Difference Between Healthy Fiddle fig plant Roots Vs. Root Rot

The Fiddle fig plant is known for its gorgeous deep green foliage, violin-shaped leaves, and thick, glossy cuticles. Its rugged yet wonderfully chic appearance is no less than a joy to see.

Nearly four kinds of the Fiddle fig plant, native to the Western African rainforests, are offered in numerous local nurseries and online plant stores around the United States.

Even so, not everyone should own a Fiddle fig plant, even though it makes an exceptional interior plant in many respects.

The Fiddle fig plant is suited for only a few households due to its propensity to grow 10 feet tall, despite its tremendous visual appeal and various medical benefits.

The Fiddle fig plant’s canopy expands widely and in all directions, making it a very tall interior planter. The Fiddle fig plant requires space, even though this wild and beautiful quality makes it possible to bring a piece of African nature into your home.

Therefore, the African Fiddle fig tree is not for you if you live in a small, low-ceilinged home with narrow windows that allow little sunshine.

An indoor Fiddle fig tree, however, will add the same drama and appeal as no other addition if you have a large living room or an open hotel lobby to adorn.

The Fiddle fig tree is well known for being a fast-growing planter in addition to its natural beauty.

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Common Issues with Fiddle Fig Indoor Trees

Although many plant lovers successfully enjoy the 30- to 50-year lifespan of their indoor potted Fiddle fig plant tree, others end up destroying their plants early due to root rot.

A Fiddle fig plant, although one of the market’s most tolerant indoor trees, will eventually experience catastrophic dehydration and root damage if its watering needs are routinely disregarded.

Therefore, it is essential to know the planter’s specific watering demands and environmental conditions if you want your masterpiece planter to maintain its lush green foliage, towering height, and overall visual appeal.

Read on to discover everything you need to know about the fundamental maintenance procedures for your indoor potted Fiddle fig plant and the main factor contributing to its catastrophic root rot. Furthermore, learn about the difference between healthy Fiddle leaf fig roots vs. root rot appearance.

The article also outlines the primary root rot treatment that must be given to a Fiddle fig plant immediately after a fungal infection is discovered in the plant.

Healthy Fiddle Leaf Fig Roots Vs. Root Rot

The roots that seem to be healthy and functioning in a typical healthy Fiddle fig will become the opposite of it when root rot destroys the root system.

Fiddle fig plants typically have beautiful white, creamy, and yellow roots in good health. Older, thicker, and ancient roots may turn different hues of brown, although they will typically still be many shades lighter than those that have decay.

It’s also crucial to remember that good roots will remain somewhat “sharp” even if they can twist and flex. They may break if you twist them too much. The normal response of rotting roots is to bend or distort, and they begin to break into pieces or disintegrate to goo when squeezed between the fingers.

Simply put, healthy roots of the fiddle fig plant and other plants generally have a distinct appearance from the black sticky mess that is probably due to rot.

With house plants, root rot is a common condition that can be extremely dangerous for the typical Fiddle fig plant. Although this tree is prone to fading and losing leaves quickly, root rot can quickly kill your plant if left unchecked.

Why Do Roots Rot?

As the title suggests, root rot is brought on by an excess of moisture or dampness in the soil surrounding the plant. Like many houseplants, Fiddle fig plants prefer a little drying out in between foliar feeding.

Suppose they are watered too commonly or excessively. In that case, regrettably, they may generate a horrible rot that first affects the roots beneath the soil before beginning to manifest itself on the surface as darkening or dropping leaves.

Another factor contributing to root rot is poor or absent drain inside the container or a mix of poor or absent draining and overwatering.

Signs of Root Rot

As root rot develops, the fiddle fig plant might initially develop little brown spots all over its leaves.

These dots might be anything from dark brown to black in color. They may begin at the leaf’s base, close to the stem where fungal root rot is more prevalent, or move inward towards the leaf’s edges. A few root rot infestations begin as brown patches, mainly on the center of a leaf, resembling the dots on a dog of Dalmatian.

In contrast to a healthy plant’s strong and flexible roots, roots that have experienced root rot would be black and feel squishy.

Root rot is most likely the cause of a fiddle fig plant with brown spots and, therefore, losing leaves.

The plant can lose the unhealthy leaves till it is left with no leaves inside to rescue itself.

Knowing what is producing the problem will help you begin to treat or preserve the fiddle fig plant against root rot. Since many different microorganisms produce root rot in Fiddle fig plants, notably Phytophthora and Pythium, treating the infection is difficult.

These species belong to the family of oomycetes, a group of microbe that is not thought to be real fungi. This indicates that the technique to cure will be unique from that used to deal with more common fungi that harm various houseplants, like Thielaviopsis and Rhizoctonia.

Root rot is pythium, among the most typical causes of fiddle fig plant. It is a family, not a single microbe, with roughly 125 members in it. Pythium frequently manifests as falling leaves and trunk rot.

Another class of organisms that cause root rot is Phytophthora. It is, fortunately, less common than Pythium but is said to be extremely violent and lethal.

Phytophthora and Pythium flourish in conditions of high soil moisture. This transpires whenever a fiddle fig plant is overwatered and doesn’t have sufficient drainage. Because of this, fiddle fig plants require potting soil, which drains quickly and has excellent permeability.

The root rot bacterium infiltrates the root system during an outbreak, impairing root activity and depriving the plant of essential nutrients. Due to this, root rot and a shortage of fertilization are two conditions when the fiddle fig plant may become yellow.

Is Root Rot Contagious?

If left untreated, root rot would increase over time and infect neighboring home plants, killing your prized fiddle fig plant.

How Can A Fiddle fig plant With Root Rot Be Repotted?

Take the following steps to prevent the foliage from drooping and falling too soon if you see evidence of root rot on your indoor fiddle fig plant:

A Fiddle fig plant can be huge and heavy; therefore, you might need a lot of hands to slide the planter out of its pot. Start by painstakingly extracting the plant’s entire root system from the polluted soil.

If you spot any fungus on the surface of the roots, delicately remove it with a soft-bristled brush until no longer present. After that, rinse the tree’s root ball well under running water to eliminate all the dirt and fungus.

Remove any fragments of broken or dead roots after inspecting the roots. The residual roots should first be wiped with a microfiber cloth to avoid becoming misted with fresh water.

Finding a replacement pot with a better drainage network and larger outlet holes is the next crucial stage in the procedure.

Before adding nutrient-rich, well-draining potting soil, gently press the roots of the Fiddle fig plant into the new container’s soil. After rubbing the soil with your hands to eliminate air pockets, add moisture using a spray bottle.

To prepare your Fiddle fig plant for new leaves, trim and remove all limp and dead leaves with the pruning shears. To ensure that the plant is not at risk of fungal diseases, you may add an organic fungicide to the soil.

How To Prevent Root Rot?

The plants and their roots require room to develop and widen their root system. The plant becomes root-bound when the pots are too tiny for the roots. It is challenging to determine which could be the true cause because the results of the root-bound problem and the watering issue are the same.

But as the roots deteriorate and encroach on one another, the entire root system is affected, much like a sickness. The water is not absorbed in the root system, which causes the leaves to turn limp and yellow.

A warning sign of root rot is seeing roots poking out of the container’s drainage holes. If roots are protruding, the issue becomes much worse.

Conclusion

Although managing a Fiddle fig plant that has been consumed with root rot might be difficult, these suggestions will help every day and make a clear distinction. So remember these tips, keep an eye out for root rot problems, and feel satisfaction in growing the fiddle fig plant unlike ever before; maybe with a little careful watering, though!