Ficus cyathistipula Common Problems and Treatment: How to Keep African Fig Tree Thriving
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Ficus cyathistipula is a resilient plant but like all plants it can encounter problems like yellow leaves, leaf drop, drooping leaves, brown leaf tips, pests, and diseases among others.
African Fig Tree is an easy-care houseplant which flourishes in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, average warmth of 16-240C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Ficus cyathistipula (African Fig Tree).
If the growing conditions are wrong, Ficus cyathistipula can develop problems. Whether you are dealing with yellowing leaves, leaf drop, brown spots, or pest infestations, this guide will help you diagnose and treat common issues to keep your plant healthy and thriving.Let’s dive into the most common problems and how to fix them.
Ficus cyathistipula Troubleshooting and Treatment Guide
(A) Yellow Leaves
Ficus cyathistipula leaves turn yellow before falling off. Yellowing may start at the edges or affect entire leaves.
Causes and Solutions
- Overwatering
- Do not water on a schedule. Water your African Fig Tree liberally during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist.
- Reduce watering in the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time.
- Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
- Pot your plant in a well-draining potting mix that does not hold excess amounts of water.
- Underwatering
- Regularly check the soil. If it feels dry, water your African Fig Tree thoroughly until water drains through the drainage holes. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy.
- While you cut down on watering in the cold season, do not allow the soil to dry out completely for prolonged periods of times.
- Nutrient Deficiency
- For healthy and lush growth, feed your African Fig Tree with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4–6 weeks in spring and summer.
- Decrease or withhold feeding in the cold season as growth is reduced at this time.
- Low Light
- Place the plant in a brighter spot and ensure it is receiving bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunshine or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not sufficient.
- Cold Drafts
- Keep your Ficus cyathistipula away from cold drafts and maintain an average warmth within the range of 16-240C.
Overwatering is the most common cause of yellow leaves. When roots sit in water for too long, they suffocate and start to rot, resulting in yellow leaves.
How to Fix It
If the soil is completely dry, leaves may yellow and fall off.
How to Fix It
Lack of essential nutrients, like nitrogen, iron, or magnesium, can cause yellowing. Nitrogen deficiency results in overall yellowing, while iron deficiency leads to yellowing between veins.
How to Fix It
If your Ficus cyathistipula is not getting enough light, its leaves may turn pale yellow. Adequate light is needed for photosynthesis; the process by which plants make food for growth and energy. Without enough light, leaves may turn yellow and growth will slow down.
How to Fix It
Cold drafts emanating from drafty windows and doors, air conditioning units and other lead to sudden drops in temperature which results in reduced growth, yellow leaves and lead drop.
How to Fix It
Read more on these 15 Common Causes of Yellow Leaves in Indoor Plants.
(B) Dropping Leaves
Ficus cyathistipula leaves fall off suddenly or gradually. It can happen from the bottom up or randomly across the plant.
Causes and Solutions
- Sudden Temperature Changes
- Keep your Ficus cyathistipula in a stable environment away from drafts and maintain temperatures within the range of 16-240C.
- Overwatering or Underwatering
- Water your African Fig Tree liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Cut down on watering in the cold season but never allow the soil to dry out completely.
- Low Humidity
- African Fig Tree grows best in an average humidity of 50-55%. Use a cool mist humidifier or place the pot on a wet pebble tray to maintain humidity. You may also grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom, laundry area and other humid areas in the home.
- Transplant Shock
- To minimize repotting shock, water your thoroughly one day before repotting. A well hydrated plant experiences less repotting shock.
- Do not make too many changes at once. For instance, after repotting, maintain the plant in the same location until it is well established before moving it to a new location.
- Be patient; your plant will stabilize in a few weeks with proper care.
Exposure to hot and cold drafts from heaters, AC vents, windy doors, drafty windows among others cause sudden flactuations in temperatures. This can shock the plant resulting in sudden leaf drop.
Too high temperatures will cause dehydration which can lead to wilting and leaf drop. Too low temperatures cause the plant to stop growing and begin to die which begins with leaf drop.
How to Fix It
Either extreme can lead to leaf drop. Overwatering will lead to soggy soil (excess water in the soil in the rootzone). When roots sit in water for too long, they begin to rot. Since the dead roots cannot take up water and nutrients the plant begins to die and drops it leaves.
Underwatering on the other hand implies that there is too little moisture in the soil for the plant to take up to the leaves. Therefore, the plant cannot take up nutrients and water to the leaves and they begin to fall.
How to Fix It
Dry air (too low air moisture) for Ficus cyathistipula can cause leaf loss if not corrected in time.
How to Fix It
Recently moved or repotted plants may shed leaves as they adjust.
How to Fix It
Related: 14 reasons why Rubber Plant is dropping leaves and how to fix them
(C) Drooping leaves
Leaves are soft, floopy and droopy.
Causes and Solutions
- Underwatering
- Water the plant immediately and the leaves should perk up.
- Never allow the soil to dry out completely; maintain the soil moderately moist during the growing season and fairly moist in the cold period.
- Poor Quality Soil
- Repot your African Fig Tree in loose, free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. All purpose potting mixes are ideal for this plant.
- Being Root-bound
- Check the bottom of the pot for roots growing through the drainage hole. Repot the plant into a pot one size larger than the current one. Confirm that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is loose enough and well-drained.
If the soil is too dry, the leaves become soft and floopy due to loss of turgidity (stiffness)
How to Fix It
Poor quality soil does not drain easily and easily becomes compacted or soggy which can negatively impact the growth leading to drooping leaves. Soggy soil can lead to root-rot and droopy leaves.
