap onto the leaves, then gently wipe away the hard water spots with a microfiber cloth. Finish off the clean-up by thoroughly rinsing the plant with water.
If you have droopy leaves, just know that it could be a sign of several issues. The most common cause is shock, which usually happens when a fiddle leaf fig tree has been moved. It could also be either over-watered, or dehydrated. Consider your watering schedule and adjusting accordingly, remembering to always let the soil dry out completely between waterings.
Caring for a fiddle leaf fig tree
The first thing to invest in when welcoming a fiddle leaf fig to your home is a premium potting mix. A moist, humus-rich soil with a PH of 6-7 is best. It’s also important that the soil is well aerated and fast draining, because this plant prefers a relatively dry soil to avoid drowning its roots. Soil that remains wet can lead to a host of problems, including the (unwanted) introduction of fungus or bacteria into its root system, and even root rot, which is the one thing that will kill any plant.
As mentioned before, this plant’s origins mean that it requires a lot of sunlight. In general, at least 6 hours of indirect sunlight is required to keep this plant happy when indoors. Positioning it near an eastern-facing window of your home is highly recommended. If you intend to place it outdoors, a partially shaded position is best.
The fiddle leaf fig tree requires frequent watering in spring and summer when it does most of its growing, but generally slows down growth almost completely and requires very little watering in colder weather. In general, the rule of thumb is to allow the soil to completely dry out between each watering, regardless of the climate. Over-watering is one of the main killers of this plant, so it’s best to err on the side of under-watering until you get the watering schedule just right!
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During high growth periods, you can support your plant’s growth by feeding it with a controlled-release fertiliser at the beginning of spring, followed by water soluble fertiliser every month up until autumn.
An additional requirement for this finicky plant is limited movement of air. So avoid placing it anywhere with drafts, like air conditioners or heaters. Also, in spite of its name, this plant doesn’t enjoy being fiddled with too much – avoid touching it often, and definitely avoid moving it around too much.
To make sure fiddle leaf plants grow at a steady rate, it needs a re-potting every couple of years or so. To do this, make sure to prepare a slightly bigger pot or planter that has good drainage. Fill this pot with approximately 4 inches of potting mix before carefully removing the plant from its old pot and placing it into its new pot. After that, just make sure to fill the sides of the pot with more soil, and you’re all done!
To recap, the fiddle leaf fig needs sun, but not too much or too little. It also needs water, but not too little and never too much. It also needs to be left alone most of the time, unless you are gently wiping its leaves to remove dust buildup.
While it is clear that the fiddle leaf fig tree is gorgeous to behold, but it isn’t the easiest plant to manage! So although these tips will help you on your way to having a happy and healthy fiddle leaf fig, bear in mind that your approach to its care might need tweaking until it is perfected.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Care | Houseplant How-to Ep 18
FAQ
How to treat white spots on fig leaves?
White spots can be caused by powdery mildew, fungus, or hard water stains (use filtered or distilled water instead). Leaf drop can be due to shock, dry conditions, or root rot. Provide consistent lighting, watering, and temperature conditions to help your plant recover.
Why do my figs have white spots?
… on your Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Dried Figs, you might think it’s mold, but more likely, it’s actually naturally occurring fruit sugar crystals
How do you get rid of white spots on leaves?
If your indoor or outdoor plant has a mild case of powdery mildew with white spots affecting just a few leaves, spritzing horticultural oil on the leaves can …
How do you treat powdery mildew on fig trees?
- A 10% milk solution – simply mix milk and water and give your plants a thorough spray.
- Baking soda fungicide solution – to 500ml water, add one to three teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda, one teaspoon of vegetable oil, a little squirt of eco-detergent to act as an emulsifier.