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What are white spots on fiddle leaf figs and how to save your plant?

A common type of indoor plant is the fiddle leaf fig tree, or Ficus lyrata. This stunning house plant has enormous, lustrous, shining leaves that lend any room a hint of sculptural elegance.

But white spots on fiddle leaf figs will make it lose that beauty. This symptom is very common in fiddle leaf figs and it can have a devastating effect on these green foliage. So, how to save your plant from those white spots?

How do white spots look on fiddle leaf figs? 

Tiny white dots on fiddle leaf figs

Tiny white dots on fiddle leaf figs

Since the leaves are dark green, you will easily see the white dots if they appear.

At first, you will only see tiny white dots, scattered on the leaves. But after a few days, you will notice these white dots get larger in size, and many white dots that are close together can merge into a larger white patch.

These white dots can appear at the same time as brown dots, and they will develop into large white/brown patches over time.

What causes white spots on fiddle leaf figs? How to fix them? 

There are many reasons for the appearance of white dots on the leaves of fiddle leaf figs. However, if you notice your tree experiencing this problem, you should consider the following common reasons.

Powdery mildew on leaf

According to some, the leaves of fiddle leaf fig plants have powdery mildew. The plant does not have this characteristic. A fungus infection is more likely. It generates powdery, fleecy spots on the leaves that give them a discolored appearance.

First, you should make sure you know how to water a fiddle leaf fig. Overwatering, in particular, is a contributing factor in the majority of fungus infection-related issues.

Fungal infections are harmful because, if left untreated, they do progress to cause more severe harm.

Excess lighting

New plant owners might not be aware that plants can become sunburned just like people do. Direct sunlight is not good for all plants.

A rich green leaf (like a Fiddle Leaf Fig) might develop white spots if it receives too much exposure to the sun’s piercing rays. The fiddle leaf fig does like strong light, but not direct sunshine.

Therefore, you can move them in filtered light or partially shaded areas. If there are further leaf symptoms, they will show whether the white spots are specifically brought on by sunlight.

Pest infestation

The majority of plants have bug enemies. Pests can become a nuisance for plant owners, but they can be very dangerous and even fatal to delicate plants.

Mealybugs might be thought of as the ever-present hostile intruder in the world of insects and pests. The mealybug’s body is covered in a white material that resembles wax. They also enjoy hiding out under foliage.

An organic pesticide treatment is your greatest bet for controlling these perennial plant pests. Organic pesticides employ fewer or no chemicals than conventional pesticides, which could harm other components of our ecosystem.

How to prevent white spots on fiddle leaf figs? 

How to prevent white spots on fiddle leaf fig plants?

How to prevent white spots on fiddle leaf fig plants?

White spots on leaves not only affect the beauty of the plant, but can also kill the leaves and spread to other leaves. So here are the ways that you can use to prevent white spots from appearing on leaves.

Avoid direct sun

As we all know, sunburn is caused by exposure to direct sunlight, therefore keeping the plant out of the sun is a simple approach to avoid it.

In the case of the sun, once a leaf has been burned, it cannot be repaired. Place your plant indoors in a location where it will always have at least a sheer curtain blocking the sun. Making sure your plant has enough humidity is also beneficial.

Use distilled water

While this is not a very common reason, white spots can also appear due to hard water. This one is simple to solve. You will need to buy a filter or distilled water if the water in your neighborhood is hard. Leaving some water out overnight will allow its constituents to settle.

Be careful with pests

Neem oil spraying once a week (or twice a fortnight) can help keep mealybugs from making a permanent home in your plant. In addition to helping with other pests, the oil will also help those lovely leaves shine.


Conclusion

White spots have always been one of the enemies of fiddle leaf figs. But with the above sharing, hopefully you have gained useful information to deal with them and protect your fiddle leaf figs.

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