What Are Common Pests That Affect Fiddle Leaf Fig Plants? - Plant Care Guide

Fiddle Leaf Fig plants (Ficus lyrata) are one of the most popular indoor plants due to their striking large leaves and sculptural form. While they can thrive indoors with the right care, they are susceptible to a number of pests that can compromise their health and beauty. If you're noticing discolored leaves, stunted growth, or small insects on your Fiddle Leaf Fig, it's essential to identify the cause and take immediate action.

In this guide, we will explore the most common pests that affect Fiddle Leaf Fig plants, how to identify them, and the best ways to prevent or treat infestations.

1. Spider Mites

Spider mites are one of the most common pests to attack Fiddle Leaf Fig plants. These tiny arachnids are almost invisible to the naked eye, but their presence can cause significant damage to your plant. Spider mites thrive in dry conditions and multiply rapidly, which can make an infestation challenging to control.

Signs of Spider Mite Infestation

• Speckled leaves: Spider mites feed on the sap of your Fiddle Leaf Fig, causing tiny yellow or brown speckles to appear on the leaves.
• Webbing: If the infestation is severe, you may notice fine webbing around the leaf stems or undersides of the leaves.
• Curling or drying leaves: As spider mites continue to feed, the leaves may curl, dry out, or drop prematurely.

How to Get Rid of Spider Mites

To treat a spider mite infestation, start by isolating the affected plant from others to prevent the mites from spreading. Wash the leaves thoroughly with water, especially the undersides, using a spray bottle filled with a mixture of water and mild soap. You can also use neem oil or insecticidal soap to kill the mites and prevent further infestation. Be sure to mist your plant regularly, as spider mites thrive in dry conditions.

2. Mealybugs

Mealybugs are another common pest that can infest Fiddle Leaf Fig plants. These small, white insects are often found in clusters on the stems or leaves of plants, feeding on the plant's sap and weakening its overall health.

Signs of Mealybug Infestation

• White, cotton-like clusters: Mealybugs appear as small, white, cottony masses on the leaves and stems of your Fiddle Leaf Fig.
• Sticky residue: As they feed, mealybugs excrete a sugary substance known as honeydew, which can cause the leaves to feel sticky.
• Yellowing or wilting leaves: Over time, the damage caused by mealybugs can lead to yellowing, wilting, and premature leaf drop.

How to Get Rid of Mealybugs

To treat mealybugs, start by removing them manually using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. The alcohol dissolves the waxy coating on their bodies, killing them on contact. You can also use mealybug spray or insecticidal soap to treat the plant. Make sure to inspect your plant regularly and repeat treatments if necessary, as mealybugs can be persistent.

3. Scale Insects

Scale insects are small, dome-shaped pests that can attach themselves to the leaves, stems, and branches of your Fiddle Leaf Fig. They are covered in a hard, waxy shell, which protects them from some treatments, making them difficult to eradicate.

Signs of Scale Infestation

• Brown or white bumps: Scale insects resemble tiny brown or white bumps on the stems and undersides of the leaves. These bumps are immobile and can be mistaken for part of the plant.
• Honeydew residue: Like mealybugs, scale insects excrete honeydew, which can lead to sticky leaves and attract other pests like ants or sooty mold.
• Yellowing or dropping leaves: Over time, a scale infestation can cause the leaves of your Fiddle Leaf Fig to yellow, wilt, or fall off.

How to Get Rid of Scale Insects

To control scale insects, you can manually remove them by scraping them off with a soft toothbrush or cotton swab dipped in alcohol. This works best for smaller infestations. For larger infestations, apply neem oil or insecticidal soap, making sure to coat the plant thoroughly to suffocate the insects.

4. Aphids

Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that are typically green but can also be black, brown, or white. They are often found in clusters on the new growth or undersides of leaves, feeding on the plant's sap and weakening its growth.

Signs of Aphid Infestation

• Clusters of small insects: Aphids are often found in groups on the soft, new growth of your Fiddle Leaf Fig, including young leaves and tender stems.
• Curled or distorted leaves: As aphids feed, they can cause the leaves to curl, become misshapen, or develop yellow spots.
• Sticky leaves: Like other sap-sucking pests, aphids excrete honeydew, which can make the leaves feel sticky.

