Tiny Black Dots on Fiddle Leaf Fig- Remove Within a Short Time

As fiddle leaf fig is a lovely houseplant, plant lovers want to keep it in their garden to enrich their collection. But what if you see tiny black dots on fiddle leaf fig? 

By researching this problem, we can list down some common reasons like fig rust, overwatering, bacterial infection, pest attack, sunburn, cold attack, natural annihilation, etc. which are responsible for the deterioration of these leaves.

If you are one of those who are facing such issues, then here is your solution to save your plant from such disappointing matters. Scrolling below, you may know about the causes and quick solutions to the facts that are creating these black spots.

For your convenience, a quick overview of the causes and their solutions are presented below

Causes

Quick solution

Fig rustRemove the affected leaves and spray fungicide 
Bacterial infection Use bactericide or neem oil or baking soda
Overwatering Water when the soil is dry
Pest attackUse pesticide or baking soda
SunburnAvoid falling scorching afternoon sunlight on your plant
Cold attackTry to keep plants away from frost
Natural annihilation Remove affected leaves 

What Causes Black Spots on Fiddle Leaf Fig- Quick Solution

Fiddle Leaf Fig Black Dots

1. Fig Rust

At the initiation of the list, we want to narrate about the disease “Fig rust” that is responsible for the black spots in fiddle leaf fig. Fig rust is mainly a fungal disease caused by the fungus Cerotelium fici. It normally attacks the leaves.

Rust is a type of fungal disease in which a specific fungus attacks its target plant and destroys the color pigments remaining in the leaf. As a consequence, that leaf cannot produce food for itself and that portion becomes discoloured being black. This discoloration or becoming black is called rust.

As Cerotelium fici creates rust in only fiddle leaf fig, it is called fig rust. This fungal attack may lead your plant to death if you don’t take initiative immediately after seeing this. So check the solution below.

Solution

  • Remove the affected leaves as fast as possible 
  • Spray industrial fungicide to remove the fungus (Our pick: Monterey LG 3174 Ready to Use Fungicide & Bactericide)
  • Try to provide a proper light source to your plant as fungal growth is enhanced in shady condition 
  • Check the humidity level in the root zone and the microenvironment of the plant. If the humidity is too excessive, make it lower
  • The latter can be a neem oil recipe or a baking soda solution.

You can mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 gallon of water and then spray it on the plant. 

Again, you may mix one tablespoon of concentrated neem oil with 1 gallon of water, 1 teaspoon liquid soap, and ¼ teaspoon aloe vera powder together and thus make your neem oil recipe. After that, spray or apply it with a hand to the affected leaves or plant parts.

2. Bacterial Infection

Next, we will talk about bacterial infection. Bacteria called Xanthomonas campestris creates black spots on fiddle leaf fig. The leaves are most susceptible to these bacteria.

Bacteria affect the internal metabolism of the leaves. They suck the cell sap and consequently, black spots are initiated in those parts. The most disastrous part is bacteria can spread easily and fast in the other parts of the plants. So it has to be checked at the very beginning of the affection.

Solution

3. Overwatering

After that, you should know about overwatering. Overwatering sometimes also creates black dots on the leaves. This happens because of root rot.

If you cannot manage your watering with temperature and humidity, it will create a water logging situation in the root zone. Such a condition can also happen to poor drainage systems.

Well, when water cannot be removed properly and it stands, the root zone will start to rot. Root rot creates stress for the whole plant. That’s why we get different kinds of spots on leaves and other problematic issues.

Solution

  • Go for repotting your plant if the root damage is severe after cutting the leaves.
  • Check out the water level in the soil before watering. 
  • Avoid watering frequently if the 1 inch of the soil is wet.
  • It is better to water once a week depending on the season.

4. Pest Attack

Not only fungus or bacteria but also pests can create black dots on fiddle leaf figs. In this respect, we can mention the names of scales, mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites.

All of these insects bite the leaves of the plant and suck the cell sap from the plant. Whenever they do so, the leaves completely lose their nutrition to be nourished and developed. Hence, we can see black spots on those leaves in the absence of food and nutrition.

