Ficus Elastica (FY-kus ee-LASS-tih-kuh) is called the Rubber Plant or Rubber Tree Plant. This common decorative houseplant is well-known for its broad, enticing shiny leaves.
As well as, rubber vegetation do effectively in a steady location that gives low to reasonable mild and safety from drafts and chilly temperatures. If all of those situations are met however expertise issues with falling Rubber Plant leaves, chances are you’ll be responsible of overwatering, which might trigger extreme leaf drop.
When these situations are met, the leaves simply want a little bit of upkeep with a moist sponge or tender fabric to take away mud from the leaves.
NOTE: A pest infestation may also trigger leaves to fall. Perceive that it’s fairly regular for a number of backside leaves to age, yellow, and fall.
On this article, we’ll discover why a Rubber Plant’s leaves would possibly fall off and supply ideas that can assist you deal with this downside. Learn on to study extra.
5 Causes And Fixes For Falling Rubber Tree Leaves
Fast leaf loss is at all times alarming in a houseplant. So what are you able to do in case your Rubber Tree all of a sudden begins dropping leaves?
Start by fascinated with your care habits and asking your self these 5 questions.
1. Has The Gentle Degree Modified Lately?
Fairly often, once you transfer your Ficus Elastica from one place to a different, the sudden change in mild ranges will spur leaf drop.
Should you sometimes let your plant take pleasure in spring and summer season open air, transition it from indoors to open air and again very progressively. This can reduce shock and leaf drop, however it in all probability received’t remove it.
Slightly leaf drop on the change of seasons is regular.
2. Is The Rubber Plant Infested With Pests?
In case your plant is overwatered or in any other case compromised, it is going to be extra more likely to entice pests, resembling scale bugs.
These pests even have higher entry to your plant whether it is summer season open air. When pests transfer in, leaf drops could ensue.
Earlier than bringing your Rubber Plant in from the outside, study it fastidiously and take away any hitchhikers. Then, spray it proactively with a neem oil resolution and wipe the leaves and stems clear.
You possibly can add a number of drops of neem oil to the water you utilize to wipe the leaves usually. This can assist fight potential pest infestation and impart a pleasant shine to the leaves.
3. Are The Humidity Ranges Excessive Sufficient?
Keep in mind that Ficus Elastica is a tropical plant that grows within the jungle in nature. Subsequently, it wants excessive ranges of humidity.
You possibly can provide this by putting your plant’s container on a pebble tray with a bit of water on the backside or utilizing a humidifier.
Misting additionally contributes to humidity however will not be as efficient, and moist leaves can result in fungal issues.
4. Is My Plant Uncovered To A Draft?
Your Rubber Plant will thrive in a setting that’s sheltered and constantly heat. Frequent scorching or chilly drafts will disturb it.
In case your plant is close to a window, door, warmth vent, or air conditioner, the draft could also be inflicting it to drop leaves.
Transfer your plant to an space the place it won’t be subjected to wind and temperature modifications.
Be aware that it might protest by dropping extra leaves once you transfer it. Be affected person and maintain it in its new setting.
Whether it is correctly protected and will get the correct amount of sunshine, humidity, and heat, it ought to start to supply new development inside a few weeks.
5. Am I Giving My Plant Too A lot Of A Good Factor?
Overwatering or extreme fertilizing may cause leaf drop. As a substitute, make use of a soak-and-dry watering system.
Solely water when the highest couple of inches of your Rubber Tree’s soil is dry. Then water totally and guarantee your plant will not be left in water.
Present a half dose of a very good high quality, general-purpose houseplant fertilizer early within the spring and as soon as in mid-summer.
Scale back watering within the winter, and don’t fertilize within the winter.
Present Your Rubber Plant With Constant Care
The Ficus elastica comes from Southeast Asia, the place it might probably develop to be a 50-foot-tall tree. Once you develop it in your house, it would naturally expertise relatively stunted development.
Even so, with constant, cautious care, your Rubber Plant can develop into a formidable Rubber Tree.
Remember to present excessive humidity and daytime temperatures of about 80° levels Fahrenheit (or increased). You shouldn’t let the temperature drop under 65° levels Fahrenheit at evening.
Though Rubber Timber can do effectively in low lighting, brilliant, oblique lighting is at all times higher.
Set your plant up in an space a number of toes away from a window in order that it will get ample mild with out being topic to the tough, burning rays of the solar.
A setting away from home windows or doorways will even assist defend the plant from extreme warmth or chill which may come by way of even a closed aperture. This kind of setting will even defend your plant from wind and drafts.
Though these tropical vegetation do like constantly moist soil, they’re higher off barely underwatered than overwatered.
Overwatering results in fungal an infection and root rot which might trigger leaf loss and, finally, plant demise.
By no means let your vegetation’ soil change into bone dry, however do enable the highest few inches of soil to dry out earlier than offering a radical watering.
