The rubber tree works — botanic name isFicus elastica — is a hardy houseplant that is very easy to care for . The plant life also has names such as Amerindic gum elastic tree diagram , gum elastic fig , and Amerind rubber President Bush . Its thick , glossy , leathery green leaves and fast , tall growth intend that synthetic rubber flora supply to the aesthetics of any room .
Ficus elasticais one of the 800 species oftrees and shrubs in the genusFicus . The ornamental prophylactic tree houseplant can grow as a small desktop flora or a large India rubber indoor tree diagram to append visual acme . Some of the attractive species of theseFicusplants have variegate green and creamy blank leaf .
How to care forFicus elastica : The rubber tree plant thrives in bright , indirect sunshine , acquire in slenderly dampish grunge and average room humidity . Water the prophylactic plant when the top 2 ” ( 5 cm ) of potting soil is ironical and feed every two to four weeks in the growing time of year . idealistic indoor temperature for the rubber fig plant life are between 60 ° F and 75 ° F ( 15 ° C – 24 ° C ) .
The coarse name of the species — rubber tree or rubber plant life — comes from its milky white sap that can be used to make pencil eraser . This white sap oozes out of the galosh plant ’s leaf and woody staunch if they ’re cut or scratch .
Although the rubber tree is a blossom specie of works , it seldom — if ever — blossom indoors . If the gumshoe plant does flower , the blooms are insignificant .
The attractive feature ofFicus elasticais its leathery leaves . Some cultivar such as the ‘ Burgundy ’ and ‘ Black Prince ’ have dismal red or purple , almost black leaves .
In this article , you ’ll find conjuring trick and tips on deal for rubber tree plant at home . At the end of the tending guidebook , you will come up answers to many questions about handle for these ornamental , leafy houseplant .
Varieties of Rubber Tree Plant (Ficus Elastica)
synthetic rubber tree diagram plants admit several cultivar ranging in leaf color , including vary cultivars ( correct picture ) . The golosh plant is regard to be one of theplants that bring good chance according to the Feng Shui
Apart from the standardFicus elasticawith its shiny fleeceable leaves , there are several variety of rubber industrial plant . Some popular mintage of rubber trees let in :
How to Care forFicus Elastica(Rubber Tree Plant)
With the right attention , your baby rubber industrial plant will soon produce into a beautiful houseplant . Most mixture ofFicus elasticagrow well in various firing consideration . However , variegated rubber eraser works ask bright light . You should only water the plant as often as the soil partly dries .
Let ’s await in more detail at how to look after this plant life at abode .
How Much Light Does Rubber Fig Plant Need?
Grow your ficus elastica houseplant in promising collateral illumination
Ficus elasticaplants maturate best in undimmed igniter but protected from direct sunshine . An ideal location for a compact rubber industrial plant would be an eastern United States - facing windowsill . If you have to place aFicusplant pot in a west- or Dixieland - facing room , keep it well away from the windowpane or property behind a sheer curtain .
All type of rubber plants ( Ficus Elastica ) require at least medium light to grow fast . These are nothouseplants that grow well in total shade . You may notice that growth becomes leggy if the indoor tree diagram do n’t get enough igniter . If foliage appears thin on the woody staunch , try moving the plant ’s container to a brighter location .
The good advice for arise variegate pencil eraser flora at home is to put them in a well - lit spot . Plenty of vivid light is crucial to help keep the creamy - yellow , white , or vivid pink foliage normal vibrant and beautiful . variety such asFicus elastica‘Black Prince ’ or ‘ Burgundy ’ with grim leaf will grow well in low to medium Christ Within .
The Best Potting Soil for Growing Rubber Tree Plants Indoors
For rubber flora to thrive indoors , they ask to originate in a well - aerated potting mixing that has first-class drain . weewee must debilitate quickly through the dirt to forbid any damage to the works ’s ascendent . The well case of spring up medium should contain adequate quantities of peat , pine bark , and perlite .
The constituent for the potting land help to keep the root hydrated without becoming rotten . Organic matter , such as peat , retains moisture . The loose material such as bark silicon chip andperlite aid to improve drainage . This pot territory compounding creates an idealistic culture medium for growing rubber trees indoors .
