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Brown Spots On Rubber Plant Leaves
Brown spots on rubber plant leaves can be one of the first signs that something is seriously wrong with your plant and can mean you need to act fast if you want to limit further damage. The problem with brown spots is that it can be a very common symptom of several different problems but we usually find that with a rubber plant at least, it’s often to do with watering issues.
Overwatering Or Improper Drainage
Although brown spots are usually associated with a dry plant, scorching or underwatering, with a rubber plant this can be a common sign of overwatering or improper drainage. Rubber plants like to be watered often but they don’t want to be sitting in soggy soil, you need to let the plant dry out partially between waterings.
As this is a plant that likes some level of moisture, it’s important you don’t allow the soil to become bone dry but rather wait until the top two inches are dry to the touch and then water your plant. You may find you need to do this often in the growing season to give your plant all the moisture it needs but make sure you change this during the winter months as you will need to water your plant much less.
It’s also not enough to just know when to water your plant. An improper mix or inadequate drainage holes can cause symptoms similar to overwatering. Make sure you use peat moss or perlite in your potting soil as peat moss retains water and perlite adds pockets to help aerate your soil. Also avoid using compost or outdoor soil as this can be too heavy and can retain too much water. Finally, it is essential that your pot has drainage holes because even though a rubber plant likes to be moist you do not want excess water in that pot! Drainage holes allow the excess water to drain away from your plant which can help prevent problems like brown spots on rubber plant leaves.
Low Humidity
Rubber plants are used to growing in the tropics and therefore like high humidity. If you live in a drier region or use heating systems during the winter that dry out the air then your rubber plant could be getting far less humidity than it would like. Keep your plant away from fires and radiators, and ideally keep your plant in a room with a minimum level of 50% humidity.
If you can keep your rubber plant in a bathroom that would be great. If not a humidifier is a great way to boost the moisture level in a room, as many models have preset levels so you could for example select 60% humidity and your humidifier would maintain the room at this level. They’re a great solution for people who live in less humid regions but love tropical plants like the rubber plant.
Harsh Water
This cause is less common with rubber plants than it is with something like a calathea but it’s still a possible cause. If your supply of water is quite mineral heavy then this can build up in the soil and cause brown spots on rubber plant leaves. It is more likely that you have an issue with humidity or watering. However, if you’ve already ruled them out them try switching to filtered water to see if the problem goes away.
The brown spots that already exist won’t disappear but you’ll be able to see if this is working through the new leaves that come through. If after you switch the water to filtered water, the problem goes away, then you know that this was probably the cause.
If you’re still having issues with brown spots on rubber plant leaves and you’ve tried our suggestions then let us know in the comments below and we’ll see if we can help you. Remember to include as much information about the plant’s environment and care as possible.
Article: Brown Spots On Rubber Plant Leaves
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Hi! I bought a Ficus Elastica plant two weeks ago. I noticed (only after I purchased it) that after a couple of days, there were two leaves with brown spots as well as the fact that the soil was still humid (top inch) after a week of purchasing the plant. I didn’t even water it when purchased. Since then I have watered it once per week and after two weeks of the purchase, I added the fertilizer. I don’t have a good feeling about the soil. I am new in plants but I have read a lot about how / when to water plants, etc. The plant is still in its nursery pot and has drainage holes. Roots don’t seem to come out of the holes. Would it make sense to repot the Ficus into a new pot and new soil? I have the feeling that the current soil is keeping too much moisture / water in it and even after one week of watering, the soil does not feel dry. What could be causing the brown spots in the ficus leaves? Thank you for your help!
Silvia
I wouldn’t water your plant once a week if the soil hasn’t managed to dry out at all. If you stick your finger down into the top two inches of soil and it’s not drying out after a week or so during the summer months then it’s very likely the potting soil is too heavy. I’d try using a lighter mix. A normal house plant potting soil mixed with cactus potting soil and perlite can create a well draining mixture that could be more suited to your plant. This isn’t the only mix you can use and there are other ways to create a nice loose soil but it’s what I use for my rubber plants and they’re doing very well.
I only water mine every two weeks but mine is in a clay pot . It has several new leaves and looking great . This man does a utube Video and says they like to dry out . Google rubber tree Videos Good Luck
Hi
I dont have any brown spots BUT all the leaves are very droopy. Same pot and location for light. Any suggestions to save plant. Thanks