Ficus Lyrata, also known as the Fiddle-leaf fig, is a plant known for its great communication skills. In this regard, as much as this plant is not demanding in terms of maintenance, it is still vulnerable to infection because they generally are an attractive resort for many pests.
Bacterial Residence in Fiddle Leaf Figs
Clemson University in the USA notes signs that can help us identify a bacterial infection in the making. Fiddle leaf fig plants that may have a bacterial infection tend to look different – that’s one way they communicate their health.
Fiddle leaf figs are great at communication, so if a change needs notice and care, they will play their part in communicating it to you. So as plant caretakers, we must pick up on those signs and help the plant regain its health.
How to Find Out
There are ways to find out if your fiddle leaf fig plant is suffering from a bacterial infection. Following are a few signs of taking note of. You can observe your plant’s change in nature and also pay attention to detail by noticing the patterns noted below:
- Irregular brown spots
- Fiddle leaf fig plants shed leaves
- Leaves turn yellow
- Inky spots on leaves
Root rot can be mistaken as a bacterial infection and vice versa. Carefully inspect your plant for these symptoms and rule out all signs of a fungal infection and root rot. After you’ve done that, evaluate and conclude a bacterial infection.
Knowing the exact problem will help eliminate the problem. With a bacterial, it’s not a dead-end. There are solutions to a bacterial infection, depending on the severity level.
Irregular Brown Spots
Gardenine explains the intricacies of irregular brown spots on your fiddle leaf fig plant’s leaves. Bacterial infection can make its way into the plant by plunging in through the plant’s stomatal openings. This can result in brown or minor yellow spots on the plant’s foliage.
The round lacerations on the Ficus Lyrata are densely soaked in water, and so the irregularity is prominent since the uniformity of the plant’s look is compromised.
The bacteria responsible for this is known as Pseudomonas cichorii. This bacterium does well in warm temperatures, so your plant is at greater risk of being infected during the summers. Taking note of all hazards’ intricacies can help secure your plant from any bacterial infection.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Plants Shed Leaves
When a fiddle leaf fig plant recognizes signs of bacterial infection, as a self-healing method, it sheds its leaves to eliminate all affected leaves. This stops the spreading of bacteria within the plant.
This is also a communication method that plant implements as a way of reminding their caretaker that the plant is now enduring a bacterial infection.
As a self-healing mechanism, shedding leaves reduce the current number of infected leaves. Ficus Lyrata will drop all leaves with a bacterial infection so as to save the entire plant.
If you notice such an activity, you ought to pay close attention, especially during summer in the USA.
Leaves Turn Yellow
Fiddle-leaf fig plants tend to turn yellow when a bacterial infection gains control. Apart from the color change, some bacteria spread and cause lesions in lacerations. The process starts with lesions and then progresses to dark-colored marks on the leaves. Every bacterium that may attack the plant may have different symptoms.
Inky Spots on Leaves
It is important to distinguish between a bacterial infection and root rot. A bacterial infection would result in light brown spots. With regard to texture, the spots may appear dry and dehydrated, which may cause them to have cracks.
Treatment of a Bacterial Infection
Suppose you have filtered out all possibilities of different infections or diseases and concluded that your fiddle-leaf fig plant is indeed subjected to a bacterial infection. In that case, you know the next step involves treatment.
Although, it is essential to remember that your plant may be at a different stage of enduring a bacterial infection. Every stage requires a different solution, so it is crucial to recognize your plant’s current stage.
How far out is it engulfed in a bacterial infection?
Do you need to start over with a completely new plant?
Or can you save the one at hand?
There are different treatments for each. Chances are you can still save your plant by giving it a fresh makeover.
Underwatering, overwatering, or excessive sunlight can cause irregular patterns within your plant’s system, so it is essential to ensure that your plant’s external regulations are safely monitored first.
Get Rid of Damaged Leaves
The first thing you can do to boost the treatment of a bacterial infection is to cut all damaged leaves. Cutting off damaged leaves will give your plant a fresh outlook and a healthier body.
