Reasons for Yellowing and Dropping Leaves on Rubber Plants and How to Fix Them

The rubber plant (Ficus elastica) likes a warm, humid growing environment with plenty of sunlight, and it is widely cultivated in China. Whether grown indoors or in gardens, it has extremely high ornamental value. So during the growing process, when the rubber plant shows yellowing leaves, leaf drop and similar problems, what should we do? How should we solve these problems?

What to do when rubber plant leaves turn yellow

1. Long-term nutrient deficiency: If nitrogen fertilizer has not been applied for a long time, or the pot and water have not been changed, the water lacks nitrogen and other nutrients, causing the branches and leaves to become weak and the leaves to be thin and yellow. You need to promptly change to fresh growing water and gradually increase the application of dilute decomposed liquid fertilizer or compound flower fertilizer.

2. Over-fertilization: Too much fertilizer will cause new leaves to be thick and fleshy, and mostly uneven, while old leaves dry at the tips, turn scorched yellow and drop. Fertilizing should be stopped immediately, the amount of water changed should be increased so the fertilizer is leached away, or the plant should be immediately repotted, the bulb roots rinsed with water, and then replanted in the pot.

3. Hot high temperatures: If the plant is placed in a high-temperature spot and exposed to direct strong sunlight, it is very easy to cause the leaf tips and leaf margins of young leaves to scorch, or the leaves to turn yellow and drop. It needs to be moved promptly to a well-ventilated, shady place.

4. Excessive shade: If the plant is kept in a shady spot or a place with insufficient light for a long time, the branches and leaves will turn yellow. It should be placed in a spot with plenty of sunlight.

Reasons why rubber plants drop their leaves

1. Not changing the pot for a long time, causing the potting soil to become severely compacted so it cannot absorb nutrients, which causes leaf drop.

2. The plant has not been fertilized for a long time, causing malnutrition and yellowing leaves.

3. The temperature is on the low side, causing leaves to wither, yellow and drop.

4. Improper watering or fertilizing, causing leaves to drop.

5. The indoor air is too dry, and the moisture in the potting soil is not enough to supply all the leaves.

6. Poor indoor ventilation, causing yellow leaves.

7. Infection with gray mold (Botrytis).

How to solve rubber plant leaf drop

1. When the temperature reaches above 15°C, repot the plant, cut off dead roots, and shake off the old soil.

2. When repotting, add an appropriate amount of base fertilizer, remove the yellow leaves, and thereafter apply liquid fertilizer once every half month, mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.

3. Raise the indoor temperature for overwintering, and be sure to keep it above 6-8°C.

4. First cut off the rotted roots until the cut surface is fresh and white milky sap seeps out. Wait for the sap at the wound to dry, and you can also apply sulfur powder to the wound for disinfection, or wipe the wound with clean plant ash or charcoal crumbs, then repot and plant.

5. Check the moisture level of the potting soil from time to time, replenish water promptly, and spray water on the leaf surface every morning and evening. If that is still not enough, you can spray water on the leaf surface again around noon.

6. Open the windows promptly for ventilation; keeping the indoor air ventilated and fresh can improve the situation.

7. Diseased leaves found should be promptly removed and burned, and indoor light should be increased and the room temperature raised.

Four-season care for potted rubber plants

1. Spring care

In spring, place the plant in a spot with light, keep the potting soil moist, and frequently sprinkle water around the plant to increase air humidity. Fertilize appropriately according to the plant's growth condition. As the temperature gradually rises in late spring, the rubber plant can be moved to a semi-lit environment or an indoor spot with scattered light. Each spring, when the temperature stabilizes at around 15°C, repot the plant, and prune appropriately before repotting.

2. Summer care

The rubber plant tolerates high temperatures and strong sun, but too much light will also make the leaves lose their luster, which is not good for ornamentation. The rubber plant can be placed in a brightly lit spot, or directly exposed to sunlight, but it should be appropriately shaded at noon. In summer, water evaporates fairly quickly, so water promptly to keep the potting soil moist, and at the same time spray its leaves and surroundings more often to meet its air humidity requirements.

3. Autumn care

In autumn, as light gradually weakens, the rubber plant can be moved to a sunny windowsill or balcony, keeping the potting soil moist. You should also appropriately strengthen its cold resistance; you can let it exercise outdoors in low temperatures for a period, but do not let it be hit by frost. Before frost, it should be promptly moved into a lit indoor area.

4. Winter care

The rubber plant is not cold-tolerant, but it can withstand short-term low temperatures of 0°C. The indoor temperature should be kept at around 5°C; at this time the rubber plant's growth is stagnant, so you should ensure sufficient light and keep the potting soil moist but on the dry side. Potting soil that is too wet easily causes root rot. When the temperature is higher at noon, sprinkle and spray water on its surroundings and leaves several times. In winter, keep the indoor temperature above 15°C.

It seems that for any plant to grow well, care becomes the key factor. Since the rubber plant's leaves are evergreen throughout the year, we must carefully tend it in all four seasons, otherwise its growth will develop problems, which in turn affects its ornamental value. Although the care process is troublesome, the results are well worth it.