What should you do if your fiddle-leaf fig gets rust disease? Don't wait until the leaves are covered in spots before you treat it

The fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is one of the more highly ornamental green foliage plants. When it gets rust disease, while you are at a loss for what to do, if you let it run its course unchecked, it will spread into a large patch of rust, and in the end the leaves will drop off.

Fiddle-leaf figs grown as potted plants at home

In the early stage of rust disease on the fiddle-leaf fig, the spots are only the size of a fingernail at first. Gradually the small spots grow more and more numerous, until finally they merge into one large patch; the entire leaf turns dark brown, loses all its moisture, and curls up.

A fiddle-leaf fig covered in "spots"

Rust disease on the fiddle-leaf fig occurs mainly under conditions of high temperature and high humidity. The peak periods of infection are from March to June and from October to November, especially in the Guangdong region; at the same time, these diseases can also overwinter in a dormant state along with the plant, and the following year they will become active again and continue to harm its leaves.

In the late stage of rust disease, if you still ignore it, it will soon be headed for the trash

Solutions for rust disease on the fiddle-leaf fig

1. If the leaves have been fairly severely eroded by the disease, it is recommended to simply cut the leaves off.

2. If the entire plant has been fairly heavily infected by the disease, you can first remove the affected parts, then carry out the work of repotting and changing the potting soil.

Cut off the diseased leaves

3. Use mancozeb 75% soluble powder, diluted at a ratio of 1:1500. If the condition is not too serious, you can treat it with the chemical alone; if it is serious, it is recommended to consider changing the potting soil. When rust disease appears, remember not to spray water on the leaves.

Prevention and control of disease on the fiddle-leaf fig

Finally, the flower meaning: place the fiddle-leaf fig in suitable light with a well-ventilated environment, and regularly wipe the dust off the leaves with a clean damp cloth. With this kind of careful attention, disease will surely have no way to take hold! Finally, I hope this is helpful to everyone~

Fiddle-leaf fig