Jonathan, An interesting observation. Not sure what 'tip' means. Probably you did not mean those dormant 'scale shields' that first drop off at dormancy break, cannot remember the right technical term. Just went out to inspect all my figs trees. Noticed some that fit your description. At this early stage of spring, I noticed some figs with 'still tightly' held buds that looked reddish. On very close examination, I noticed that it is ACTUALLY the underside of the (very young) curled leaves that FIRST shows up, together with their underside veins! This is what gives the 'tip' the red hue. No contradiction here. Then the leaf flips over and the vein red color fades, as it matures. This is what I observed: My 2 HCs (sources: EL and Hartmann) showed it. Sal's (EL) showed it. VdB (EL) showed it. My #4 unknown (Ta Cenc) showed it (wonder what this fig really is!). My #2 (MOST obvious, also observed by Herman last year) and #5 unknowns (supposedly of the Mission fig type) showed it. All other figs none... Specifically looked at the Black Mission and Vista Mission young figs (both) from Jon, and neither showed it! They may in a more advanced leafing out stage. However I did observe the the Vista breba start as a bead-sized, shoe-polish-black color, and then fade away as the figlets grows... George (NJ).

Thanks for the reply Mike! I thought that was a possibility too. We had a miserably hot summer down here in TX this year and it lost a few leaves in a similar manner then as well (not sure if that tells you anything). It has been a bit cooler the past couple of weeks. Got down into the lower 60s upper 50s at night. It would be that cool for a couple of nights and then warm up into the 70s. The plant is probably used to highs in the upper 80s and 90s with lows in the 70s to lower 80s. I say that because I am not sure if the plant will start to drop its leaves for the fall based on the temps that are normal for the climate it is in. However I did move the plant inside and it never gets cooler than 70 there. I read some forum posts on winterizing the plants and that made me think that the cooler temps are to blame. Haven't seen the the ants past couple of days. Maybe the bait worked, not sure though. How do I post a picture of the plant? I don't see anywhere to upload a picture to this post.

Blackspot is a plant disease caused by wind borne fungus spores in water drops.They land on the top of the leaves and when growing looks like circular black spots with irregular edges. The infected leaves will finally turn yellow and drop off. If the disease is severe all the leaves will drop off and the plant will have to grow a new set. The quality of the blooms will suffer and the plant will be weakened. Blackspot can not be cured but it can be controlled. In climates where there is a lot of rain in the summer or high humidity it becomes more prevalent. Blackspot can be controlled best by spraying with a dormant oil and sulphur spray in the early spring before the bush leafs out. Then again in the early summer using at half the strength. There are also other ways to keep it control. Clean up all dead and fallen leaves, water when the sun will dry the leaves off or use drip or soaker type hoses, remove first six inches of leaves from the ground up so splashed water won't jump the spores on the leaves, plus feed and water plants well as a weak or stressed plant will succumb more quickly . Finally choose varieties that are disease resistant.

The container looks small......is the plant getting enough water? Mine will wilt at the top when they are dry. Not sure about the black leaves, I'd remove them. edit: Might help if I read your post :-/, and you say mix is damp.......your plant just looked like my plants when the mix gets dry.