How to Fix It
If Ficus cyathistipula is root-bound, the roots have filled the pot and there is very little soil to hold water when you water the plant. Therefore, there is no water for the plant to take up to the leaves. The leaves loss their stiffness and they begin to wilt and droop.
How to Fix It
Related: 13 Reasons Why Rubber Plant Leaves are Drooping and Remedies
(D) Brown Leaf Edges and Tips
Leaves develop brown, crispy edges or dry tips.
Causes and Solutions
- Low Humidity
- To increase humidity use a humidifier or set the pot a wet pebble tray.
- You may also grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom, kitchen and other moist areas in the home.
- Inconsistent Watering
- Check soil moisture frequently and water when needed. If it feels dry, water the plant but if it feels wet do not water.
- Excess Fertilizer
- Take care not to over fertilize your plant by following the manufacturer's instructions indicated on the label.
- Flush the soil with water every 2–3 months to remove excess salts. Run a steady stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage hole. Repeat the process several times.
- Hard Water or Dissolved Chemicals
- Use filtered, distilled, or rainwater to water your African Fig Tree.
Dry air resulting in too low air humidity is a major cause of brown leaf tip and edges in Ficus cyathistipula.
How to Fix It
Alternating between too much and too little water stresses the plant. This cause the plant to respond with brown leaf tips and edges.
How to Fix It
Too much fertilizer can cause salt buildup, leading to brown leaf tips.
How to Fix It
Chlorine, fluoride and other dissolved chemicals in tap water can cause brown leaf tips. Ficus cyathistipula like most plants is sensitive to chemicals dissolved in water.
How to Fix It
(E) Brown Leaf Spots
Leaves develop irregular brown spots. Spots may spread or cause leaf drop.
Causes and Solutions
- Fungal or Bacterial Infections
- Trim off and discard (burn) affected leaves to minimize spread of diseases.
- Avoid overwatering and soggy soil by making sure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining.
- Ensure that there is good airflow around the plant.
- Scorching
- Move the plant to a more shade place away from hot direct sunshine but ensure it receives bright light with 4-6 hours of morning or late afternoon sunlight for optimal growth.
- Pest Damage
- Inspect leaves closely and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Make sure to cover the entire plant.
Wet and humid conditions coupled with poor airflow create the perfect conditions for disease infestations.
How to Fix It
Exposing your Africa Fig Tree to too hot direct sunlight can scorch the leaves resulting in ugly brown marks (spots).
How to Fix It
Insects like aphids, mealy bugs, scale insects and spider mites can leave brown spots.
How to Fix It
(F) Rot Disease
African Fig Tree is prone to root-rot disease which is enhanced by soggy soil.
How to Fix It
- Pot your plant in pot with a drainage holes to prevent the soil from getting overwet.
- Mix perlite or sand into your soil to improve aeration and drainage.
- If you suspect root-rot, take out the plant from its pot, trim rotten roots, and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution. Repot the plant in fresh soil.
- Cut down on watering during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time.
(G) Pests Infestations
Common Pests in African Fig Tree are;
Spider Mites: These are tiny, red or brown dots with fine webbing on leaves.
Mealybugs: They are white, cotton-like clusters on stems and leaf joints.
Scale Insects: Hard, brown bumps that don’t move but suck sap from the plant.
Aphids: These are tiny, soft-bodied insects also commonly called Plant Lice.
How to Treat Pest Infestations
Spider Mites & Mealybugs
- Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days.
- Wipe leaves with a damp cloth to remove pests.
- For a heavy infestation, spray the plant with a systemic insecticide as indicated on the label.
- Increase humidity, as dry conditions encourage mites.
Scale Insects
- Scrape off scale manually using a soft toothbrush.
- Treat the plant with neem oil or rubbing alcohol.
- Treat a severe infestation by weekly application of a systemic insecticide as indicated by the manufacturer.
Aphids
- Wash off the aphids with a high pressure stream of water. For delicate foliage, turn the plant upside down and dip the foliage in a bucket of water to wash off the pests. Repeat as many times as is necessary.
- Wipe the pests off with cotton buds or a soft cloth dabbed in rubbing alcohol every 7 days.
- Spray a severely affected plant with a contact Pyrethrin-based insecticide as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
Final Thoughts
The African Fig Tree (Ficus cyathistipula) is a resilient houseplant, but even the best plants can face yellow leaves, leaf drop, pests, or brown spots from time to time. The good news is that most problems are easy to fix. By keeping a close eye on your plant and adjusting watering, light, and humidity, your Ficus cyathistipula will stay lush and healthy for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are my Ficus cyathistipula leaves turning yellow?
The most likely causes of yellow leaves in your Ficus cyathistipula are overwatering, underwatering, cold drafts, nutrient deficiency or low light. Check your care routine and adjust accordingly.
2. How do I stop my Ficus cyathistipula from dropping leaves?
Ensure consistent watering, maintain humidity, and keep stable temperatures. Avoid moving the plant too frequently.
3. What’s the best way to get rid of pests on my African Fig Tree?
Use neem oil or insecticidal soap, and wipe the leaves regularly to discourage infestations.
4. Can I trim brown leaf tips off my plant?
Yes. Use a sharp pair of scissors to trim brown edges, cutting just above the healthy part of the leaf.
5. How do I know if I am overwatering my Ficus?
If the soil feels wet for days, the leaves turn yellow and mushy, or the plant looks droopy, lessen watering.
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