Can This Rubber Plant Be Saved?

New Windsor, NY

Two words: New Kitten.

I don't know the proper name, but I've had this "rubber plant" for a good while. It was always full and beautiful. Now I have a new kitten, and he attacked the you-know-what out of it; tore the leaves all off and broke one of the stems so the remaining leaves are all droopy. I had leaves all over the house. I'd hate to toss out this old friend (the plant). Is there anything I can do to get it to re-leaf?

No, I'm not tossing out the kitten, either... but I did get a bottle of Yuck! No Chew Spray!

Thanks!

Thumbnail by anhw1

Simple. I would make sure the plant and kitten were separted with out any chance of contact;-) That's one strong kitten you got there.


Rachel

Melbourne, FL

If you can make it through the kitten stage all should be well. Keep them separated for a while. The plant looks healthy and should continue growing.

Bay City, MI(Zone 6a)

The bad news is this is probably close to the worst time of the year for this type of misfortune to befall your plant. The good news is Ficus elastica (aka rubber tree) is genetically vigorous by nature and usually rebounds quickly from having even considerable indignities heaped upon it.

Since what remains of the plant looks pretty healthy, the plant probably has enough energy reserves to push a fresh flush of foliage on the remains.There is a growth regulator (auxin) produced primarily in the growing tips of branches (in apical meristems), but also in leaves. One of this growth regulator's primary jobs is to suppresses branching and the formation of new leaves anywhere but at the apical meristem (branch tip). When the leaves or the branch tip are removed, another growth regulator (cytokinin) becomes dominant. This stimulates branching and new leaf formation. The key is whether the tree has enough energy stored to produce new foliage. Luckily, there is foliage remaining on the tree, which also produces food/energy to help the plant along.

Keep the plant warm (65*+) and in good light for fastest recovery. Be very careful that you don't over-water. With the foliage volume reduced, transpiration and water usage will also be reduced and root rot becomes something to guard against more judiciously.

Al

New Windsor, NY

OK - Thanks everyone! Does that mean I should just leave the bare stems alone, and they will re-leaf themselves? Or that I should remove the branch tips? Or should I cut them down entirely for new branches? It was a nice healthy plant, is in my warm living room which has south and east facing windows, although it's not placed in direct sunlight. Should I move it to direct sunlight? Give it fresh dirt or plant food or anything? Should I do anything to the broken stem?

My old cat was elderly and sick for a long time before she passed. I've forgotten what kittens are like! This one's 4 lbs of terror...

Bay City, MI(Zone 6a)

Concentrate on making sure the cultural conditions (light, moisture, temperature, fertility ....) are favorable and just wait.

Al

zone 6a, KY

Sorry about your elderly cat passing, but kitten's are a laugh a minute. Well except when you are gone and they get mischievous, lol.

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