Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Examine the underside of the leaves for tiny webs or moving specks.
- Check if the soil is staying wet for too long.
- Look for signs of water sitting on the leaves after cleaning.
Likely causes
Fungal Leaf Spot
PossibleHow to tell: Small brown or black spots appear on the leaves, sometimes with a yellow halo around them.
What to do: Remove the affected leaves immediately to stop the spread. Improve air circulation around the plant and avoid getting water on the foliage when you irrigate.
Spider Mites
PossibleHow to tell: Tiny yellow or white stippling dots cover the leaves, often accompanied by fine webbing.
What to do: Wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth or a mild soap solution. Treat the plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7 days until the pests are gone.
Find out what's wrong with your fig
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
Be concerned if the spots are spreading rapidly across the entire plant. A few small, old spots are usually nothing to worry about.
Stopping it coming back
Water at the base of the plant rather than over the top, and ensure the plant has plenty of space for air to move around it.
Keep your fig healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Are these spots contagious to my other plants?
- If the spots are caused by a fungus or pests, they can spread. Isolate the Ficus until you are sure the issue is resolved.
- Should I cut off all spotted leaves?
- Remove only the leaves that are heavily damaged. If a leaf has just one small spot, you can leave it to keep the plant's energy up.
More problems with Fig
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.