Why is my Burgundy Rubber Plant Turning Green?

I was always fascinated by the colors of rubber plants. Some of them are rich green and some burgundy. I grew fond of them eventually, and now I have them in my living space!

Having them near my window gives a nostalgic feeling and a sense of responsibility to maintain those beautiful leaves burgundy.

Burgundy rubber plant turns green when it receives low light. Lack of 6 to 8 hours of indirect sunlight turns burgundy leaves green. The light, temperature, humidity, and plant feeding play crucial roles in turning burgundy plants green. 

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Identifying a reason why my burgundy rubber plant is turning green is not enough. It would be best if you worked on the solution.

What if I tell you that there is a way to turn those green leaves back to burgundy?

In this article, I will guide you step by step on taking care of the Burgundy rubber plant and preventing it from turning green.

Is it Normal for Burgundy Rubber Plant Leaves Not to be Burgundy?

Although rubber plants require low maintenance, sometimes it may worry you when the burgundy rubber plant turns green.

But, you can always change that by providing some attention and care to your rubber plant. Firstly, you need to identify the reason whats turning your burgundy plant green.

Generally, it happens when the plant lacks enough sunlight.

Lack of light can turn burgundy rubber plants to green. To improve the situation, change the plant’s spot.

You can keep the plant near the window, which has sheer curtains, so the plant receives enough but indirect sunlight.

The reason your Burgundy Rubber Plant is turning Green

Rubber plants need proper sunlight, regular watering, and preferable temperature to keep their leaves burgundy.

If you do not meet those criteria, your burgundy rubber plant will start turning green.

One of the main reasons that your burgundy rubber plant is turning green is poor lighting.

Poor lighting can turn your burgundy rubber plant green. Rubber plants can tolerate low lights, but you may lose the rich burgundy leaves.

Rubber plants are spring and summer plants. This means that the plant requires an adequate amount of sunlight. Rubber plants thrive in proper indirect sunlight, mainly morning sunlight.

But, remember you cannot place the plant in direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can cause the leaves to wilt and can potentially sunburn the plant.

So, always keep your rubber plant in a place near the window where it receives indirect sunlight.

Make sure you have sheer curtains and do not let the plant out in direct sun rays. Indirect but enough sunlight can give you dark and rich burgundy colored leaves.

If you are fond of rubber plants and want to grow them in water, read on: How to Root a Rubber Plant in Water?

How much Sunlight Does A burgundy Rubber Plant Need?

Rubber thrives in continuous, bright, filtered light, which gives the leaves their dark, burgundy hue.

Many people place their rubber plants near a window with translucent curtains, allowing the light to filter through.

Low light is tolerated by this plant, although the leaves fade to a light green tint.

If the plant receives less light while developing, the burgundy color turns green, and the leaves will actually grow larger!

Burgundy rubber plant has rich, deep crimson foliage that turns almost purple when exposed to low light levels.

The ideal temperature for burgundy rubber trees is 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) at night and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) or higher during the day.

This indoor plant prefers bright indirect light to maintain its rich burgundy color.

For that, place your burgundy rubber plant where it receives enough indirect sunlight.

You can place the plant near the window where it receives enough sunlight filtered by the curtains.

Direct sunlight can burn the plant’s foliage, so it prefers indirect light.

As you know, rubber plants are warm plants; maintaining optimum temperature and good humidity is always good for your plant.

Note: Keep the plant away from air conditioners and heaters. They both are not good for the plant.

How to Check if your Burgundy Rubber Plant is getting Enough Sunlight?

It might get tricky to figure out as the plant loves bright sunlight but is not direct.

Here are some of the tips to check if your burgundy rubber plant is receiving enough sunlight or not.

1. Check if the Leaves are Turning Green

Checking the leaves often while taking care of the burgundy rubber plant is required because it may turn green if it does not receive enough sunlight and other conditions.

And, you may not want your beautiful burgundy rubber plant to turn green. So, check the plant often.

If the leaves are turning green, find the underlying reason and work on it.

Generally, changing the spot where the plant can receive enough indirect sunlight helps the green leaves return to rich burgundy.

2. Light Meter

If you are concerned about finding the perfect spot to place your burgundy rubber plant where it receives enough sunlight, let me help you!

The solution is a light meter. A light meter helps you figure out how much light there is in every spot where you want to place your plant.

Thus, using a light meter for plants can be a good idea.

If the light meter shows lower light availability, you can place the plant into a brighter spot to receive enough sunlight.

3. Hand Shadow Test

Hand Shadow test has to be the easiest way to determine the availability of sunlight.

This process takes only seconds!

Go to your plant’s spot and place your hand about one foot above the plant. Do this at the mid-day.

