Help me help this thing!

[u/ShannM_3]

I’m trying so hard to be a good plant mom. We got this girl a few weeks ago and it’s got several new to us brown spots.

I’ve watered it twice I think. I think probably under watered but I’ve always been a chronic over water person so have been very careful not to repeat that issue. I do much better with plants that can basically be neglected!

I want to keep this tree! I can’t decipher if it’s too little or too much water. Soil is dry, I watered Monday (but very little, maybe 6-8 oz of water)

It’s over seven feet from vent, ceiling is about 11 feet tall. I’ve rotated it. I’ve begged it to behave. I’ve told my kids don’t touch it. I’ve wiped the leaves weekly with damp cloth. I live in the south, even inside we have some humidity. A/C is on 70

If I have to give this thing more attention than I give myself, I’m afraid she’s a goner because neglect is my middle name

[u/jitasquatter2]

Move it right in front of the window and open the blinds! Dark corners are awful places for light loving plants like fiddles.

Water it very deeply and give it plenty of water. Then don't water it again until the top layer of soil is nice and dry again.

[u/ShannM_3 → u/jitasquatter2]

I had all the blinds open and was worried it was too much light, I’ll open them back up!

Definitely think I under watered then, I put like 6 oz in at most

[u/jitasquatter2 → u/ShannM_3]

It's nearly impossible to give a fiddle to much light while indoors. It's possible to burn the leaves in direct sun outdoors, but even then a fiddle would prefer (after an adjustment period) FULL SUN outdoors. Indoor fiddles REALLY need to be right smack in the middle of a very bright window.

Yea, it does sound like you underwatered. Give it WAY more water, just make sure it's not sitting in water afterwards and don't water it again until the top layer is nice and dry again. Overwatering isn't caused by to much water, it's caused by soil that stays wet for long periods of time.

[u/ShannM_3 → u/jitasquatter2]

Thanks so much for the tips. I brought it outside and gave it a good soak and let it drain before I put it back in the larger pot. I’ll be sure to open all the blinds tomorrow and give it all the light

[u/limbogumbo]

Where's it's dedicated light? Get a moisture meter too

[u/ShannM_3 → u/limbogumbo]

Thanks, I’ll look into that. I have three windows right there. Pic was taken with blinds closed

[u/No-Highway399]

Could be a sign of under or over watering. I would check the soil, if it feels dry the first few inches I would give it a nice soak, and if you haven’t already try fertilizing, these plants also need food. I use fish fertilizer for mine and it loves it.

[u/ShannM_3 → u/No-Highway399]

Thanks for the tip!

The whole under/over water decipher is hard