Why are my figs leaves curling? (2023)

Why are my figs leaves curling?

When the soil is dry and the fiddle leaf fig leaves curling inward, that is a sign that the plant is not getting enough water. This can also lead to the plant's leaves feeling dry and crumbling, leaf drop, stunted growth, and wilted stems and leaves.

Leaf curl in figs is caused by lack of moisture or Taphrina deformans, a fungus that curls the leaves of peach, nectarine, almond, fig and other ornamental fruit trees.

In order to avoid curling leaves due to soil that is too soggy, always allow the top inch or two (approximately 2.5 to 5 cm.) of soil to dry out. Always use pots with drainage holes. Allow water to completely drain away after watering and never allow your potted plant to sit in water for extended periods of time.

When leaves curl or 'cup' at the tips and the margins, the plant is trying to retain moisture. Any form of downwards curling usually indicates overwatering or overfeeding.

Symptoms of an overwatered Fiddle Leaf Fig

A telltale sign of too much water and/or root rot in Fiddle Leaf Figs is brown spots near the center of the leaves, as well as around the edges. Multiple yellow almost always means too much water.

Figs don't like wet feet, so don't water too often. Allow the tree to dry a bit between watering. Remember to water slowly and deeply; just don't overwater. Every ten days to two weeks is sufficient.

For proper indoor creeping fig care, the soil should be kept moist but not overly wet. It is best to check the top of the soil before watering. If the top of the soil is dry, it needs to be watered. You will want to fertilize your creeping fig in the spring and summer about once a month.

Leaf curl can be controlled by applying sulfur or copper-based fungicides that are labeled for use on peaches and nectarines. Spray the entire tree after 90% of the leaves have dropped in the fall and again in the early spring, just before the buds open.

The most common method of treating leaf curl is to spray sulfur or copper after leaf drop in the fall and again in the spring. Conventional thought is that once the leaves are infected, there is nothing you can do to fix it during the season. And that you need to wait until fall.

The symptoms of leaf curl disease are very complex, and the typical symptoms include leaf curling, puckering of leaves, vein yellowing, stunting, excessive branching, from pale yellowing to deep yellowing, and smalling of leaves [6].

Can plants recover from leaf curl?

There is no leaf curl treatment for herbicide-caused damage, but depending on the level of exposure, the plant may not die. If the chemical does not kill the plant, it should eventually recover and put out new, healthy growth.

These are the classic symptoms of a Calcium and Magnesium deficiency. If you've been adding a Cal/Mag supplement, then it's possible you have nutrient lockout due to pH fluctuation. Typically, low pH levels will cause the plant to become unable to take in Magnesium and result in the kinds of problems you're describing.

Figs need two things to thrive: sunshine and elbow room. Select a spot that provides at least six hours of sun daily. In colder regions, help figs survive winter by giving them a southern exposure or placing them near a south-facing wall that will retain heat.

Growing figs in containers is actually quite easy especially if you choose a dwarf variety like the Little Miss Figgy or a small fig tree like the Celeste. But even the larger figs like Brown Turkey or Chicago Hardy can be grown in reasonably sized container with some extra pruning.

A general-purpose fertilizer with an analysis of 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 is fine. It's easy to overdo it with stronger fertilizers. It's best to provide fertilizer for fig trees only when the tree shows symptoms of slow growth or pale leaves, but there are a couple of exceptions where fig trees need regular feedings.

Don't ask this plant to grow in heavy soils that do not drain - it doesn't like wet feet at all. Fig trees require moisture during the growing season, so figure on some type of irrigation for supplemental moisture. Bark mulching would be an excellent idea to conserve the moisture.

Trees kept in containers need fertilizer more often than trees planted in the ground. To fertilize your fig trees, give them a slow release fertilizer that's well-balanced, like formula 10-10-10 or 8-8-8, once in the spring and once in the fall.

Water your dormant fig tree once a month. Figs need very little water while dormant and overwatering during dormancy can actually kill the tree. In the early spring, you will see leaves begin to develop again.

If your figs are shriveling up, it is likely that they are not getting the nutrition they need to make glucose, the good stuff that aids in ripening the fruit into sweet, soft and juicy figs. While fig trees are fairly tolerant of their soil, it does need to be well draining so the plant gets plenty of oxygen.

Why are my figs leaves wilting?

Drooping fiddle fig leaves are a sign of underwatering or overwatering. Stress from high temperatures, poor light conditions, or potting shock can also cause wilting.

There could be many reasons for your fig leaves fiddle leaf curly, the most common reason being that they are underwater. Insufficient watering could result in leaf curling. Other causes that can cause your fig fiddle leaves to curl are: Excessive watering and over-fertilizing.

Watering a Fiddle Leaf Fig

The number one way to kill a fiddle leaf fig is to overwater it or not allow for proper drainage. Water your plant about once a week or every 10 days.

Fig trees like acidic soil so coffee grounds can be a good addition if you have alkaline soils or want to lower the pH level of your garden soil. Adding coffee grounds near the root zone will help retain moisture and create soft areas for new roots to penetrate!

A general-purpose fertilizer with an analysis of 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 is fine. It's easy to overdo it with stronger fertilizers. It's best to provide fertilizer for fig trees only when the tree shows symptoms of slow growth or pale leaves, but there are a couple of exceptions where fig trees need regular feedings.

In summary, the best thing you can do to help your fiddle-leaf fig tree survive is to leave it be to recover, slowly, on its own. Give it indirect sunlight, water once a week, and warm temperatures (it will appreciate a room temperature that's from 60 to 90 degrees).