Rubber Plants are great indoor plants because of their ease of care. Rubber plants typically do not need much in the way of pruning. If you water the rubber tree plant too much, the leaves will turn yellow and brown and fall off. If you’re new to plant parenting, a rubber tree is the plant for you! Company … And don’t get overly zealous: Feed your rubber tree with a general-purpose fertilizer a few times a year, especially during active growth in spring and summer. But, it still does want a bright and light area. Like many ficuses, it has hanging roots and develops flanged trunks over time. Rubber trees rarely are affected by bugs or diseases, so they’re the perfect plant for you to sit back and enjoy without a lot of fussing. If the older leaves (usually the largest ones, at the bottom) are becoming yellow or brown, that's a sign of overwatering. Rubber trees make great indoor potted plants, but at some point you'll need to give them more room. Even its handsome, glossy leaves have a thick, rubber-like look. See more ideas about rubber plant, rubber tree plant, rubber tree. Ficus elastica, the rubber fig, rubber bush, rubber tree, rubber plant, or Indian rubber bush, Indian rubber tree, is a species of plant in the fig genus, native to eastern parts of South Asia and southeast Asia. They do best with morning sunlight from an east window or at least four hours of bright, indirect light. Click here for more info. The rubber tree plant (Ficus elastica) gets its name from its milky sap, which was used to produce rubber in the early 1900s. Usage/Application: Garden, Nursery. In its native jungle habitat in India and Malaysia, the plant can grow up to 100 feet tall. https://www.countryliving.com/.../garden-ideas/a30420945/rubber-plant-care When you're finished, place your rubber tree in a warm spot that receives indirect sunlight. In it's natural habitat it grows over 30 metres tall, however, the varieties grown indoors are a much more manageable height. 1 part peat, 1 part pine bark and 1 part coarse sand (or perlite) is a good mix.” Hirt’s Gardens Burgundy Rubber … Use the information found in this article to learn about rubber tree plant potting and when repotting is necessary. Also, if water drains out of the pot to the saucer beneath, dump it out. Water your rubber tree when the soil is slightly dry to the touch. These are not particularly difficult plants, but successfully growing this plant generally means finding the right balance in the environment. Good rubber tree plant care means not exposing it to direct sunlight. Height When Fully Grown: 3 - 5 Feet. Add character to your home with an elegant orchid in a beautiful indoor plant pot.House plants are easy to grow, long lasting and can add a lovely aroma to your home. Then, plant a rubber tree in the pot using 1 part peat, 1 part pine bark, and 1 part sand or perlite. For example, this can be a sunny section of your room or office shielded by a sheer curtain. Watering too frequently may cause leaf yellowing. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. An indoor rubber plant can be grown with very little care. But indoors, a rubber tree typically tops out at 6 to 10 feet tall. It won’t get anywhere near as lofty as that indoors, thankfully. The best type of growing medium should contain equal quantities of peat, pine bark, and perlite. Here’s what else you need to know about this popular and reliable houseplant, plus how to care for a rubber plant. Water must drain quickly through the soil to prevent any damage to the plant’s roots. It is an inexact science that takes some time. Plants that do not receive sufficient light will become leggy, lose their lower leaves, and the leaf color will become dull instead of glossy and vibrant. Rubber plants (Ficus elastica) are perfect plants for beginner indoor gardeners as they’re super tough, have large glossy leaves and grow quickly into an impressive indoor specimen. If you decide to put them outdoors in the summer, keep them out of direct sunlight. When kept indoors with proper care you can expect your Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica) to reach between 6 to 10 feet tall. It is also a good idea to wipe off the leaves of your rubber tree houseplant with a damp cloth or spritz it with water. If possible, identify the infestation as early as possible and treat it with the least toxic option. They’re fast growers with the right light conditions and can last 15 years or more with proper care. ‘Rubra’ – Has dark green foliage with a red midrib. Ficus elastica, also known as the rubber plant, is an unusual-looking plant from the tropics of Southeast Asia with huge, soft leaves and an exotic name. They can survive on lower illumination, but it’s not optimal. Ficus elastica (more commonly known as a rubber plant, rubber tree or rubber tree plant) is a popular houseplant because of its waxy leaves and larger-than-life appearance. That means providing bright indirect light but not direct sunlight, moist but not wet soil, and enough fertilizer to keep it healthy but not too much to encourage fast growth. Debra LaGattuta is a certified master gardener with decades of experience with perennial and flowering plants, container gardening, and raised bed vegetable gardening. The rubber plant is a popular ornamental plant from the Ficus genus. Some of the various varieties of Rubber Plants include: ‘Decora’ – Has dark green foliage with a white midrib. Usually dispatched within 2 to 3 days. Do You Know How to Hang Christmas Lights? Rubber Tree Plants You Can Grow Indoors. If the leaves look full and are drooping, light levels are probably too high. Rubber plants are a popular indoor house plant. How to Grow and Care for Chinese Money Plant, 10 Houseplants That Will Thrive in Your Kitchen, How to Propagate Rubber Trees From Cuttings, Amazon Elephant's Ear Plant Profile (African Mask), 4 Genera of Bromeliad Plants for Growing Indoors. Rubber plants don’t like to sit in