Hello everyone,

I just wanted to make sure these leaves are burnt and not something else. Also wondering what this means if they are in fact burnt.

 

-Ross

Yes that looks burnt to me.  It will either fall off if burnt too badly or will hang on the tree producing some energy for quite a while.  I wouldn't worry too much about it.  Figs are tough and they will sprout new leaves.  It may delay your figs slightly if it is a small tree, but it shouldn't be too bad.

Roger roger. Thanks Nick.

had the same issue on my indoor figs when I bought them outside went on vacation and the weather jumped to 70s outside. The were not in deep shade and came home to a bunch of burnt leaves. But they'll be fine

Hi,
Looks like sun burn or night freshness burn. If you have a more sheltered and shaded area, and if you have some other leaves to save, try to pull the pot to that more shady area.
After a week, pull the pot to more sun progressively .
Don't cut the burnt leaves. They can help the tree.
Watch out for the green stems to not become burnt .

What happens if the stems get burnt?

Hi,
Own weight of the top can make it collapse and break because of that weak point on the stem.
Not a good way to start the season ...

It could be worse, and at least I'm learning from my mistakes!

That's nothing to worry about. The sun burns those leaves. There is absolutely nothing you can do about it. The good news is, the leave will come back in a few days and it happen again till next spring.

I notice when I rotate some of my plants they get sunburn. Should I not rotate them? (When I say "rotate" I mean if one side of the plant faces south one day, the next day the other side of the plant faces south.) Do you guys do this or should I just let the plant face the same way all the time. (Which is the way a plant in the ground is  since you obviously cant rotate it.)??

Blackfoot, I don't understand the logic of rotating a plant, even a houseplant.  But especially an outdoor fruit bearing plant. 

There are many evergreen conifers in the northern regions that if you study closely you'll notice something interesting.  The south side of the tree has more leaves (needles, whatever) than the north side.  Why?  Because the south side receives more light, so the tree has optimized itself to put the leaves where they can do more good and produce more energy.  Leaves are somewhat expensive for the tree to maintain, so why put them where it's shady?  

So if you rotate your fig tree, the leaves that were on the north side that had grown accustomed to a certain level of shading from the leaves on the south side all of a sudden can't cope with the increased amount of direct sunlight.  

So like you say, try to think of how the plant would grow if it were in the ground, which is the natural state.   

You have to acclimate both sides.

rcantor, if you think so then please provide an explanation as to why.  I haven't heard a convincing one yet, but am willing to listen.