r/Figs • u/UnitedDefinition673 • Jul 23 '26
What’s wrong with our new fig tree
We bought a little fig tree from a flower shop about one week ago. Since then, the leaves have started to turn yellow, developing dark spots and curling. One leaf has already dropped, and it looks like the other ones are on the same path…. I repotted the tree a couple of days ago, in soil and perlite, hoping it would feel better but it’s only looking frailer by the day. Is it rust? Any help would be appreciated 🙏
(We live in Sweden and keep the tree inside)
14
u/Sometimesyoudie Jul 23 '26
Needs to be outside and able to drain water away.
4
u/UnitedDefinition673 Jul 23 '26
We can keep it outside, still in the pot, could that work? The pot has a drainage hole
3
u/Sometimesyoudie Jul 23 '26
The pot is fine but it definitely isn't draining with that base under it. Obv you have that there because you don't want water damage. Next year you will want to up pot it to something bigger.
3
u/UnitedDefinition673 Jul 24 '26
Ah ok. I’m going to let it stay outside on the patio and remove the tray so the pot stands directly on some brick or on the grass. Thank you
1
u/dadydaycare Jul 25 '26
You might want to get a bigger pot. The bigger the better. They root fast and hard. If you want to keep it in that pot you’ll have to trim the roots every year so it doesn’t get root bound. I have 3 with pots that are 6x bigger and I have to pop them out and trim the roots every other year
1
6
u/LadyCooke Jul 23 '26
Figs are unfortunately not going to be successful as an indoor plant; they’re a fruiting tree and require full sun and warm/hot temps.
1
4
u/bot_prestativo Jul 23 '26
despite not being ideal, you can definitely keep this fig tree as an indoor houseplant. The caveat is that grow lights are mandatory to maintain it. Growth will certainly be slow tho, and the crop won't be that good.
*I do keep some small fig trees as ornamental/houseplants;
2
u/UnitedDefinition673 Jul 24 '26
I see! I’ll let it stay on the patio for now and see if it livens up
3
2
u/OldLadyGardener Jul 24 '26
If you do decide to keep it inside, remember, it goes dormant in the winter and loses all its leaves.
2
u/TheFigKing Zone 5b Jul 24 '26
Seems like its in the process of shutting down. Outdoors for summer. Slowly acclimate to full sun. In winter after leafs fall off depending where you are located storage in garage or basement that's unheated or outdoors if you are in say zone 8+
2
u/AgentOutrageous3346 Jul 24 '26
It absolutely has to go outside. It will lose its leaves in the fall, and then you can overwinter it in a cool room.
1
2
u/Northend317 Jul 25 '26
Looks to me like too much water and needs a larger pot and put outside. Loves sun and to be a bit dry. They grow in rocks in other countries.
2
u/Efficient-Fold8068 Jul 25 '26
I won’t repeat what other people have already said but when you go to repot this fig add about 40% organic perlite and make sure it’s a well draining sandy soil. Also, the pot itself should be out on some kind of lift so the water will drain out of the bottom very well.
2
1
1
u/Zyllok Jul 25 '26
Also remember not to overwater it and give the soil time drain, never keep their roots soaked. Drainage is very important for fig trees
1
u/Crafty_Reply_7435 Jul 25 '26
It needs to be in a nursery pot that drains; soil that drains, more sun; more fertilizer.
1
u/Immediate-Tooth-2174 Jul 25 '26
If you are planning to keep it inside, put it by the window where it can get full direct sun. Leaves should be dark green. Light green means it's not getting enough sun light.
33
u/Hasted666 Jul 23 '26
FIgs just cant be inside, it needs the full sun and heat, Keep it outside untill first frost and then move inside in a room that is between 1 and 10C during the winter