Rubber Plant
The rubber plant (Ficus elastica) is an easy, beginner-friendly houseplant grown for its big, glossy, leathery leaves. Give it decent light and avoid overwatering, and it's a very forgiving, attractive plant.
Care basics
- Light: Bright light is best — it does well with the morning light from an east window — but it's adaptable to lower light.
- Water: Water thoroughly, then let the soil dry slightly before watering again. Make sure the pot drains and empty any saucer water.
- Soil: A well-drained houseplant mix.
- Temperature: Average to warm room temperatures (ideally about 60–80°F); avoid cold drafts and sudden temperature drops.
- Humidity: Prefers some humidity but tolerates ordinary dry home air.
- Fertilizer: Feed with a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer during active growth in spring and summer.
The 3 most common problems
1. Leaf drop
Rubber plants drop leaves when they're stressed — most often from overwatering, cold drafts, too little light, or a change in environment. Rubber plants prefer to stay in one place and don't like being moved or hit by cold draughts. Fix: Keep conditions stable, water consistently (not soggy), and move it away from drafts. See our leaf drop guide.
2. Yellow leaves
Yellowing leaves usually mean the soil is staying too wet. (It is normal for a few older bottom leaves to yellow and drop.) Fix: Let the soil dry more between waterings and make sure the pot drains. See our yellow leaves guide.
3. Brown leaf edges
Brown, scorched-looking leaf edges can come from very dry air or from too much sun/heat. Fix: Add a little humidity and keep it out of harsh direct sun. See our brown tips guide.
Also watch for mealybugs, scale, and spider mites, and keep the big leaves dust-free by wiping them with a damp cloth.
A few extra tips
Rubber plants can grow tall indoors — six to ten feet or more if there's space — but they're easy to keep a manageable size by pruning in spring, which also rejuvenates a lanky plant. Because they can get top-heavy, a sturdy pot and, if needed, a stake help keep them upright. Once you've found a good spot, they prefer to stay put: moving them around or hitting them with cold drafts is the main cause of dropped leaves.
Rubber plant at a glance
- Light: bright light, ideally morning sun from an east window
- Water: water thoroughly, then let the soil dry slightly
- Temperature: roughly 60–80°F, with no cold drafts
- Watch for: leaf drop (overwatering, cold, or a change), yellow leaves (too wet), and brown leaf edges (dry air or too much sun)
Rubber plants stay happiest in one steady, bright spot: keep the watering consistent and don't move them around, and they reward you with big, glossy, low-maintenance foliage that adds real presence to a room. If yours grows too tall, pruning it back in spring keeps it shapely and encourages fuller growth near the base.