The low-maintenance Rubber Plant is what we call a “foliage plant,” meaning its gorgeous, glossy leaves are the whole point! That’s why it’s such a bummer when your Rubber Plant starts dropping leaves—not only does it lose its cool look, but it’s also a major red flag that something is wrong.
The Root Causes
It’s actually pretty rare for a hardy plant like the Rubber Tree to lose several (or all) of its leaves. If yours is thinning out, you’ll want to play detective immediately. In the worst-case scenario, a *Ficus elastica* dropping leaves is a plant in distress.
Usually, the culprit falls into one of these four categories:
- Improper care
- The wrong environment
- Pests and diseases
- Natural aging
Improper Care
Rubber Plants are famous for being easy-going. In fact, they usually prefer “too little” over “too much.” Even if you have the best intentions, overwatering or over-fertilizing can cause the plant to drop its leaves. Sometimes the leaves turn yellow or brown first; other times, the plant might drop perfectly healthy-looking green leaves. It all depends on how stressed the plant is.
What to do:
- Repot your Rubber Plant into fresh, well-draining soil.
- Hit the pause button on fertilizing for a month or two.
- Hold off on watering until the new soil has almost completely dried out.
The Wrong Environment
These plants love warmth and light. They really struggle with:
- Cold temperatures (anything below 60°F/15°C)
- Drafts (especially during the winter)
- Dark, gloomy corners
If the conditions are bad enough, the plant might drop every single leaf. They can also be a bit dramatic when moved to a new spot they don’t like!
What to do:
The fix is usually finding a better location. Move your plant to a warm, bright spot with plenty of indirect light (avoid harsh, direct midday sun). Give it a few weeks to settle in, and you should see new growth popping up.
Pests and Diseases
Spider mites, scale, and mealybugs are tiny, so they’re easy to miss. But if these pests take over, they’ll suck the life out of your plant. Eventually, the plant gets so weak it starts dropping leaves one by one.
What to do:
- Treat for pests immediately using neem oil or insecticidal soap.
- Keep your plant healthy (but don’t overdo the water!) to help it bounce back.
- Make “pest checks” a regular part of your plant care routine.
Leaf spot disease can also cause leaf drop in advanced stages. You’ll recognize this fungal infection by small, round or oval spots on the leaves. If you’re dealing with a fungus, you’ll likely need a specific fungicide from your local garden center.
Natural Aging
If your Rubber Plant is only losing its bottom leaves and everything else seems fine, don’t panic! This is often just a natural phenomenon. Remember, *Ficus elastica* is a tree. As the trunk grows taller and becomes more woody (corking), it’s totally normal for it to shed those older, lower leaves to focus energy on new growth at the top.
