Rubber Plant Disease

Rubber plant disease

It is common for pests and other insects to attack new leaves of the Ficus tree. This can cause curling or wilt of the new leaf. Aphids, mealybugs, and scales are a few of these insects causing this. Using insecticidal soap or rubbing alcohol would help kill off these insects.

What does an unhealthy rubber plant look like?

Leaves are Turning Brown and Dropping Usually if leaves turn brown and crispy the Rubber Plant isn't getting enough water. So what is happening is that the leaves start to dry out and they drop when the plant decides that it needs to put all of it's energy into saving the living leaves.

What is rubber disease?

Healthy rubber leaves appear green, the surface is smooth without disease spots, and the veins are visible. Powdery mildew disease is considered one of the major diseases that threaten the stability of natural rubber production. It spreads rapidly because the pustules can be dispersed for miles on air currents.

What does an overwatered rubber plant look like?

If the older leaves (usually the largest ones, at the bottom) are becoming yellow or brown, that's a sign of overwatering. Let it dry out fully during longer periods of time between waterings. If the yellow/brown spots are spreading from the inner part of the leaf and out, that's again a sign of overwatering.

Is my rubber plant diseased?

Symptoms include rapidly yellowing leaves, yellow or brown deflated leaf-sections, stunted growth and a rotten brown base. Take the plant out of the pot and inspect health below the soil line. If the roots sport a yellow tinge, you're good to go, but if they're brown and mushy, action must be taken immediately.

How do you perk up a rubber plant?

Remedy - make sure your plant is placed away from air vents or cold air drafts. While rubber trees can adapt to indoor climates, they prefer warmth and high humidity. If the possible cause is not enough light, move the rubber tree to medium to brightly lit area.

Should I cut off damaged leaves rubber plant?

As with any indoor plant, remove any leaves and branches from your rubber plant that appear to be dead or dying. This will improve the overall appearance of the rubber plant, and keep the plant in good health. You can remove dead leaves in any season using your fingers.

Do rubber plants need a lot of sunlight?

Bright, indirect light is ideal for growing the Rubber Plant, however they are unusually tolerant of lower light spaces for a ficus. To keep the plant happiest though, it is commonly recommended to place it by a southern facing window with sheer curtains for the brighter light to filter through.

How often should rubber plant be watered?

How often should you water a Rubber Tree? It is best to water your Rubber Tree every 1-2 weeks, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Opt for the more frequent end of the range when the plant is receiving more light, such as in spring or summer, and in the fall or winter, reduce the frequency.

What is a blight on a rubber plant?

In South America, the main fungal disease of rubber trees is the South American leaf blight (SALB) caused by the ascomycete Microcyclus ulei. This fungus inhibits natural rubber production on a commercial scale in South and Central America.

What is rubber blight?

South American leaf blight (SALB) is a fungal disease of rubber trees. Up to now the disease has been restricted to South and Central America where it has inhibited natural rubber production on a commercial scale.

What causes rubber to rot?

Lack of use, exposure to extremely high or low temperatures, or prolonged exposure to UV radiation can all cause rubber's molecular chains to break down over time — and time itself is a factor, too. Rubber is one polymer that just doesn't last forever, and its descent into decay begins the moment it's manufactured.

How can you tell the difference between overwatering and underwatering?

Wilting: Plants will wilt when they're overwatered and when they're underwatered, so check the soil to determine which it is. If the soil is wet, it's overwatered - if it's dry, it's underwatered.

Can I water my rubber plant with tap water?

Prior to watering, allow tap water to sit for a few hours to allow chlorine to evaporate and the water to come to room temperature. This causes less shock to the plant than icy water. When watering a rubber plant, drench the soil completely until excess moisture runs out the drainage holes.

How do I know if my rubber plant has root rot?

Leaves inexplicably dropping and dying branches near the top of the rubber tree plant may be a symptom of Armillaria root rot. This disease attacks cambial tissue and can not only kill the tree's major roots, but also will often spread to the lower part of the main stem, killing it as well.

Will my rubber plant recover?

Rubber plants are pretty forgiving of a bit of overwatering (though it will kill them eventually), but they're REALLY forgiving of being underwatered. This sounds great, BUT if you let them get too dehydrated, they'll take longer to recover – if you wait long enough, they may never recover.

Do rubber plants like to be misted?

Since rubber trees are tropical, they thrive in warmer, more humid climates and don't handle cold, dry environments so well. They're best kept between 60 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and you'll want to avoid any major cold drafts or quick temperature drops. They also require regular misting to keep their humidity up.

Why is my rubber tree getting brown spots?

Rubber trees (Ficus elastica) are commonly grown as indoor plants, but outdoors, they thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12. Brown spots on rubber plants are usually caused by over- or under-watering, though a few fungal and bacterial diseases can create problems.

How do you make a rubber tree happy?

The key to rubber plant care is balance. It likes just the right amount of sun and water. If you can give it just the right amount of both, you'll have a happy, strong and tall rubber tree. Rubber plants will tell you if they need more sunlight or water if they start to drop their lower leaves.

How long does a rubber plant live?

Rubber tree plants can live for many years. In the wild, some rubber plant species have been known to live for more than 100 years routinely. A rubber plant may live 10 years or longer when grown as an indoor houseplant.