Check your plant for pests. Rubber plants like bright light and a lot of it, but not direct sunlight. Your plant needs to harden off first and slowly acclimate to more light. And there are a lot of questions! The plant can be in shock from having gone to a bright, humid greenhouse to average indoor conditions. This could potentially be the result of a bacterial or fungal infection. Rubber Tree Plant Leaves Falling. I’ll describe all these problems at the end of the post. Pests – Pests are another common reason for rubber tree plant leaves falling off. You don’t need much. Air layer is also the best method, if not the only good method, to root a woody stem. Read about the dangers of using moisture meters for plants. I don’t always measure the ratios exactly, but plan on about 60% potting soil, 20% perlite and 20% bark mix. Be sure to closely inspect your entire plant carefully, including the undersides of the leaves, stems and any hidden areas. Problem: Leaves are … Your pot size might be too big and the soil is not drying out fast enough. She was using a moisture meter and hadn’t watered her plant in months. Remove each scale with your fingers, and then dab that area with rubbing alcohol. Any Ficus hates this and you will run into issues if you do. I'll be able to tell you what's going on. This is a very important aspect of rubber plant care. Of course you’ll need to follow good cultural practices for watering as well. The very first symptoms are occurrence of water-soaked spots on leaves that are on the lower sections. The mites suck the plant’s juices and if left uncontrolled can eventually kill the plant and infest your other indoor plants. There can be various causes of this. I do have a question about my rubber trees. You will also see some discoloration and uneven coloring on the leaves. Chilling the plant can also cause leaf drop. You’ll need to strike a balance between enough light to bring out the color, but not too much direct sun that may result in browning of the leaves. It is as close to the window as possible without touching it. This was a friend that reached out asking what was wrong. Do not allow water to sit at the bottom of the pot for extended periods. If you have a super sunny window, such as a large Western exposure or Southern exposure window, you can maybe have your plant set back a little, but not too far. At the same time, you can quickly cause a lot of damage to your plant if you let all of the soil completely dry out for extended periods of time. There are many reasons for dropping and falling leaves. Here are the most common rubber plant insects you may come across: Aphids are tiny, pear-shaped pests that gather en masse on the undersides of leaves or the joints of leaves and stems. Where do you live? What are the brown spots on the underside of my tineke leaves? I’ve spent a lot of time documenting my own experiences and also surveyed my large Instagram audience to expose the most common problems with this plant and how to solve them! And you should be fertilizing regardless! Both under and over watering cause leaf yellowing. I’d like to clarify once and for all, that this is incorrect. This is most likely a watering issue. I have a rubber tree plant that is in a container. Spider mites, if allowed to go out of control, can be a very serious problem and difficult to control. Some people mistaken this for a flower, but it is simply a protective covering that each new leaf has when it grows. Discard excess water. Continue to treat as needed. Bacterial infections would typically have a yellowish halo around the brown spot, and fungal infections would typically lack the halo. I'd need a photo to try and help better, but are you doing anything differently from what I describe in the post? Look at the foliage (leaves) and examine the color, shape, and size. . Common Growing Problems . I have included general care information for all varieties of rubber plant (Ficus elastica) and if there is anything different about the care or problems of each variety, I have called it out. Problem: The color of the leaves is starting to fade. I’ve been asked the following questions from my followers on Instagram (my profile is @ohiotropics). Rubber plant leaves can collect a LOT of dust so it is important to keep them clean so the can photosynthesize better, and this also helps deter pests! Aim to let approximately the top quarter of the potting mix to dry out. How to Dispose of a Diseased Plant. Don’t worry though — as a houseplant, rubber plants usually get to around 8-10′. Always discard excess water. They demand very sharp drainage. Nutrient deficiencies are not as common, but if you are using a good, complete fertilizer (available on Amazon) like Dyna-Gro Grow, you should not have to worry about these issues. It was kept in a well lit area but not directly in front of a window. When you bring the plant indoors, increase the artificial light on the rubber tree, that may prevent the rubber plant from losing leaves. With careful pruning, you can shape your rubber tree to … WHITEFLIES. In most cases when people message me on Instagram (@ohiotropics) that their