The Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) could be the ideal houseplant for you if you want a challenging however very easy going indoor plant that can reach staggering elevations within just a few years. The shiny glossy fallen leaves look terrific in many residences and although young plants start little they will fill up the space in a vacant edge promptly. This is indoor plant worlds Rubber Plant Care Guide.
A Rubber Plant typically starts off as a tiny houseplant but can rapidly become a very tall plant
Even if you do not wish to grow a really high tree like plant indoors, the Rubber Plant’s size can be limited to an extent with normal pruning. Nonetheless you have to bear in mind these houseplants are identified to expand upwards, regardless of what and do not stay small and also compact permanently, eventually calling for a certain amount upright of area.
Around 30 years Rubber Plants were exceptionally popular, yet people started to reside in more contemporary homes and also apartments which tend to be smaller. Room came to be a premium and also among the first things to go was the large Rubber Plant in the corner!
They fell out of fashion and came to be hard to find. Fortunately within the last 5 years they’ve bounced back and also are once more stylish and popular statement houseplants as well as permanently reason. They’re simple to take care of and very flexible residence visitors.
Dr Wolverton rates the Rubber Plant as one of the greatest houseplants to cleanse the air. It additionally ratings really well with resistance to insects and also conditions as well as has a high transpiration price which enhances the moisture of the room it resides in. To put it simply it’s great for your wellness in addition to reduced maintenance.
Real Latin name for this plant is Ficus elastica, nonetheless the conventional early versions have actually typically been replaced by more modern-day cultivars and very closely relevant ranges. Consequently you could find the plant classified as Ficus robusta (which as the name recommends is far more durable and also sturdy), some sellers also do both as well as will put Ficus Elastica Robusta on the name tag.
Extra certain named highlights consist of the compact Ficus Decora, and the dark environment-friendly nearly black leaved Black Prince and also Ficus Burgundy.
You may likewise stumble upon several of the variegated Rubber Plant kinds. These are more challenging ahead by because they’re harder to keep looking terrific in homes as you can not stint the treatment demand of brilliant light.
Rubber Trees can additionally have attractive variegation as the plant in this picture reveals
However, if you do take place to have an ideal place with excellent light levels for the variegated types, look out for Ficus Ruby which has pink and purple flushes in the fallen leaves. Doescheri sticks to dashes of various tones of easy environment-friendlies and yellows but still looks beautiful in the ideal area. Ficus Tineke is pretty much the exact same however a lot more compact. One of the most typical variegated kind is visualized better above, resembling military khaki.
You may locate this plant classified either as a Rubber Tree or Rubber Fig. The “rubber” element of its name comes from the “rubber” white sap that oozes out of the shiny leaves and woody stems if they’re scraped or reduced.
There is commonly a lot sap, that there can be a drip variable which you require to be cautious with. Likewise the milky latex is not particularly pleasant to people or family pets if the sap is swallowed. It’s likewise an irritant to the eyes as well as skin so handle the plant thoroughly and also if you do happen to get any on you, make sure you wash it off after that as well as you shouldn’t have any problems.
Rubber Plants often start short like the one in this image, yet within a couple of years it’ll be extremely high All environment-friendly Rubber Plant image by Scott Webb Plain environment-friendly Rubber Plants are much more prominent however you can still discover ones with appealing variegation Rubber Plants don’t have brilliant flowers to take pleasure in, however you can obtain fig like fruit (simply don’t consume them!) A Ficus elastica growing in a living-room corner Close up photo of a Ficus elastica Rubber Plant with red leaf sheath, picture by Madison Inouye If you have this plant and wish to submit an image of it to present below get in touch
Rubber Plant Care Guide
Light
Expand away from continuous direct sunlight. Rather give your Rubber Plant a well lit area with some indirect sunlight preferably.
The all eco-friendly kinds will certainly take some shade as well as inadequately lit areas, yet excessive for as well lengthy as well as the plant will become lanky as well as spindly.
If you have a variegated kind you must give bright indirect light, otherwise If you go with color, you’ll lose the markings.
