6 Simple Steps to get rid of White Spots on Fiddle Leaf Figs
Fiddle leaf fig is all about those fiddle leaves and the plant gives tantrums sometimes if you are one’s parent. But white spots can be an indication of the problem and stress that your fiddle leaf fig might be facing. Here we will be discussing a few useful and simple steps to get rid of White Spots on Fiddle Leaf Figs.
Quick takeaways:
- You know the leaves of fiddle leaf fig plants should be spotless and all that lush green to bring elegance to the house or any spot.
- There are various causes of white spots on fiddle leaf figs and also it is not difficult to get rid of those White Spots on Fiddle Leaf Figs.
The white spots look weird! But what are these spots and why do they appear? In this article, we will give you the easy steps to beat the white spot problem on the fiddle leaf fig plants after understanding the causes. So let’s get started without further ado!
What are the white spots on fiddle leaf figs?
Is your house water hard or soft? You need to check this because the fiddle leaf fig leaves might be getting affected by the hard water and showing these white spots. These can actually be due to mineral depositions that are caused due to watering the fiddle leaf fig with hard water and keeping the leaves wet for a long time.
- Another reason can be humidity. If the humidity is too high in the room then fungal growth can easily happen to lead to powdery mildew.
- Too much dust on the leaves of fiddle leaf figs can also cause white spots to appear on the fiddle leaf fig leaves.
- The scorching heat or the direct sunlight can be the reason as well the pigment called chlorophyll responsible for the green color, got lightened. The strong sunlight can affect the leaves that also have large surfaces to lose pigment.
- Pest infestation and invasion can be affecting the fiddle leaf fig plants and make them weak to do the functions in a regular way and the pigment starts to get lost.
- Though the main pests of fiddle leaf fig plants are the spider mites that create a small white-colored web on the leaves of the plant. The leaves if not treated with pesticides can get to the color of yellow and fall off.
6 Simple Steps to get rid of White Spots on Fiddle Leaf Figs
1. Choose a spot that is not harsh
The fiddle leaf fig leaves get too dry and easily develop spots if the plant is getting the strong intensity of light. The sunlight that is direct can harm the leaves of fiddle leaf fig plants.
The spot that you choose for the fiddle leaf fig plants whether they are potted or not should be providing indirect sunlight to the fiddle leaf fig plants.
The south or west-facing windows are perfect if you want to place them indoors. Direct sunlight is not filtered and can easily affect the surface of leaves with a loss of chlorophyll pigment.
2. Clean the leaves
The large leaves of the fiddle leaf fig should be kept clean. The mineral in the hard water gets deposited on the leaves which on the right time inspection can be cleaned easily. You can use alcohol, a spray bottle, and a soft cloth.
Spray some alcohol onto the soft cloth and wipe the leaves of fiddle leaf fig plants. The alcohol solution will help the mineral get dissolved well and give clean leaves.
The leaves need to be cleaned otherwise the leaves will turn brown. You can use vinegar as well.
“God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures”
– By Francis Bacon
3. Use baking soda solution
The baking soda solution is a great pesticide to get rid of powdery mildew and fungal infections which might be causing the white spots on the fiddle leaf fig plants.
Make a baking soda solution by adding 2 tablespoons to a gallon of water. Spray the solution over the fiddle leaf fig leaves.
4. Organic pesticide
Using the pesticide can help get rid of pests that might be sucking the sap of the fiddle leaf fig plants and making them weak which can be indicated by white spots on the leaves. A pesticide chemical can be harmful to plants so you can make organic pesticides on your own.
Neem oil is a great natural pesticide that can help in killing pests and even deter them. Make a solution and spray the neem oil on the plant. This will help too.
5. Fertilizing the plant properly
Fiddle leaf fig plants for shiny and healthy leaves need good nutrition and vital nutrients should be in the soil.
The soil of fiddle leaf fig plants needs to be fertilized well. The plant needs dilute fertilizer one time a month with an NPK ratio of 3-1-2. The fertilizer should have high nitrogen. Avoid fertilizing the plant in the winter season.
6. Repot the fiddle leaf fig plant
The fiddle leaf figs need a good pot with proper size and good draining ability. The pot size might be small you used which made the plant root bound and deteriorated the quality of roots making them unable to absorb the nutrients from the soil.
Nutrients when they are not reaching the parts properly can cause spots on the leaves and stem too. Repot the plant in the pot that is larger than the one you are using right now. Make sure the pot is not too big which can lead to overwatering of fiddle leaf fig plants.
Summing up the context
Whether they are the hard water white spots on the fiddle leaf fig leaves or due to other reasons, in this article we have added all the information that you should know to control white spots on the fiddle leaf fig plants. We hope you like this article and find it helpful. We are happy to hear from you.
Happy growing up! Happy caring!
FAQs
1. What kills fiddle figs?
The overwatering really does kill the fiddle leaf figs, the soil should have good drainage so that water doesn’t stand and affect the roots. Though other reasons can be pests, fungal infections, sunlight, etc.
2. How often should I mist my fiddle leaf fig?
Misting new leaf buds is a good idea, but only the lead buds, and not so much that water drips down the other leaves. Mist your new baby buds a few times per week, and use a clean, soft cloth to gently dab up extra water if desired. In a dry climate, you can still grow a healthy fiddle leaf fig.