rubber plant is not growing, I always ask for a photo showing the growing location of the plant. Most of the time it is sitting in a dark corner. Watering Woes Because the leaves of the rubber tree plant are succulent, they gather and hold water to sustain the plant through drought conditions. If you are having problems and your plant is dying, I’ll help you reverse it and get back on track. Acclimating the plant slowly when you bring it indoors and shining a few plant lights on the rubber tree will help keep the light levels up and keep the rubber plant from losing leaves. Once it is rooted, you simply cut it off and plant it in its own pot. With air layering, you are actually rooting a new plant while it is still attached to the mother plant. As soon as you notice your leaves curling and/or drooping, feel the soil of your plant. It is my goal to help your rubber plant thrive. This is most likely due to a watering issue. Why Are My Rubber Plant Leaves Curling? Below you will find everything about the care of Ficus elastica. While there are no serious problems associated with rubber plants, it is important to still keep an eye on plant diseases that might affect the foliage. First of all, it will give them a very unnatural look. Mealybugs may infest rubber plants. It is especially effective at removing formaldehyde from indoor air! Proper soil mix is absolutely critical for any Ficus. Proper watering is by far more important, but if you can increase the humidity as well, this is great for your plants. Gently wipe the leaves that have hard water stains. It is related to the fig that you eat. For best results, your Ruby needs to be right in front of a window to bring out the best color in the leaves. Take a look at the plant below. Be sure to place your plant right in front of a window (ALL the time, but especially when you first bring a plant home) in order to make the transition a little smoother. All these kinds of stress on the plant can produce deformed leaves. The water intake wasn't homogeneous and the excess water didn't drain properly. You can tell if your rubber plant needs more light if it becomes leggy, its leaves lose their luster, and lower leaves fall off. Have you ignored your houseplant for a while? They are both in the Ficus genus. Sign up for our newsletter. It is important to water these plants thoroughly, but they need to dry out a bit in between. Ficus elastica (more commonly known as a rubber plant, rubber tree or rubber tree plant) is a popular houseplant because of its waxy leaves and larger-than-life appearance. This lack of humidity can cause leaves falling off rubber tree plant. Read the answer to the question above. Copyright © 2021 Houseplant Care Tips | Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Houseplants That Humidify the Air: 50 Plants Evaluated. More about other varieties of rubber plants we will never buy because of cost. Be sure to read these critical repotting tips before you repot any houseplant. Did you just buy your plant from a nursery and you just brought it home? Light Change – A common reason for a rubber plant losing leaves is a change in the light. If your plant is growing in very warm or hot conditions, and it is receiving too much direct sun, it may scorch the leaves. Many plant diseases can quickly return if the dead plant matter isn’t properly disposed of. Solution: More water! If your plant was in a 4 inch pot, repot into a 6 inch pot. Curling leaves on rubber tree plants are usually indicative … Both of these conditions can cause yellowing leaves. This is probably due to not enough light. Xanthomonas leaf spot is one of the most common diseases found in rubber trees. Humidity – Rubber tree plants need higher humidity. My rubber plant thrives and love this mix! This is normally due to improper watering. In between treatments, you may also want to spray off your rubber plant with water in the shower, or in the sink if you have a small plant, to help clean and wash off your plant. When you are done, be sure to rinse the plant off with plain water water to remove any residue, or wipe the leaves off with plain warm water. Whatever your rubber plant problems or woes are, you will find it here. Posted on March 26, 2020 Categories Houseplants, Indoor gardening, Propagation. Lithocysts are enlarged cells that contain calcium carbonate crystals and is normal for rubber plants. This method should be used sparingly and only when absolutely needed. Is the stem still plump and firm? They are very common and inexpensive in the U.S. Hi. My plants are in an east facing windowsill, not touching the window. Is the tree trying to root or sprouting? It does sound like new branches are probably growing, but the photo will really help. If you just have slight curling but the plant looks healthy otherwise, I wouldn’t worry. Is the soil completely dry and perhaps it has stayed dry for too long? In some cases, you may need to identify pest and disease problems on plant leaves. If a rubber plant receives too much direct sunlight, or is underwatered or overwatered, the leaves can get scorched. The vinegar helps to dissolve those stubborn