I am new to this site and need help with 2 problems. Any ideas are very much appreciated. I have looked up online with no success and am hoping someone can help me here.
First, my Ficus Elastica was totally thriving. I want to say I've had it for a month now. I bought it due to it being the best looking Ficus of the bunch and it being a good indoor plant. I brought it home and put it in a bigger pot. Things seemed to be going well. I have been watering it as directed on a website I looked up. But for some reason the leaves are falling off, from the bottom up. This worries me, bcuz the leaves look fine, except for the very tip of some of the leaves are brown. So I am wondering if I am NOT watering enough. Or if it is possible that I need to buy some indoor plant food. I am not sure. Someone Plz Help...
Second, I have 3 pots, indoors, with thriving Caladiums. The problem is the stupid bugs. I am not sure how often or how much to spray them with the 3 in 1 Insectiside. The directions are NOT very good on the bottle. Just says to use a 7 to 14 day schedule. I sprayed the plants about 3 days ago and the bugs are still around. They seem to be a nat type of bug. They are also starting to go to my Ficus and other plants as well. Anybody have any idea what I need to do to get rid of these PESTS???...
Sounds like your Ficus Elastica aka rubber plant aka rubber tree is suffering from overwatering. This could have started before you purchased it. The clues for me are the combination of falling leaves and the brown tips. It's best to let the top 2" of soil dry before watering. If it's not too rootbound you can stick your finger into the soil up to the first knuckle to see if it's dry. Over time you will just know how often to water. Never let a houseplant sit in water in the saucer for more then 15 minutes. If it continues to drop leaves and looks unsightly you can start again by air layering, cutting the main stalk and rooting it in soil or perliet, using a cutting from the stem aka stem cutting or taking cuttings of the side branches and rooting in either perlite or moist potting soil. The propagating soil should only dry out about an inch below the surface until roots have formed. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/interiorscape/Ficus_elastica.html http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art13123.asp
It's best not to fertilize a stressed plant. If you feel you must fertilize, it would be best to use an organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion with sea weed. That will gently feed the plant. Synthetic fertilizers contain residual salts that plants don't need and are like sterioids for your plants. Best to feed gently.
You can also make an alcohol spray for the soil only. DO NOT SPRAY ON YOUR PLANTS.
Mix four parts water with three parts rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture around topsoil and infested areas.
This worries me, bcuz the leaves look fine, except for the very tip of some of the leaves are brown. So I am wondering if I am NOT watering enough. Or if it is possible that I need to buy some indoor 
I am not sure how often or how much to spray them with the 3 in 1 Insectiside. The directions are NOT very good on the bottle. Just says to use a 7 to 14 day schedule. I sprayed the 
