A variety of conditions can cause fiddle leaf figs to develop brown spots on their leaves.
Fiddle leaf fig is a stylish and trendy indoor plant. Though it's bold and eye-catching, it's not known for being the easiest plant to grow. One of the most common issues we see with this plant is brown spots on the leaves. Here are some of the most common causes:
- It's perfectly natural for a fiddle leaf fig purchased online and shipped to your home to show a little bit of stress. This often appears on the new leaves as a series of tiny brown spots.
- If your fiddle leaf fig has been overwatered, you may see large brown patches develop on the leaves. This is especially common on the oldest and lowest leaves.
- If your fiddle leaf fig stays too dry, it may respond with brown patches on the foliage. You usually see this around the edges of the foliage.
- If the plant goes dry for a while, then wet, then dry again, the fluctuation in moisture can affect leaves, causing them to brown all over.
- If your fiddle leaf fig has not been exposed to direct sun and is moved to a spot with a lot of direct sun -- especially in the afternoon -- the leaves may also develop brown or white sunburned patches.
- Exposure to hot or cold drafts can also cause the leaves to go brown prematurely. If you're in a cold-winter climate, for example, and have your fiddle leaf fig near an exterior door, the cold air can affect the leaves. Likewise, a plant located near an air-conditioning vent or heating vent may develop brown leaves because of the hot or cold air.
- Fiddle leaf figs suffering from a bacterial disease may also show dark brown spots. These spots usually have a yellow outline. This is usually the least-common cause of brown leaves on fiddle leaf fig houseplants.