Rubber Plant root stress

Thick rubber plant leaves can hide root stress until they yellow or drop. Test below the surface and compare the center with the outer soil, especially after repotting.

Dry center or crowded roots

Water slowly so the original root ball absorbs moisture. A solid root mat with little mix left may need a modestly larger pot.

Wet mix and continued decline

Empty collected runoff and inspect roots if wilt or leaf loss continues. Remove rotten tissue and replace decomposed mix without enlarging the pot around fewer roots. The root rot guide covers trimming, cleaning, and repotting.