Observe the shadow cast by your hand. If the shadow is clean and well defined, the light is perfect for your plant.

On the other hand, if the shadow is faint, your plant is not receiving enough sunlight.

4. Use of Sheer Curtains

As we know, direct sunlight is not good for most indoor plants. But, unfortunately, it’s not good for rubber plants as well.

Using sheer curtains filters the sunlight for your indoor plants. You can use sheer curtains and place your plant anywhere the light is.

This provides the perfect amount of sunlight to the burgundy rubber plant.

What to do if your Burgundy Rubber Plant is not Getting Enough Sunlight?

Indirect bright sunlight, and the burgundy rubber plant thrives.

Direct sunshine helps to generate the brilliant color in their leaves, but too much might cause them to burn.

Thus, indirect bright sunlight is best for your burgundy rubber plant.

Low light is tolerable, although it may result in less colorful leaves.

If your burgundy rubber plant is not getting enough sunlight, change the spot to a brighter space where it receives enough sunlight.

Avoid cold drafts and unexpected temperature drops, as these can stunt the growth of your burgundy rubber plant.

If your plant isn’t getting enough sunlight, you can use an energy-efficient LED grow light. To keep it in place, a simple light can be used.

Rubber plants thrive in bright indirect sunshine with a light intensity ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 Lux.

To avoid fungus illnesses and other issues, encourage appropriate air circulation around your burgundy rubber plant.

It’s ideal for placing it under a ceiling fan but staying away from chilly, drafty air from an air conditioner, which might cause your plant to droop and become brown.

Keep your Burgundy Rubber Plant Burgundy

Most of the plant’s problems always have solutions. So, your burgundy rubber plant turning green, too, has a solution.

Thus, if you are worried about making the burgundy rubber plant even darker, I am here to help you out.

Here are some of the things that you need to take care of to make your burgundy rubber plant darker:

1. Lighting Requirement

You need to keep the rubber plant in a spot where it receives proper indirect sunlight for 6-8 hours each day.

Enough sunlight keeps the plant healthy and helps it to grow rich in color.

It helps your burgundy rubber plant to grow even darker, producing rich burgundy leaves.

2. Temperature Requirement

Rubber plant grows well on the available room temperature. But, if the optimum temperature is provided, it can grow even faster, healthier, and darker.

Rubber plant requires 65 degrees temperature at night and 75 degrees or more a day. Rubber plants thrive best at this temperature.

3. Watering schedule

You need to water your rubber plant twice a week during summer and only once during the winter.

The amount of water depends on the size of the pot, plant, and the place you live.

However, you need to water the plant till the water runs through the drain holes.

Let the water run through them because rubber plants don’t like their roots being waterlogged.

If you notice the soil on the top getting dry for 1 or 2 inches, it’s time to water the plant.

 Read on: Simple Steps to Re-pot a Lemon Tree

4. Fertilizer Requirement

You need to fertilize your burgundy rubber plant to grow them darker. For fertilization, choose any water soluble-balanced fertilizer.

To encourage fast and bushier development, use an NPK fertilizer with a 24:8:16 ratio as the rubber plant matures.

Fertilize the plant every 4-6 weeks, but don’t fertilize it too much since it will get lanky.

If your plant is receiving proper indirect sunlight, it will grow faster and darker, so you need to fertilize it once in two months.

If you have kept the plant in a spot where it receives a little bit of low sunlight, it may grow slowly. Sometimes the burgundy rubber plant leaves start turning green.

Fertilize the plant once in 3 to 4 months and try moving it to a brighter spot where it receives enough sunlight.

5. Maintaining Humidity

Burgundy rubber plant needs good humidity to maintain the color darker and richer. Otherwise, it may turn green.

As you maintain a good humidity of 40% to 50%, you may also want to mist their burgundy leaves with some water. You can use a clean cloth soaked in clean water to mist.

This not only helps the plant with humidity but also keeps away mites and dust.

 

Therefore, to maintain the richer and darker burgundy color of your rubber plant:

• Provide enough indirect sunlight
• Fertilize correctly
• Water the plant as per their need
• Maintain optimum temperature and humidity

If you own pets, you need to know which plants are toxic to them, read on: Is Chinese Evergreen Toxic to Cats?

Conclusion

Although burgundy rubber plants are beautiful plants, they require enough sunlight to maintain their color. Low light can turn them green.

Adequate indirect sunlight, optimum temperature, and humidity are required for the burgundy rubber plants to grow rich in color.

Direct sunlight can burn the plant. However, misting the leaves often helps the plant stay hydrated, dust and mites free.

With a bit of care, you can bring green leaves back to burgundy and make your living space aesthetic with them.