Why are both of my indoor plants dying?

Question

I have a huge rubber plant and, uhhh, well, a tropical looking thing--I haven't the slightest idea what it is. I water when very dry, they are getting a medium amount of light, and have been fine forever, until now...of course.

Leaves have been dropping off like crazy, so I changed their soil and added some of that "Miracle Grow" stuff....to no avail after 3 weeks.

Anyone know what's going on or how to revive them? Or is it time that they take a 'dirt nap'. The rubber plant looks like it's a goner. It has only one leaf yet. Ahhhhh, I'm a plant killer :-). Sad, but true :-) :-) :-).

Thanx William H and Felicity!! Much obliged :-) :-). Any ideas why that tropical plant I mentioned might be dying too? Maybe just coincidence? The rubber plant is looking *really* dead. The tropical plant?...well?, it's losing leaves everyday, but in much better shape than the rubber...

Hey, thanx Cindarella and Marguerite. Great tips. I know nothing about plants...as you may have gleaned by, well, their dying and all :-)

Juncogirl3: That totally doesn't sound strange AT ALL. The rubber plant was wilting and that's when I added the Miracle Grow. The other plant was fine, but I thought, ahhh, I'll add a bit to it anyway. THEN, that one started dying. I think you might be onto something here...

Thanx Spanky, you cute little monkey you :-) :-).

Raffaele: Whoa, thanx for such a detailed answer. I appreciate that :-) :-).

Blondiespam: Thanx for your answer :-). May I ask how you know peroxide functions to revive the plant? Or, why it does so?

Sorry, Raffaele, AND for the very sweet words ;-) ;-).

Answer 1

I know this will sound strange but I have knocked off a lot of plants and found the culprit to be Miracle Gro. I no longer use Miracle Gro or Miracle Gro soil. I did an accidental experiment with tomato plants. I repotted 6 tomato plants into regular potting soil and 6 into Miracle Gro soil. Within two weeks, the plants in the MG soil were dead. I also had a rather large outdoor plant that I repotted into Miracle Gro soil and it too deceased. It could just be me but I won't use MG again. I think it might be too strong.

Answer 2

plants can be funny creatures. most tropical varieties like an evenly moist soil along with a humid atmosphere. Most plants will adapt to their enviorment after time. I think maybe you're letting it dry out to much between waterings. You said med. light. But is it direct light? Direct sunlight can burn leaves if the plant has been shaded. Though, rubber plants typically like a lot of sun , you may get better results with a diffused sunlight. Try pruning your plants back, water on a regular schedule , and be careful with the miracle grow. It can also burn your plants. Miracle grow also puts out a potting soil that slow releases food over a period of months. Potted plants tend to dry out faster than in the ground and the type of container can make a difference. Clay looks good but robs plants of moisture and there for nutrients. Use ceramic. {glazed}

Answer 3

I have a rubber tree plant too that I got this year. I have never had one before. It looked really beautiful when I got it, but a few months later started losing a lot of leaves. Seemed like at least one a day (could be the nature of the beast). I put one of the automatic plant waterers (Plantastic Jr.) in that I got at Lowe's one day. It is looking a lot better and has a bunch of new leaves on it now. I think I wasn't watering it enough. I think they like to be moderately moist. These things are great because all you have to do is fill the reservoir when it is low and it waters the plant as it needs it. I recently purchased some plant stake waterers from eBay, but they aren't as good as the Plantastic Jr.

Answer 4

Do not be concerned. It sound like you have a ficus elastica or Rubber tree plant and ficus benjamina or fig tree. This is a common practise to all ficus plant, They are in the fig family and do not like a sudden change in the environment. Like being brought indoor or location change. They will and do drop their leaves and will grow new ones adapted to the new climate. If you can live with it a few months it should have new leaves and look beautiful again Ficus benjaminas usually drops all its leaves and looks completely dead. Found many along the curb being thrown out and saved and brought to my greenhouse. Have a little patents. Hold off on the fertilizer this time of the year and slow down on the watering. Try to increase the humidity around the plants during drey months.We still have a few weeks before the sun starts making days longer.

Answer 5

If they got yellow, wilted and died, its too much water. The only thing lack of light will do is make the plants gangly. Most of the time its too much water. With mine, I put them in peat pots on a tray and put water in the tray when the pots start to dry out (the pot dries out before the soil does, but don't let them swim, just enough water that they can soak up)

Answer 6

Dear K

I like a beat of gardening too!

There are a number of things that needs to be carefully noticed, understood and implemented. I will list hereto some of the main issue to keep in mind when caring for any plants especially potted plants:-

All plants like to be showered as often as possibly (light mist daily is perfect)

Too much water can also kill the plant. They need to be able to breath just as we do they too take oxygen supply. When in too much water their roots aren’t able to breath they actually die drowning

No plant ever would survive with too much or too strong or powerful fertilizer no matter which kind.

Nor would any plant would survive with any fertilizer been placed too close to their trunk or most especially their roots

If the ground is too rich or very heavy in fertilizer it creates strong & high heat. The heat if strong & high enough can burn the roots and the plant dies

All plants like the sun just like us humans but in moderation. Any plant in to much or most especially direct and or very strong sunlight will burn and slowly but surely die unless they are rescued and moved to cooler and not so hot or direct strong sunlight, just like the rest of us humans

Yes! Regular repotting say every 6 to 12 months is strongly advised depending on the plant and the pot size and type

Most plants like to be acknowledged preferably spoken to or best congratulated on their performance.

It may sound crazy but it’s true.

Sometime you could seat by and tell them all you’re problems as well as up-beating their posture, well progress or display. This would actually release any stress or pressures that you may have accumulated from work or other.

They too can almost be as good as a dog in comforting you.

And in turn for you trust and up-beat they’ll give stronger performances giving you even more satisfaction or pleasure or both.

There is much more. But I am tired now. It’s very late and I am falling asleep.

Take good care and love your plants they’ll surely love you back

I almost forgotten.

YOU'RE DEFINITELY NOT A PLANT KILLER!!

You appear to me to be a very understanding, very caring, very helpful, very loving, very joyful, very happy and easy going, quite playful, very brotherly and spiritual too.

Though I only just met you it appear to me that you bring GOD within you too

May you always be Blessed

Answer 7

how big is the pots your got them in ?? If the plant has grown heaps since you have had them, they may need to be repotted in bigger pots, as the roots start to strangle itself & go in a circular twist..... ? Also check the soil !!! Get them gloves on !!! lol

Answer 8

mix peroxide with water 50/50 and wash the leaves and water it with that mixture...

they should revive life within a few days.

Answer 9

I reckon too much water is the culprit. Classic symptom.