These large trees can grow up to 50 feet (15 m.) tall. If you have large and unmovable plants, prefer to avoid plastic bags, or just have too … Plant your rubber tree in a fast-draining, all-purpose potting mix. Rubber plant leaves can collect a LOT of dust so it is important to keep them clean so the can photosynthesize better, and this also helps deter pests! You can control the amount of light and water it gets, which is important because they shouldn’t have too much of either. Rubber plants earned their name thanks to their sap, which is sometimes used to make rubber. If the pot is sitting in a saucer, empt… The Rubber Plant watering needs are simple - they love a good soaking when they're growing, but dislike constantly damp roots. Propagation: The easiest way to propagate is to take a small branch from a healthy rubber plant and let it root in soil or water. Rubber plant care is easy if you remember to keep an eye on your plant and honor its need for balance. The rubber tree plant also needs the right balance of water. The best way to combat this is to keep an eye on the light it’s getting, the moisture in its soil and the overall temperature of the room it’s inhabiting. Let the top few inches of the soil dry in between waterings to make sure you don’t overwater. Wipe with Soap/Water … Taking cutting from Rubber Plants is a very enjoyable and cost effective way of multiplying your plants. In fact, they like to grow in soil that is about as damp as a wrung-out sponge (translation: not sopping wet, but not super-dry, either). Rubber plants are well worth the care if you’re looking to grow a tall houseplant to impress your guests. The rubber plant (Ficus elastica) is a popular ornamental plant from the Ficus genus. Misting is another option if you don’t want to wipe down every leaf. In it's natural habitat it grows over 30 metres tall, however, the varieties grown indoors are a much more … It prefers moist and humid air due to its tropical origin, but can survive in less humid temperatures. Rubber plants can grow up to 100 feet in their native homeland of Southeast Asia. Water when the top … Rubber trees are finicky when it comes to change, so be sure to pick a spot to place it and don’t move it. During the growing season, it needs to be kept moist. The more variegated varieties need more light to help bring out their colors, so make sure they especially get enough bright light. There are a couple different methods for creating new rubber tree plant cuttings. It’s best to prune in the spring and to avoid the winter, but a rubber plant can be pruned at any time of the year. Just like with water and sun needs, a good balance of temperature is ideal for this plant’s growth. You can easily achieve this propagation in water… Privacy Policy, National Cookie Day: Celebrate National Cookie Day 2020, 50 DIY Christmas Wreath Ideas For Holiday Crafting. It gets this name because its sap produces a type of latex that was once used to make rubber. My Rubber Tree Plant was soon to hit the ceiling so I want to share with you how to propagate a Rubber Plant by air layering. Your Burgundy Rubber Tree will grow best with consistent, bright, filtered light—which produces the dark, burgundy color of the leaves. The key to rubber plant care is balance. Read more for the history behind the day and how to celebrate. Rubber Plant … Once roots begin to appear, cut the branch off and plant. You may need to do this every few years or every year depending on how large your pot is and how quickly your rubber plant grows. Direct sunlight can result in scorched leaves. You can grow outdoor rubber plants if you live in zone 10 or 11. Sign up for our newsletter. Once you know how to care for a rubber tree plant and it is growing well, you can begin the propagation of indoor rubber tree plants. How to propagate rubber plant in water. Light: Rubber plants prefer bright, indirect light that isn’t too hot. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. All these things will lead to successful rubber plant care. Helping A Ficus Tree That Is Dropping Leaves, Ficus Tree Care: Tips For Growing Ficus Indoors, How To Start A Rubber Tree Plant: Propagation Of A Rubber Tree Plant, Boxwood Wreath Ideas: Tips For Making Boxwood Wreaths, Best Holiday Herbs – Grow A Christmas Herb Garden, Madonna Lily Flower: How To Care For Madonna Lily Bulbs, Helping A Gardenia Bush With Yellow Leaves, Xeriscape Shade Plants – Plants For Dry Shade, Fresh-Cut Pine Tree Smell: Perfect Christmas Tree Memories, Norfolk Island Pine - The Perfect Christmas Tree, Winter Survival Guide: Creative Ways To Garden In Winter, Evergreen Favorite: Container Grown Olive Trees. There are many reasons for dropping and falling leaves. They do well in warm to average room temperatures. Rubber plants are not heavy drinkers. watering your rubber plant the right way By researching the right way to go about watering your new indoor tree, you will keep it alive and happy for years to come. Pests: Mealy bugs, mites, scales and aphids are a few common bugs that can find a home in your rubber plant. Don’t repot your rubber plant if you’d like to keep it at its current size. As a domesticated houseplant, rubber plants grow anywhere between six to ten feet tall.You can grow outdoor rubber plants … Rubber … Rubber plant propagation is quite easy. To do this, make a cut in a healthy plant and stick a toothpick in the opening. When you have a rubber tree houseplant, it needs bright light but prefers indirect light that isn’t too hot. I chopped off the top growing branch and made cuttings out of it to re-root new rubber plants. How to Water Rubber Plants. When to re-root Spring to summer is the best time to propagate a runner plant … The ideal temperatures are 60 to 65 °F at night and 75 to 80 °F during the day. The rubber tree plant also needs the right balance of water. