Question
how much water do they need? How much light do they need? I repotted the plant but i did not take it out of the original pot I just put the whole pot in a bigger pot with soil on the bottom but not totally covered with soil. I added soil to the original pot because it was low. What tempature should it be in the house? I have leaves falling off everyday. Please advise.
Thanks
Karen

Answer
Hi Karen,

Rubber plants like a lot of light. They must be placed very close to an unobstructed window.

You did the right thing by double-potting rather than moving it into a new, larger pot. However, I don't understand why you put soil in the bottom of the outer pot. If that soil gets and stays wet, that could be  problem. It's probably best to remove it. It's okay to add a little soil to the top of the rootball, but not very much.

Rubber trees are fine in temps ranging from 50 to 90 degrees so your household temps should be fine.

Leaf drop is probably due to inadequate light and /or improper watering. Let the top inch or two of the ORIGINAL rootball dry out in between waterings. Better to err on the side of dryness.

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

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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