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arnav_sharma

Fiddle leaf fig question

9 years ago

Hi all -- I bought this fiddle leaf fig from Home Depot about a month back. Granted when I bought the tree it wasn't in the best condition (brown tips and some physical damage to leaves), but the plant seems to be looking better since. The issue is now I am starting to see brown (dry/brittle) spots along the edges. No leaves have fallen off the plant. I typically water once every 10-12 days if the top inch is dry. I am also seeing tiny brown dots on some of the leaves (not sure what it is). Any advice on how to take care of the plant. Sits away from a window in an otherwise bright room which gets plenty of afternoon sun.





Comments (3)

  • 9 years ago

    you might want to post this in design dilemma, you've posted in before and after!

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    One of the garden forums might be more helpful with this.

  • 7 years ago

    I realize this is an old post, the owner of which has long since abandoned, but someone might benefit from info about what's occurring. The corky dots are symptoms of a physiological disorder called oedema. The necrotic leaf margins are from over-watering and/or a high concentration of dissolved solids (salts) in the soil solution. It's very common to see choice of a water-retentive medium + over-watering + a high TDS level (roughly the level of salts in the soil solution) to work hand in hand to make manifest in foliage the symptoms illustrated in the images you posted.


    Something I wrote about oedema:

    Oedema

    Oedema is a physiological disorder that can affect all plants. It occurs when the plant takes up more water than it can rid itself of via the process of transpiration. The word itself means 'swelling', which is usually the first symptom, and comes in the form of pale blisters or water-filled bumps on foliage. Under a variety of circumstances/cultural conditions, a plant's internal water pressure (turgidity) can become so high that some leaf cells rupture and leak their contents into inter-cellular spaces in leaf tissue, creating wet or weepy areas. Symptoms vary by plant, but as the malady progresses, areas of the leaf turn yellow, brown, brown with reddish overtones or even black, with older damage appearing as corky/ scaly/ ridged patches, or wart/gall-like bumpy growth. Symptoms are seen more frequently in plants that are fleshy, are usually more pronounced on the underside of leaves, and older/lower leaves are more likely to be affected than younger/upper leaves.

    Oedema is most common in houseplants during the winter/early spring months, is driven primarily by excessive water retention in the soil, and can be intensified via several additional cultural influences. Cool temperatures, high humidity levels, low light conditions, or partial defoliation can individually or collectively act to intensify the problem, as can anything else that slows transpiration. Nutritional deficiencies of Ca and Mg are also known contributors to the malady.

    Some things that can help you prevent oedema:

    * Increase light levels and temperature

    * Monitor water needs carefully – avoid over-watering. I'd heartily recommend a soil with drainage so sharp (fast) that when you to water to beyond the saturation point you needn't worry about prolonged periods of soil saturation wrecking root health/function. Your soil choice should be a key that unlocks the solutions to many potential problems.

    * Avoid misting or getting water on foliage. It slows transpiration and increases turgidity.

    * Water as soon as you get up in the AM. When stomata close in preparation for the dark cycle, turgidity builds. If you water early in the day, it gives the plant an opportunity to remove (for its own needs) some of the excess water in the soil.

    * Put a fan in the room or otherwise increase air flow/circulation. Avoid over-crowding your plants.

    Al