Common Causes and Solutions for Yellow Leaves on Rubber Trees

Rubber timber, rubber figs, rubber vegetation, no matter you name Ficus elastica, there’s one factor we will all agree on and that’s how spectacular the foliage is.

The massive, shiny leaves make a big effect and in case you have one of many variegated sorts, 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 variety of causes the foliage may change shade and it’s essential to determine what’s inflicting the issue so you may repair it.

In our information to rising rubber timber, we cowl the right way to domesticate these widespread houseplants.

Should you’re seeing yellow leaves, this information will go excessive seven the explanation why this may occasionally occur and what to do about it to resolve your rubber tree woes.

Right here’s what I’ll cowl:

That is utterly anecdotal, however I’ve issues with my rubber tree dropping leaves way more typically than with it creating yellow foliage.

Should you discover that’s the case for you, learn our information to rubber timber dropping their leaves for some suggestions. Most of the causes of leaf drop are the identical that you just’ll discover right here.

With that out of the way in which, let’s discuss the issue that plagues us all, plant and human alike.

1. Getting old

If all the different leaves in your plant look high quality however a few the underside ones are turning yellow and drooping a bit of, it would simply be the age of the leaf.

Be sure you verify the soil moisture and different causes on this checklist, but when all the pieces appears accurately, it’s most likely the leaf turning yellow because it ages.

As with many vegetation, 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 creating, it’s nothing to emphasize about.

In the identical vein, if you happen to 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, but it surely ought 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 help the plant by guaranteeing it’s not overcrowded, watering appropriately, and taking steps to scale back humidity.

There isn’t a remedy for this illness so if greater than half of the plant is symptomatic, it’s most likely greatest to eliminate it.

3. Overwatering

Overwatering is among 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 vegetation earlier than I figured it out!

With rubber figs, you may let the highest inch of soil dry out between waterings. An excessive amount of moisture will result in root rot which is able to trigger the leaves to show yellow.

Normally, they may flip pale yellow and may even develop mushy brown spots. Then, the leaves will drop. If the rot continues, the plant will seemingly die.

The primary piece of recommendation I at all times give folks is to cease watering on a schedule.

I do know it’s simple to make an observation in your your calendar to water on a specific day, however a plant’s moisture wants range 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 working, the time of yr, and extra.

All of those components are consistently altering, so you may’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 consistently sitting in extra water, they will’t take up vitamins from the soil – basically drowning – which ends up in root rot.

Should you suspect root rot, take away the plant from its container and prune off any lifeless 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

Choose some up at Arbico Organics in a 32-ounce ready-to-use, 16- or 32-ounce hose finish, or 16-ounce focus.

4. Pests

The entire typical sapsucking suspects may cause yellowing foliage, and normally, it’s within the type of stippling slightly than a uniform discoloration.

Aphids, mealybugs, scale, and spider mites are all potential issues.

Look at your plant carefully for proof of pests. Search for webbing, lumps, fuzzy progress, or the precise bugs themselves.

On houseplants, most pests will be managed by spraying them off with a powerful stream of lukewarm water as soon as per week or so.

You possibly can alternate this with a remedy with insecticidal cleaning soap.

Good previous insecticidal cleaning soap is mostly secure for vegetation and targets many of the pests generally seen on houseplants.

Bonide Insecticidal Cleaning soap

You could find Bonide insecticidal cleaning soap out there at Arbico Organics in 12- or 32-ounce bottles.

Scale bugs will be wiped with isopropyl alcohol and gently scraped off with a butter knife.

Though uncommon in houseplants, outside rubber figs will 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 scorching, humid climates in full solar.

In our properties, they make do with low humidity and little solar. However you may solely push them to this point earlier than they begin to undergo.

In an excessive amount of shade or darkness, the foliage will grow to be pale and yellow. This tends to occur all through the plant and never simply on one or two of the leaves.

The following day, make it an hour earlier than you progress again, and so forth. This helps to forestall the plant turning into harassed and doubtlessly 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 many of the specimens that we develop indoors aren’t used to that type of publicity.

Should you had been to take a rubber fig from a darkish toilet and plop it outdoors in full solar, you may guess you’ll see some leaf yellowing and possibly some dropping foliage, as properly.

I as soon as had a rubber tree that was a number of ft 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. All of the sudden, I spotted that among the leaves of my plant had tannish-yellow spots on them.

After I regarded nearer, I spotted that each 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 mild than it was used to, and too rapidly!

Should you’re going to introduce your houseplant to brilliant sunshine, it’s a course of that must be carried out 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 much like overwatering, you may verify the moisture along with your finger or a moisture meter. If underwatering is the issue, the leaves received’t flip brown or mushy, they’ll be yellowish and dry.

Rubber timber like average humidity, someplace between 40 and 60 p.c. If it drops too far beneath 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.

Make sure to keep on high of watering and add extra each time the highest inch or so dries out. If low humidity is the issue, you may increase the moisture ranges within the air by grouping vegetation collectively, preserving your rubber fig in a kitchen or toilet, or utilizing a bit of humidifier close by.

Issues like spraying the leaves or placing the plant on a pebble tray full of water received’t present sufficient humidity to do the job.

Should you reside in a really dry area, you’ll 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 can be good. Choose one up at Amazon in white or black and with or and not using a nightlight.

Inexperienced is Gold

Rubber timber may drop a leaf right here and there, however they’re fairly resilient vegetation. Determine what’s going mistaken with them, repair it, and so they’ll be again to regular very quickly.

What’s inflicting the yellow leaves in your rubber plant? Unsure? Tell us within the feedback and perhaps we may also help you work it out.

And for extra details about rising Ficus vegetation, add these guides to your studying checklist subsequent:

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