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. How To Care For A Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica): Grow your Rubber Plant in soil that drains well, create moderate humidity and keep temperatures between 50°F (10°C) to 85°F (29°C). They grow best with the morning light from an east window. Rubber plants are commonly seen in their dark green variety, but also come in more colorful varieties. Rubber plants are mostly susceptible to plant diseases associated with overwatering. If the leaves begin to droop, but not fall off, increase the water you give the rubber tree gradually until the leaves perk back up again. All rights reserved. We've found the best way to treat them is to water your plant really well once the soil surface and top inch has dried out, then wait until it dries out in the same way before watering … 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. You should also wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth to keep them moist and to help your plant absorb more sunlight. Read on to learn about the most ideal conditions and care for your rubber plant. Planting & Potting Your Rubber Plant. Another method, called air layering, is where you make a cut in a healthy rubber tree houseplant, put a toothpick in the hole, then pack damp moss around the cut. Follow this simple guide that discusses where, when and how to water your Rubber Plant. Watering … For many plants propagating by cuttings in water or mix works just fine. If you can give it just the right amount of both, you’ll have a happy, strong and tall rubber tree. During the dormant season, it may only need watered once or twice a month. Article Sources. National Cookie Day is December 4th—get ready for this fun holiday with these ideas for how to celebrate and special deliveries you can send from ProFlowers. You can check out the USDA’s plant hardiness zone map here to learn more about the different zones. They prefer to be pot-bound, so avoid choosing a container that’s disproportionately large for the plant. An east- or north-facing window is recommended to prevent direct sunlight from burning the leaves. Over and under-watering are the main reasons for losing turgidity. If you water the rubber tree plant … In the winter, they can survive in temperatures as low as 50°F. These grand plants also comes in different varieties and colors that complement any home decor theme. After that, wrap it with plastic wrap to keep the moisture level higher. You should keep the soil moist, but not drowning. Rubber plant care is a task that requires moderate attention. In their dormant season in the winter you want to keep the soil dry but not too dry. This is especially true when it comes to fluctuations in temperature or air flow. Read on to learn more fascinating facts about this plant … Temperatures: Rubber plants generally prefer temperatures between 60°F to 75°F. You want to let the sap from the stem dry first before planting. Place your rubber tree … If your rubber plant leaves are just lightly dusty, simply take a damp sponge, cloth, or paper towel and gently wipe the surface of the leaves. The rubber plant’s leaves also have a shiny and rubbery appearance. Watering Needs Don't keep rubber plants constantly moist. Here are some possible reasons- 1. A high level of salt in the soil can affect the process of osmosis that can be the reason for plant wilting… Starting with a young rubber tree houseplant will allow it to adapt to being an indoor plant better than starting with a more mature plant. Get inspired to break out the crafting glue this season with our list of 50 DIY Christmas wreaths, perfect for any home decor or experience level. In order to promote new leaves on a current rubber tree houseplant, cut a slit in the node where a leaf fell off. Be aware that cutting the branches will release some of the plant’s sap. Avoid temperatures lower than 55° F, sudden drops in temperatures, and cold drafts. Leaf drop can occur when the soil is too dry or kept too wet. Keep reading to learn on propagating a rubber tree so that you can give your friends a free rubber plant. Once you start to see roots growing in the moss, cut the branch off and plant it in new soil. Another way to propagate is by air layering. First, you have to know why the leaves are drooping on the rubber plant. Whenever the top 2 inches of soil is dry, water until it runs out of the bottom of the pot. During the growing season, it needs to be kept moist. The simplest is to take a small branch from a healthy tree and put it in good potting soil or water and let it root. Rubber plants can grow up to 100 feet in their native homeland of Southeast Asia. As a domesticated houseplant, rubber plants grow anywhere between six to ten feet tall. In this video I share with you my care tips for one of my favorite houseplants today. Be sure your rubber plant gets diffused sunshine; direct sun burns the leaves. When learning how to care for a rubber tree plant, there are a few key things to remember, but rubber plant care isn’t as difficult as one might think. Loss the turgor pressure (water pressure between the plasma membrane and cell wall) of rubber plants. