Have you ever seen powdery mildew on a fiddle leaf fig? This can look like white, powdery, fluffy stuff growing on your fig leaves.
Your mind might immediately jump to mold because it does look a lot like the fluffy mold you might get on bread or fruit left out too long.
But you might actually be looking at powdery mildew. Credit: Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource Group
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that can affect certain indoor and outdoor plants, including fiddle leaf figs. It’s often caused by poor air circulation due to overcrowding or just a lack of air movement in the environment.
It starts as small, chalky white or gray spots on your fiddle leaf fig leaves that grow larger and fluffier over time. It comes off easily when you rub it with your finger (don’t go nuts with this, though, because you don’t want those spores to spread!).
The problem with powdery mildew is that, in addition to being unattractive, it can weaken your fiddle leaf fig and make it more vulnerable to pests, other diseases, and eventually kill your tree! It can also spread easily to other susceptible houseplants, so it’s important to nip it in the bud as soon as you notice an issue.
White spots on fig leaves are a common issue that can have several potential causes. Left untreated, these spots can damage leaves, reducing the plant’s health and fruit production. In this article, we’ll examine the various reasons behind white spots on figs and effective treatment options.
What Causes White Spots on Fig Leaves?
There are four main culprits that can lead to the appearance of white spots on fig foliage
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Powdery Mildew – The most common cause of white spots on figs is powdery mildew, a fungal disease. It appears as white-gray powdery spots that spread across the leaf surface. Powdery mildew thrives in humid, stagnant conditions.
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Hard Water Deposits – Fig trees irrigated with hard tap water containing dissolved minerals can accumulate white crusty deposits on their leaves over time.
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Pests – Insects like spider mites, thrips, and scale can all puncture fig leaves while feeding, causing small white stippling damage. Check for tiny bugs on the undersides of leaves.
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Sun Scald – Intense sunlight can burn fig leaves, resulting in bleached white patches, especially if the plant sits right against a window.
Treating White Spots on Fig Leaves
Once you’ve diagnosed the cause of the spots, prompt treatment can restore the fig tree’s health and appearance. Here are some effective solutions:
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Improve Airflow – Powdery mildew thrives in stagnant, humid air. Increase airflow around plants through fans, open windows, proper spacing, etc.
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Prune Infected Leaves – Remove badly infected leaves to prevent disease spread. Sterilize pruning shears after each cut.
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Use Fungicidal Sprays – Treat powdery mildew with neem oil, baking soda spray, or commercial fungicides.
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Control Pests – Insecticidal soaps, neem oil, and horticultural oils kill mites, thrips, scale, and other insects.
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Filter Water – Prevent hard water deposits by using distilled, filtered, or rain water for irrigation.
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Provide Sun Protection – Move figs away from hot windows and use sheer curtains to prevent sun scald damage.
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Apply Preventative Fungicide – Use fungicides labeled for powdery mildew regularly to protect healthy plants.
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Increase Light – Powdery mildew often develops in low light areas. Move plants into brighter, indirect light.
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Avoid Overhead Watering – Water at the soil line instead of from the top down to keep leaves dry.
With persistence using multiple integrated treatment methods, white spots can be controlled and the fig tree restored to health. Be sure to sterilize tools and gloves between plants to prevent disease spread.
Key Takeaways on White Spots on Fig Leaves
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Act quickly when white spots appear to prevent leaf loss and fungal spread.
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Powdery mildew is the most common cause, requiring airflow improvements and fungicide.
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Pests like mites can also cause white stippling damage – treat with insecticidal soaps or oils.
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Prevent hard water leaf spots by irrigating with distilled or rain water.
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Improve preventative care through proper light, watering technique, airflow, and fungicides.
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Remove and destroy infected leaves/prunings to prevent reinfection.
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Isolate affected plants away from other fig trees and houseplants during treatment.
With the right diagnosis and treatment regimen, your fig tree can recover from white spots and continue producing abundant fruit and healthy leaves for years to come. Be vigilant in monitoring for symptoms and take action at the first sign of spots.
#4: Treat with our Houseplant Leaf Armor.
If you can’t remove the affected leaves or if the fungus spreads anyway, apply our Houseplant Leaf Armor to the leaves every few days. We created this product to treat fungus as well as bacteria and insects. It works just like neem oil but without the unpleasant smell. This will smother the fungus and protect the leaves from further infection.
#3: Remove the affected areas if possible.
If you notice powdery mildew on just a few leaves, you can remove them with a sharp, clean pair of pruning shears. (Note: Make sure to thoroughly clean the shears afterward so you don’t infect other plants!) As with regular pruning, you can remove up to 10% of the leaves without shocking your fiddle leaf fig.
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.
How do you treat powdery mildew on fig trees?
Airflow is the key to preventing and treating powdery mildew on a fiddle leaf fig. Turn on a fan (but don’t point it at the tree), open some windows and doors, and make sure the plant has plenty of room.
How do I treat white spots on my plant leaves?
Baking soda solution: Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda and ½ teaspoon liquid soap such as Castile soap (not detergent) in 1 gallon of water. Spray liberally, getting top and bottom leaf surfaces and any affected areas.
What are the white specks on my figs?
This common occurrence is called sugaring on figs. The process sometimes happens in exceptionally sweet dried figs. It happens when the natural fruit sugars crystallize on the surface and appears as white powder on dried figs.