Solution

  • Cut off all the affected leaves
  • Use insecticide for their destruction (Our pick: Safer 5118-6 Insect Killing Soap Concentrate)
  • Spray or use baking soda or neem oil recipe as a homemade remedy as we suggested before.
  • Repotting is necessary if the root zone is affected.

5. Sunburn

Sunburn is prominently happening in areas of hot weather. It is a common issue in the summer season in tropical regions. Fiddle leaf figs like moderate sunlight that is bright but indirect.

In case of excessive heat, the scorching sunlight makes the leaves burn by their UV light, and there initiate black spots on the leaves which are exposed to the sun. Thus, sometimes sunburn causes black spot issues to the fiddle leaf fig.

Solution

  • Try to keep your fiddle leaf fig in bright but indirect sunlight. 
  • Early morning sunlight is better for their growth whereas afternoon sunlight creates problems.  

6. Cold Affect

Following the previous point, the cold effect can also be stressful for a fiddle leaf fig. It has a moderate amount of temperature requirement which is a crucial factor.

If the temperature goes below the minimum level, the activities occurring inside the plant get threatened. As a result, the metabolism of the plant is stopped and this problem is exhibited in the plant leaves by small black spots.

Solution 

If you are from a temperate region, try to place your fiddle leaf fig in such a place where it does not face temperature fluctuation problems.

7. Natural Annihilation

Finally, we are at the point of natural annihilation. It is a natural process of the destruction of leaves. Though such leaves show brown or yellow spots, sometimes black spots are also a sign of their maturity. Such leaves get matured and they die naturally by converting the small dots into whole black leaves.

Solution

As it is a natural issue, you don’t need to be worried about it. Just remove the old leaves from the plant.

Caring Guide for Fiddle Leaf Fig

Here are provided some optimum conditions that are mandatory for the proper establishment of fiddle leaf fig-

SunlightBright indirect sunlight of 8-10 hours
WaterOnce a week when 2-3 inches of soil is dry
Soil typeWell drained soil having a pH of 5.5-7.0
Temperature 60 to 80° F
Humidity Maximum 65%
Pruning 2-3 inches should be cut once a month 
Maintenance Aeration by hand hoe is beneficial for plant growth

Edema Fiddle Leaf Fig

Red Spots on Fiddle Leaf Fig

Edema is a stress condition of fiddle leaf fig which is exhibited by creating red spots on leaves. It is related to the black spots by moisture level as edema is caused because of improper moisture conditions.

Both of these effects are related to watering perfection and that’s why you need to be sure by differentiating between red spots and black spots.

FAQs

Can the root rot problem be solved by repotting?

Certainly! If the roots are damaged, you should prepare a well-drained nutritious soil mixture and complete the repotting safely. But if the roots are damaged, repotting may not save your plant.

Can hot wind make black spots on fiddle fig?

Yeah! It can make it so. But it needs continuous blowing of scorching wind for a few days to burn the leaf and create black spots.

Which is the major reason behind black spots on fiddle leaf fig?

It is fig rust. The attack of these fungi is the major reason behind the initiation of the black spots.

Do fiddle leaf figs need more maintenance than other houseplants?

Yes! Fiddle leaf fig needs perfect maintenance because if the required materials are not suitable, the foliage part will be damaged.

Final Thoughts

At last, we are at the finishing line of our topic tiny small dots on fiddle leaf fig. As we discussed, the attack of different pathogens not only can create spots on the leaves but also may destroy your whole plant.

At the same time, if you are not careful about the environmental factors, that will create inconvenience for your plant and disastrous symptoms will be seen.

So, try to find out your problem and get your solution from our list. Hopefully, you can save your beautiful fiddle leaf fig from dying or from losing its beauty.

James Rivenburg
James Rivenburg
James Rivenburg

James Rivenburg is the founder of plantandpest.com, a passionate gardener with valuable experience and knowledge gained through trial and error. The website has a large community of followers who trust his tips and techniques and have succeeded with his advice. He is always Committed to helping others create a beautiful and healthy garden.

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