Question
I bought a rubber tree plant in a 10 inch pot about 2 months
ago and it's still in the same pot.  The plant looks healthy and I
see new leave growing from the top but there have been quite a
few leaves dropping over the past few weeks.  I have it sitting
next to my dumbcane which is healthy and growing well so I
don't think it the light.  To make sure lighting isn't an issue, I
moved the rubber tree to a window that has better light. I also
make sure not to over warter it. The only symptoms I see are the
dropping leaves.  Could you please tell me what the problem
may be?  I know dropping of the lower leave is normal but how
many should I expect to drop?

Answer
Hi Terence,

There is no formula that can predict how many leaves to expect will drop off as the plant acclimates to its new environment. If your rubber plant was grown by a quality grower and put in shade for several months before it was sold, then it will not lose many leaves acclimating. However, if a discount grower grew it in very bright light, then it will drop many more leaves when it acclimates to your home.

It is good that you did not repot. It is also good that you moved it to more light - it requires more than your Dieffenbachia. In fact, it must be very close to a window that receives at least a couple of hours of direct sun each day. Water it thoroughly when the top two inches of soil feel dry and make sure that the soil is absorbing the water.

That is about all that you can do. If you want to e-mail a photo of your plant to me at my address below, I might be able to give you more information.

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

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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