How to Get Rid of Aphids

If you discover aphids on your Fiddle Leaf Fig, wash the plant thoroughly with a strong stream of water to dislodge the insects. Follow up by spraying the plant with a neem oil solution or insecticidal soap to kill any remaining aphids. You can also introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs, which are natural predators of aphids.

5. Fungus Gnats

Fungus gnats are tiny black flies that can infest the soil of your Fiddle Leaf Fig. While adult fungus gnats are more of an annoyance than a threat, their larvae can damage the plant’s roots by feeding on decaying organic matter in the soil.

Signs of Fungus Gnat Infestation

• Small black flies: Adult fungus gnats are small, black flies that hover around the soil and base of the plant.
• Root damage: Fungus gnat larvae feed on the roots of the plant, which can lead to stunted growth or wilting.
• Soggy soil: Fungus gnats thrive in moist environments, so if the soil remains overly wet, it can encourage an infestation.

How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats

To control fungus gnats, reduce watering and allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. This makes the environment less hospitable for the gnats. You can also apply sticky traps to catch adult gnats or use neem oil or a biological control agent like Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) to kill the larvae.

6. Thrips

Thrips are tiny, slender insects that can damage your Fiddle Leaf Fig by puncturing the leaves and feeding on the plant’s juices. These pests can be difficult to spot because of their small size, but they can cause significant damage if left untreated.

Signs of Thrip Infestation

• Silver or white streaks on leaves: Thrips feed by scraping the surface of the leaves, which can cause silver or white streaks and tiny black dots (thrip excrement) to appear.
• Deformed new growth: Thrip infestations can lead to deformed or stunted new growth, as the insects feed on young leaves before they fully develop.
• Yellowing or browning leaves: Over time, thrip damage can cause the leaves of your Fiddle Leaf Fig to yellow or turn brown.

How to Get Rid of Thrips

To treat a thrip infestation, spray your plant with insecticidal soap or neem oil, focusing on the undersides of the leaves where thrips tend to hide. If the infestation is severe, you may need to use a systemic insecticide to control the pests.

7. Whiteflies

Whiteflies are small, white, winged insects that can infest the leaves of your Fiddle Leaf Fig. Like other sap-sucking insects, whiteflies weaken the plant by feeding on its juices and can lead to a host of problems if not dealt with quickly.

Signs of Whitefly Infestation

• Small white flies: Whiteflies are easy to identify because they fly up in a cloud when the plant is disturbed.
• Yellowing or wilting leaves: As whiteflies feed on the plant's sap, the leaves may yellow, wilt, or fall off.
• Sticky residue: Whiteflies excrete honeydew, which can make the leaves sticky and encourage the growth of sooty mold.

How to Get Rid of Whiteflies

To control whiteflies, use sticky traps to capture the adults and neem oil or insecticidal soap to kill the nymphs. Repeat treatments may be necessary to fully eradicate the whiteflies, as they can be persistent.

8. Root-Knot Nematodes

Root-knot nematodes are microscopic pests that live in the soil and feed on the roots of your Fiddle Leaf Fig. These pests are difficult to detect, as they live underground, but they can cause significant damage to the plant’s root system, leading to poor growth and yellowing leaves.

Signs of Root-Knot Nematode Infestation

• Stunted growth: One of the first signs of root-knot nematodes is stunted or slow growth, as the pests damage the roots and reduce the plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients.
• Yellowing or wilting leaves: As the root damage progresses, the leaves of the plant may yellow, wilt, or drop.
• Root galls or knots: If you inspect the roots, you may notice swollen galls or knots, which are characteristic of a nematode infestation.

How to Get Rid of Root-Knot Nematodes

To treat root-knot nematodes, remove the plant from the soil and inspect the roots. Trim away any damaged or infected roots using pruning shears, and repot the plant in fresh, sterilized soil. You can also apply a biological control agent, such as beneficial nematodes, to the soil to combat the pests.

For more detailed care tips to help your Fiddle Leaf Fig thrive and fend off pests, visit our Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Tips page, where you'll find expert advice on keeping your plant healthy year-round.