13 Reasons Why Rubber Plant Leaves are Drooping and How to Fix It
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Rubber Plant drooping leaves are caused by poor lighting, salts buildup, nutrients deficiency, root-rot, pests infestations, being pot-bound, inconsistent watering, temperature stress, low humidity among others.
Rubber Plants which go by the botanical name, Ficus elastica, are some of the easiest of the Ficus varieties for indoors and outdoors, on account of their ability to adapt to varying growing conditions.
Ficus elastica thrive in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunshine, warmth of 15-280C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Learn how to grow and care for Rubber Plants.
If the growing conditions are not right, your Ficus elastica leaves may begin to wilt and droop. If you fail to carry out timely corrective measures the plant will continue to deteriorate and may die. We have herebelow discussed 13 reasons why your Rubber Plant leaves are droopy and how to fix it.
13 Reasons Why Rubber Plant leaves are drooping
1. Poor Lighting
Plants need adequate light to make food that is needed for growth and energy. Insufficient light means the plant cannot make enough food. In an attempt to save energy for the vital functions, the plant sacrifices some leaves, they begin by wilting, drooping, yellowing and eventually die.
How to fix it
- Move the Rubber Plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright light with 4-6 hours of sunlight. A spot infront of a brightly-lit window with some morning or late afternoon sunshine falling on the leaves is ideal for the plant.
- If you do not have adequate lighting in your home, use in full spectrum grow lights to increase it.
- To ensure that the plant absorbs enough light through the leaves, regularly clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth.
- Give the pot a quarter turn every month, to make sure that the plant receives adequate light on all sides.
2. Salts Buildup
Excess salts in the soil will cause the roots to die due to fertilizer burn. This means the roots cannot take up water to the leaves. Since the water loss from the leaves is greater that the replacement, the leaves begin wilting and drooping.
How to fix it
- Water Rubber Plants with chemical free water like rain water or filtered water to prevent buildup of salts in the soil.
- Stop feeding in fall and winter to prevent fertilizer burn as growth is minimal at this time.
- Regularly flush out accumulated salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it drains through the drainage hole. Repeat the process several times to clear most of the salts.
3. Nutrients Deficiency
Underfeeding implies that the plant is not getting the nutrients need for growth and energy. Inadequate nutrients in the actively growing tips causes nutrients to be withdrawn from the older lower leaves which begin to wilt and droop.
How to fix it
- Feed Rubber Plant with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, every 4 weeks in spring and summer. Ensure to follow the instructions on the label.
4. Root-rot Disease
Rubber Plant is prone to root-rot disease which is prevalent in soggy soil. The disease is characterized by wilting, drooping, discolored leaves, corky swellings under the leaves and eventual plant death.
How to fix it
- Carefully, slip your Rubber Plant out of its pot and inspect the roots; brown-black mushy roots indicate root-rot, trim them off.
- Treat the healthy roots with a fungicidal solution as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant.
- Select a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil to prevent sogginess.
- Do not water the plant immediately and keep it dry for a few days before you can resume watering.
5. Poor Quality Soil
Poor quality soil does not drain easily and becomes compacted or soggy which negatively impacts plant growth. Too wet soil will cause rotting, yellowing, wilting and droopy leaves.
How to fix it
- Pot your Rubber Plant in a well-aerated, free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. A blend of 50% potting soil, 30% peat moss or coco coir (for moisture retention) and 20% perlite (for aeration) is ideal for these plants.
6. Pest Infestations
Rubber Plant is prone to mealybugs, aphids, spider mites and scale insects which attack the new growth from where they suck the plant sap. These sap sucking insects are favored by dry conditions and they will cause the plant to be dehydrated resulting in wilting and drooping leaves.
How to fix it
- Regularly inspect the Rubber Plant for these pests and take timely control measures.
- Isolate the affected plant to minimize spread to the rest of the plants.
- Treat the infested plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturers' recommendations.
- Raise the humidity to discourage pests, by setting the pot on a wet pebble tray or by use of a cool mist humidifier.
- Regularly clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth.
- Keep the plant properly pruned to reduce the pests breeding and hiding places.
- Improve air circulation to depress the pests infestation.
7. Being Pot-bound
Being pot-bound means the roots have filled the pot, and there is very little soil to hold water when you water the plant. Therefore, there is no water for the plant to take up to the leaves. The leaves loss their stiffness, they begin to wilt and droop.
How to fix it
- Check the bottom of the pot for roots growing through the drainage hole.
- Repot the Rubber Plant into a pot one size larger that has a drainage hole and well-draining soil to avoid waterlogging.
- Select a heavy pot as the plant can become top-heavy and topple over. Check out these ceramic pots with a drainage hole on Amazon.
8. Repotting Shock
Repotting will cause some shock to the plant, this will cause some leaves to wilt and droop, before the plant can adjust the new growing conditions.
How to fix it
- Water the Rubber Plant thoroughly one day before repotting as a well hydrated plant experiences less shock and establishes faster.
- Do not make sudden changes; gradually acclimate the plant to new growing conditions.
9. Soggy Soil
Too much water in the soil will suffocate the roots causing them to die. Thus, they cannot take up water to the upper parts of the plant like the stems and leaves. These parts lose their turgidy (firmness), and begin to wilt and droop.
How to fix it
- Use a pot that has a drainage hole and soil that drains easily.
- Decrease watering in fall and winter to keep the soil barely moist as growth is slowed at this time.
10. Inconsistent Watering
Both underwatering and overwatering negatively affect the growth of the plant. Underwatering causes wilting, drooping, yellowing, leaf drop and eventual plant death. Overwatering results in rotting, drooping, yellowing, leaf fall and death of the plant if not corrected.
How to fix it
- Do not water on a schedule to avoid either underwatering or overwatering. Water Rubber Plant when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry to the touch, but do not allow the soil to dry out completely for a prolonged period.
11. Temperature Stress
Extreme temperatures brought about by drafts will result in reduced growth, yellowing, wilting, drooping and shedding of leaves.
How to fix it
- Keep Rubber Plant away from sources of drafts like hot surfaces, hot air vents, AC units, drafty windows, windy doors and others.
- Maintain a warmth of 15-280C; a room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for the plant.
12. Low Humidity
Too little humidity will lead to dehydration which will cause the leaves to lose their turgidity and begin to wilt and droop.
How to fix it
- To upscale humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray, use a cool mist humidifier, group the plants together or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom, kitchen and other humid areas.
13. Too Cold Water
Rubber Plant is a tropical plant which grows in constantly warm temperatures in its natural habitat. Therefore, consistently watering it with too cold water will result in wilting, drooping and leaf loss.
How to fix it
- Water Rubber Plants with room temperature water to prevent cold shock.
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