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Allow the top 2 inches of the soil or growing mix to dry out between waterings. If your rubber plant is at … Providing Additional Plant Care Prune to create the shape you want indoors. 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. Rubber Plant requires a very moist but well-drained environment, a good balance of light and shade, and a varying fertilizer regimen over the course of its life. Water rubber plants thoroughly, but let the soil dry slightly to the touch between watering times. The rubber tree plant is also commonly called the rubber plant, India rubber tree, rubber fig, or rubber bush. Keep your rubber plant in well-draining soil at all times to combat root rot. Celebrate national chocolate candy day on December 28th. Problems: Due to its need for balance in all forms, it’s easy to make your rubber plant unhappy if you stop paying attention to its needs. Set up a wick. Cut back on watering and your plant should stop releasing sap. If caught early, you can remove these bugs by wiping them with a warm soap and water solution or an insecticidal soap. Read our … Rubber Tree Plant Care Sun. It likes just the right amount of sun and water. This plant … Repotting: You should repot your rubber plant to allow it to grow. Rubber plants are sensitive to temperature changes and prefer to live in areas with consistent humidity and temperature. A rubber tree plant is also known as a Ficus elastica. Rubber plants prefer bright light but are adaptable to low light. Once you've determined the rubber tree plant is getting too much water, it's time to revive the plant. Consuming this plant can cause mild tummy trouble or more severe symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting depending on how much is consumed. These plants will grow tall and produce beautiful leaves if you give them proper care. Some people recommend putting it near a window that has sheer curtains. Be sure the pot has proper drainage holes. This method works on other houseplants besides the Rubber Plant. Water: These plants require more water during their growing season in the summer. Immediately stop watering the plant and allow the soil to dry. Wrap it in damp moss and then wrap plastic wrap around the moss to keep it on the toothpick. You can keep your rubber plant near a window with a sheer curtain to give it just the right amount of sunlight. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your plant, especially if you come in contact with the sap. For example, varieties known as the “black prince” or “burgundy” have reddish-black leaves. 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. © 2020 Provide Commerce. If you water the rubber tree plant too much, the leaves will turn yellow and brown and fall off. Rubber plants will tell you if they need more sunlight or water if they start to drop their lower leaves. Toxicity: A rubber plant’s sap can cause skin irritation for some people. Like we mentioned before, you should let your plant’s soil dry out between waterings to avoid drowning your plant. Pruning: You’ll need to prune your rubber plant to help it support itself, promote new growth and control its size so that it doesn’t grow too large. This allows plenty of light, but not too much. 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. Rubber Plant Basic Plant Care: Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) is among the most common Ficus plants used as houseplants. Many people put their rubber trees near a window where the light is filtered through a pair of sheer curtains. When it comes to rubber plant care, the correct balance of water and light is crucial, as with any plant. Rubber plants are tree-like plants that are known for their great height and beautiful leaves. This will allow a new leaf to grow quicker. If the leaves start to droop, then your rubber plant is telling you it needs more water. Take a look at our guide to reviving a plant if you need more tips for taking care of any of these rubber plant problems. New leaves on a current rubber tree in a fast-draining, all-purpose Potting mix dry kept. Absorb more sunlight their native homeland of Southeast Asia east window common that! The node where a leaf fell off order to promote new leaves on a current tree. To do this, make a cut in a healthy plant and a... 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