Brown leaves and a sad plant - Ask Extension
Hello,
We are having a sick plant we would like to know more about, hoping it can be cured. Unfortunately I do not know its name, but have attached tw...
Knowledgebase
Brown leaves and a sad plant #331138
Asked June 11, 2016, 2:19 AM EDT
Hello,
We are having a sick plant we would like to know more about, hoping it can be cured. Unfortunately I do not know its name, but have attached two images.
It's a tall plant (nearly 2 metres high now), which stands several metres away from a window in our living room. It has leaves that quickly become hard and very brown at the edges. The brownness then seems to 'take over' the leave entirely, after which the leave falls off. At the bottom of the stem, just above the earth level in the pot, a whitish colour has appeared. It's not mould, it's dry. I have attached two pictures. Grateful for your advice!
County Outside United States
Expert Response
I suspect this is a fig tree (ornamental, not edible), and that the tree has been in this pot for some time. The whitish substance may be salt buildup. Do you use municipal water to water this plant? When was it last repotted? I suggest carefully removing the plant from the pot, soaking the rootball in water (rainwater if you collect it, or run the hose on it to completely soak the rootball through), and checking the root system. If the roots are highly visible (encircling the potted area, tight, etc.), then you will need to repot into a larger pot, adding fresh soil. If the rootball falls apart when you pull it out of its pot, look for dark, rotted roots. If no rot is visible, repot into the same pot, but with fresh soil. If you wish to send pictures of the rootball when you pull the plant out of its current pot, I may be able to better advise you.
