Additionally, throughout the year, you may pull your tree outside for a bath. Despite all my research, it wasnt until I released the helpful critters that my real learning began. That three-week window gives mealybugs, fungus gnats, and spider mites a chance to expose themselves by producing a couple of generations of offspring, which are usually the most conspicuous time for their life cycle. When disturbed, these little dots might even move, and that confirms it. Once youve seen those things, you can address them before bringing them in to be neighbors with your fiddle leaf fig. However, if you do happen to find one, simply wipe it off with a soapy wet towel. Their babies, called crawlers, are so tiny, you cannot see them with the naked eye. Fiddle Leaf Figs can find themselves unwittingly providing food for a variety of common pests, these include mealybugs, scale, mites, whiteflies, and aphids. Pros and Cons of Releasing Ladybugs Indoors, household insect that feeds on the green innards of plants leaves, one ladybug can consume 5,000 insects in a lifetime, our free, helpful, encouraging group of fellow fiddle leaf fig enthusiasts online. Because spider mites can reproduce quickly and spread easily, a small outbreak can quickly become a big issue! Here are three less obvious places to look. Spider Mites. Info. Fiddle-leaf figs do best with a 3-1-2 formulation of these nutrients. Around the same time, I was releasing ladybugs in my outdoor vegetable garden for aphid control. Spider mites are one of the common pest problems that can occur with Fiddle Leaf Figs. Like other houseplants, fiddle figs are prone to bacteria, mildew, insect infestations, or drought. This encourages the plant to produce big, healthy leaves and lots of new foliage. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. The trouble with most online educational resources that teach about spider mites is that they tend to show widespread infestations. Pests: Fiddle leaf figs are prone to mealy bugs, aphids, mites and scales. Hey! The Fiddle Leaf Fig is still the mainstay trendsetter in the plant community, and continues to give the millennial favorite, the Monstera Deliciosa, a run for its money these past couple of years. And gnats on your fiddle leaf fig will bug you too! The first warning sign of spider mites is webbing. To learn more, check out Four Things That Are Killing Your Fiddle Leaf Fig. Those might have been the beginnings of a new leaf bud. So, youve noticed some tiny pests creeping on your precious fiddle leaf fig, leaving little webs and stressing out your once-thriving plant. Fiddle Figs are relatively slow growers that often go several months before putting out several new leaves. Once the larvae are in the tree, control is extremely difficult. So what should you do if you find bugs on the leaves of your fiddle leaf fig? Against this dark backdrop, the bright bugs contrast easily, making them easy targets of your treatment. The bug was a common household insect that feeds on the green innards of plants leaves . I recently purchased a fiddle leaf fig from a nursery. If your plant leaves are spotted and discolored, it might not be a result of watering, but rather Spider Mites. Plus, many mealybug infestations start in the roots of the plant, where they are invisible even to the most observant fiddle leaf fig caregiver. Without seeing them, plan sap on the leaves and stems as well as a cottony substance can be found. Fiddle-Leaf Fig Care . This encourages the plant to produce big, healthy leaves and lots of new foliage. How do you identify early signs of an insect infestation? A fiddle-leaf fig tree houseplant will outgrow your house. Dab each little mealybug and cotton nest with a drop of rubbing alcohol to neutralize the bugs that you can see. And for more pest control tips and tricks, grab your own copy of The Fiddle Leaf Fig Expert, your complete guide to growing healthy fiddle leaf fig plants, my number-one go-to resource for lush, thriving trees (available in full-color paperback or Kindle edition). Spider mites arent actually spiders, but they are a type of arachnid similar to ticks. Our family is always hesitant to jump to chemical treatments, and I knew there would be a natural solution out there if I was willing to be creative. Good luck with your fiddle-leaf fig treefor its birthday, you may want to get it a humidifier. Today, were excited to share a new video all about fiddle leaf fig insect problems. I asked my family members if they had seen anything out of the ordinary in our sunroom. Reasons for Fig Tree Ants. Turns out, butterflies are completely harmless to your fiddles, but they expel meconium, a waste product thats left over from metamorphosis, which is what I saw on the leaf. Thankfully, I dont mind that they wander around, and they do a great job controlling those mealybugs. (This product works just like neem oil but without the unpleasant smell! Pesticides and oils are also available to rid mealy bugs. Miller, her husband, Joe, and their three children live near Washington, D.C., where they own and operate an organic farm. As an added bonus, it also cleans and adds shine to your houseplants leaves.) Up Next. A little prevention, treatment, and knowing what to watch out for can make all the difference. Fiddle Leaf Fig Notching. Buy Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food on Amazon Now! Insect infestations dont have to be the end for your fiddle leaf fig! Fiddle-leaf figs (or Ficus lyrata for those of us who like to get a little plant geeky) continue to enjoy their popularity and are making quite the scene in style blogs and magazines. They secrete a wet-looking substance called honeydew, and the female mealybugs produce a cottony material to lay their eggs. The next morning there was another one. and lay their eggs in the soil. Their large and green leaves add a peaceful touch to any home. Not every pest is controllable, however. The most common diseases and pests that you can encounter whilst caring for your fiddle leaf fig are mealy bugs, scale, mites, whiteflies and aphids. Copyright echo date(Y);?> Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource, Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food Moisture Meter, The Ultimate Guide to Fiddle Leaf Fig Insect Problems (Video), Four Things That Are Killing Your Fiddle Leaf Fig, these guys are a lot more difficult to find in the first place, Keep your fiddle leaf fig in a bright place, well-draining, regularly aerated, loosely packed soil. Use our Houseplant Leaf Armor, designed for houseplants to protect against insects, bacteria, and fungus. Once I had a handle on what ladybugs need to thrive, I increased my order of live ladybug quantities to include enough for my indoor trees too. Well talk more about repotting later but, for now, just place it inside a larger decorative container or basket and disguise the plastic store-bought pot with some decorative moss. They secrete a wet-looking substance called honeydew, and the female mealybugs produce a cottony material to lay their eggs. You can use this spray to kill the most common insects affecting your plant. About 3 days after bringing the plant into my home I noticed millipedes and beetle-like bugs crawling from the plant so naturally I set out to repot with new soil. They love warm environments as do Ficus pandurata making mealy bugs especially problematic for tropical plants. Not long ago, I realized my fiddle leaf fig trees were being antagonized by a pest. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. I ordered live ladybugs online to be delivered to my house, and I released them in our sunroom to eat the mealybugs and their babies. While you may find mealybugs easy to dislodge, these guys are a lot more difficult to find in the first place. Turns out, a gardeners relationship with ladybugs must include a little two-way reciprocity. Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Guide Caring for your Ficus Lyrata . We recommend our Houseplant Leaf Armor to protect against insects as well as bacteria and fungus. Learn more about Meg at www.benefitofthedebt.com. Whats worse, this particular pest is known to secrete honeydew, which attracts other fiddle leaf fig pests like ants and mold. That way, we can act quickly and decisively to treat the problem before it really spreads. Finally, snap a picture and share it with our free, helpful, encouraging group of fellow fiddle leaf fig enthusiasts online. What NOT to do if Your Fiddle Leaf isnt Growing: If you find your Fiddle Leaf isnt growing, theres a couple of common things Ive noticed people try that probably arent going to help the situation. Gnats are another common nuisance associated with vertical or indoor gardens. There are plenty of home remedies to try. Would those same ladybugs do the trick indoors? Understanding what's causing leaf issues on a Fiddle Leaf Fig can be difficult. I prefer to do this outside, but during winter, the bathtub or kitchen sink is also a great place to treat for spider mites. Insects feed off Fiddle Leaf Figs, often visible on either the leaves or stem. Just dont check the Fiddle leaf figs are a relatively low maintenance plant that can add some natural, tropical vibes to your home. Mealy Bugs on Fiddle leaf figs. Using diluted neem oil is very effective, though if you dont have it on hand (yet) you can even just try a mixture of water and some dish soap. Heres the bad news: You may have a case of spider mites, which reproduce quickly, so the time to take action is NOW. Here are two quick tips to keep pests out of your home in the first place. So if you do have gnats, your plant is likely in a darker place with too much water anyway. As they are small they can be hard to see. When grown as a houseplant, be prepared to rotate your fiddle-leaf fig every few days so a different part faces the light source. Then set your trap right in the planter pot and your gnat problem will be gone within a few days or weeks. If you spot any of these unwelcome critters, wipe them off with a hot-and-soapy cloth or with a mild insecticide. They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of care, and when it comes to bugs that would love to snack on your fiddle leaf figs roots, branches, and leaves, prevention really is the best medicine. Sure enough, my kids admitted to bringing in a butterfly and letting it loose to enjoy the fiddle leaf fig trees. For instance, the fig tree borer lays its eggs near the base of a branch and then the resulting larvae hatch and tunnel into the tree. Watch this video to identify the insects affecting your plant and learn the proper treatment for each. However, if you like a little dramaboth in terms of decor and your plant care routinefiddle leaf figs are stunning sculptural plants. Watch later. For