Rubber tree plants are quickly becoming popular in the world of plant lovers and enthusiasts.
It is a lovely-looking plant and makes for a great houseplant.
Outdoors, the rubber tree, also known as the Ficus elastica, grows up to 50 feet.
If you are looking into getting one for yourself, get a young rubber tree plant as it needs to get acclimated to indoor conditions.
Do Rubber Tree Leaves Grow Back?
When you see that your Rubber tree leaves are falling off, the most likely reason causing this is overwatering.
If the pot your plant is kept in does not have drainage holes, avoid watering the plant often as the water remains in the container and will rot the roots.
Fortunately, you do not have to worry about this as Rubber tree leaves grow back quickly.
All you need to do is cut the node slightly with a clean knife, and a new leaf will grow right back.
Also, keep in mind that the lower leaves will fall out naturally and is not something to be concerned about.
6 Reasons Why Your Rubber Plant Is Not Growing New Leaves
There are several reasons why your rubber tree plant is not growing as well as it normally should.
The reasons can vary from lack of adequate lighting, irregular watering, planting in the wrong soil, and so on.
Here are a few more reasons the growth of the plant could be stunted:
- Unusually high humidity levels
- Lack of watering or overwatering
- Improper nutrients in the soil
- Pest infestation
- Wrong planation timing or incorrect soil for the plant.
- Constant repotting
While it is stressful to see your plants not grow well, remember that any stunting in growth can be corrected easily by improving the environment the plant is placed in.
How to Save A Dying Rubber Tree Plant?
Rubber tree plants are easy to maintain, provided all their basic needs like sunlight, water, soil, and temperature are met.
Here is what you can do to save your dying Rubber tree plant:
1. Sunlight
Rubber trees cannot survive without sunlight, like most plants.
It is essential that these plants are not kept in the dark corners.
If your plant looks more dull than usual, ensure that the plant is kept on a window sill or anywhere it can receive enough direct sunlight.
This is especially necessary during winters as the days are shorter.
When summer arrives, it is better to move the plant from direct sunlight as it can scorch the leaves.
2. Watering
Overwatering: Rubber plants do not like water, and overwatering is more likely to kill the plant than underwatering.
When the plant is overwatered, the roots often sit in the stagnant water for long periods of time, which leads to root rot.
Root rot can kill the plant almost immediately if not identified in its early stages.
If the soil is soggy, replace the soil so that the rot does not set in.
The plant leaves turning yellow or brown is the biggest sign of overwatering.
Fix a watering schedule according to each season.
If you already do not have one, invest in a pot with drainage holes so that the plant never has excess water in its container.
Underwatering: Water the plant often but in small amounts so that the plant does not sit in soggy soil for too long.
The soil, however, should not be completely dry, too, as this can lead to the drying of the plant.
When the plant is underwatered, the leaves turn dry and brown.
3. Dry Air
Rubber plants like to live in humid conditions.
Oftentimes, in our homes, the air is too dry, and in winters, when we have our heating on for hours in a day, the air tends to become drier than usual.
The Rubber tree plants prefer humidity, and that is the climate they grow best in.
For humid conditions, spray the plant with a bit of water daily when the air is too dry.
4. Cold Air
Rubber tree plants tend to be sensitive to cold air, too.
During winters, ensure that the plant is not placed near doorways or open windows, where cold air can easily reach the plant.
The temperature in your house may be perfect for the plant, but open doorways and windows bring in cold drafts, which can be detrimental to the plant.
Rubber plants are not delicate or overly sensitive.
They are pretty hardy, can thrive in almost any environment as long as they have their basic needs met.
The plant will not drop dead immediately if you forget to water it one day or keep it in a shady area sometimes.
There will be plenty of warning signs such as dry, yellow, brown, or falling leaves that will let you know that it is time to check up on your plant.
Keep an eye on it from time to time, and you are good to go.
How To Force Side Shoots On A Rubber Tree?
The best way to grow more shoots or limbs on a rubber tree plant is to make a cut above the node.
To do this, use clean tools, wear rubber gloves and sharpen your knife or scissor.
Once you have the materials ready, take the knife and make a precise (not deep) cut diagonally on nodes and above the node.
The stems of rubber trees are central, and this can enhance branching.
FAQs
New leaves can be spotted on a Rubber tree plant every 3-4 weeks.
This depends on the environment the plant is in.
As long as adequate sunlight, water every 5-7 days, and appropriate soil are provided, the new leaves will grow.
The most likely cause your Rubber tree plant is losing leaves is overwatering.
However, if you notice that only the lower leaves are falling, that is completely normal and does not raise any concern.
If several leaves are regularly falling, change the watering schedule and water the plant only when the soil is dry or slightly damp.
Yes, Rubber tree plants grow dormant during winter.
When they go dormant, do not water the plant constantly.
Every two weeks should be enough gap between watering sessions during colder months.
During summers, every 5-7 days is good enough, and during colder months, increase the gap between watering sessions to allow the soil to dry.
First, check the soil to see if it is more moist than usual.
If yes, change the soil immediately so that the roots do not have to sit in damp soil for a long while.
Over To You
A rubber tree is an easy to grow houseplant for beginners.
And if you're not sure whether its leaves can grow back, I hope the above guide helps in resolving this question.
If you found this guide useful, please share it with your friends and family.
Feel free to share your feedback and queries in the comments below.
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