mineral deposits from hard tap water. Hi Rachel, tell me about your watering practices? Aphids damage rubber tree by sucking the sweet nectar from the leaves. Hi Jourdan! Resume consistent watering, light levels, etc and your plant will thank you and new growth will look normal again. Leaf Yellowing, Root Rot The most common problems with rubber tree plants concern watering. If you just moved your plant into brighter conditions, give it a little time. If you come in contact with this, be sure to wash your hands off immediately. If your leaves are pretty dirty and you want to get a better cleaning, add a little dish soap to warm water. It is a one-stop shop of fertilizers and you can use this for all your tropical foliage plants. Soon, you should hopefully see at least a couple new stems forming. Not only does this plant clean your air, but it also transpires a lot of water so it helps to humidify your indoor air as well! If that checks out OK, think about your care. They're easy to grow and don't require a lot of care, making them a popular choice for those with a less-than-green thumb. White to grey crusty deposits on the soil surface or rim of pots is a sign of salt buildup. Leaf spot diseases will not seriously harm your plants, but there are things you can do that, when done together, can reduce the disease on the tree in following years. This can spell trouble very quickly for rubber plants. Winter is sometimes tough in many areas of the world, but you can increase the humidity with a humidifier if you’d like. It is one of my easiest least fussy plants. I’m not saying that you absolutely can’t repot into a pot that is 2 sizes bigger, but it will greatly increase the risk of issues, especially if your growing conditions are not ideal. To me, this signals that the growing conditions were not as good when your rubber plant grew the smaller leaves. Do you have your plant in a pot without a drainage hole? As a novice, this article was very helpful. Light is the most important factor and you can’t expect your rubber plant to thrive and grow well if it is shoved in a dark corner somewhere in your home. This is normally caused by improper watering. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! It causes dieback of shoots and stem cankers of these flowers. Often times, rubber plants may have an initial protest by dropping some leaves initially until it gets used to its new environment. Rubber trees are perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12, but they are commonly grown as houseplants elsewhere. Rubber plants can attract fungal and bacterial pathogens that can cause leaf spots. Both “underwatering” and “overwatering” can cause this. Plant care is about getting a combination of things right, and not just one aspect. (And How To Fix It) - … An excellent super-well draining potting mix and watering practices are very critical for any Ficus, including the very finicky Fiddle Leaf Fig, or Ficus lyrata. Houses can be dry, especially in the winter when the heat is on. Q. Poor drainage due to heavy soil causes leaf yellowing as well as root rot. Many people unfortunately take this “low light” label to mean that the plant requires low light. If it is, there is still hope. Is it super dry? Thank you very much for the helpful information! One may be a sudden decrease in light. One of my pet peeves are plant labels and many growers label these plants as low light plants. I did have one question though. Rubber trees rarely are affected by bugs or diseases, so they’re the perfect plant for you to sit back and enjoy without a lot of fussing. Ficus are very sensitive to sitting in water. You need to strike a balance with watering. Or if you have a single stalked rubber plant, you will have to chop the top off right above one of the leaves. This was one of many plants that NASA did a study on, so it is a very beneficial plant to have indoors. Be patient. Move your plant to an area with brighter light (you guessed it…in front of a window). Light intensity drops dramatically with each foot that you move away from a window. Is there any hope for it? Many times, this will happen when you bring your rubber tree plant in from outdoors, and this change can cause a total drop of the rubber tree leaves. Too little light, dry air or cold drafts may cause leaf loss. Treat scale or other pests with an insecticide like neem oil. In the vast majority of cases, it is one simple answer: light. If you’re interested in this topic, check out my blog post on 50 houseplants that humidify your indoor air. Insects and Diseases: Mites, scales, aphids, whitefly, root rot In its native environment, it’s normal for a rubber plant to grow to over 100′ tall. When repotting your plant, a good rule of thumb is to only go up one pot size. Over and under-watering are the main reasons for losing turgidity. If you have a woody rubber plant, you may want to air layer your rubber plant. Your plant will languish and I will describe the various problems that can occur at the end of this post. Over Watering – Another way that rubber tree owners can over care for their plant is by over watering the plant.