Hello, it's me, your Rubber Plant (*Ficus elastica*). I know my sudden leaf-dropping is alarming, and I want to communicate what's wrong. From my perspective, this is my primary way of showing distress. I'm not being dramatic; I'm trying to survive. Let's go through the most likely reasons together.
My soil moisture is a constant balancing act. If my pot feels light and the top few inches of soil are bone dry, I am severely dehydrated. To conserve my remaining water for my core functions, I will sacrifice my oldest leaves first, jettisoning them to save the rest of me. Conversely, if my soil is constantly wet and soggy, my roots are drowning. They can't access oxygen and will begin to rot. Once rotten, they cannot absorb water, creating a paradox where I am surrounded by water but dying of thirst. This root stress directly triggers my leaf-dropping response.
I am a creature of habit. A sudden change in my environment is a massive shock to my system. Did you recently bring me home from the store? Or move me to a new room? Even a shift from one window to another can trigger a stress-induced leaf drop. I am desperately trying to adapt my physiology to new light levels, humidity, and temperatures. Shedding leaves helps me reduce my energy needs during this stressful transition. Please be patient; I will usually stabilize and put out new growth once I acclimate.
I love bright, indirect light. It's how I fuel my photosynthesis. If a large tree outside has grown leaves and now blocks my window, or if you've moved me to a darker corner, my light source has suddenly diminished. Without enough energy, I cannot sustain all my foliage and will drop the leaves that are no longer efficient. On the other hand, if I was suddenly moved into intense, direct sunlight, my leaves might get scorched. A sunburned leaf is a damaged, inefficient organ, and I may shed it to prevent further damage and try to grow a new one better suited to the conditions.
I am a tropical plant, evolved for humid jungles. The air in most homes, especially during winter when heating systems run, is extremely dry for me. This low humidity causes me to lose water too rapidly through my leaves (transpiration). If the water loss from my leaves outstrips the water my roots can supply, I will respond by dropping leaves to reduce the overall surface area from which I'm losing precious water. This is my attempt to prevent total dehydration.
While less common than environmental factors, a sudden pest infestation like spider mites or scale can cause rapid leaf loss. These pests suck the sap directly from my leaves and stems, weakening me and forcing me to drop the compromised foliage. Similarly, if my roots are sitting in waterlogged soil, fungal or bacterial root rot can set in quickly. As the rot spreads, it destroys my root system, cutting off my water and nutrient supply, which immediately manifests as yellowing and dropping leaves from the bottom up.
