Question

Fiddle Leaf Fig   QUESTION: I received this fiddle leaf fig after my grandfather's funeral in February, and seems that I am killing it.  It seemed to be doing good for quite some time but then started to get browning on the tips of the leaves, and they started falling off in mass quantities.  I was watering it once per week, but then felt the soil, and realized it was pretty saturated.  I haven't watered if for nearly 3 weeks, and the soil is still damp.  Could the problem be in the drainage, and maybe it needs to be repotted? Thought that may be the issue, or is it a lack of sun?  I had it in a south facing window and recently moved it to an east facing window, as it seemed to get more sun there.  I am not very good with picky house plants!   I am attaching pictures to hopefully help.  Any advice would be very much appreciated, as I don't know much about this plant.

ANSWER: Hi Alysssa,

Yes, Ficus lyratas can be a bit fussy. They develop brown patches on their leaves if the light and watering are not just right.

As for light, it needs to be located right in front of a window that is completely uncovered throughout the day and is not obstructed outside by trees or buildings. Lyratas don't like to be moved a lot, so find a good spot for it and leave it there.

A bigger concern is soil that is not drying out after 3 weeks. Potting soil that stays wet for more than a week or two will start to rot the roots. In this case, we don't know how long the soil has been wet so we cannot determine how severely the roots are damaged.

If the pot it is planted in does not have a drainage hole, then you will have to replace the pot with one that is the same size, but has a drainage hole. If the existing pot does have a drain hole, then tip the plant on its side and poke a sharp stick or knife through the drain hole and remove anything that might be clogging the hole. Once the hole is cleared, excess water should run out and the soil should gradually dry over the next week or two.

In the future, water your Lyrata only when the top inch of soil feels dry. You may want to remove the Spanish moss top-dressing to make it easier for you to make this determination.

The discolored leaves will never regain their green color and you may want to remove those that are most affected. New growth that comes in should be healthy and green after you get the light and water problems resolved.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


  QUESTION: Thank you for the information.  I took the pot out of the wicker basket (it was lined with plastic that may have been preventing water from draining from the holes in the inner pot).  

As far as removing leaves with discoloring, this affects pretty much all leaves.  Is it bad to remove all the leaves from the plant? It seems that new leaves that come in have the brown spots already when they are little (am attaching a pictures of the leaves).

Can this plant go outside in the summer? I think it would get better sun.  I am in Nebraska, so it is getting warm enough to put plants outside.

Thank you for your help!

Answer
Hi Alyssa,

The plastic lining was definitely keeping the soil sitting in water so root rot is what you are dealing with. New growth leaves will not start to improve until the soil has dried out properly and is kept properly moist for a while. Because the soil has been wet for a long time, it will take a long time for the plant to recover, so patience is important. There are no quick fixes for root rot.

The discolored leaves are symptoms and not causes and, as such, they are a cosmetic issue. I recommend completely removing leaves that are mostly discolored and trimming off brown edges and tips with sharp scissors wherever possible on teh other leaves. The point is to make the plant look a little better. Whatever you do or don't do as far as trimming, it will have no effect on the overall health of the plant.

I don't know what your indoor light options are, but if you cannot provide the light I described previously, then you can move the Lyrata outside to a location where it is in shade all day long. Outdoor light is much more intense than indoor light, so the plant needs protection from any direct outdoor sunlight. Lyrata leaves are like mini-sails and the plant will tip over easily on a breezy day, so keep that in mind, as well. Warm temps and good air circulation will help the soil dry out a bit sooner and that is a good thing. Protect it from night temps below 50 degrees F.

~Will