My Rubber Plant's Stems Are Turning Brown & Dying

Lack of Water

• Water your ailing rubber plant if the top inch of its soil is dry or it is shedding leaves. If the entire soil mass has dried out, plunge the whole pot into a bucket of water for at least 10 minutes or until the soil is completely soaked through.

Too Much Water

• Check the drainage hole at the bottom of your plant's container if its soil is sodden or it develops yellow leaves. Only water your rubber plant when the top inch of its soil is dry to the touch. Apply enough water to soak the soil and allow all excess water to drain away. Never leave a rubber plant standing in a dish of water as this causes waterlogging and kills the roots.

Spider Mites

• Rubber plants are vulnerable to spider mite infestation, especially in modern homes with low humidity. Spider mites are almost invisible to the naked eye but cause leaf undersides to become mottled and leave fine webbing on infected plants. Severe infestations cause leaf drop and can kill stems. Treat spider mites by spraying your rubber plant with water twice a day to raise humidity levels. Persistent infestations respond to a miticide spray based on horticultural oil.

Other Problems

• Fertilize your rubber plant once a month during the warmer months of the year with a houseplant fertilizer. This ensures that it has the nutrients to remain healthy. Flush out the soil as soon as you see a white deposit on the surface. Use as much water as necessary to completely soak the compost and stop when a volume of water equal to the volume of the pot has drained through. This removes any excess salts from the soil. Keep your rubber plant in a bright spot such as close to a west- or south-facing window. Rubber trees will tolerate low light levels but thrive in bright, indirect sunshine. Keep your plant at a temperature above 35 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid cold damage.

Removing Brown Stems

• Once your rubber plant's stems have turned brown they are unlikely to recover. Remove any brown sections of stem by cutting them back to healthy green stem. Use a sterile knife or pruning shears to sever the stem just above a leaf node. If the bottom of your plant has browned, remove the healthy tip and plant it in potting compost mixed with 20 percent sand. Keep on a warm, bright windowsill until it begins to grow.