water, so a well-draining soil is important. Be sure to remove dead and dying leaves, and prune your rubber plant so it grows into the shape you’d like it to have. Ramanagar Near Mangaliya, Bidadi, Ramanagaram - 562109, Dist. House Plant Expert suggests, in particular, that a “well-draining and well-aerated potting soil is needed. This is the most familiar rubber tree, with a slight reddish or bronze cast to the undersides of its glossy green leaves. For the indoor grower, looking for a tree type plant species with attractive foliage which can grow from 1 ft to over 8 ft tall, this is an excellent choice. ‘Doescheri’ is an attractive variegated variety. Your Christmas Dessert Table Needs These Recipes. £5.49 delivery. To keep your rubber tree clean and shiny, dust the broad leaves with a damp rag occasionally. Good Light – Rubber Plants thrive on plenty of bright, indirect light. It is vulnerable to excessive dryness. Rubber trees are low-maintenance. Because it’s an old standby when it comes to houseplants, you’ll find rubber trees at most nurseries, big box stores, and online retailers. £10.49 £ 10. They’re much less fussy than their Ficus benjamina and Ficus lyrata cousins. F. elastica 'Robusta' has larger leaves than 'Decora', F. elastica 'Black Prince', or 'Burgundy', which has nearly-black reddish leaves. Ramanagaram, Dist. Why the Peony Is the "Ultimate Queen of Spring". The Ficus Elastica, otherwise known as the rubber tree or rubber plant, is a popular plant for indoor and outdoor gardening across the United States. Soil Specific: Acidic. The rubber tree plant also needs the right balance of water. Size of the Rubber Plant: In its natural environment, the Rubber plant will grow up to 20m high, but containerised in an indoor situation it will reach a maximum height of 3m. Country Living participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. How to Take Care of an Indoor Rubber Tree Plant Rubber Plant Light. Ficus Abidjan Indoor Rubber Plant for Home or Office (30-40cm with Pot) 4.5 out of 5 stars 2. Feed the plant a weak liquid fertilizer throughout the growing season. More about us. They’re typically medium-sized but, if given time and space to grow, can become the size of a small tree. Great for lush instant greening or filling an empty corner of a room. F. elastica requires bright, filtered light and can tolerate morning sun. It is winter hardy to USDA Zones 10 through 12; in colder climates it is grown as a houseplant. https://www.thespruce.com/grow-rubber-plant-ficus-indoors-1902755 The rubber plant is all about having a small tree indoors with broad shiny attractive leaves. This ficus grows fairly quickly under the right conditions and will need to be repotted every year until the plant reaches the height you want. Light Requirements . Rubber plant or Rubber tree. In general, F. elastica is bred for larger, glossier leaves. If buying in person, make sure the plant has its lower leaves, which drop off if it’s been overwatered or otherwise stressed; has no visible damage such as broken stems; and is glossy and upright, not falling over. The most common variety of this plant is the 'Decora' cultivar. 49 £11.49 £11.49. Unhealthy plants will become leggy, with stretching internodes, and the leaves might first turn yellow and then brown before dropping off entirely. As a domesticated houseplant, rubber plants grow anywhere between six to ten feet tall. Do not be discouraged if they do not propagate easily. The great news is that you can buy a sizable specimen for instant impact in any room, because they’re relatively inexpensive compared to other types of houseplants of similar size. Water frequently. Let it dry out fully during longer periods of time between waterings. These Christmas Front Doors Are Nothing but Merry, 27 Most Delicious Christmas Dinner Casserole Ideas, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. In its natural habitat, it can grow 50 to 100 feet with an enormous canopy of draping, foot-long oval leaves. It has become naturalized in Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and the US State of Florida. This plant needs to be kept steadily moist but not wet. Rs 25/ Piece Get Latest Price. Other Necessities: Well Watered, Full Sun Exposure. Do you want an easy care indoor tree that grows tall & has large, glossy leaves? If your room seems dark, get a grow light to provide overhead light so the plant can grow upright. While it’s still used for rubber production today, indoor gardeners grow it for two reasons: It’s a beautiful and hardy houseplant; It’s been proven to remove formaldehyde from the air Planting & Potting Your Rubber Plant. In its natural habitat, it can exceed the height of 100 feet, but in pots, it’s quite manageable and grows up … Like other types of ficuses, these plants are vulnerable to cool drafts. If you take cuttings, use a rooting hormone and be vigilant about high humidity and plenty of warmth. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 60 Types of Flowers You Should Have in Your Garden, The Best Indoor Trees for Every Room of Your House, Winter Flowers to Get you Through the Doldrums, Your Yard Needs These Perennial Flowers and Plants, 20 Low-Maintenance Flowers for the Lazy Gardener, 20 Perennial Herbs for Your Edible Garden. Some experts recommend only lightly fertilizing indoor plants to prevent stretching and plants becoming root-bound because they grow too fast. F. elastica looks its best with full and healthy green foliage, so pay attention to leaf yellowing (although once a leaf starts to yellow, it is most likely gone already). 4.0 out of 5 stars 126. In USDA Hardiness zones 10 and 11, you can leave your plants outdoors—unless freezing weather is forecast. Place it in a window where it will receive between 4 and 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. After a heavy pruning, photosynthesis makes a big difference in recovery. 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