Rubber plant care is a great way to add new plants to your collection. This focus will thrive if you give it indirect sunlight and let the soil air dry between waterings. You can also feed it during spring and summer.
There are some differences in the care of a rubber tree compared to other indoor plants. Keeping the leaves shiny and avoiding wounds that result in white sap drips is not tricky.
We’ve dedicated a whole article to the care of rubber plants so you can do it yourself! We’ll discuss all you need to know about this beautiful plant.
Rubber Plants: All You Need to Know
The rubber plant (Ficus elasta) is native to Southeast Asia and has been naturalized in Sri Lanka. Ficus elastica can grow up to 100 feet tall in the jungles of tropical tropics. Rubber plant care is relatively simple, so it stays around 6 feet as a typical indoor houseplant.
Rubber plants are evergreen perennials in USDA zones 10 and 11 and indoors. The leaves are waxy and arranged in a symmetrical pattern. The color of the leaves varies depending on which cultivar it is. Ficus elastics’ greenish-white flowers are fragrant in their natural habitat. They bloom in the spring. When pollinated, they produce inedible fruits. Only psenes isps can pollinate fig trees because their anatomical structure is compatible with the flowers.
Ficus elastica does not bloom in domestic settings. Instead, it produces beautiful leaves all year round. Rubber tree roots can be greedy and damage foundations or other plants when planted in conditions that encourage excessive growth. The name “rubber tree” refers to the fact that the tree can be used as a latex source and bleeds out when cut. Hevea brasiliensis is the primary source of rubber for commercial use, but this plant was a secondary one in the past.
Both trees’ sap can irritate the skin when it comes in contact with it. Wear gloves, eye protection, and long sleeves while pruning and repotting. The plant is also mildly toxic for pets and children. Place it away from curious cats, dogs, and children. It does, however, remove toxins from the air in the area where it’s placed. Rubber tree plants are loved for their bright foliage and.
Rubber Plant Care
You’ve decided to take care of a rubber tree at home. We’ll talk about indoor and outdoor rubber plant care.
The sun and temperature
Rubber plants need bright indirect light for at least several hours. You can grow one indoors by placing it near a window that faces south or east so it gets indirect sunlight. In zones 10 and 11, you can plant your rubber trees outdoors in a lightly shady area. If you live in zones 10 and 11, plant your rubber tree outdoors, but make sure it is lightly shaded. Your rubber plant may grow slower if you use lower light.
The best temperatures for rubber plants are between 60degF-65degF at night and 75degF-80degF during the day. Be sure that your rubber tree only spends a short period in temperatures below 55degF. Rubber plants can survive in higher temperatures but lose their attractive coloration above 85degF.
Water and Humidity
When the soil around your rubber tree plant dries up, water it. Water outdoor trees every two weeks when the ground around them dries. Rubber trees are tropical plants, so they have a growing season that lasts from spring to summer. They enter dormancy at the end of the fall. The dormant phase lasts all winter. During this period, waterless. Allow cold water to reach room temperature before you rinse.
A mature plant requires less water. A healthy rubber tree is necessary to have 50% humidity or higher. Outdoor trees can thrive in a humid, warm climate. Indoor rubber plants can benefit from an external source of moisture, such as a daily misting of distilled water or a humidifier. Water your plants in the morning so they have time to absorb it before the sun evaporates.
Rubber tree houseplants can grow in a basic, well-draining potting soil. Choose a container with suitable drainage holes if you are growing your rubber tree indoors. Rubber plants benefit from a mixture of 1 part pine bark, 1 part Peat Moss and 1 part sand.
It’s the same for outdoor growing. You can improve the soil drainage in the area where you have planted your plants by aerating and amending the soil. Add compost, agricultural sand, or Perlite to areas that are compacted. Ficus elastica prefers acidic soils with a pH between 5 and 7.
Fertilizing Rubber Plants
During the growing season, your rubber tree will need fertilizer every two weeks to 1 month. Do not add fertilizer during dormancy; it can cause moisture and root retention problems. For young trees, a liquid organic fertilizer high in phosphorus diluted half strength is best to encourage new root growth. Find something that has an NPK ratio of 24:8;15.
Nitrogen fertilizers are best applied to mature plants at the same rate and without diluting. Espoma liquid indoor fertilizers are perfect for this since they contain the correct balance of nutrients at the right concentrations.
Pruning Your Rubber Plant
You can prune your indoor plants to encourage bushier growth. Trim the central trunk of the rubber plant to remove the desired portion. Use a sterile lopper or pruning scissors, depending on the size. Wear gloves and other protective gear to avoid skin irritation from the latex sap.
As a rule, you should remove any diseased or dead branches or leaves from your houseplants all year round. The same rule applies to trees outside. It’s best to avoid outdoor planting if you live in an area where these ficus plants can be invasive. If you inherit the outdoor rubber plant, you can install a root barrier and remove any suckers around the tree.
