Whether you’ve got one with deep forest-green leaves or a trendy variegated variety, the Rubber Tree (*Ficus elastica*) is a total showstopper in any indoor jungle. But if you start seeing those beautiful leaves hitting the floor, it’s usually a cry for help. Your plant is likely telling you it’s just not feeling its best.
The Mystery of the Dropping Lower Leaves
If your Rubber Tree starts shedding its bottom leaves, it’s totally normal to panic a little. Most plant parents immediately start questioning everything:
- Am I messing up the care routine?
- Is it sitting in the wrong spot?
Both are fair questions, because care and environment are usually the culprits when a *Ficus elastica* starts acting up.
Common Care Mistakes
When it comes to care-related leaf drop, it usually boils down to two things:
- Fertilizing
- Watering
Fertilizing
If your Rubber Tree isn’t getting enough nutrients, the leaves will discolor or drop off entirely. On the flip side, over-fertilizing can be just as bad. However, if fertilizing is the issue, you’ll usually see leaves falling from all over the plant, not just the bottom.
Watering
In the world of plant care, “wet feet” (standing water) is the Rubber Tree’s arch-nemesis. This happens when you water too frequently. The first signs of root rot are usually yellowing or dropping leaves, particularly near the top of the plant. Long story short: if only the bottom leaves are falling, it’s probably not a watering issue.
The Wrong Location
To really thrive, your Rubber Tree craves bright light and warmth. If it’s too dark or too chilly, it might drop leaves or look super wilted. But again, if the location is the problem, the plant will usually look sad all over, rather than just losing leaves at the base.
Solving the Mystery
Here’s the thing: the Rubber Tree is, well, a tree! In the wild, these giants can reach heights of 130 feet. Even though your indoor version will only grow a few feet tall, its DNA stays the same. Just like many other trees, it naturally sheds its lower leaves as the trunk matures and turns woody.
So, if your Rubber Tree is only losing its oldest, bottom-most leaves, don’t sweat it—it’s just a natural part of growing up! However, if the leaf drop starts climbing higher and higher up the stem, then it’s time to play detective. You’ll want to check for diseases, pests, or issues with its light and water.
