The Rubber Tree is a total classic—it’s hardy, low-maintenance, and honestly, just looks great in any room. Whether you’ve got a *Ficus elastica* with those glossy deep green leaves or one of the flashy variegated types (like the white-green or pinkish-red ones), the foliage is the star of the show. But if you start seeing yellow leaves? That’s a red flag.
The Root of the Problem
If your Rubber Tree is turning yellow, it usually boils down to two things:
- Mistakes in your care routine
- A spot in the house that just isn’t working for it
You’ll want to act fast to stop the spread. Unfortunately, once a leaf turns yellow, it’s a goner—it’ll eventually turn brown and drop off. But don’t worry, we can save the rest of the plant!
-Care Mistakes
If your care routine is a bit off, these are the most likely culprits for those yellowing leaves:
- Root rot (from overwatering)
- Chlorosis (nutrient deficiency)
–Root Rot
Root rot happens when you get a little too enthusiastic with the watering can. When the soil stays soggy, the roots can’t breathe and eventually start to rot. Yellow leaves are often the first cry for help. Since a plant can’t survive without healthy roots, you need to perform some “emergency surgery”:
- Gently lift the plant out of its pot.
- Trim away any mushy, rotted roots.
- Carefully rinse the remaining healthy roots with lukewarm water.
- Let them air dry for a bit.
- Repot your Rubber Tree in fresh, dry substrate.
- Hold off on watering for a few days.
To keep this from happening again, make sure your pot has a drainage hole and add a layer of pebbles or leca at the bottom. And of course, take it easy on the watering!
–Chlorosis
Chlorosis is basically a fancy word for a nutrient deficiency. In indoor plants, this is usually tied to your fertilizing schedule. If the soil is low on magnesium, the Rubber Tree can’t produce enough chlorophyll (the stuff that makes leaves green). If you don’t refresh the soil or add fertilizer, the leaves will fade to a pale yellowish-white.
To fix this, grab a magnesium-rich fertilizer or a specialized Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) supplement from your local garden center to get those leaves back to their vibrant selves.
-The Wrong Location
Rubber Trees can be a little dramatic about their environment. They might even turn yellow just because you moved them to a new corner! Here are a few things *Ficus elastica* absolutely hates:
- Cold drafts
- Not enough light
- Too little sun (though they don’t want to be scorched by direct, midday sun either)
- Temperatures dropping below 60°F (15°C)
The fix here is simple: find a better location that meets the plant’s needs, and it should bounce back in no time.
