HELP! Fiddle Leaf Fig Brown Spots

7 years ago

Had this fiddle for a month. I water it only when I feel the soil is dry when I stick my finger far in. Faces a north window with plenty of indirect sunlight. Room temp is 72°. Has grown a new leaf since I have had it. The soil isn't very wet but a little moist in the center right now. What could be the cause of these brown spots I am noticing this week? I would really like to further prevent any more spread of these spots.

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Dave

7 years ago

It's Al (Tapla) that came up with the 5:1:1 mix. It's a great mix, if made correctly.

I'd try getting watering on track before anything else.

I would repot if it's rootbound.

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Comments (13)

Liz Rippe
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

Am I overwatering? Should I repot and trim the root ball? As time goes by more brown spots are forming, so I am in need of urgent help!
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Makayla Madden
7 years ago
Literally on exact same boat as you (when I bought fiddle, soil moisture, and now the brown spots) I hope someone answers soon! Mine are spreading quick this week!
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Dave
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Likely overwatering, yes.

Get a wooden dowel and sharpen it. Stick it in the soil all the way to the bottom and pull it out.

If it comes out dark, damp and stained with soil, do not water.

Check with the dowel every couple days and water when you pull it out and it's clean and dry.

Did you repot or pot up the plant? If the answer is yes to either of those, what did you use for soil and does the pot have a drain hole?

if you're in the northern hemisphere, a north facing window offers the lowest light levels. Right up in front of s south facing window would be better.
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Liz Rippe
Original Author
7 years ago
Dave-

I live in Southern Alabama, which is very humid and hot. I have not repotted so it is in the same pot from the nursery. The pot it's in now has a drainage hole and loose soil.

I have been reading your tips for repotting and was looking into purchasing your 5:1:1 mix. Would you recommend I try to repot for drainage purposes?
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Makayla Madden
7 years ago
Hi Dave, where can I buy the 5-1-1 mix?

My fiddle leaf is in this same state, and like Al always says- I could continue to try to water with improper soil and fight that battle, or I could use soil I know will let me water/drain properly and rest easier knowing my roots are healthy and in good soil. I potted up a month ago but am thinking I'll just repot in fresh, good soil I know will be good for my roots, and then make sure to be on a good watering cycle from there. I just hate to think my poor fiddle is sitting in wet soil it can't handle while the top half is bone dry. I'd like to do it ASAP seeing as it's getting past the recommended time/season for reporting and potting up.

Idk, what do you think?
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Dave
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hello, you need to make the 5:1:1 mix. It's not something you can buy pre made.

You'd buy pine bark fines, peat, perlite and dolomite lime and you make it yourself at home.

5 part pine bark fines (pine bark size is important)

1 part peat

1 part perlite

some dolomite lime for calcium and to correct the ph.
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Makayla Madden
7 years ago
I figured, I was hoping someone in the forum who's gotten good at making it might sell it or something!

I tried looking, is there a link to how to properly make it? I thought I saw someone mention cooking it, and then there was people mentioning buying a strainer to strain and sift all the materials... Or do I just buy it all, measure it out, then mix it together?
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Makayla Madden
7 years ago
Also, I bought some of this Black Gold potting mix... Do you know much about it? Would it be something I might be able to use but then just add an ingredient or two? I was given a rubber tree that has been doing amazing and it was planted in this so I was wondering if it would be good for my Fiddle or not... The old mix I added when I potted up

is the third photo....
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Dave
7 years ago
You could use that as the peat portion of the 5:1:1 mix.
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Liz Rippe
Original Author
7 years ago

I went to Home Depot yesterday and purchased cacti soil (instead of peat), perlite, and a bark mixture (they didn't have a good size pine bark so had to get the mixture for finer size). I also added in some dolomite lime. I just mixed this all together right in the pot, put the FLF in and made a little more mix in the old pot for topping off.

When I went to repot the root ball definitely had some brown roots, which I tried to shave off without doing too much. Once I got it all potted I gave it a good watering (just enough to dampen the mix), and we shall see how it works out. Hope I did this right!
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Dave
7 years ago
Did you remove all of the soil soil from the roots? Did you untangle them? How long were they out of the soil?

when switching soil types, that's something that needs to be done.

If you have a mix of a fast draining mix and one that's extremely water retentive in the same pot, you'll just end up with wet spots and dry spots.

Were the brown roots mushy? Or firm? Heathly roots should be white to tan and be firm.
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Liz Rippe
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

Update: After the weekend my FLF is now looking droopy. When I repotted the roots were more brown than a tan color and I read to only shave off about 20% without shaking the soil away. The spots have stopped spreading, but I am now dealing with very droopy leaves on one of the stalks. The leaves are still a nice green color with no yellowing, so that's good.

I will send a pic when I get home, but should I be watering it again since tomorrow will mark one week since it's last watering, or should I wait it out and only water once the wooden dowel shows no sign of moisture? As of this morning it showed wet soil on the dowel.
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