It is never a good idea to ignore any white spots on a fiddle leaf fig. Having white spots on your fig plant means things aren’t going well. So, here the first thing you should do is to determine what is wrong with your plant before it is too late.
Your plant can get white tiny dots too, just like black or brown spots. Your fiddle leaf fig gets these tiny white spots from hard water, overwatering, pest infestation, and more.
However, it’s possible to get rid of white spots on plants by using the right water, misting them with neem oil, and keeping them out of direct sunlight.
The first step to fixing a problem is figuring out what’s wrong. So let’s discuss why your fiddle leaf fig has white spots and what to do to fix them.
White spots on fiddle leaf fig: Causes and How to fix?
Fungal diseases, pests, viruses, and other problems often affect fiddle leaf figs. White spots on fiddle leaf fig leaves can be a common problem. However, there are some solutions to fix them.
But before we start discussing the solution, let us also understand how fiddle leaf white spots occur.
1. Powderly mildew
It is powdery mildew that is most often responsible for white spots. If the leaves on your plant have white powder on them that can be easily rubbed off, your plant likely has powdery mildew.
Fig plants can become infected with powdery mildew, which is a type of fungal infection. On the surface of the leaves, the fungus produces a white or gray powdery substance.
In the early stages of powdery mildew, Fiddle Leaf Fig leaves show small, white spots. Moreover, fiddle Leaf Figs will curl and turn yellow as the infection progresses, and the spots will become larger.
Also, in the absence of treatment, powdery mildew can eventually kill your Fiddle Leaf Fig plant.
How to treat powdery mildew on fig plant?
Removing infected leaves from your plant is one of the best remedies for powdery mildew. By doing so, you will reduce the amount of fungus on your plant and prevent it from spreading.
Also, it’s okay if you don’t have pruning shears, you can remove the leaves by hand.
Moreover, you may need to apply fungicides if the problem is severe. Several types of fungicides are available, however, find one that is designed for powdery mildew. You should only use the fungicide as a last resort and follow the instructions carefully.
It is also possible to make your own fungicide with ingredients that you probably already have at home.
Baking soda and water are two of the most effective homemade fungicides. Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to 1 quart of water. Spritz the mixture onto your plant, covering all the infected areas. Once a week, do this until the problem is resolved.
2. The sunburned fiddle leaf fig
To thrive, Fiddle Leaf Fig plants require bright indirect light. However, too much sunlight can cause the leaves of Fiddle Leaf Figs to turn white.
In a sunny spot, you may notice yellow or brown spots on the Fiddle Leaf Fig leaves. Eventually, these burns will turn white.
How to treat small white spots on fiddle leaf fig caused by sunburn?
You should move your plant to a shadier area as soon as possible. The best place for it is an east-facing window, where it can get morning sun while being protected from the afternoon sun.
Also, by covering your plant’s window with sheer curtains or blinds, you can prevent further sun damage. In this way, the light will be filtered and the leaves will not be burned.
As a result of sunburn, leaves will eventually turn white and fall off. However, your plant will grow new leaves.
Until then, keep an eye on your plant and water it regularly. While recovering from a sunburn, you shouldn’t fertilize your plants until it has fully recovered their leaves.
Moreover, your plant must be properly watered when it is recovering from a sunburn. Don’t water the leaves while the soil is wet, as this can further damage them.
3. Environmental stress
Changes in the environment affect Fiddle Leaf Fig plants. White spots may appear on the leaves if the temperature suddenly drops or rises.
White spots can also be caused by other environmental stressors, such as drafts. Symptoms of environmental stress include wilting leaves, spots, and yellow leaves, among others.
How To Treat Environmental Stress in Fig Plants?
Determine what is causing the stress and remove it. For instance, move the plant to a warmer location if the temperature has dropped suddenly. When there is a draft, move the plant away from the windows or doors.
During times of stress, plants can lose more water than usual. So, make sure the potting soil receives enough water by checking it regularly. Also, it is important to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Adding pebble trays or misting Fiddle Leaf Fig leaves will increase humidity. Also, immediately after removing the plant from the stressful environment and increasing its humidity, give it some time to recover. Within a few weeks, most white spots will fade.
