Rubber bushes, rubber figs, rubber crops, no matter you name Ficus elastica, there’s one factor we are able to all agree on and that’s how spectacular the foliage is.
The large, shiny leaves make a huge impact and in case you have one of many variegated varieties, they’re much more distinctive.
So when a number of of the leaves begin to flip yellow, it’s very apparent.
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There are a selection of causes the foliage may change shade and it’s vital to determine what’s inflicting the issue so you possibly can repair it.
In our information to rising rubber bushes, we cowl easy methods to domesticate these common houseplants.
For those who’re seeing yellow leaves, this information will go excessive seven the reason why this will occur and what to do about it to unravel your rubber tree woes.
Right here’s what I’ll cowl:
Why Rubber Tree Foliage Turns Yellow
That is fully anecdotal, however I’ve issues with my rubber tree dropping leaves way more typically than with it growing yellow foliage.
For those who discover that’s the case for you, learn our information to rubber bushes dropping their leaves for some suggestions. Lots of the causes of leaf drop are the identical that you simply’ll discover right here.
With that out of the way in which, let’s speak about the issue that plagues us all, plant and human alike.
1. Growing old
If all the different leaves in your plant look superb however a few the underside ones are turning yellow and drooping somewhat, it’d simply be the age of the leaf.
Be sure you test the soil moisture and different causes on this checklist, but when all the things appears correctly, it’s most likely the leaf turning yellow because it ages.
As with many crops, when the older foliage matures, it dies and drops off.
So long as it’s only one or two leaves right here and there and new wholesome foliage is growing, it’s nothing to emphasize about.
In the identical vein, should you transfer a plant from one space to a distinctly completely different space, say from a sunny spot to a darker spot, the plant may drop a number of decrease leaves because it adjusts.
2. Illness
I’ve two phrases for you: root rot. This goes hand-in-hand with overwatering.
We’ll discuss in additional element about root rot later on this article as it may be brought on by pathogens or by merely drowning the roots in an excessive amount of water, nevertheless it needs to be handled the identical in both case.
Bacterial leaf spot, brought on by the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas campestris, causes the leaves between the veins to show yellow because it advances, although it begins as yellow spots on the foliage.
In case your plant is contaminated with bacterial leaf spot, the one plan of action is to take away the symptomatic leaves and assist the plant by guaranteeing it’s not overcrowded, watering appropriately, and taking steps to cut back humidity.
There isn’t any treatment for this illness so if greater than half of the plant is symptomatic, it’s most likely finest to get rid of it.
3. Overwatering
Overwatering is without doubt one of the largest issues that plague our houseplants.
Most of us are responsible of offering an excessive amount of water at occasions, I do know I’ve killed my justifiable share of crops earlier than I figured it out!
With rubber figs, you possibly can let the highest inch of soil dry out between waterings. An excessive amount of moisture will result in root rot which can trigger the leaves to show yellow.
Often, they’ll flip pale yellow and may even develop mushy brown spots. Then, the leaves will drop. If the rot continues, the plant will probably die.
The primary piece of recommendation I all the time give folks is to cease watering on a schedule.
I do know it’s straightforward to make an observation in your your calendar to water on a specific day, however a plant’s moisture wants fluctuate from week to week relying on the climate, the quantity of sunshine hitting the foliage, the compaction of the soil, how a lot your HVAC is operating, the time of 12 months, and extra.
All of those elements are continuously altering, so you possibly can’t simply assume that as a result of the calendar says so, it’s time to water.
Really feel the soil or use a soil moisture meter to find out when it’s time to water. It doesn’t take various seconds extra and your rubber fig will thanks.
If the roots are continuously sitting in extra water, they will’t take up vitamins from the soil – primarily drowning – which ends up in root rot.
For those who suspect root rot, take away the plant from its container and prune off any useless or mushy roots earlier than spraying them with copper fungicide.
Then, soak the soil each two weeks with copper fungicide to kill off any pathogens.
In case your rubber tree is rising within the floor, depart it in place and simply use a soil soak.
Copper fungicide is a must have in any gardening toolkit as a result of you should use it to deal with so many alternative illnesses.
Bonide Copper Fungicide
Decide some up at Arbico Organics in a 32-ounce ready-to-use, 16- or 32-ounce hose finish, or 16-ounce focus.
4. Pests
All the typical sapsucking suspects could cause yellowing foliage, and normally, it’s within the type of stippling relatively than a uniform discoloration.
Aphids, mealybugs, scale, and spider mites are all potential issues.
Study your plant intently for proof of pests. Search for webbing, lumps, fuzzy development, or the precise bugs themselves.
On houseplants, most pests may be managed by spraying them off with a powerful stream of lukewarm water as soon as every week or so.
