Question
My 5-foot-tall rubber plant appeared to be dying (losing leaves, drooping etc.). It was in a pot with no drainage, and kind of far from a window. I just repotted it in a similar-sized terracotta pot with a drainage hole. When I took it out of the old pot, it was clear that the roots had been standing in water for some weeks. All the soil around the bottom of the roots was very wet, although I haven't watered for a week. There was a distinct moldy smell, but all of the roots seemed firm and healthy. So I put in in the new pot with a bit of dry soil, and moved it slightly closer to the window.

My question is, how long should I wait to water it in its new state? The roots have been standing in water for so long--should I give them a chance to dry a little before watering again?

Thanks for your help! Iris

Answer
Hi Iris,

I have to say I am not as optimistic as you seem to be as to the future health of your Rubber Plant. Several weeks of sitting in water no doubt has caused the fine root hairs to rot and die and those roothairs do most of the work. Leaves are wilting and dying because the roots have lost most of their capacity to absorb and transmit water and nutrients to them.

It will take along time for new root hairs to regenerate, assuming the roots are healthy enough to do that. The pot should be just barely large enough to accommodate the remaining roots and just enough soil to cover them. That may be a pot smaller than the original. The small pot and reduced volume of soil will allow the soil to dry out sooner.

When properly potted, you should water only when the top third of the soil feels dry. Then, add just enough water so that the soil reaches that level of dryness again within a week or less.

Provide as much indoor sunlight as possible and keep the plant as warm as possible. Recovery will be very slow at best and will try your patience. Look for signs of new leaf growth that remains firm and healthy even as older leaves continue to die back.

I have written detailed articles on repotting and on Rubber Plant care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who emails a request to me at [email protected]. I have also written an indoor plant care book in a PDF format that I can sell you if you contact me at my email address.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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