Why are my leaves dropping?

This is often caused by sudden changes in light or temperature.

How often should I water?

Water when the top few centimeters of soil feel dry to the touch.

Plant guide

Rubber Plant.

Ficus elastica

Pronounced FY-kus ee-LAS-ti-kuh

Also known as India Rubber Fig, India Rubber Tree, Indian Rubber Tree, Rubber Fig, Rubber Plant

The rubber plant is a popular houseplant known for its thick, glossy, dark green leaves. It adds a bold, architectural touch to any room. It grows quite tall indoors, so give it plenty of space.

Another photo of Rubber Plant — Photo by rajesh rocky (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Evergreen tree
Light: Bright, indirect light is best.
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: Up to 3 meters indoors.
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Rarely blooms indoors

Care

Keep your plant in bright, indirect light to maintain its vibrant leaf color. Wipe the leaves occasionally with a damp cloth to remove dust and help the plant breathe. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the soil is staying too wet.

Watering: Allow the top few centimeters of soil to dry out completely before watering again.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the active growing season.
Pruning: Prune in late winter to control height and encourage a bushier shape.
Repotting: Repot every two years or when the roots become crowded in the current container.
Soil: Well draining, peat based potting mix.
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: 15 to 29°C
Humidity: 40 to 60%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for decades with proper care.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Water running straight through the pot
Stunted growth during the growing season

Safety

People: The milky sap contains latex which can cause skin irritation and is toxic if ingested.
Pets: The plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested, causing irritation and vomiting.
Children: Keep this plant away from small children as the sap is irritating and the leaves are toxic if chewed.
Contact allergens: The milky sap contains latex which can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There is no significant respiratory allergen risk.
Edibility: The plant is not edible and the sap is a known irritant.

How to identify it

Large, thick, glossy oval leaves
Deep green or burgundy foliage
Sturdy, upright woody stems
Milky white sap when cut

Height: 1.5 to 30m
Spread: 0.6 to 25m
Leaves: dark green, burgundy, variegated, evergreen
Flowers: greenish, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: yellow, green, rarely fruits in cultivation

Problems to watch for

Root RotCommon
Scale InsectsCommon
Brown Leaf EdgesUncommon
Leaf DropUncommon
MealybugsUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, air layering
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Move indoors before temperatures drop below 15 degrees Celsius and keep away from cold drafts.
In containers: It grows very well in containers, though it may require a heavy pot to prevent tipping as it matures.

Stem Cuttings

1. Take a 15cm cutting with at least two leaves.
2. Rinse the cut end to stop the sap flow.
3. Place in water or moist soil until roots form.

Group plants with similar humidity needs together to create a microclimate.

Grows well with

Peace Lily — They share similar light and moisture requirements.
Philodendron — They thrive in the same indoor environment.

Similar species

Fiddle Leaf Fig — It is another popular indoor Ficus with large, dramatic leaves.

Science

Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: South and Southeast Asia
Conservation: Not currently of conservation concern.

It grows as an epiphyte in the canopy before sending down roots to reach the forest floor.

Value to wildlife: provides habitat for tropical insects
Pollinators: wasps
Uses: indoor ornamental, air purification, large space filler

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Soil reaction: 6/9
Salinity: 2/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 8/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why are my leaves dropping?: This is often caused by sudden changes in light or temperature.
How often should I water?: Water when the top few centimeters of soil feel dry to the touch.

Where the name comes from

The name elastica refers to the elastic quality of the latex sap produced by the plant.

Good to know

It is a member of the fig family.
In its native habitat, it can grow into a massive tree with aerial roots.
The leaves are naturally shiny to help them shed heavy tropical rain.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your rubber plant growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.