Rubber plants, or Ficus Elastica, are generally very low maintenance plants. With just a little bit of love and care, they’ll live very happily in your home. But sometimes, no matter how good you are at taking care of plants, the following common problems can happen with rubber plants:
Luckily, these common rubber plant problems can often be fixed quickly if you catch them early! We’ve put together our best tips to answer your most-asked questions so you can quickly figure out what’s wrong with your plant and fix it.
Rubber plants (Ficus elastica) are treasured for their shiny, leathery leaves and sculptural shapes. But sometimes those leaves start to brown and drop. It’s a distressing sight for any houseplant parent.
Leaf drop can have various causes, ranging from cultural problems to disease. By identifying the trigger, you can get your rubber plant’s foliage back in top condition.
Let’s investigate the possible reasons for rubber plant leaves turning brown and falling off, and what you can do about it
Common Causes of Rubber Plant Leaf Drop
If your rubber plant is shedding leaves that quickly go from green to brown and crispy, take a close look at its care and environment. Here are some typical factors that can trigger leaf loss:
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Overwatering – Excess moisture leads to root rot and leaves yellowing and dropping Rubber plants like to dry out between waterings
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Underwatering – Allowing the soil to get too dry causes underwater stress and leaf drop. Don’t let it completely dry out.
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Low Humidity – Rubber plants prefer 40-60% humidity. Dry indoor air causes leaf tips and margins to brown.
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Cold Drafts – Exposure to drafty windows or AC vents leads to leaf scorching and drop. Keep away from cold air flow.
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Insufficient Light – Inadequate light disrupts growth and causes lower leaves to yellow and fall off. Rubber plants need bright indirect light.
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Nitrogen Deficiency – Without enough nitrogen, leaves turn yellowish and may drop. Fertilize regularly in the growing season.
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Pests – Insects like spider mites, mealybugs, and scale suck sap and cause stippling damage and leaf loss. Check under leaves for pests.
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Diseases – Bacterial and fungal diseases like botrytis may cause spots wilting, and defoliation. Isolate affected plants.
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Transplant Shock – Repotting, dividing, or moving the plant can disturb the roots and lead to leaf drop after transplant. Avoid unnecessary disturbances.
Correcting the Growing Conditions for Healthy Foliage
If your investigation points to one of the cultural or environmental factors above, adjusting your care should help stop further leaf loss. Here are some tips:
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Water thoroughly only when the top several inches of soil are dry. Dump out excess water in the saucer after irrigating.
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Mist leaves daily or use a pebble tray to boost humidity around the rubber plant.
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Move to an east or west facing window where bright indirect light is abundant. Filter harsh sunlight with a sheer curtain.
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Keep nighttime temperatures above 60°F. Avoid drafty areas and cold air flow.
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Fertilize every 2-4 weeks in spring and summer using a balanced houseplant food. Dilute to half strength.
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Allow a week or two of dryness and rest after repotting or moving the plant. Then resume normal watering.
As conditions improve, the rubber plant will stop shedding leaves and start regrowing from the crown and stems. Proper care prevents future leaf loss.
Treating Pests on Rubber Plants
Rubber plants are prone to sap-sucking insects like spider mites, scale, and mealybugs, especially when humidity is low. These pests cause stippling damage and leaf wilt.
Check under the leaves and along the stems for tiny crawling insects or white crusty buildup. Treat infestations immediately before they worsen and spread:
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Wash leaves gently with a mild soap and water solution to dislodge pests.
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Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to rub off scale covers.
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Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap sprays every 5-7 days to kill juvenile insects.
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For severe infestations, use horticultural oil or systemic granules according to package directions.
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Remove badly damaged leaves and prune away heavily infested stems.
Keeping rubber plants vigorous with proper care makes them more pest resistant. Maintain humidity and check regularly for reinfestations.
Managing Diseases of Rubber Plants
Several fungal and bacterial diseases can infect rubber plants, usually entering through wounds or as a secondary infection:
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Botrytis – Causes dark greasy spots, bud rot, and leaf drop in humid conditions. Improve air circulation.
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Bacterial leaf spot – Angular translucent spots enlarge and turn brown. Prune affected leaves.
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Root rot – Fungi attack roots leading to wilt and leaf drop. Allow soil to dry between waterings.
You can reduce the incidence of disease by following these practices:
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Sterilize pruning tools to avoid spreading pathogens.
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Remove diseased leaves immediately and isolate infected plants.
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Allow good air circulation around plants and avoid crowding.
