Rubber Plants (Ficus elastica) Indoor Care, Common Growing Problems and Solutions
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Rubber Plants (Ficus elastica) flourish in bright light with some direct sunlight, average warmth, humid conditions and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Ficus elastica also called Rubber Fig, Rubber Tree, Rubber Bush, Indian Rubber Tree or Indian Rubber Bush is one of the popular bold statement plants on accounts of its large size, decorative leaves and ability to easily adapts to indoor growing conditions.
Ficus varieties of earlier days had narrow, drooping leaves and a rather fussy nature but it has been replaced by a number of larger leaved varieties.
Indian Rubber Tree has a higher tolerance to drought conditions than most Ficus varieties but it prefers warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter.
Botanical name: Ficus elastica
Family: Moraceae
Common names: Rubber Plant, Rubber Fig, Rubber Tree, Rubber Bush, Indian Rubber Tree, Indian Rubber Bush
Origin
Ficus elastica is native to Eastern parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It has been naturalized in Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and the US state of Florida. It is among the best tropical foliage plants that you can grow in any space.
Size
Rubber Plants grow to a height of 6-10 feet when grown indoors. It is one of the perfect tree-like plants that will adapt to a wide range of growing conditions.
Air Cleaning
According to the NASA Clean Air Study, Ficus elastica was found to be among the best air-cleaning plants which gets rid of formaldehyde from indoor air.
Varieties
There are many varieties of Rubber Tree like Ficus elastica 'Decora', Ficus elastica 'robusta' (Bronze Rubber Plant), Ficus elastica 'Black Prince', Ficus elastica 'Tineke', Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' among others. Here are 9 types of Rubber Plants with pictures and care guides.
Toxicity
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) is toxic to humans and pets according to Pet Poison Helpline. The plant produces a milky white latex which is an irritant to the eyes and the skin. If ingested it can cause irritation in the mouth, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and abdominal pains.
Where to Buy
Do you want to add Rubber Plants to your plant collection? These plants are available online on Etsy (Link to Etsy) or on Amazon (Link to Amazon).
Rubber Plant Care Indoors
Rubber Plants (Ficus elastica) blossom in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunshine, average warmth of 15-280C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained, all purpose potting soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Ficus elastica requires regular pruning to keep it neat and also encourage a bushy growth. Repotting is only needed when it becomes pot-bound. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
How to water Rubber Plant
Water Rubber Plant liberally during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist.
Reduce watering during the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time.
Ascertain that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to leaf drop and root-rot.
Use tepid, chlorine-free water to water Rubber Fig to avoid spots on the leaves. Learn more on how to water houseplants correctly.
Light Requirements
Rubber Plant grows best in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct morning or late afternoon sunlight. It can adapt to lower light but it will grow much slower. However, the variegated types require bright light to maintain the variegation.
Ficus elastica also does well under a grow light where natural lighting is inadequate. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
For uniform growth, turn the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides.
Temperature and Humidity
The best temperature for growing Rubber Plant is an average warmth of 15-280C. Keep it away from cold and hot drafts to prevent sudden changes in temperature as it can lead to leaf drop.
Average room humidity of 50-55% is ideal for this plant. However, if the air is too dry especially where the temperature is too high the plant responds with brown, dry leaf tips and edges. To increase humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom, kitchen and other humid areas in the home. Learn more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Regularly clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and discourage pest infestations. Make sure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.
Potting Mix
Rubber Plant potting mix should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. Most all purpose potting mixes are ideal for this plant.
Fertilizer
Feed Rubber Plant monthly during the growing period with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer for lush growth.
Withhold feeding in the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn.
Repotting
Repot Rubber Plant at the beginning of the growing season only when it has become pot-bound. Avoid frequent repotting as it prefers to be pot-bound. Repot only when it has outgrown its current pot; when roots begin to grow through the drainage holes.
Use a pot 1 size larger and one that has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy. Use a heavy pot as the plant can become top-heavy and topple over. Take a look at these ceramic pots available on Amazon.
Never allow the roots to sit in soggy soil as it may lead to leaf drop and root-rot which may result in the death of the plant. For large Rubber Plants which may be difficult to handle, annually replenish the top 2-4 inches of soil with fresh soil.
Pruning
Pruning Rubber Plant is easy. Remove the dead and yellow leaves to maintain the plant neat and also discourage pests and diseases. When the plant has reached maximum height or it has become leggy, cutback the branches with a sharp, clean pair of pruning scissors to rejuvenate growth. The foliage emanating from pruning can be used to propagate new plants.
Propagation
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) can be propagated during the growing season from stem cuttings or by air layering.
Read more on how to propagate Rubber Plant (3 Methods of Ficus elastica propagation).
Ficus elastica Problems
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) problems include leaf drop, yellow leaves, brown leaves, drooping leaves, plant dying, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Leaf drop (loss)
Rubber Plant or Rubber Fig may drop its leaves due to a number of varied reasons which include improper watering, pests, root-rot, extreme temperatures, insufficient light among others.
Read more on these 14 reasons why Rubber Plant is dropping leaves and how to fix them
Leaves turning brown
Rubber Plant or Rubber Fig leaves may turn brown due to a number of reasons which include improper watering, pests, root-rot, high temperatures, insufficient light, improper feeding among others.
Check out these 11 Causes of Rubber Plant Leaves Turning Brown and Solutions
Drooping leaves
Drooping leaves in Rubber Plant may be due to many reasons which include overwatering, underwatering, root-rot, pests, poor lighting, high temperatures among others.
Read more on 13 Reasons Why Rubber Plant Leaves are Drooping & How to Fix Them
Plant dying
Rubber Plant is dying due to incorrect watering, improper feeding, too little light, cold drafts, low humidity, poor quality soil, root-rot, pest infestations, being pot-bound among others.
Read more on 11 Reasons Why Rubber Plant is Dying & How to Revive It
Pests
The common pests in Rubber Plant are mealybugs, aphids, spider mites and scales. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants and treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap as instructed by the manufacturer. Keep the plant properly pruned at all times to reduce the hiding places for these pests.
Diseases
Rubber Plant is prone to root-rot disease which is enhanced by soggy soil. Ensure there is free drainage of both the soil and the pot and also reduce watering during the cold season. Learn how to treat root-rot in houseplants.
Loss of lower leaves
Loss of lower leaves is a normal occurence in Rubber Plant. As it matures, it losses the lower leaves leaving a bare stem with a crown of leaves at the top. Cutback the Rubber Fig stem at the desired height to rejuvenate growth. New growth should sprout just below the cut into a new bushy plant.
Yellow leaf edges
Yellowing leaf edges in Rubber Plant are due to underfeeding. Feed the plant monthly with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer during the growing period but do not feed in the cold period.
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