Pest identification
What's eating my fiddle leaf fig?
Scale insects
Signs: Brown waxy bumps on stems and mid-ribs; leaves yellow, drop, and develop sticky honeydew patches.
Control: Manually remove scales with a toothbrush and neem-oil-soaked cloth; follow with horticultural oil spray every 10–14 days for three rounds.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling across large leaves, with fine webbing on undersides; leaves turn dull and crispy in dry air.
Control: Wipe all leaf surfaces, especially undersides; spray insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil weekly and raise ambient humidity.
Mealybugs
Signs: White fluffy deposits in leaf axils and on new growth; growth stalls and leaves may drop.
Control: Dab insects with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; spray neem oil solution over the whole plant and repeat after 7 days.
Aphids
Signs: Clusters of soft-bodied insects on new shoots; distorted new growth and sticky leaf surfaces.
Control: Blast off with a strong stream of water, then apply insecticidal soap spray; repeat every 5–7 days until gone.
Keep fiddle leaf fig pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Fiddle leaf fig pests — FAQ
What is eating my fiddle leaf fig?
Fiddle leaf figs are most troubled by scale insects and spider mites indoors, especially after stressful moves or repotting. Mealybugs and aphids occasionally appear too. Stress weakens the plant's defences, so stable conditions — consistent light, temperature, and watering — are the first line of pest prevention.
How do I get rid of scale insects on fiddle leaf fig?
Brown waxy bumps on stems and mid-ribs; leaves yellow, drop, and develop sticky honeydew patches. Manually remove scales with a toothbrush and neem-oil-soaked cloth; follow with horticultural oil spray every 10–14 days for three rounds.
How do I get rid of spider mites on fiddle leaf fig?
Pale stippling across large leaves, with fine webbing on undersides; leaves turn dull and crispy in dry air. Wipe all leaf surfaces, especially undersides; spray insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil weekly and raise ambient humidity.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on fiddle leaf fig?
White fluffy deposits in leaf axils and on new growth; growth stalls and leaves may drop. Dab insects with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; spray neem oil solution over the whole plant and repeat after 7 days.
How do I get rid of aphids on fiddle leaf fig?
Clusters of soft-bodied insects on new shoots; distorted new growth and sticky leaf surfaces. Blast off with a strong stream of water, then apply insecticidal soap spray; repeat every 5–7 days until gone.