Fig Tree Leaves Curling (And How To Fix It)

Many gardeners want to grow tasty fig tree fruit in their yard. In my opinion, growing fruit plants is one of the most interesting things to do. But things don’t always go smoothly. But not always everything goes smoothly, so many are looking for answers to various questions that arise in the process of growing figs.

Underwatering in hot weather, scorching sun, fungal disease (Taphrina deformans), or drastic temperature changes are the main causes of fig tree leaves curling. To fix curled leaves, water the fig tree when the soil is 2 inches dry, move it to a place with fewer sunlight hours. Also, spray the plant with a fungicide and make sure it is protected from a sudden cold snap.

Poor watering

In most cases, the cause of curling fig leaves is dry soil. After planting the tree, many gardeners believe that this is the end of the care of the plant and we can wait for the fruit. But in hot and dry weather, the ground dries out quite quickly. If it was windy at the time, the rate of drying will increase even more.

You can even water a fig tree once a week, as many sources recommend. But this amount of water might not be enough in the heat. This is especially true for newly planted fig trees, which are very sensitive to drought in their first year. By curling the leaves inward, the fig tree reduces the area of water evaporation, thereby avoiding dehydration.

To remedy the situation and avoid similar problems in the future, you should not water the fig tree once a week, but when it needs water. Use your fingers or a moisture meter to check the moisture in the soil and if it is more than two inches dry, it’s time to water.

Water the fig tree with plenty of water to soak the soil around it to a sufficient depth. Do not water again until the top 2 inches of soil is dry.

As for potted fig tree growing, you need to check the condition of the substrate in the pot every day and water when it dries out 1 inch deep. In hot summer, the top layer of soil in the pot can dry out in a day, so you have to water every day.

Harsh sun can cause fig leaves to curl

The sun is usually not as strong in the spring as it is in the summer. When the fig leaves begin to grow, the sun is still quite gentle and problems rarely arise.

But when summer comes, the sun begins to shine very strongly, and the length of the daylight hours increases. Sometimes this happens very abruptly and the leaves do not have time to adapt to the new conditions. This triggers a mechanism that reduces the leaf area by curling. The plant needs this to reduce the amount of light it receives.

Other symptoms can be reddening of the leaves. In the worst case, the leaf edge will burn.

Excessive sunlight usually affects trees in the first 1-2 years after planting. This is because the plants are not yet fully established. This also happens to potted fig trees.

To remedy the situation you need to shade the fig tree for a while if possible. You can also increase the amount of watering a bit for a while.

If your fig tree is growing in a container, move it to a place where it will only get direct sun during the first half of the day. After the heat subsides, move it back in.

Health problems

Unfortunately, diseases sometimes affect fruit trees and the fig tree is no exception. One of the diseases that can cause leaf curl is Taphrina deformans. The outward signs of this disease are curling leaves. In addition, the leaves turn red and have tubercles on them.

The disease is caused by the fig tree being grown in a very humid environment. Other stress factors can also catalyze the development of the disease.

To keep Taphrina deformans from affecting your plant, move it to a less humid location. The air around the tree should move freely. If the disease happens, spray the leaves with a fungicide containing copper.

Several other diseases can also cause leaf curl. In this case, brown spots are also present on the leaves. Treatment is to spray regularly with fungicides.

Temperature fluctuations

Another factor that simulates leaf curl is sudden temperature changes. Usually, in late spring it can be hot during the day, but at night the temperature can drop considerably. Or vice versa, the spring weather is cool but suddenly it gets warmer.

All these are stressful factors for the fig tree. To protect itself, the plant reduces its leaf area by twisting inward. It may also change its color to red or burgundy.

It is not much you can do in this case. If the fig tree is growing in a pot, you can move it to a warmer place overnight. But if the curling is caused by sudden warming, you can shade the plant for a while.

You can also increase watering a little for a short period of time. A good solution is to use a low concentration of liquid all-purpose fertilizer on a single occasion.

It can sometimes happen that the leaves remain curled for the rest of the season, which is normal.

Too much watering

Well-drained soils predominate in the fig tree’s native habitat. Accordingly, this plant does not like its roots to stay wet for a long time.

Prolonged waterlogging of the root system leads to a lack of oxygen and root rot. As a result, the leaves curl down starting from the tips. Also, the color of the leaves may change to yellow.

In addition to root rot, fig trees can be affected by powdery mildew if they are overwatered. In this case, the leaves will curl downward and become covered with a white coat.

The first thing you need to do is to stop watering frequently. Water the fig tree when the soil is at least two inches dry. When watering, use enough water to keep the soil well moistened. Do not water again until the ground is a few inches dry again.

If you are growing a potted fig tree, water when the soil is about 1 inch dry. Use pots with drainage holes.

If the plant is growing in a moist place, transplant it to a drier location. Use organic matter (compost) to make the soil well-drained.

Fertilizer issues

Improper fertilization of the fig tree can lead to negative consequences, namely the curling of the leaves. There are two possible scenarios here.

The first is too much nitrogen. In this case, the leaves grow faster and become soft and sag down. There can be various reasons for too much nitrogen, but the most common reason is to manually apply too much of it.

There is nothing you can do here except stop fertilizing. Then you can leave it like that for the rest of the season and it will be fine again next year.

The second case is when the soil is too alkaline. Under such conditions the fig tree is not able to assimilate trace elements from the soil and, as a result, chlorosis and leaf curling develop.

To correct this, you need to acidify the soil with compost and other commercially available remedies. Then you have to fertilize the fig tree with a slow-release multipurpose fertilizer. In the following years, fertilize once a year in early spring.

Aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites

The activity of some pests can cause the leaves of the fig tree to curl. Many different bugs can damage leaves, but the most common are aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites.

Aphids are small insects that suck on the underside of leaves and feed on the sap of the tree. They are quite easy to see, often ants spread these insects.

As a result, the leaves will curl outward and bumps may appear on them.

To get rid of the aphids and whiteflies you need to spray the fig tree once with horticultural oil. This is usually enough, but repeat the spraying if necessary. You can get rid of most of the insects that can damage your tree this way.

Spider mites are very small reddish-brown creatures that also live with plant juices and cause curling of the leaves. To get rid of them you need to wash the leaves and stems with water several times a week. If this does not help then spray the plant with acaricide.

Key Takeaways:

• Improper watering can cause the fig tree’s leaves to curl. Water when the soil around the trunk is 1 to 2 inches dry.
• A strong, bright sun can cause the leaves to curl. In this case, shade the fig tree for a while.
• Several types of diseases and pests can cause the leaves to curl. To get rid of this, spray the fig tree with fungicide or horticultural oil.
• Improper fertilization can be the cause of curled leaves. Fertilize the fig tree once at the beginning of the season with a long-lasting multi-purpose fertilizer.