Decreasing photo-period (less light) causes a slowdown in the flow of a growth hormone (auxin) across the abscission zone where leaf petioles are attached. This causes an abscission layer to form which cuts off nutrient and sap flow to the affected leaf. The leaf browns/yellows and finally separates from the stem at the abscission layer.

Though your plant may be temporarily unsightly, as the flush of new growth occurs the leaves will be acclimated to the lower light conditions. There is no cause to discard your tree for health reasons unless you suspect disease or insect infestation as the problem or the tree is just too unpleasing, esthetically. You are wise to guard against cold drafts, btw.

Al

Hello Al. Bottom line, will all the leaves drop off? Will I be left with rubber plant "sticks" til Spring or will this taper off?
Thanks.

It's just the plant reacting to shorter days and cooler temps if you keep your home cool in winter.

Grice, my green RT lost 2 leaves and variegated 0. After a summer outdoors, after brining in they went directly in a southern exposure, so far so good. I do tend to let soil dry out more in winter than summer, and of course daily misting. I'd say give it time and it should do better..Toni

Ceedub,I do tend to keep the house on the cool side(70 daytime and about 65 night temp).
Toni I am just worried that it will go toatally bare before longer days/warmer temps arrive. It would'nt trouble me so if it were one or two leaves now and then. This is 3 or more leaves every other day or so. I do'nt want to have a pot full of sticks sitting around.

Maybe you need to do a little detective work. Are you sure you are not overwatering. Do you have spider mites. Sometimes I use a magnifying glass to study plants despite dh giving me a comical look. Sometimes I mist the leaves with a drop or 2 of soap in the water. I give the leaves a good spray while checking for bugs. Let the soil really dry out-just mist the plant if you can't stand to neglect it. My varigated plant gets watered less then weekly most of the time. If you are sure nothing else is going on, you might be pleasantly pleased with it's shape once it starts growing again.

Toot,I'm almost certain that it is not overwatered. I will check for the mites though I tend to think that I am not being bugged by those little critters. Will check just the same.
Guess I'll wait and see.

Grice, while checking for mites, inspect for mealy, too..This is the time of yr mealy and mites seem to seek out our plants. Inspect all parts of the plant, under leaves, between stems, trunk.
If you can, take your plant to sink/shower and hose off..though RT's don't like wet feet, they love humidity. Not only will it help w/humidity, but clean leaves. It's much better than leaf shine.
We all know how finicky Ficus are, so any change can cause leaf drop. RP's aren't as difficult as Benji's, but they don't like change either.
Good luck, and I hope it's only change of season that's causing the drop..Make sure it's getting enough light, and not overwatered besides checking for pests..Toni

I've been having quite a bit of trouble with my variegated rubber tree (the one that's cream and light green with some pink) I'm on my third one now. Everytime I buy one is nice and healthy, I bring it home and it last a couple of months. Then It starts to get brown leaf edges and brown spots all over the leaf from top to the bottom of the entire plant. I have no choice but to return it and get a new one, either that or cut the whole thing up and be left with nothing! It's really weird, especially since I have 2 other rubber trees, one variegated (yellow and green) and the burgundy one and never had any trouble with them.

I am having the exact same problem smithjm. It is really irritating not to know what is causing those nasty brown spots....overwatering ? underwatering? too much light? too little light? pests?

If you have any ideas...you can email me to discuss: lauren.g@videotron.ca.

Lauren

=)

Here is a link that might be useful:

Well Toni I checked and I find no evidence of pests. Poor plant keeps losing leaves though. I picked up 6 this morning. I dooubt by December that I will have more than a few leaves surrounded by tall sticks.

Lauen, looks to me like either dry air or soil is being kept too dry. I'd first try using a humidifer. Also, bringing plant to sink/shower and hosing/spraying..daily misting won't hurt either.
Trim out the brown parts w/shart scissors leaving about 1/8th" of brown on leaves.
One other thing is, save an old milk container..the night before you're going to water your RT, fill milk container w/water. Wait 24 hours then water.

