Greetings, human caretaker. I am a representative of the *Ficus elastica* species. To ensure our long and prosperous coexistence, I must communicate the common oversights in your care regimen from my unique perspective. Please heed these points for my leaves will remain glossy and my trunk strong.
This is the most frequent and grievous error. You often equate care with water, but my roots are not aquatic. When you water me too frequently, the soil becomes saturated, expelling all oxygen. My roots, unable to respire, begin to rot and decay. This subterranean suffocation manifests on your end as yellowing leaves that drop prematurely, and a general, wilting decline. You must allow my top two to three inches of soil to dry out completely before offering more drink. Probe the soil with your finger; it is the most reliable instrument you possess.
While I am tolerant of lower light conditions, I am often placed in spaces far too dim for my photosynthetic processes. In deep shade, my growth becomes stunted and leggy as I desperately stretch towards any light source. My new leaves will be small, pale, and widely spaced. My vibrant, deep green color will fade to a sickly yellow-green. I require bright, indirect light to manufacture my food and maintain my robust stature. A spot near an east or north-facing window is ideal. Please, do not relegate me to a dark corner.
You frequently forget that my world is confined to the pot you choose. Two mistakes are common here. First, a pot without drainage holes is a death sentence, creating a bathtub from which my roots cannot escape. Second, you use dense, moisture-retentive soil that compounds the overwatering problem. I require a well-aerated, well-draining potting mix, often amended with perlite or orchid bark. Furthermore, do not be too quick to repot me into a vastly larger home; a pot only one or two inches wider in diameter is sufficient. Too much space means too much wet soil, which circles back to the first point of root rot.
I am a creature of habit. Sudden changes in my environment cause me significant stress. Moving me abruptly from a warm room to a drafty hallway, or blasting me with hot, dry air from a vent, will cause me to protest by dropping my leaves. This is a defense mechanism. If you need to move me, do so gradually. Acclimate me to new conditions over a period of days. Also, be mindful that I dislike being near ripening fruit, as the ethylene gas they emit can also cause premature leaf drop.
You sometimes panic when I exhibit normal behaviors. I am a tree; in my natural habitat, I can grow over 100 feet tall. Indoors, I will naturally lose my oldest, lower leaves as I direct energy towards new growth at my apex. This is not necessarily a sign of distress. However, if you wish to encourage a bushier, more compact form, you must prune me. Simply snipping off my apical bud (the topmost tip) will signal me to branch out laterally. Do not be afraid to make a clean cut; it stimulates the growth you desire.
