now is that some strange white spots are appearing on the leaves. It has grown three new leaves in just two months. Toward the end of summer, it got all of these tiny, rounded spots on the leaves. Sometimes, however, rubber plants can develop discolored leaves and white, brown or yellow spots. Another cause of white spots could be mealybugs or cottony cushion scale. If the spots take the form of irregular whitish or grayish patches, or a grayish-white dusting over the entire plant, the cause could be powdery mildew. They're easy to grow and don't require a lot of care, making them a popular choice for those with a less-than-green thumb. The leaves may turn yellow or even white if a plant that has been growing in subdued light is suddenly exposed to high light intensities. It only ever had one leaf until this summer when I moved out of my basement apartment and into one with lots of light. I have a rubber plant that spent the summer outside. The problem (?) The spots are black, they are on the tops and undersides of the leaves, and i can scrape them off with my finger. A magnifying glass can help. Take a closer look at the white spots to identify their characteristics. Rubber plants are durable plants with leathery leaves and a single erect stem when they're young, although older plants will branch out. Hi, I have a young rubber plant, about three years old. Large white areas on the leaves may be caused by excess light (sunburn). .