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Water early in the day so leaves dry quickly.
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Use well-draining soilless potting mix.
Discard severely infected rubber plants to prevent disease spread. Fungal leaf spots and root rot are difficult to control once established.
When to Be Concerned About Leaf Drop
Seeing a few older leaves turn yellow and drop from your rubber plant periodically is normal. But significant or rapid leaf loss warrants attention.
Focus on cultural fixes first, but consider disease if leaf drop continues despite optimized care. Seek expert help for identifying and treating any pathogens.
Leaf drop accompanied by other symptoms also raises red flags:
- Wilting or drooping leaves
- Mushy stems
- White mold or fuzz on leaves
- Foul odor
- Blackened roots
While saving a severely affected plant may be difficult, early intervention at the first signs of trouble gives the best chance of recovery.
Caring for Leafless Rubber Plants
If your rubber plant has lost most or all of its leaves, don’t give up on it yet! Follow these tips to help it regrow its crown:
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Cease fertilizing until new growth emerges.
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Keep the soil slightly dryer than normal until roots recover.
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Prune away any dead or dying stems down to the soil.
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Move to a very bright spot but avoid direct sunlight.
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Maintain warm temperatures around 70°F.
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Keep humidity high by misting and using a pebble tray.
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Check soil moisture often and water only when dry a few inches down.
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Be extremely patient – leafless recovery takes months.
With diligent care focused on the roots and crown, many denuded rubber plants can make a comeback. But recovery is a slow process requiring persistence.
Key Takeaways on Rubber Plant Leaf Health
While alarming, leaf drop on a beloved rubber plant is often fixable. Rule out cultural issues like overwatering first. Then address pests or disease if needed. Optimizing conditions and vigilant care will stop the leaf loss and restore your plant’s lush foliage.
Why are my rubber plant leaves turning black?
If your leaves are turning black, it could be due to a number of reasons. Rubber plants don’t usually get bugs or diseases, but it can happen! Black spots on the plant could be caused by mold, bacterial infections, fungi, or even viral diseases.
More often than not, though, it will be due to overwatering that has led to root rot. Black spots are often accompanied by wilting leaves, slow growth and mushy roots if this is the case. The soil is too wet because it hasn’t been able to drain properly, which is what this severe overwatering means. This means that the roots are not able to breathe and therefore literally begin rotting away.
But don’t worry—you can save your plant from root rot! Just cut off the damaged leaves, take the plant out of its pot, and throw away the soil that was there. Snip off the roots that have become mushy, and allow other weak roots to fall off themselves. Then, use a fungicide that is safe for rubber plants on the roots. After that, take the plant out of the pot and let it air out for a whole day. After that, you can move your rubber plant to a pot with new soil and good drainage holes to make sure it doesn’t happen again!
What causes brown spots on rubber plant leaves?
You might expect brown spots on leaves to be due to underwatering or sunburn. Yes, you are right about many other houseplants. But with rubber plants, this is almost never because the plant is dry. Usually, brown spots mean you’ve been watering the plant too much. If you think you’re giving it the right amount of water, make sure the pot has enough drainage holes to keep the soil from getting too wet.
Leaves FALLING OFF?! Droopy Leaves?! Here’s what your Ficus Rubber Plant is needing!
FAQ
How do you fix brown leaves on rubber plants?
How to save a dying rubber plant?
What does an underwatered rubber plant look like?
What causes brown spots on rubber plant leaves?
Brown spots on the Rubber plant leaves indicate fungal or bacterial diseases, like root rot, anthracnose, or bacterial blight. The best way out is prevention, as some are untreatable. However, some can be cured. Here’s what you should do: Isolate your plant and remove the infected leaves.
Why do rubber tree leaves fall off?
Chemical burns can also cause rubber tree plant leaves to fall off. If you use too much fertilizer or if the fertilizer you are using is too strong, it can burn the roots of your plant. As a result, the leaves of your plant may turn yellow and fall off. To prevent this, you must be careful when fertilizing your rubber plant.
Why is my rubber plant turning yellow?
Similarly, you can thank improper watering for any yellowing leaves on your plant. Typically you’ll find these paler leaves on overwatered rubber plants, so make sure you’re not topping up the moisture too often.
Do rubber plant leaves fall off?
While it may seem bad at first, self-pruning is a good sign that your rubber plant is healthy and growing well! Another benefit of rubber plant leaves falling off is that it can help the plant cope with stress. If your rubber plant is exposed to too much direct sunlight, the leaves may start to fall off to protect themselves from further damage.
