Natural leaf aging
An occasional yellow lower leaf on a healthy baby rubber plant is completely normal.
Diagnosis
Natural leaf aging
What's happening
Peperomia retires its oldest leaves to put energy into new growth at the tips. If only one or two of the lowest, oldest leaves are yellowing and the rest of the plant looks plump and glossy, nothing is wrong.
How to fix it
Pinch the spent leaf off where it meets the stem if you like the tidier look, and carry on with your normal care. Just keep an eye out that the yellowing stays limited to the oldest leaves and doesn't start spreading up through the plant.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Baby Rubber Plant care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this