You can prune off severely damaged leaves. It is important to use sharp, clean shears, and to disinfect them before and after use. Trim back to a healthy leaf or node. By doing this, the plant can devote its energy to growing new leaves.
4. Pest infestation
a) Mealybugs
Mealybugs, scale insects, fungus gnats, and spider mites can damage Fiddle Leaf Fig plants. Usually, white spots are most commonly caused by mealybugs.
The tiny, sap-sucking Mealybug feeds on the leaves of plants. A sticky substance called honeydew is excreted from them, which causes sooty mold to grow.
Leaves show small, white spots when mealybugs are present. Eventually, these spots will become larger, and the leaves will yellow and curl.
If left untreated, mealybugs can eventually kill your Fiddle Leaf Fig tree.
How to treat white spots caused by mealybugs?
First, isolate the plant. Pests won’t spread this way. Observe the plant closely, paying attention to the undersides of the leaves.
You are likely to see mealybugs if you see any small, white bugs. If you have mealybugs, you should treat them with insecticidal soap or neem oil. For Fiddle Leaf Fig plants, they are both effective and safe.
Apply soap or oil to bugs using a cotton swab or a soft brush. Make sure you find all the bugs’ hiding places under the leaves and in their nooks and crannies.
It may take several treatments to get rid of the bugs. When using insecticidal soap or neem oil, follow the instructions carefully. If any leaves or stems are infested, remove them after treating the plant. Next, put them in a plastic bag and throw them away.
b) Spider mites
These are extremely tiny bugs. Usually, you will find these bugs on the underside of the fiddle leaves. Moreover, you might notice webs and eggs on these tiny bugs.
Whenever you see any whitish tint on your fig leaf, spider mites are the culprit
How to treat white dots on fiddle leaf fig caused by spider mites?
Wash both sides of the leaves by giving them a thorough shower. Additionally, you can spray on your plant. Mix neem oil and water and spray it on the plant. Make sure to spray the leaves very well and don’t wash the solution.
Repeat the same procedure after 4-5 days.
Moreover, if you have any other infected plants, isolate them immediately to prevent spreading. Or else, you can follow the same treatment on the plant.
5. Mineral build-up
The fig plant suffers from mineral buildup. In this case, the leaves are exposed to water containing high mineral levels, such as calcium or magnesium.
Minerals accumulate on the leaves, causing white spots to appear. If your plant has hard, crusty spots, it has mineral build-up.
The Best Way To Treat Mineral Buildup
With a soft cloth or toothbrush, you can remove mineral buildup from your plant. Rub the spots gently until they disappear.
For better results, try using distilled water instead of tap water. By doing this, you will be able to remove any minerals in the water.
You can install a water softener if you live in an area with hard water. As a result, your water will contain fewer minerals. For indoor plants, you can also use rainwater.
You can collect water from a dehumidifier if you don’t have access to rainwater. Additionally, this will reduce the mineral content of your water.
Besides, it is always possible to keep white spots away from fiddle leaf fig. So, in the next section, we will learn preventive actions against fiddle leaf fig white spots.
How to prevent small white spots on fiddle leaf fig?
If you don’t want white spots on fiddle leaf fig, consider the following tips to prevent white dots:
1. Avoid watering fiddle leaf fig with hard water
You can avoid hard water for your fig by using distilled or rainwater. However, if you live in an area with hard water, consider getting a water filter for your plants.
2. Provide good ventilation and airflow to the plant
Providing good ventilation and airflow to the fig plant will keep powdery mildew at bay. Powdery mildew enjoys moist conditions.
Therefore, it is important to create good ventilation and airflow. You can do this by, opening a window or using a fan in the room where your plant is placed.
3. Keep the fiddle leaf fig leaves clean
You can keep the leaves of fiddle leaf fig clean by regularly dusting or misting. The clean fig leaves will make it difficult for pests to take hold.
To keep leaves clean, use a soft cloth or gently brush to dust the leaves. Moreover, you can use a water spray bottle for misting. However, make sure to use filtered or distilled water to prevent water spots.
4. Protect the plant from the harsh sun
The direct sunlight can scorch the leaves of the fiddle leaf fig plant. Thus, sunburned leaves are more susceptible to pest infestation and disease. Hence, it is better to protect your plant from the harsh sun.
