Shock from a sudden change
A flurry of leaf drop right after a move or in a drafty spot is classic rubber-plant shock.
Diagnosis
Shock from a sudden change
What's happening
Ficus elastica resents abrupt change. A new location with different light, a cold draft from a door or AC, or a sudden temperature swing stresses the plant, and it sheds leaves as a protective response while it adjusts to the new conditions.
How to fix it
Settle it in one stable spot with bright, indirect light, away from drafts, heating vents, and cold windows, and then leave it alone — moving it again only restarts the stress. Keep watering consistent and don't repot or fertilize while it recovers. New leaves over the next few weeks are the sign it has acclimated.
What fixes it
- A full-spectrum LED grow light — If the new spot is dimmer than the old one, a grow light gives the steady light that prevents stress drop.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Rubber Plant care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this