instance, the fig tree borer lays its eggs near the base of a branch and then the resulting larvae hatch and tunnel into the tree. When you do, ensure youre not bringing any hitchhikers inside. Examine the leaves and look for any small spider webs. Some of the leaves are turning yellow. The counterintuitive good news, though, is that fiddle leaf fig favors conditions that are not conducive to fungus gnats. That web is the number-one indication of the presence of spider mites. I notched my ficus lyrata and cut off the top about a month ago and FINALLY have some progress to show. Finally, when they do move around, theyre usually hanging out on the undersides of leaves or in the nooks and crannies where those leaves emerge from the trunk and branches. Youve got spider mites. With spider mites, you want to catch them early before the infestation spreads and takes a serious toll on your plant. Adult fungus gnats arent dangerous on their own, but they sure are annoying! Before discussing how to find, treat, or prevent these guys, you should know how they operate. Then well quickly cover a few benign bugs that you might see that might be attracted to plants without really threatening to take up permanent residence. They are soft bodied insects that are sucking out the plant sap of a Fiddle Leaf fig. Simply look over every inch of your plant before bringing it back indoors. Well talk more about repotting later but, for now, just place it inside a larger decorative container or basket and disguise the plastic store-bought pot with some decorative moss. Once the larvae are in the tree, control is extremely difficult. (OK, just kidding about that last one.) But fear not with a few simple steps you can have your Fiddle Leaf healthy again. Facebook: Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource Group. Next, create a homemade gnat trap by putting a few drops of honey or apple cider vinegar in a shallow dish and covering it with plastic wrap. You already know the obvious place to look for mealybugs: your fiddle leaf figs opaque green leaves. Lets talk about a few crawlies you might see that do not need to be exterminated or relocated. Fiddle-leaf figs do best with a 3-1-2 formulation of these nutrients. If that happens to you, just enjoy them. That means that the first step to nixing these insects is just to let your plant dry out. These tiny flying insects buzz around the leaves of your fig (and around your home!) Mealy Bugs are hitchhiking on other plants and are often brought into apartments that way. Lack of bright light is the #1 reason for unhealthy Fiddle Leaf Just I'm not sure what you mean by hollow tips. Mealybugs on Fiddle Leaf fig trees resemble tiny puffs of cotton and excrete a powdery, waxy coating that inspired their name. Number two is the appearance of small, clustered dots on the leaves of you plant. Another inexpensive way to address the mealybug problem is to introduce natural predators into your space. These enticing plants are not, unfortunately, in the easy-care category. I was recently gifted a large fiddle leaf fig plant. There are several plans of attack when treating bugs on figs. I set out to learn. Or you could apply neem oil, but be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions for dilution and application. Then keep them in a separate part of the house for three weeks before bringing them in to join your fiddle leaf fig. Copyright echo date(Y);?> Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource, Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food Moisture Meter, Pests Bugging Your Fiddle Leaf Fig? Not long ago, I realized my fiddle leaf fig trees were being antagonized by a pest. When not writing, Miller loves doting on her six prized fiddle leaf fig trees. The bug was a common household insect that feeds on the green innards of plants leaves. If you only spot a few of these bugs, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and dab it on each individual. While you dont need to do a lot of pruning for this plant, you may want to trim away any severely damaged or unwanted leaves. Treatment can be similar to what you would do for spider mites, but be prepared for a mealybug recurrence if all you use is water. Mealy Bugs on Fiddle leaf figs. Therefore, your tree will be happiest when kept in similar conditions. But fear not with a few simple steps you can have your Fiddle Leaf healthy again. Here are a few of the benefits and drawbacks of releasing ladybugs indoors to control ficus lyrata pests. The next most common fiddle leaf fig pest is the mealybug. Fiddle-leaf fig trees dont like: drafts, soil that is too wet, soil that is too dry, too much sun, not enough sun, dry air, or loud music. If you see even a hint of webbing like thin, silky strands, inspect the leaves carefully for insects. Tap to unmute. Meg S. Miller is an influential speaker and multiple award-winning author with nearly a decade of writing experience. Then sit back and enjoy the drama! Spider mites are the bane of my existence and they are one of the most common fiddle leaf fig pests and diseases. In her latest book, Benefit of the Debt (April 28, 2018), Miller offers a unique perspective that gives fresh insight into common sources of brokenness within Christian marriages. If you get a young tree, you should be able to see it grow and mature over time.
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