Ficus elastica is its botanical name. Its leaves are glossy, wide, and emerald-hued. It has a good growth rate of 100ft tall if indoors and over 6ft indoors in a few years with proper care. Rubber Plants need a warm environment to grow for the whole year, so it will be an easy option if you live in a temperate region. It is toxic to pets and humans.
Why are your rubber plants leaves drooping?
Understand the signs behind your rubber plant leaves drooping and identify the reasons behind it
- Too little or too much light, due to too much light rubber plant leaves turn brown, and too little slows its growth and the leaves sulk and leaves falling off.
Solution- Place the plant at a spot where there is sunlight but not that like a sunburn, it should be indirect.
- Inconsistent Temperature – This plant needs a balance and cannot tolerate too cold, too hot, or gradual changes in temperature, it leads to curling of the rubber plant leaves in protest.
- Overwatering or underwatering – Overwatering makes its leaves look brown and underwatering makes it look dull papery and lifeless
Solution- You can check the soil, if it is dry it’s time to give water to your thirsty plant.
- Improper soil – Your soil must be aerated with good drainage as compacted soil leads to root rot and poor drainage leads to overwatering which in turn increases rubber plants leaves drooping.
- Humidity – It requires a humid environment.
Solution- Regular misting or placing moist pebbles to keep the humidity high
Treating root rot- A silent but deadly disease
It remains unnoticed until the damage is done, focus on signs like slower growth, rubber plants leaves turning yellow and distorted with mushy stems and the soil smelling pungent, these are all the signs of root rot.
Cause
- Overwatering – Roots are dipped in water for a long time causing loss in oxygen, by fungi that develop due to moist conditions.
- Underwatering– leads to droopy leaves, damages roots, and prevents the plant from absorbing water rightly
- Compacted soil– It doesn’t allow the plant firstly roots to breathe and hence is a hindrance in plant growth.
Solution
- Aeration -Aerate the soil by replacing the potting mix every year which prevents decomposition and composition, add perlite, coarse sand, or orchid bark to improve the aeration.
- Repotting- In case of root rot it’s best to remove the infected roots and repot the healthy plant.
- Drainage- Good drainage can be achieved by a mixture of coco coir which retains water and perlite which improves aeration.
Rubber plants leaves drooping may be due to Nutrient deficiencies
- Nitrogen Deficiency
It’s the nutrient responsible for those beautiful big lush green leaves, less nitrogen will make these leaves turn yellow and slow the plant growth, but once you get the know the problem it can be easily fixed by releasing a slow nitrogen fertilizer.
- Potassium Deficiency
It can be easily detected, that rubber plant leaves will become burnt from the edges with purple spots on the surface. An addition of a potassium-rich substance would be useful.
- Magnesium Deficiency
The leaves develop a green center with a yellowish band along the margin, a slow-release magnesium supplement will regain the original leaf which is much better and authentic.
Rubber plants care
1. Sunlight
If grown indoors keep it at an east-facing window or a little away from south-facing or west-facing windows, where the indirect light from the sun can reach them. Ensure that the direct light doesn’t destroy their glossy big leaves and begin losing their lower leaves.
2. Temperature and Humidity
They grow well between temperatures 65 degrees F to 85 degrees F with a humidity percentage between 40 to 50.
3. Water
They cannot tolerate drought so keep the soil moist. Often check the soil if it is dry, it is time to water again.
4. Fertiliser
Fertilize the soil every two weeks during the growing season with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer which must be diluted to half its strength.
5. Pruning and Maintenance
Prune your plant to keep its height in check, best time for pruning is at the start of spring
If indoors support the plant stem with a wooden block to keep it upright.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs):-
Q1. How to clean rubber plant?
Ans. Rubber Plants needs keep dusting the large leaves as they can accumulate dust over some time, the rubber plant requires cleaning.
Q2. Can rubber plants be grown indoors?
Ans. Rubber Plants is challenging to grow it indoors as this plant loves sunlight, it must be available for 6 to 8 hours of the day