You may alternate this with a therapy with insecticidal cleaning soap.
Good previous insecticidal cleaning soap is usually protected for crops and targets a lot of the pests generally seen on houseplants.
Bonide Insecticidal Cleaning soap
You could find Bonide insecticidal cleaning soap obtainable at Arbico Organics in 12- or 32-ounce bottles.
Scale bugs may be wiped with isopropyl alcohol and gently scraped off with a butter knife.
Though uncommon in houseplants, out of doors rubber figs may be attacked by foliar nematodes.
These microscopic worms within the Aphelenchoides genus trigger the areas between the veins to show yellow.
They thrive in areas with excessive humidity and when the plant has persistently moist foliage from overhead watering.
5. Too Little Mild
Rubber figs are adaptable. Of their pure habitat, they develop in sizzling, humid climates in full solar.
In our houses, they make do with low humidity and little solar. However you possibly can solely push them up to now earlier than they begin to endure.
In an excessive amount of shade or darkness, the foliage will turn into pale and yellow. This tends to occur all through the plant and never simply on one or two of the leaves.
For those who aren’t certain whether or not your plant is receiving sufficient gentle, you possibly can all the time seize your self a lightweight meter.
Usually, you could find gentle meters which might be mixed with a soil moisture meter.
This four-in-one meter from the Raintrip Retailer through Amazon assessments soil moisture, gentle, pH, and the three main macronutrients.
4-in-One Mild, Moisture, pH, and Nutrient Meter
For those who decide that your plant wants extra gentle, you possibly can introduce your plant to an hour or two of extra gentle with no downside, but when you have to transfer it to a location with 4 or extra hours of sunshine than it at the moment receives, do it regularly.
Place it in a sunnier spot for half-hour after which transfer it again to its previous location for the remainder of the day.
The subsequent day, make it an hour earlier than you progress again, and so forth. This helps to stop the plant changing into careworn and probably dropping its leaves.
6. Too A lot Solar
As talked about, rubber figs are able to rising in full solar of their native environments. However a lot of the specimens that we develop indoors aren’t used to that sort of publicity.
For those who had been to take a rubber fig from a darkish lavatory and plop it outdoors in full solar, you possibly can guess you’ll see some leaf yellowing and doubtless some dropping foliage, as properly.
I as soon as had a rubber tree that was a number of toes away from a pleasant, sunny window.
I didn’t transfer it, however I put in a mirror on the wall throughout from it and that mirror mirrored the solar. Abruptly, I spotted that among the leaves of my plant had tannish-yellow spots on them.
After I regarded nearer, I spotted that every one the discoloration was on the identical facet and solely on the uppermost leaves.
That’s when the lightbulb went off in my mind, and I spotted what was occurring. I had inadvertently given my plant extra gentle than it was used to, and too shortly!
For those who’re going to introduce your houseplant to vivid sunshine, it’s a course of that must be achieved regularly, as talked about above. And look ahead to these mirrors and different reflective surfaces!
7. Underwatering
Low humidity and low soil moisture will inevitably trigger the foliage to show yellow and fall off the plant. It typically begins with the decrease leaves.
Whereas the signs can look just like overwatering, you possibly can test the moisture together with your finger or a moisture meter. If underwatering is the issue, the leaves gained’t flip brown or mushy, they’ll be yellowish and dry.
Rubber bushes like average humidity, someplace between 40 and 60 p.c. If it drops too far under this, the plant will protest by dropping leaves. An excessive amount of above this and also you run the danger of illness issues.
Equally, if the soil is allowed to dry out repeatedly, the leaves will flip yellow and fall.
Remember to keep on high of watering and add extra every time the highest inch or so dries out. If low humidity is the issue, you possibly can increase the moisture ranges within the air by grouping crops collectively, conserving your rubber fig in a kitchen or lavatory, or utilizing somewhat humidifier close by.
Issues like spraying the leaves or placing the plant on a pebble tray stuffed with water gained’t present sufficient humidity to do the job.
For those who dwell in a really dry area, you could find tremendous handy humidifiers which might be quiet and go for a very long time.
Levoit Humidifier
One thing just like the LEVOIT 2.5-liter tank humidifier could be excellent. Decide one up at Amazon in white or black and with or with out a nightlight.
Inexperienced is Gold
Rubber bushes may drop a leaf right here and there, however they’re fairly resilient crops. Determine what’s going flawed with them, repair it, and so they’ll be again to regular very quickly.
What’s inflicting the yellow leaves in your rubber plant? Undecided? Tell us within the feedback and possibly we can assist you work it out.
And for extra details about rising Ficus crops, add these guides to your studying checklist subsequent: