Rubber Plant Leaves Curling

Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links meaning I receive a commission if you make a purchase through these links at no extra cost to yourself. This helps to keep OSERA ad free. Thank you for your support on this platform.

Rubber plant leaves curling is a strong indication that something is wrong with your plant’s environment and needs to be changed. Here are some of the most common causes of this problem and what you can do to combat them.

Improper Watering

The main cause of rubber plant leaves curling is usually an issue with watering. Unfortunately this can be caused by both underwatering and overwatering but don’t worry, there are ways to tell which is causing the problem. It’s important that you allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings as you don’t want your plant to sit in soggy soil. However, as this is a plant from the tropics, it’s also important you don’t allow the soil to become bone dry either.

If you are watering your plant more than once a week, your pot is heavy to pick up, the soil is wet to the touch then these are common signs of overwatering. More serious signs include yellowing leaves, drooping leaves and soft stems and black appearing on the stems and leaves. Having no drainage holes or using a heavy potting mix can also cause overwatering in your plant, so make sure the pot you use has drainage holes and use a light, well draining mix, preferably with added perlite.

It’s possible you’re underwatering if your plant is in a very hot or sunny spot, you’re leaving weeks between each watering, the pot is light when you pick it up and the soil is bone dry. You may also notice leaves starting to crisp. If this sounds like your plant’s environment then underwatering is the most likely culprit and you will need to adjust your watering schedule immediately to prevent your plant from dying of dehydration.

Low Humidity

Low humidity can be a cause of rubber plant leaves curling. Rubber plants originally come from the tropics and are used to high humidity. If your plant is being kept in a low humidity environment or it is next to something like a heating system that can cause the air to dry out around it, then it is very possible that this could be causing your rubber plant leaves to curl.

You can increase the humidity by placing your rubber plant in a bathroom. Or if this isn’t an option you may want to consider using a humidifier to boost the water vapour in your room. Humidifiers are not only great for plants but they help with keeping skin hydrated and can aid sleeping. Our favourite humidifier is this model from Levoit that you can find on Amazon.

Too Much Light

This is less common if you live in cooler climates and are keeping your rubber plant indoors as a houseplants. However, it is still a possibility that too much light is the cause of your rubber plant leaves curling. Rubber plants can take relatively strong light and some direct sunlight but just like most plants, too much light can be harmful to your plant.

If you live in a warm climate, where you get strong direct sunlight all day long and you have placed your plant in this direct light then it is very possible this is why your leaves are starting to curl. If you’re not sure if this is the cause then try moving them back away from the light source or place it in an east facing window rather than a south or west where the sun tends to be stronger. Too much light can also cause your plant to dry out and become dehydrated, so make sure you check the moisture level of the soil if you think your plant has been exposed to too much sun.

It can be difficult to know the cause of rubber plant leaves curling when there are so many possibilities but don’t worry, you can usually tell by looking at your plant’s environment. Check the humidity level, take note of how much sun your plant is receiving, test the moisture of your soil and eliminate each cause one by one starting with the most likely. It might take you a while to work out but eventually diagnosing your plant’s ailments will become second nature to you.

Shop Our Favourite Resources