When it comes to the rubber plant care leaves falling off, this blog post has all the information you need to have a thriving garden. As with most concerned gardeners, the health and well-being of their plants are essential.
Therefore, the never-ending questions about why the leaves are falling off, strategies that can be implemented to take better care of the plants, and solutions to putting a halt to plant care problems become endless.
Seeing that there could be many reasons your plant leaves are falling off, this article has all the information you need about the causes, solutions, and other factors that may affect your plant’s health. Have a quick look below to get an insight into the best tips for rubber plant care in pots and more!
Contents
Things To Consider When Growing Rubber Plants
Healthy growing Rubber plants placed indoors are seen as an attractive feature within a home. Thriving plants are admired as they lend a significant beauty to any setting. It is gratifying to receive compliments on your healthy plant and the time and effort you put into caring for it.
However, when it comes to rubber plant care leaves falling off, it can be alarming as restoring your plant to a healthy state would become a priority. To keep healthy and thriving rubber plants, there are things to consider when growing them. We discuss them below to give you insight into the considerations when growing them.
These Are Some Of The Main Considerations When Growing Rubber Plants:
1. Sunlight – The rubber plant should receive a lot of indirect sunlight during the day. A sunny spot shielded by a shade cloth is recommended. Do not place the plant in direct sunlight, because this can scorch the leaves. However, keep in mind that a sign of too little sunlight is when your plant leaves lose their shine and luster, and the lower leaves may start to fall off.
2. Growing Seasons – The summer season is the growing season, whereas in winter the plant lies dormant and does not grow. In summer, water the plant at least once a week, always ensuring that the soil is moist. It is advisable to also mist the leaves or gently wipe them with a damp cloth.
3. Winter watering – In winter, although plant growth is dormant, water the plant every 2 to 3 weeks. However, it is ok if the soil is dry between the watering cycles during this time.
4. Over watering – Leaves turning brown or yellow is a sign of overwatering, while drooping leaves are a sign of underwatering. Overwatering can cause root rot, and a telling sign is when the leaves start to wilt or lose their color. In this case, you should let the soil dry out completely before watering again.
5. Climate – Rubber plants grow well in temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees F indoors. Giving your plant some outdoor air and sunshine during summer will improve its growth. If the outdoor temperature drops below 60 degrees, the rubber plant should be taken indoors. If the temperature exceeds 80 degrees then it’s best to mist your plant to help it overcome the dry air.
6. Pests and Diseases – Common pests such as aphids, spider mites, thrips, and scale bugs can attack the rubber plant. Diseases brought on by these pests may result in a damaged plant if not promptly treated. If you notice pests on your rubber plant, you should use a natural or chemical insecticide to eradicate them.
What Is The Best Soil For Rubber Plants?
Rubber plants are low-maintenance plants that grow well in most soil mixes, provided there is good drainage. Poor soil and bad drainage can result in sogginess, which then contributes to the rubber plant care leaves falling off.
Most types of potting soils that you get at the local garden shop will do well as a medium for these plants. However, to get the best soil for your plant, it is advisable to add pumice, perlite, and cactus soil into the mix.
This will allow for efficient drainage so that the roots don’t stay soggy. It is also important to have a drainage hole in your pot to avoid this. A mix of pine bark, peat moss, perlite or pumice, and sand is best. The recommended mixture is equal parts peat moss, pine bark, and sand to a handful of perlite or pumice.
Tips To Plant A Rubber Plant In Pots?
Choosing the right-sized plant pot can positively impact the rubber plant care leaves falling off significantly. This is because the size of the pot can control the size of the rubber plant. With larger pots allowing for enhanced growth, your plant can grow very tall.
Terra Cotta pots are porous clay types, which tend to wick moisture away from the soil. This is beneficial when growing these plants. However, keep in mind that plastic pots tend to hold moisture in the soil.
Here Are Some Tips To Plant Them:
Plant Pots – Your rubber plant will need room within the pot to spread its roots. Choose a pot size that is about ⅓ the size of the root ball.
Cuttings – You can grow rubber plants from cuttings as long as you have a nutrient-rich growing medium and nurture them in the first few weeks.
Spacing – When planting the rubber plant in your selected pot, allow for about 1 to 2 inches of space from the brim. The benefit of this spacing is to allow for even watering which reduces the risk of waterlogging your plant.
Drainage – ensure that you have a large hole at the bottom of the pot for drainage. However, a pot with several smaller holes will do just as well.
Watch the next video for 14 additional rubber plant care tips.
Rubber Plant Care Leaves Falling Off – Best Tips
Here are a few tips to help your plant reboot with healthy leaves.
Tips:
- Leaves can fall off the plant when there are light changes, caused by movement from outdoors to indoors. In this case, it is advisable to use artificial lights on your rubber plant. This will allow the plant to adjust to climate changes especially if your region does not get sufficient sunlight.
- The change in seasons from summer to fall, when light levels change, will cause leaves to fall off the plant. Again, ensuring that your plant receives adequate light will also avoid this.
- Your rubber plant leaves can fall off due to infestation by common garden pests such as aphids, scale bugs, spider mites, and thrips. Treat the plant with natural or chemical insecticides, to get rid of pests.
- The lower the humidity in your house and added dryness, especially during winter, can cause rubber plant leaves to fall off. The use of heaters during winter contributes to the dryness of the home environment. The remedy, in this case, is to mist the plant with a water spray daily. The other option is to set the plant on a tray of pebbles filled with water, increasing the humidity around it.
- Although your home may have the right temperature for your rubber plant, cold air drafts from open windows and doors can affect the plant. To correct this, move the plant away from the path of cold air drafts.
Conclusion
We have provided information on the possible incidents of rubber plant care leaves falling off and suggestions on how to get around these problems to improve your plant’s health.
We have also provided information tips that help improve plant care, which in turn will enhance the growth of your plant. Selection of the right pot and the correct soil mix are important factors to better plant growth.
To maintain this healthy and thriving plant, with good shinning leaves, we have provided some key information to better plant health, and remedies to implement when you notice your Rubber Plant wilting. Click on the link for more information about these ornamental plants.
FAQs
How do you perk up a rubber plant?
To perk up your rubber plant you should ensure that the plant is watered. If the soil is dry then watering at least once a week in warmer months or two or three times a week during colder months is recommended.
How do you fix an overwatered rubber plant?
To fix an overwatered rubber plant you should first let the soil dry out completely before you water it again. If root rot has set in, then remove the plant from the current soil, and repot it with a fresh soil mixture.
How do I know if my rubber plant is dying?
You will know if your rubber plant is dying when you see it swollen and mushy, which are usually brought on by root rot. You may also notice stunted growth of your plant, which can be the result of damaged roots. If the leaves are wilting, then a lack of moisture or excessive dryness in the home environment is the cause.
Should I remove damaged leaves from rubber plant?
Yes, you should remove damaged leaves from the rubber plant because it will improve the overall appearance of the plant, and keep it in good health. This can be done any time of the year to also encourage growth.