Grice, don't know what to tell you about your RT. That's ashame..how big is your tree? Mine are kept in our br, where it's kept cool..not freezing but cool..I still haven't brought up the humidifer, yet, (in the br) but do spray daily..They're in south windows, and left to kept dry, where soil looks crumbly before getting a drink..I hope you can save your tree..Wish I could be of help..Toni

Thanks Toni.
The tree is now a bit over two feet. I got it off the discount table at Lowes. It looked terrible. It had been allowed to dry to the point it was close to dead. It came around for me with a little tlc and did beautifully. That's why I am so bumfuddled over it now. It was my first 'rescue' plant and I actually brought it around.
I don't mist but do use a humidifier this time of year.
Oh well,maybe it's going through its winter blahs early.

Grice

Grice, that's funny, I got my variegated RT for 2.00 at KMart in the late 90's. It's hardly grown, but is doing well.
I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but if it were my plant I'd take to the sink and hose daily. Try not getting water in the soil, though is it's dry it's a good way to water..I'd then let it sit on the sink to air dry. It's worth a try anyway..Toni

You could stick it under a clear plastic garbage bag and keep it out of direct sun. I did that with an almost dead draceana once and it worked.

Knock on wood by my tricolor ficus has been living happily next to a southern window for 5 years. It has really been an easy keeper for me. But I wanted a change and moved it-hope I didn't make a mistake.

Toni,I will try that. But I did not understand the last part of your post('though is it's dry it's a good way to water').
Toot have you just recently put your tree under the clear bag or have you done this before? Sounds like it couldn't hurt. Maybe the extra warm and humidity would do it some good.
Grice

Thanks for the advice Toni...

I was trying not to overwater so your diagnosis seems appropriate. Also, I was not leaving my water out over night....good to know. I guess it can be tricky to find that middle ground. I was offered a humidifier by my grandmother since she goes away for the winter so perhaps I will take her up on that offer. I am sure my plants will thank me!

=)

Lauren, I saw your pic and mine looks just like yours. I think it may be the dry air, because I don't let the soil get totally dry on mine and I haven't seen any evidence of any type of pest. Or maybe I was overwatering? if you overwater, will it get those brown spots and edges also? I wasn't leaving the water overnight, I only do that for my spider plant 'bonnie' so i'll try it on my RT now. Thanks Toni for the tip.

Grice, what I meant to say is, if the soil is dry (on most plants) and you bring the plant to the sink to hose leaves, you can also water soil w/the hose. To be honest, I prefer using water that's been sitting out, but w/all the plants I have it's impossible trying to water them all w/containers..lately I've been watering a section at a time..(only when soil is dry)w/tepid water. This is especially important with spider plants.

Lauren, it's good your gradma is loaning you her humidifer..She's smart..leaving town to go to a warmer climate..LOL Don't blame her one bit.
At one time I had at least 18 milk containers sitting behind plants. LOL When one got old, it was replaced w/a new one..and they're free when you think about it. We all use milk for recepies/drinking.
Smith, you're welcome. Since you use tepid water on your spider, does it get brown edges? I would think not, but nothing's impossible and using water that's been sitting out is just my opinion.
Is it me, or do RT's grow slow? As I mentioned earlier, I've two RT's. The green was originally in a baby 4" pot..it's now over 2' tall..Oh, I bought it say 2 yrs ago. The variegated was purchased in the late 90's and only grew half a foot if that..They're both kept in south windows, and outside in summer. It's not root bound, nor is it too large a pot. When I fertilize, it gets the same type of food as the green. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks, Toni

Now I see Toni. I will try that method. Do'nt know why I have not done it already. That's the way I water my sagos. As for them growing slowly,it seems mine grows like a weed when the temps are warm and I have it exposed to much more indirect light(guess that's with most plants though huh?). Last season as it sat closer to the window, I saw new leaves opening almost daily. On a positive note,today was the first day in awhile that I went into my plant room and found no leaves falling off or about to fall off the plant. It does look a bit awkward though ,very tall yet somewhat bare especially at the bottom of the tree. Toni,in the spring can I make small slits in the trunk to encourage new bushy growth? I think I read somewhere here that's the way to get RT plants to look fuller.
Grice

This is my first RT. It did good all winter till about the middle of March, then started dropping leaves. I used a humidifier all winter, but din't know to mist. Glad to know it will come back out. I was about ready to pitch it. This site has been helpful. I will try your suggestions. I don't have many leaves left. If I put it outside should it be out of sunlight?