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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 7/25/2010
Posts: 2
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When I bought this rubber tree, it was so big, full and beautiful. It grew fine in my home for about 6 months and then suddenly, all the leaves fell off. I believe this was from over-watering and the roots are most likely rotted. I now have a water meter to take better care of my home plants, but I don't know what to do for this rubber tree. We are wanting to cut the one good "growth (see photo) and plant it in some miracle gro potting soil. Will it root? Where should we cut it and how should we do it? Thanks for your advice Pic 1 photo 1pic 2 photo 2
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Rank: Administration
Joined: 10/1/2009
Posts: 88
Location: Washington
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Before you start cutting perhaps you should just try to give it enough light and be sure to not over-water it and see what comes back to see what parts are alive still.
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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 7/25/2010
Posts: 2
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Seancorr,
Thank you for your response. We have done what you recommended already. When the leaves dropped, it was in a few stages. First just a few . . and we ran to the nursery to get advice.
We were told to water only when dry and so we did that . . . and hoped she would come back to life. But instead, more leaves suddenly dropped and she was half bare.
We bought a water meter and have had it under very close eye. The water meter read 11 !!! when it should be reading 4. This went unchanged for almost 4 weeks . . even though we did not water it for those 4 weeks. Finally the meter read under 4, so we watered her again . . . and soon almost every leaf has fallen.
Also, I was told (not sure if it is true?) that each branch needs at least 2 leaves to survive? If this is true, then all of the branches are dead, except the one we are wanting to cut to try to propagate.
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Rank: Administration
Joined: 10/1/2009
Posts: 88
Location: Washington
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I've never heard anything about it needing two leaves to survive. Sometimes they come back, sometimes they don't. If you wanted to cut it then you would want to use a rooting hormone before you plant the cutting.
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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 11/3/2009
Posts: 4
Location: New Jersey
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Don't give up on it yet! Try prunning it just above the nodes on the stems to force some new growth. Sometimes plants respond to this for surrival. I transplanted a small rubber tree given to me in a planter and have had it for several years now. I kept it very dry this past winter and gave a good pruning this spring before placing it outside. Keep the leaves dusted in the winter as to keep dust mites off and give a little mist in the winter. good luck, rbud
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