It started dropping its lowest leafs a few weeks ago, then it stopped, now the bottom leafs are getting yellow again and i suppose will be dropped…
edit: Thanks everyone for responding, i will try to atering less and placing in a brighter spot
Yellow leaves on the bottom of the plant is the most common sign of nitrogen deficiency.
This can be caused by lack of nitrogn availability or other things limiting the uptake of nitrogen into the plant.
Overwatering: too much water can create anaerobic conditions (No oxygen). Bacteria in the soil convert ammonia and nitrate to N2 gas.
Any disease effecting the root. This includes fungal and bacterial root rots. Letting the pot dry outcan help reduce the pressure.
Other species that feed on the roots. Fungus gnats, nematodes, and many more things can feed on the roots.
This is correct. Yellowing leaves starting at the bottom and working their way up is nitrogen, which is a mobile nutrient and can be moved from old leaves (bottom) to new (top) in order to support growth.
Root rot was suggested elsewhere in the thread but that typically presents with browning of leaves with no specific locality.
Non-plant guy here. Is that upward browning effect universal to most houseplants? If so that is a very cool fact
No expression is universal across plants. Genetically they are too varied and adapted to too many environmental conditions. So the expression of any issue, logically is varied depending on the plant species background.
That’s why anyone that works with or knows a lot about plants uses qualifying terms like “usually, generally, most common, etc”. It’s always an educated guess.
Browning of leaves could be a sign of root rot. It also could be a sign of salt buildup in the soil. Insect feeding on the roots, different nutrient deficiencies/excesses, herbicide/pesticide damage, or even reactions to temperature, light and humidity. Yeah…
Semi-plant guy here. When your roots rot it would look like your not watering the plant cause it can’t suck up water due to damaged roots. I think that’s what happens.
I am the least-qualified person to reply but what I’ve learnt is that it’s probably too much water, or not enough, or the correct amount but at the wrong depth. Or maybe it’s not enough plant food, or too much, or not enough light (unless it’s had too much but I think I can at least rule that one out). Or perhaps there’s some pest or disease, or the plant’s star sign means it must be aligned/unaligned with the local ley lines. Finally, your plant may dislike your music, or lack thereof.
I hope someone else can help narrow it down further.
This can happen just because of lack of sunlight. This happens to mine every fall/winter when I bring it in from living on the patio. Did you recently move it to a place with less sunlight?
That being said, when was the last time you gave it fertilizer? And how often do you water it?
Assuming it’s this Baby Rubber Plant, you probably have root rot. Best bet is to move it to a warmer spot and avoid watering it for a bit and hope it dries out and recovers itself.
It looks like this is a commercial plastic pot inside of a decorative pot; it’s impossible to tell if it still has water and you probably overwatered. The best bet is to repot it (ignoring the advice above), cut out some of the rotten roots, and move to a new pot with a drainage hole and a watering tray. If you want to replace the soil, get some perlite/pumice (those white rocks) for the potting mix. 1 part to 1-3 part potting soil should be fine. This stuff keeps air in the soil, keeping it dryer while also lowering soil compaction (a separate issue you may find in ~2-5 years).
Repot this plant if you’re looking for a learning experience, otherwise buy a fresh plant with a draining pot / repot from the get go. I have not repotted for root rot yet, I usually opt to get a new plant and set up drainage in the first dormant season (fall/winter).
Is it sitting in water? Sometimes over watering can really cause issues.
Looks like it’s too wet, and/or not sunny enough.