Watering
The Rubber Plant sprinkling needs are basic – they love a great soaking when they’re growing, yet dislike continuously damp roots. We’ve discovered the best way to treat them is to water your plant truly well once the soil surface as well as leading inch has dried, then wait till it dries similarly prior to watering once more.
If you’re watering greater than once a week the Ourhouseplants.com Team are looking your means with tightened eyes, questioning your method. This might benefit you and if it does keep doing it, however in most houses sprinkling greater than as soon as a week is likely to constant.
You should not let a Rubber Plant being in water, so after 30 mins if there’s still water remaining in the drip tray, put it away. In Winter scale back and avoid the soaking, instead goal to keep the soil just wet, however bear in mind to still allow the dirt dry out prior to returning with the watering can.
Humidity
You can mist the leaves from time to time when the air is extremely completely dry, however actually you don’t require to stress over humidity degrees.
Feeding
To create those large leaves the Rubber Plant requires feeding. Little and also often is best, a weak well balanced feed every couple of watering’s throughout Spring and Summer.
Similar to common feeding policies, do not fertilise in Winter, or just recently repotted and also brand-new plants for an excellent 3 to 6 months.
If your plant’s not generating brand-new fallen leaves don’t feed in all.
Temperature
The Rubber Plant will certainly be fairly happy to grow in a wide range of temperatures between 10 ° C (50 ° F) to 29 ° C( 85 ° F). If you go hotter, the fallen leaves will shed a few of their turgid look. You can go as reduced as 4 ° C( 39 ° F) in Winter if you have to, yet your watering has to be spot on. If you’ve overwatered at this temperature level you’ll eliminate the plant quickly!
Repotting
These plants grow fairly big even if their pots are tiny.
These plants grow quite large even if their pots are little. However there will certainly still come a factor where the development will decrease or perhaps quit. You after that have 2 choices, either leave it where it is and also top outfit instead.
Topdressing methods removing the top inch or so of old dirt and replacing with fresh garden compost which presents fresh nutrients and also valuable microbes back right into the old worn out potting dirt.
The second option is to repot. Repotting a Rubber Plant is rather very easy if it’s not to heavy. All you require to do is move it into a bigger pot using a typical potting mix. If you’re brand-new to houseplants we have a more substantial repotting guide just for you.
Breeding
We’ve never required to circulated this plant! To start with because one Rubber Plant in a home is generally sufficient and secondly, they’re really affordable to go out and acquire. Nevertheless proliferating a Rubber Plant is simple if you adhere to the 4 actions listed below:
To get started you’ll require an item of stem, (typically an expanding tip), it requires to be concerning 4-6 inches (10-15 centimeters) long.
Remove all of the leaves bar one. If the sap is oozing wait until it quits (generally within 30 minutes) and then wash it off delicately.
Plant the stem with the continuing to be fallen leave in either sandy compost or perlite. You can dip the cut lower end into a rooting hormonal agent, yet it’s not crucial.
The growing media after that requires to be maintained hardly wet, in a cozy area with indirect sunlight. Best results are obtained making use of bottom warm or doing it throughout Summer
Speed of Growth
Growth of your Rubber Plant can possibly be described as moderately fast. Numerous proprietors put their plants outdoors in the Summer which they feel urges a fast rise of new fallen leaves. Don’t over do the sunlight exposure though as well as look out for damp trendy Summers which can motivate disease as well as feasible overwatering.
Plants which are unbelievably pot bound will not grow and also don’t anticipate any growth in the middle of winter months as Spring and also Summer are the growing months.
Height/ Spread
The end elevation and spread depends upon exactly how well your plant is treated. Rubber Plants in good conditions, big pots and with no routine trimming can attain upwards of 9ft/ 3M. Poor problems, small pots or trimming will certainly result in a much shorter plant.
The size of the plant can be controlled through your choice of whether to trim or otherwise. If you don’t prune, the main growing stem will race for the ceiling unnoticed providing a much more narrow slim tree looking impact. If you would certainly rather your plant was more bushy and broader instead, read the following paragraph.
