Ficus Elasticus

My rubber plant had two horrible yellow leaves with black spots on it today, which had been a bit hidden from me toward the back and which I quickly removed! :eek:

It lives outdoors with me in a big tub in a sunny location and is about two metres tall. I used my soil tester and it was neither too dry nor wet.

Any ideas what it's ailment is?

Many thanks.

PS Just re-read this and I personally don't live outdoors in a big tub in a sunny location! :eek:

[ 29. March 2007, 07:16 PM: Message edited by: Lady of Leisure ]

 

Why not??? Mrs HA wants a big tub in a sunny location to live in.... She calls it a "swimming pool" I think - or some such name - and I've got to install it THIS YEAR or I get my head in my hands to play with and definitely no more home-cooked fish and chips. :(

'Fraid I can't help with rubber plant prob. though - sorry!

 

OK - time for a slightly more considered answer!

All I can find in any of my handbooks is a comment that : "Yellow or brown discolorations of the foliage, followed by leaf-drop, is due to a physiological disorder." Doesn't say what, or what to do.

The only other "curse" is the dreaded "Black Root Rot". Plus a few pests - the usual suspects like red spider mite and mealy bug.

Could it be that if the leaves were at the back and a bit deprived of light that they weren't producing enough food to justify their place - so the plant just decided to dump them?? After all, we're all losing a few of our feathers here and there....!!!

 

Thank you so much, Ha! The leaves didn't actually drop, I ripped them off because they looked so awful! :D

It probably has a physiological disorder living with me!

I don't think I've seen red spiders here or mealy bugs.

Your theory could be right, however, the two leaves in question are no, were, up against a one metre high wall with a ballustrade on top getting no sunlight at all. Better keep my eyes on the others down there ... in saying that, have just gone down there and some above the wall look spotty now.

Oh dear, I hope we don't have to try to hoik it out of it's pot to look at it's roots! :eek: :eek:


I think you've definitely lost a feather or two.

 

The chances are LoL that the poor thing is suffering from sun scorch (I should be so lucky). Either that or you`ve got the radiator turned up high.David.

 

Good thought daitheplant ... but you missed the bit the really bad leaves are in the shade ... could be the problem with the upper ones!

Shhh, don't tell anyone, we're not THAT hot at the moment and rubber trees love the heat here. I've seen them 20-30 feet tall!

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

Hi everyone,
Been in the garden all afternoon as it's lovely and sunny. Had to take fleece off bananas as they have leaves poking through!

 

Hi,
Your rubber plant might have too much sun, they natuaraly grow in the jungle under the canapy like cheese plants. They tend to do very well in the living room in England out of any direct sun.

 

If the ones at the front look good and healthy LOL, I dont think I'd bother too much.
Unless they start showing the same symptoms, that is.

 

Tropical Oasis .. they live outdoors here (in the ground) and are huge. They don't need shade I can assure you.

Tnanks, pete, I'm keeping a close watch now.

 

All ficus will shed a few leaves each year and Elastica/Robusta is no exception, unless it appears on the other leaves I wouldn't worry about it LoL.They are grown throughout the Med (ok -- and the Algarve) in full sun as specimen trees as you know so sun isn't the problem, nutrient deficiency maybe but doesen't sound serious.

 

Read my mind LoL
BTW my C. Viminalis had a bud open today almost too early!

 

Got to go look at mine, strongy, as I think it's about to do something. Also, for the first year, my Melelueuca (tea tree).

 

Noticed it this afternoon so here it is just bursting (a day too late for the comp).

 

I just remembered I have one small flower bud on my Melaeuca Armarillis also it's first year, from seed two years ago.