There are several ways to tell if your potting soil for rubber plants is ideal . For example , the water should n’t create puddles on the soil ’s surface . Also , the water should debilitate passably promptly and easily pour out through the plant peck ’s drainage hole . If body of water hang ill , you will have to repot your rubber plant to loosen the territory .
Repotting helps to boost plant growth in these two way :
How to Water Rubber Tree Plants
irrigate your pencil eraser plant life when the top soil has dry out out
Proper lacrimation is of the essence to the health of your gum elastic industrial plant . To water your indoorFicus , give the grime a dependable drenching . hook the soil allows the roots to get hydrous . But you need to ward against overwatering . So , only water the flora when the top 1 ” to 2 ” ( 2.5 – 5 curium ) of soil is wry .
How often should you water a rubber plant ? The simple answer is to irrigate condom trees as often as the soil partly dries out . To state when it ’s sentence to water your plant , poke your finger’s breadth about 2 ” ( 5 cm ) into the soil . If the spiritualist is dry , then it ’s clock time to give your plant a bass watering .
A rubber plant that sit down in water system for too long commonly ends up suffering . you may avoid a die gumshoe plant by permit all the water supply to drain from the soil . Also , ensure that water does n’t collect in the disk .
Here are several factors that touch on how often you need to water your flora :
Top precaution tip when watering prophylactic plants : Allow water to sit out overnight before watering . This grant harmful chemicals in hydrant water to evaporate and get the water up to way temperature — apotheosis forwatering any eccentric of houseplant .
Room Temperature Requirements forFicus Elastica
Average indoor room temperature are idealistic for get rubber tree plants , as long as the temperature is even . The perfect temperature range is between 60 ° F and 75 ° F ( 15 ° C – 24 ° C ) . However , the rubber industrial plant will still farm — albeit slower — in temperatures down to 55 ° F ( 12 ° light speed ) .
Although golosh tree are quite hardy indoors , they do n’t like cold potation . In summertime , keep the plants aside from drafty window or doors and out of the air - conditioning flow . It ’s also crucial to avoid sudden wavering in temperature . So , do n’t place rubber plants near hot radiators in wintertime .
Ficus elasticarubber tree diagram plant grow alfresco in USDA zones 10 to 12 . You should plant your rubber plants in a smart spot where they get dappled sunshine .
you’re able to still uprise rubber plant in pots outdoors during summer if you survive in temperate mood . Be thrifty when the temperature drops below 50 ° F ( 10 ° carbon ) as the industrial plant ’s ancestor can support from dampness and cold .
Rubber Tree Humidity Requirements
Rubber tree diagram plants raise well in an average elbow room humidity . In the picture : vary Ficus elastica
medium way humidity is ideal for rubber plants to grow vibrantly and healthy . Sometimes , you may need to humidify the plant when growing indoors . For case , you will have to mist its leaves during hot , desiccated summer . Also , family heating plant in wintertime tends to dry the air ; therefore , misting weekly in winter is a unspoiled idea .
asunder from mist the folio at times , you could wipe them with a damp cloth . Cleaning the leaves this way adds some moisture to the industrial plant and also cleanse junk from the glossy , big , broad leaves . If your home air is particularly teetotal , place the rubber industrial plant on a humidifying pebble tray .
This is how to make a pebble tray to humidifyFicus elasticaplants :
Rubber Plant Flowers
Ficus elasticais a character of flowering plant that is aboriginal to Southeast Asia . However , houseplant owners keep golosh plants for their shining foliage , not their flowers . The blossom on this type of Ficus carica plant are small and green , not fragrant , showy , or bright . It is also rare if a rubber plant bloom indoors .
Some people flurry the fresh folio growth for flower on the flora . New growth on many rubber plant cultivars looks like a bright cherry sheath , which then gives way of life to raw leathery leaves .
Rubber Tree Plant Growth Rate
Rubber plants get quicker in bright luminousness and fond temperature . In this ikon : Ficus elastica ‘ Burgundy ’
All specie ofFicus elasticaplants have a moderately - fast growth rate . A baby rubber tree diagram will spring up quickly , particularly in fountain , into a larger plant withbroad oval parting . The optimum circumstance for degraded rubber tree development are burnished short , unconstipated feeding , and warm temperature .
During late crepuscule and winter , the industrial plant ’s increase rate slows down . Also , you ’ll point out that their growth almost stops if the rubber plants become potbound . To help keep ontogeny sizeable , stamp down feeding in wintertime and repot rootbound plants in spring .