By eliminating the spread, your plant will now be more secure because the bacterial infection will not be able to transfer to the entire plant.
Water Your Plant!
It is important to oversee your watering practices. While overwatering can contribute to bacterial infections, underwatering is also not healthy for the plant’s overall growth. Monitor your watering limits strictly and pay serious attention to routine. Follow a specific timetable routine – it will also help your plant get into an expected routine.
Ensure you don’t overwater since that can play a role in the spread of bacterial infections. If your fiddle-leaf fig plant has caught up with a bacterial infection, Gardenine suggests watering the affected leaf or leaves once in a span of 7 to 10 days.
However, some rules need to be followed here. Have a look at the potting soil. If that is dry, then opt for the watering trick. The soil must drain out before more water can be added to the plant.
Keep your plant’s leaves dry. Only the soil needs water. Watered soil will provide leaves with the hydration they need via Xylem tracheids.
Repot Your Plant
An ideal method of tackling such a situation would be by repotting the plant. One of the best ways of controlling a bacterial infection is by limiting its spread. Bacteria have the potential to reside within the soil and spread from thereon forward.
Clean out your plant, replace your soil entirely, and repot your plant back in. it is crucial that your clean your pot thoroughly to ensure all soil has been cleared off.
Pick out new, fresh soil, and repot your plant back in. A fresh start will boost your plant’s growth.
External Temperatures
If watering your plant doesn’t seem ideal, you can work with adjusting external temperatures to ensure you aptly treat the bacterial infection.
Expose your fiddle-leaf fig plant to sunlight; however, you must crucially monitor how much sunlight you expose it to. Ensure it’s indirect sunlight. Direct exposure to sunlight has its own disadvantages. Direct exposure for long hours can cause your foliage to burn.
Use a Bactericide
This is the last resort you can leap onto for support. This is because this process contains chemicals that, while solving the problem at hand, can be disadvantageous in the long run. This treatment method is concentrated, and it’s best to resort to natural methods that don’t involve the use of chemicals.
If the situation has gotten at hand, you might resort to using a bactericide since it’s a sure way to tackle stubborn infections.
Fiddle-Leaf Fig Plants Care
If your fiddle-leaf fig plant has caught a bacterial infection, the best way to tackle such a situation is by treating the plant. However, it is essential also to ensure that no bacteria can ever make their way to the plant. One of the ways you can ensure this is by controlling your variables. You’ll have to chart out temperatures and adjust your plant according to every season in the USA.
Placement
Fiddle-leaf fig plants are great communicators. They communicate their needs when they feel good and require change. Study your plant, observe what it’s trying to tell you, and work with it from there.
Hydration
Ficus Lyrata requires water when the soil is dry, not when the leaves may seem so. Even if they do, if the soil has not drained out, the plant does not require water. Excessive hydration can fasten the spread of bacterial infection.
Overwatering can cause symptoms within the plant that may seem like a bacterial infection but very well be a cause of overwatering. Misguided interpretation can cause harm to the plant.
Conclusion
Fiddle-leaf fig is a unique plant that does not prefer extremes. The plant likes stability and knowing what’s coming next. Abrupt interruptions don’t sit well with this plant. As plant caretakers, it is our job to communicate with our plants and understand what they’re trying to tell us.
Every Fiddle-leaf fig plant may act differently, depending on its age as well. The plant spreads generously across its radius and makes a home out of itself. The plant is a great air purifier and has a life of about ten years or more, depending on its state.
Plants communicate well in health and in sickness. Don’t stress if you notice a bacterial infection. Follow the necessary treatment procedure, and before you know it, your plant will bloom healthy and wealthy!
You may like the following articles:
- How to treat Fungal Infection in Fiddle Leaf Fig
- Why are My Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves So Small?
- Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves Crispy
- Why Are My Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves Cracking
Hi! I’m Sophia, and I love plants – especially an expert in growing house plants. I stay in Chicago, United States of America, and through my blog and social media platforms, provide tips and tricks on how to grow healthy, vibrant plants indoors. Check out more here.