I'm new to house plants, and I'm not doing a great job. This poor beauty is struggling, and I cannot figure out what type of plant it is in order to look up how to care for it best. Can any of you help?

It looks like a Variegated Rubber Plant - Ficus elastica maybe 'Tineke'

Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica 'Tineke')

Ficus elastica variegata...common name rubber plant.
Will leave helpful advice to others.

Edit...Ficus elastica 'Tineke'
This is accompanied by a burgundy flush.....
no sign of pink /red in pics

Oh, thank you both so much!! Yes, any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated. My house does not get a lot of natural light, so if it needs more light, I can buy a plant light for it.

Yes, def. no pink or burgundy colors - just white and green.

It has no pink-red colors because not enough light

Okay, so I should add more light? Will a grow light work?

Typically rubber tree wants as much light it can get..so you will definetely need a grow light.

I would still position that plant for now to the nearest window you have, though ideally a south facing window is best. Does that container have drain holes? This plant drinks a lot of water, but the roots still needs good airflow at the rootzone, and excess water plus accumulated salts needs to be flushed every watering.

It is winter time, so most plants indoors also slow down since whatever light that comes in is less intense and duration is much shorter. So be very mindful of watering, it may be thirsty but it is consuming less during winter season.

Thank you that is so helpful! Yes, the pot has drainage holes with a plate underneath it to catch excess water. This is a dumb question, but again, I'm very new to houseplants, how do I flush the salt out?

By putting it under a faucet and allowing the water to run through for a few minutes. Usually, the soil is flushed before each time you fertilize to rid the plant of the excesses not used.

No, don't fertilize. Your plant needs sun, not fertilizer.

Wait, are those "before and after" photos? Is that second photo its current condition? Not meaning to be pessimistic, but chances of survival look...slim. The soil is definitely too wet for a leafless stalk in a dark corner. Nonetheless, hope springs eternal, so get it into some bright light and stop watering for awhile. I think what Tarev meant about flushing salts was to water until water comes out of the bottom holes, but imo salts are your least issue at the moment and it's already too wet. There is no growth to make use of all that water in the soil. No leaves=no photosynthesis=plant can't survive. At best, it's going through a dormant period and growth will reappear in the spring

NMoasis said:

Wait, are those "before and after" photos? Is that second photo its current condition? Not meaning to be pessimistic, but changes of survival look...slim. The soil is definitely too wet for a leafless stalk in a dark corner. Nonetheless, hope springs eternal, so get it into some bright light and stop watering for awhile. I think what Tarev meant about flushing salts was to water until water comes out of the bottom holes, but imo salts are your least issue at the moment and it's already too wet. No leaves=no photosynthesis=plant can't survive. At best, it's going through a dormant period and growth will reappear in the spring

The top part looks dead to me.

They are two separate plants. One is in one corner and the other is the opposite corner. I moved both to the kitchen - a south-facing window that actually gets some decent sunlight. Ok, so do NOT water, right? Leave them be for now with the sunlight?
Thank you all for all of your help!!

The move to more light sounds great! Just don't let the soil get too dry. If it loses all of its moisture, leaves will fall off.

The one without leaves looks to be rotting at the base and tip. I'm afraid you might not be able to save it.

Right, water the healthy one normally. Let the stick dry a bit and watch for signs of life.

I thought you had posted before and after photos.

Thanks, everyone. I'm going to try to save these beauties. Wish me luck!

Will hydrogen peroxide help with the rot? I read that somewhere it can help with root rot?

DaisyI said:I thought you had posted before and after photos.

Same!

HAHA!! I can see how that is confusing. Weird because they are just in corners next to the window, so I assumed they were both getting the same sunlight. Dumb newbie move! I'm determined to be a good plant parent and get rid of all my fake plants.

What causes rot at the base - too much water?

kscronk1024 said:
What causes rot at the base - too much water?

Not enough light to keep the leaves from falling off = no leaves to use the water = too much water.

Rubber trees need damp soil but not saturated soil. Let the soil dry a couple inches down then water.

You may be able to re-root the middle part of the stem.