Place your fig plant in an area that receives indirect or filtered light. Additionally, if you live in a hot area, consider placing your fig in a shaded area.
5. Regularly fertilize your fig plant
Fertilizing regularly keeps the fiddle leaf fig plant healthy and thriving. Also, it prevents problems such as disease and pests.
Moreover, always look for a specifically designed fertilizer for fiddle leaf fig. Additionally, feed them every 2-4 weeks during growing. Later, you can reduce the frequency during winter.
Besides, do not avoid the instructions on the fertilizer packaging. Following fertilizing, instructions will prevent over-fertilizing fig.
6. Avoid letting your fiddle leaf fig plant stress out
The most important way to prevent white spots on fiddle leaf figs is to avoid overstressing them. Fig plants can suffer from this when they have moved around too much, are exposed to drafts, or are neglected.
Make sure your plant has a stable environment, and water it regularly. The moment your plant starts stressing out, take immediate action to correct it.
7. Use clean tools on your plants
Working with dirty tools could transfer diseases and pests to the fiddle leaf fig. Hence, use rubbing alcohol or soapy water to clean your tools before using them.
Pruning shears should also be disinfected after each use to prevent the spread of disease. This can be done by dipping the blades in rubbing alcohol or diluted bleach.
8. Check your plants regularly for pests
Pests can quickly threaten fiddle leaf figs. Take action as soon as you notice pests on your plant. It is best to identify this problem as soon as possible to save the plant.
Moreover, it is important to check all your plants for pests regularly to prevent infestations. To make sure new plants do not have pests, you should quarantine them before adding them to your collection.
9. Add a few drops of essential oil to the base
Consider applying essential oil around the base of your fiddle leaf fig to prevent white spots. It can discourage pests and diseases. It is possible to use a variety of essential oils for this purpose. Try lavender oil, peppermint oil, or eucalyptus oil. Put a few drops of oil on a cotton ball and place it around your plant’s base.
10. Avoid overcrowding plants
Be sure to give your fiddle leaf figs plenty of room to grow. In overcrowded conditions, powdery mildew can develop.
Make sure each plant has its own pot so it can spread out. Also, don’t put them too close together.
11. Don’t overwater fig plant
Overwatering figs is one of the most common problems. While this plant likes a lot of moisture, it needs to drain well to avoid root rot.
12. Remove unhealthy leaves
Whenever you see leaves that are unhealthy, prune them off. It helps prevent diseases and pests from spreading.
Also, when pruning, use clean, sharp shears. After each use, do not forget to disinfect the blades.
13. Repotting fiddle leaf fig
It is common for fiddle leaf figs to become rootbound if they are not repotted frequently. In a rootbound plant, the roots can’t grow more and can’t absorb water and nutrients.
Plants need repotting not just when they get root-bound, but also for general wellness. So, once every 2-3 years, repot your fiddle leaf fig in fresh soil mix to give it more nutrition.
To allow the roots to grow freely, consider getting a larger pot. And to drain excess water, make sure there are drainage holes.
Few questions on white dots on fiddle leaf fig leaves
Q.1 What can I do to get rid of white spots on my fiddle leaf fig?
Ans. Fiddle leaf figs can be treated with baking soda as a natural fungicide. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with one quart of water to make a baking soda cleaner. Gently wipe down your plant’s leaves with a soft cloth.
Q.2 Why are there white spots on figs?
Ans. It’s a sign that something is wrong if your fiddle leaf fig leaves have white spots. Hard water damage, sunburn, pest infestation, and fungal infection can cause white spots on Figs.
Q.3 Can fiddle leaf figs get powdery mildew?
Ans. Powdery mildew affects some indoor and outdoor plants, including fiddle leaf figs. It’s often caused by poor air circulation because of overcrowding or an environment without enough air movement.
Conclusion
There are several reasons why you may see white spots on your fiddle leaf foliage. However, it’s good to know, though, that you can treat these white spots with homemade fungicidal/insecticidal solutions and clean the leaves with soapy water.
Still, taking preventive measures is the best way to avoid white spots. When you use the right water, such as distilled water, feed your plant regularly, and keep the leaves clean, white dots can be avoided.
If this article was helpful to you, please share it with others who enjoy figs.
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