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Help Needed for My Rubber Plant Please

KEEPGREENKEEPGREEN Posts: 108
in Problem solving

Hi everybody,

I am reaching out because I need some advice regarding my rubber plant please. When I initially bought it, it was thriving, but at one point, I noticed that its leaves started turning yellow. In an effort to improve its condition, I repotted the rubber plant into a different container with well-draining soil.

Now, after a couple of months, I've encountered a new issue: the top stem appears to be dying, while fresh stems are emerging from the bottom. I'm wondering if it's a good idea to trim the bottom stem, as I'd like the rubber plant to propagate vertically.

I would greatly appreciate your guidance on this matter. Any insights or suggestions you can provide would be greatly appreciated - thank you 

Thank you all .

Posts

  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Sometimes the protective coating of a new leaf becomes dry like that and all it takes is to gently remove it and underneath should be the leaf ready to unfurl. Maybe worth a try? Otherwise it's just happy and throwing new stems from the root area. That wouldn't worry me, they grow as multi stem plants in their natural environment. You can propagate the new stems if you don't want them there.
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • Novice23Novice23 Posts: 200
    I have a rubber tree that I have had for about 35 years, it is now on about it's fourth 'incarnation'.  When it get too big for the ceiling I air layer it, about two thirds of the way down and start a new one.  I leave the original to regrow in the same pot, usually with several new branches and pot the layered plant on to create a new tree.   

    It looks like the top shoot is reacting to have been slightly damaged, perhaps when you potted it on.   This would also account for the new shoots at the bottom.   You can cut the new shoots off, or leave them to grow up.  As the tree grows it will naturally lose the bottom leaves so the newer shoots will cover the bare stem.

    The yellowing of the leaves is possible due to a mineral deficiency.   Do you ever feed it?   I feed it two or three times a year just with a normal liquid feed, Baby Bio or a seaweed feed.  

    Finally rubber trees do collect dust on their leaves and a wash with a damp cloth periodically is a good idea.  it is quite time consuming and you need to make sure you support the leaves when you wipe them otherwise they can break across the leaf. 

    Hope some of this helps, I love my tree which was originally air layered from a friends!
    Good luck
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    That's very impressive @Novice23. It's always lovely to hear about a houseplant that has thrived for so long.
  • KEEPGREENKEEPGREEN Posts: 108
    amancalledgeorge, Novice23 Thank you very much . 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It's normal for them to lose the older, lower leaves and to develop side shoots - they are trees in their natural habitat. I think the main growing point is fine, it's just that the next new leaf hasn't broken out of the casing yet. You could carefully dampen the brown leaf casing to soften it a bit and see if that helps it to come loose.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I've had my rubber plant for 40 years now.  It is multi-stemmed, which I like.   However it is getting a bit tall now so last autumn I air layered the tallest stem to reduce height.

    There are far too many leaves to clean individually now so I put it in the shower about once a month which means I can also make sure its pot gets a through soak and is allowed to drain.  It lives in a bathroom with plenty of light but not direct sun so has humidity thru winter.

    Once night time temps are reliably 10C or more it goes outside in spring and lives on our north facing terrace so plenty of light but no direct sun and all the rainfall it can get.   I feed it a slow release fertilser every spring and water it in dry spells when outside.

    You could try spraying that dried up shoot covering to help release it and let the new leaf below it grow forth.  I'd keep those lower shoots as they'll disguise the bare stem but you can of course pot them up if you want to cut them off.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Novice23 said:
    I have a rubber tree that I have had for about 35 years, it is now on about it's fourth 'incarnation'.

     

    That's not what I call "Novice".
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I should have said, if you really want to remove the side-shoots you can (it will bleed milky sap for a while if you cut it, which can cause an itchy rash so be careful), but you'd be left with a bare lower stem and in any case it would keep trying to grow more side-shoots.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • KEEPGREENKEEPGREEN Posts: 108

    Obelixx and Jennyl - Thank you very much .
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