Question
Hi Will - I have a rubber tree plant that may be as old as 20 years...  
Within the last two months it has been dropping leaves like a bad
habit.  Within the last week I noticed that some of the newly grown leaves
are turning brown and it appears as if some of the stems are dying as
well.. what is the life expectancy of a captive rubber tree plant? and
what do you think is wrong with it?
  
 thanks - Mary


Answer
Hi Mary,

There is no known life expectancy for any potted plant as there are just too many variables. The average indoor potted plant lives for about three years, but that is a rather meaningless statistic.

Twenty years is a long time for a rubber plant indoors, but that does not necessarily mean it is now time for it to die.

It is hard for me to know the reason for the recent leaf drop. I am assuming that the light has not changed and your watering has been consistent. It may be that it needs to be pruned back. Or perhaps there was a spell of cloudy weather. Or maybe the soil has compacted. Or perhaps its water needs have changed gradually and you have not adjusted accordingly.

So there are lots of possibilities. Let me know what you think. Better yet, send a photo to me at [email protected].

Regards,
Will Creed