If you continuously cut/ prune off the leading, tallest growth tips, after that brand-new growing shoots will form at the sides of the central stem reduced down which will after that create a branched, bushy looking design. This will wind up producing a much broader houseplant, although even then it won’t spread a lot bigger than around 3ft/ 1M in the majority of residences.
Leaves
Brand-new leaves arise from a vivid sheath which is typically red and this can confuse new proprietors right into assuming their plant is blooming.
Ficus is part of the Fig family members which as a basic rule do not have intense, striking or fragrant flowers.
You could obtain little fig like fruits on mature plants, but a Rubber Plant is picked for the foliage as opposed to any kind of potential flowers.
Just how to Care for a Rubber Plant Summary
Good Light
Prevent straight sunshine as well as extremely unethical locations.
Moderate Watering
Once a week in Summer and also when every 2 weeks in Winter.
Temperature level
Typical indoor area temperature levels. 10 ° C (50 ° F) to 29 ° C( 85 ° F ).
Feeding.
Attempt to fertilize as soon as a month when it’s expanding.
Rubber Plant Problems and Questions.
Why are the rubber plant leave turning yellow?
This is regular for very old leaves. Or else it could be a sign of over watering or otherwise sufficient light.
Are Rubber Plants Poisonous?
Yes the Rubber Plant is (mildly) harmful to animals and also humans. Several Ficus plants including F. elastica have a milky annoying sap in the stems and leaves that can create stomach concerns if consumed and also skin irritation if the sap is enabled to hinge on the skin for a time or enters little cuts.
What is the biggest issue for Rubber Plants?
Dirt is the biggest issue for indoor Rubber Plants. You will certainly need to massage them over every couple of months with a damp fabric to maintain them looking terrific. Leaf sparkle items can additionally be made use of for a shiny coating.
Why are Rubber Plant leaves curling or sagging?
This can occur when temperature levels exceed 29 ° C( 85 ° F), or when you’ve over sprinkled. When the temperature level cools or the dirt dries after a couple of days or so the curling as well as drooping look must disappear.
Severe cool, such as direct exposure to frost, can additionally trigger this to take place, nonetheless if this is the reason after that the fallen leaves won’t go back to normal after a couple of days and also will certainly rather quickly start to diminish the plant.
White touches, leaks on the leaves.
A little knock or a little cut on a fallen leave or a stem can cause a huge quantity of trickling sap. This can fall onto the leaves listed below as well as dry giving the impact something odd is taking place.
Make sure when moving your Rubber Plant as a little knock to the fallen leaves or damaging the fallen leaves can lead to it dripping white sap.
The sap, whether it’s still wet or has actually dried out can just be cleaned far from the leaves with a wet cloth.
Constantly make sure when repotting or relocating your Rubber Plant. The sap, as well as being gently hazardous and also irritating, can be harmful because it can stain carpetings or furniture.
My Rubber Tree Plant is also high.
Yes Rubber Plants do get huge do not they! Fortunately they can be pruned without damaging impact (although you might need a step ladder to get involved in the canopy initially!). Find the main stem and after that reduced where you’re satisfied for the new top to be.
You might have to wrap the exposed stem for a few hrs to quit the latex sap from leaking everywhere.
Afterwards two things ought to happen, firstly a brand-new development point takes over as well as it continues its surge upwards, or if your plant is actually healthy and balanced you will certainly get two (or even more) new development factors. This causes a more bushy as well as branched plant. Utilize this trimming understanding to design your perfect Rubber Plant!
Why are there white increased dots on my Rubber Plant?
They might resemble insects, or a condition, however these dots are actually flawlessly normal and also no therapy or unique care is required.
Do I need to worry about insects?
Parasites are uncommon because the Rubber Plant is so immune to them. Nevertheless you can still expect Spider Mites and Scale pests to decrease in once in a while.
Just how to make a Rubber Plant bushy?
In time, leaves will diminish if the light degrees aren’t fairly appropriate, or they’ve been damaged. This means you could end up with a thin looking “trunk” and you may intend to attempt and also make your plant bushy once more. This inquiry is one that shows up on a regular basis, so we’ve covered it off over in our height/ spread out area.
