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Rubber Plant Brown Edges

December 10, 2020 by Hayley Leave a Comment

rubber plant brown edges

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Rubber Plant Brown Edges

Rubber plant brown edges is one of the most common plants people have regarding these fantastic plants. Rubber plants have large leaves and people often buy them for their foliage. So when the edges start to brown it can really ruin the look of the plant as well as making the owner worry about the plant’s overall health. It can’t always be easy to identify the cause of rubber plant brown edges but there are a few things that could be causing this issue and knowing overall proper rubber plant care should help you to prevent this from happening. These are some of the most common causes of rubber leaves turning brown:

Overwatering Causing Brown Edges

Rubber plants can be very susceptible to overwatering and can show this to you by their leaves browning. Unfortunately many people see brown leaves and assume they are underwatering their plants (which is possible). It’s important that you allow the top of your soil to dry out between waterings as rubber plants can be prone to root rot and may show you there’s a problem on their leaves first. Another clear sign that the issue is overwatering is the stem becoming droopy. If this happens then you need to seriously rethink your watering schedule. Try using a moisture probe so you know when your soil has dried out and you can rewater your plant.

Incorrect Lighting

Rubber plants need to be kept in bright indirect light. If they are kept under direct sunlight and you live in an area that receives strong light then your leaves may start to burn which could result in rubber plant brown edges. If your plant is in a low light area of your home then you may notice it starting to suffer as well. Try to keep your rubber plant near a south or west facing window with access to bright light while protecting it from the suns rays.

Unfiltered Water

Water differs from region to region and from country to country so this may affect your plant but it may not. Some tap water has higher amount of chlorine and more minerals. You may find that your tap water is causing the brown edging on your plant. If you’re watering your rubber plant correctly and it’s receiving bright indirect light then there’s a great chance that it’s what you’re watering your plant with that’s the issue. Try using filtered water and see if this prevents the issue from occurring. You can use a water filter to prepare your water and then water your plant as you would usually.

Not Enough Nutrients Causing Rubber Plant Brown Edges

If you’ve had your rubber plant for a while and you’re just noticing the problem starting to occur now then it’s possible that your plant has used up all the nutrients in the soil and is in need of some more. Try fertilising your plant once a fortnight to once a month during the growing season and this should be enough to give it the nutrients it requires. You don’t need to fertilise your rubber plant during the winter months.

If your issue with rubber plant brown edges worsens and the patches on the leaves increases you can cut away these leaves to allow the plant to focus on new growth as once the damage has been done it can’t be reversed.

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