The beauty of the rubber tree lies in its large, glossy leaves, whether you own a variety with green or multi-colored leaves. Of course it's all the worse when the tree loses its leaves.
Why is my rubber tree losing its lower leaves?
It is normal for a rubber tree to lose its lower leaves as the trunk becomes woody. This is nothing to worry about and simply shows the natural development of the tree. Make sure to water and fertilize the rubber tree adequately.
As long as your rubber tree only sheds its lower leaves and grows new ones on top, you usually don't have to worry. It is a tree that develops a trunk and a crown over time, at least in its natural home. The rubber tree also behaves similarly as a houseplant. If the trunk slowly becomes woody, it loses its leaves in this area.
However, you should worry if your rubber tree develops brown leaves in the upper area or even loses them. The reasons for this can be varied. Have you watered your rubber tree sufficiently but not too much and also fertilized it? Drafts or pest infestations can also be responsible for leaf discoloration or leaf loss.
What can I do about excessive leaf loss?
If your rubber tree is in a suitable location, namely bright, warm and protected from drafts, then check the care. If the soil is very wet, it is best to replace it completely. You should not fertilize it immediately after repotting or changing the soil. The fresh soil contains enough nutrients for the next few weeks and months.
If the soil is rather dry, water your rubber tree a little more often than before over the next few weeks. How often have you fertilized your rubber tree? A portion of liquid fertilizer (€8.00 on Amazon) about every six weeks is enough for him, but he should actually get it.
Possible reasons for shedding leaves:
- watered too little or too much
- fertilized too much or too little
- Draft
- Infestation with pests
- too little light
Tip
If your rubber tree only loses its leaves in the lower area of the woody trunk, then this is completely normal and nothing to worry about.
