Frozen Rubber Tree
For context, I live in SE Michigan, and I've had this burgundy rubber tree for a few years now, though it's my only plant and I think the only reason it did okay is because it's so low-maintenance. Usually I keep it indoors in a south-facing window, but last summer I had it outside on my apartment balcony and it practically exploded with growth, so I've been eager to get it back outside again as the weather warms up.
To make a long story short, last week when it was mid-70s, I put it outside to catch the afternoon sun, forgot about it, and then the temperature dropped down into the 30s overnight before I brought it back inside the next morning, much droopier.
In the time since, some of the leaves have turned yellow and spotty, others have completely desiccated, and now the tops of the stems (trunks?) don't look like they're faring well, either. Some of the leaves close to the soil have managed to stay green and waxy, at least.
I have some specific questions, but I welcome any advice.
- The damaged leaves are holding fast and don't seem like they're about to drop, despite everything. Should I cut some/any of them off? Is there a proper technique for doing so?
- How can I gauge damage to the stems/trunks? The buds seem to be in trouble, just visually, but what about the rest?
- Should I prune the stems/trunks themselves? How far up or down? What's the best way of doing so that won't cause additional damage?
- Should I change anything about how much sun/water it gets? In the context of recovery, I mean -- it seemed to be doing fine before freezing.
Thanks for the help 🙏