Why Is My Pink Rubber Plant Dying? Tips for Rescuing Your Dying Ficus Elastica Ruby Plant

This ruby-colored take on a classic ficus tree is stunning, which makes it a great addition to your home or office. It’s fun to look at and discuss with guests.

So, if your pink rubber plant is dying or in distress, you’re probably hoping you can save it. The good news is that while this plant is indeed a bit picky, it’s not impossible to rescue from potential death.

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A Pink Rubber Plant Is a Great Choice for Your Home or Office

Native to South and Southeast Asia, the ficus tree can grow up to 130 feet tall in the wild. Don’t worry; it won’t get that big in your house. In a pot in your home or office it may reach up to 8 feet in height, and the large, variegated, oval-shaped leaves can get up to 15 inches long.

You can keep it in a large pot in a corner of a brightly lit room and expect it to show off for years to come.

Even better, it will clean the air in its immediate environment and even offer good feng shui to your space! The glossy leaves of the pink rubber plant represent wealth and prosperity, so it’s a great option for your office.

Signs of a Dying Pink Rubber Plant

The most obvious signs of a dying pink rubber plant are as follows:

Mushy stems
Yellowing or browning leaves
Dropping leaves
Scorched leaves
Soggy soil

Common Causes of a Dying Pink Rubber Plant

The most common causes of a dying pink rubber plant include:

Too much direct sunlight
Too much water
Not enough light
Not enough water
Not enough humidity

Watering Needs of a Pink Rubber Plant

The pink rubber plant wants to be fully watered then run dry before being watered again, which is common to plants from the temperatures and climate in Southeast Asia.

To read more about watering your plant, take a look at this article on watering mistakes that might be killing your plant.

Am I Underwatering My Pink Rubber Plant?

If you’re underwatering your plant, you’ll notice yellowing leaves and potentially even crispy, browning leaves. You may also see leaves dropping off your plant.

Restoring Water to Your Underwatered Pink Rubber Plant

If you have underwatered your plant, get into a regular routine where you water the soil, so it runs completely through, soaking it until the water drips excessively from the bottom holes of the pot. Then wait until the top 2 inches of soil are dry before watering again.

Am I Overwatering My Pink Rubber Plant?

You’ll be able to tell whether you’re overwatering your pink rubber plant if the soil gets soggy, and the stems start to get mushy. You may also notice yellowing leaves

Restoring Balance to Your Overwatered Pink Rubber Plant

If you have overwatered your pink rubber plant, you may need to repot the plant entirely. You’ll know it’s necessary if you have root rot, which is apparent if your soil is soggy for more than a week and/or the soil has pests, bugs, or mold.

If this is the case, you’ll need to remove the root ball from the plant and cut away any mushy roots. Lay the root ball on a screen in the sunshine, in indirect light, until the root ball has completely dried out then plant the root ball in fresh soil and get back onto a regular watering schedule.

Get into the habit of testing the soil with your finger by placing your finger into the soil 2 inches deep. If it feels dry, you can water the plant. If it feels moist, wait a few more days before testing again.

Soil Needs of a Pink Rubber Plant

The pink rubber plant will thrive in a common indoor houseplant soil that does not hold moisture.

Soil Drainage Needs for a Pink Rubber Plant

Make sure you plant the pink rubber plant in a pot with holes in the bottom, and if necessary, add park and perlite to the soil, so it drains well.

Resolving Soil Drainage Issues for a Pink Rubber Plant

If you notice your plant is still holding water, you can add pebbles to the bottom of the pot, under the soil, so it will never sit in water.

Lighting Needs of a Pink Rubber Plant

Like any ficus plant, the pink rubber wants plenty of bright, indirect sunlight but never direct sunlight that will burn the leaves.

Resolving Lighting Issues for a Pink Rubber Plant

It can take time to find the right balance between plenty of light and not enough light, so take your time and have patience.

Move the pot closer to and farther away from windows. Add curtains to the window to create transparency.

Try various approaches and wait a few weeks each time. You’ll get there.

Pests or Diseases that Can Cause Issues with a Pink Rubber Plant

While the pink rubber plant is not especially prone to pests or bugs, soggy soil or root rot may attract whiteflies, scale, or mealybugs. If you notice any pests on your plant, spray the plant liberally with neem oil every couple of days for a few weeks. When you notice the pests have gone, you can stop spraying the plant.

Fake Pink Rubber Plants May Be an Additional Consideration

Even with all this help and advice, you may find a real pink rubber plant is too much to care for. It could be you just don’t have the time to give the plant attention. In this case, you can opt for an artificial version that will provide many of the same benefits.

If you’re worried a fake pink rubber plant is not trendy, check out my article on whether artificial plants and flowers are tacky.

Either way, you’ll be glad you brought the pink rubber plant into your home or office.

Do you have a pink rubber plant in your home or office? How do you care for it? Have you brought it back to life?

Let me know in the comments. I love to hear from my readers.