Without pruning , rubber plants can quickly grow intolarge indoor treesthat give a stunning visual idiom to any way or office . In an indoor surroundings growing in containers , condom plant can grow to between 6 and 10 feet ( 1.8 – 3 m ) marvelous .
Feeding Indoor Rubber Tree
During the growing time of year — from March until September — feed the rubber tree plant every two to four weeks . Use a suitable houseplant fertilizer that is diluted to half strength . Do n’t give the flora during winter , as this could cause the plant to die from overfeeding .
Pruning a Rubber Tree
Pruning aFicus elasticahelps to encourage bushy growth and control its height . To rationalise the plant , cut back the top of the industrial plant to the pinnacle desire . Cutting off halt that have dead or perish leafage ameliorate the plant ’s show . To advance fuller , compact increment , rationalise the flora stems just above the knob .
Ficus ElasticaPropagation
Propagating a India rubber plant is done by stem cutting . This involves cutting the primary stem and leaving one leaf on the stem . whitish sap will ooze from the stem for about 30 minute , so look until that has break off and then wipe the stem turn clean .
To grow a fresh plant , cut off the top of the base about 6 ” ( 15 cm ) long so that there is one leaf on it . Put the stem cutting in moist perlite to root , and place in a warm , brilliant location . The temperature for the plant to take root should be between 70 ° F and 75 ° F ( 21 ° C – 24 ° C ) .
Repotting an Indian Rubber Tree Plant
finally , you will need to transfer the pencil eraser plant to a new , larger container to keep growth healthy . repot aFicusplant in spring also gives you a chance to refresh the potting grime and mark for decompose roots . All you require to do is develop the appropriate potting medium and shift the plant .
When you remove the condom plant life from its exist container , untangle the root . Look for brown , mushy roots and trim with sterile scissors as necessary . After planting the golosh Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in its new container , thoroughly water the plant and put it in vivid , collateral light .
IsFicus Elastica(Rubber Plant) Toxic?
Rubber trees are toxic to animate being and home darling such as cats and dogs . The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ( ASCPA ) says that Amerind rubber plants contain toxicant enzyme ficin and ficusin . So , keep the works away from dogs and CAT . ( 1 )
Pests and Disease Affecting Rubber Tree Growth
Species ofFicus elasticaare brave houseplants that are reasonably resistant to pests . The mostcommon type of plant pestsyou might recover on your Libyan Islamic Fighting Group plant are scale , spider mites , or mealybugs . Usually , a neem oil color resolution can assist to get free of these indoor works pests .
Please say this clause onhow to eliminate houseplant pestsnaturally to lie with what to do about scale dirt ball , mealybugs , or spider jot .
Raised lily-white dots on some eccentric of galosh plants can be mistaken for pest . However , the ashen bumps are normal and nothing to vex about .
FAQs About Caring for Rubber Tree Plant Indoors
Picture of Ficus elastica ‘ Shivereana ’
Why are rubber plant leaves curling?
Most in all probability , curling leaves are a mansion of overwatering a rubber tree plant . Usually , the foliage growth should resolve itself if you leave the dirt to dry out . Growing in hot temperatures above 85 ° F ( 29 ° C ) could also causeFicusplant leaf to curl . If the leaves curl and then drop , this could be due to exposure to frost .
How to make a rubber plant bushy?
safe plants that become tall-growing want pruning to encourage bushy outgrowth . Legginess of the industrial plant can happen when there ’s not enough sun . Cut back the stems just above the node to get a shaggy-haired rubber plant with compendious growth . Also , keep the plant life in a brighter location to avoid leggy growth in the futurity .
Why are my rubber plant leaves falling off?
Overwatering rubber tree is the most common reason for leaf drop . Leaves start falling if the potting mixture is too damp or if the plant has been sit in water . In extreme cases , you may have to repot the plant with clean soil to help save it from conk out . After that , only water the works when the soil partly dries .
Why are ficus leaves turning yellow?
There are several reasons why rubber industrial plant folio can turn pallid and start to yellow . First , it ’s instinctive that onetime leaves die and flow off . However , if many leaves are yellowing , it could be due to too much pee , boggy soil , or not get enough light . Addressing the causes should help to animate your industrial plant .
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