I purchased my FLF a week and a half or so ago. Everything seemed fine (even a new leaf has sprouted since I brought her home) but this morning I noticed three leaves have this red marking. Can anyone help? The soil was super dry when I brought it home so thats the only time I've watered. Surface of the soil is drying out but still moist below that. I've rotated her once just the other day.








<div id="fpCE_version" style="display:none">1.0.1</div>

I don't have a definitive explanation for the red discoloration on those few leaves that are affected. It is not caused by a pest or a disease and it is unlikely to spread to other leaves. I don't believe that any treatment is required other than removing those leaves if you find them offensive.

Your Fiddle-leafed Fig requires lots of direct indoor sunlight and soil that never dries out. It appears from the photo that your tree is near but not really close to a window. Move it closer, if possible.

Remove the loose soil from the surface of the rootball. Then, water as soon as the surface feels almost, but not quite dry. Add enough so that a small amount trickles through the drain holes of the plastic pot. You will have to pull the pot up so you can see when that happens. You don't want a lot of water collecting in the bottom of the ceramic planter.

Thanks so much WillC. When I rotated the FLF, those leaves may have brushed against the wall so I'm thinking they are a bit unhappy. Doesn't look like the color has spread so I'll leave the leaves to be.

Shorty after watering I noticed these little white insects in the soil. I didn't spot any in the tree. Oh the joy of my FLF. Do you know what these are? Its circled in red but still difficult to see. I do have a video but trouble uploading it. Thanks!

Did you add soil to the surface of the plant after you got it? If so, that added soil may have been contaminated with the critters.

That said, I would not suggest doing anything more than scraping off all the loose soil not in immediate contact with the roots. If the bugs are very tiny and hard to see, they are probably harmless. In any case, do not attempt to remove them by removing and replacing all of the soil!

As per the nursery's direction, I repotted as soon as I got home with soil purchased from the nursery.

Should I take the plant out of the plastic pot or just dig out and remove some of the soil surrounding the roots? Maybe the first couple inches from the surface? Thanks WillC.

Sorry, you received poor advice and poor quality soil from the nursery!

Yes, if you left the original rootball mostly intact, then undo the repotting by gently removing all of the soil you added. That should take care of the critters. Then, put the original rootball back into its original pot or one of similar size. If you need to add a small amount of fresh soil to fill in any gaps, use a mix of 5 parts peat moss and one part perlite. They both are pest-free.