Question
Hi Kathy!

First of all, I apologize because you probably get this question every other day. Let me just say that I have looked through various forums and blogs and all that, and I can't seem to figure out what my plant's problem is.

I have a potted ficus in an east-facing window. I live in Montreal. It has been more or less regularly dropping leaves in the past couple of years (yet it always grows a few inches every year, and it even grows new stems on occasion). I read somewhere that rubber tree plants usually drop leaves as a result of overwatering. So I reduced my watering (in the winter, I've basically been watering it every 2-3 weeks), but every time I did water it, it would freak out and lose a bunch of leaves... so I'd reduce the watering some more.

The other day, I was at my dentist's office and noticed that they had a beautiful one. I asked the receptionist how often she waters it, and she said it was about every other day because of the dry conditions. So I thought "hmm... I must be neglecting it too much and that's why it's freaking out"... so I changed the waterings to one-week intervals. Of course, again it freaked out and lost a bunch of leaves.

Kathy, I have no freakin' clue anymore. Can you please help?

I should probably also let you know that the plant is near a heating unit... maybe that's a problem? I don't heat the room that it is in as much as the other rooms in the house, however, so the heater isn't on as much. Maybe it's too cold. I really have no idea anymore.

I'm basically at the point where I just want to propagate new growths from the stems I already have and start over.

Any advice you may have would be greatly appreciated.  :)

Thanks in advance,

Jane

Answer
Hi Jane, I copied this from another forum as I have no idea about house plants.  But of the ones I read this would make to most sense to me if I were growing it.  "A rubber plant can lose leaves for a number of reasons. I am going to assume your problem is the most common (very common) one. You have probably been losing leaves from the bottom up. Experienced growers used to say "problems with bottom leaves means a problem with bottom roots. It could be too much or too little water but is nearly always too little water on the bottom roots. This happens because the plant may get water frequently but never gets enough water to soak the bottom roots. Roots always grow downward so it is not critical what the top of the soil is like but it is very important to get water down to the bottom of the pot. The plant should be in a pot that has a hole in the bottom. When you water you should give the plant LOTS of water. Even leave the pot in water to soak up water for maybe half an hour then drain off all extra water. Too much water is as bad, or worse, than too little. In a day the limp leaves should stop hanging. No more leaves should turn yellow  and drop off. However, any leaves with any yellow in them now will continue to turn yellow and drop off. Leave the plant until it is quite dry on the top of the soil before you water again. Rubber plants like bright light, but never hot sun. When your new leaves are emerging, even less light is advisable, as this will promote larger leaves..Rubber plants are very susceptible to changes in environment, such as warm to a cool room. Keep them out of drafts, and away from heat sources. Good luck with your rubber plant."  

There is also a product called Atomic Grow that would make you plant healthy, clean off the leaves and make them beautiful again and it all organic, so no poison to spray.  It will help promote new leaf growth so it looks as good if not better then the one you saw.  kathy