Combine a nutrient-rich component, such as peat or potting soil, with a drainage and aeration component, such as sand, perlite, bark, and/or coco chips to make the best homemade rubber tree plant potting mix. Aim for a drainage ratio of one part peat or soil to two parts.
Pre-Mixed Soils for Rubber Tree Plants
You can also get by with a well-draining, commercial potting mix like Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix or one that’s been hand-blended especially for rubber tree plants because they are so resilient and tolerant of various soil conditions.
A Note on Using Cactus and Orchid Mixes with Rubber Tree Plants
Although you can pot a rubber tree plant in either cactus or orchid mix from the shop, neither is the best option. Rubber tree plants require more nutrients than those found in cactus potting soil, and orchid potting soil typically includes too much bark, making it too light and loose to support a tall rubber tree plant.
Cactus and orchid potting mixes are useful for helping you make your own potting mix, even though they aren’t optimal on their own. Try combining one part peat, one part orchid mix, and one part cactus mix.
Which soil type is ideal for rubber plants?
Rubber plant soil A well-draining soil is essential for growing rubber plants because they dislike sitting in water. Particularly, House Plant Expert advises that “well-draining and well-aerated potting soil is needed. A excellent mixture is one part peat, one part pine bark, and one part gritty sand (or perlite).
Do rubber plants require soil with succulents?
My Rubber Tree plant (Ficus elastica) is one of my favorites, mostly due to how quickly it has expanded since I purchased it. I have already had to repotted it twice in the past two years! Repotting a plant to give it more room to grow can be thrilling, but figuring out how to do it correctly can be challenging. What kind of soil and container are ideal for growing rubber trees?
Although rubber trees require little upkeep and thrive in most soil types, they do require good drainage. The majority of potting soils available in stores are adequate, but you may want to add more pumice, perlite, or cactus soil to make sure the plant doesn’t stay too wet. Ensure your container includes a drainage opening as well.
I know this can be a little confusing, especially when your prized houseplant’s health and wellbeing are at stake, but don’t worry! If you repot rubber trees according to a few rules, they are tough plants that will repay you with tons of healthy growth. Learn how to choose the best soil and container for your rubber tree by reading on.
How often should I switch soil for my Ficus Audrey?
Every year, Ficus Audrey benefits from a fresh batch of potting soil. This guarantees that it receives plenty of nutrients and avoids compaction around its root ball.
Can I use cactus soil for Ficus Audrey?
For this Ficus, cactus soil may drain a little too quickly. Try using a basic potting soil with 25% perlite or coarse sand added since it loves more moisture to stay around its roots.
Do Ficus Audrey plants like wet or dry soil?
They enjoy damp soil, but if the potting mix is left too wet, the roots will rot. Drainage is therefore crucial to prevent rainwater from pooling and causing root rot.
What are the primary considerations for soil when repotting Ficus Audrey plants?
Make sure the soil is light, quick-draining, and rich in peat moss for moisture absorption when repotting a Ficus Audrey plant. To make sure there is a consistent source of natural nutrients as well, use compost or worm castings.
Does the size of the plant affect the soil mix for Ficus Audrey plants?
Ficus Audrey plants that are large and mature still require the same basic mixture. Given that they may be more susceptible to root rot than larger plants, little plants may do well in cacti mix.
Does the potting container influence the type of soil mix for Ficus Audrey plants?
Pots with poor drainage are difficult to make up for with soil mixture alone. To guarantee that the soil mix can function properly, choose pots that are of a sufficient size and have good drainage.
Do Ficus Audrey need deep potting containers?
These plants must be balanced out with deeper pots due to their height. When the container is roughly 1.5 to 2 times as tall as it is wide, the roots typically develop the fastest.
How much soil is required for a rubber plant?
- When plants are actively developing after a month, feed them with Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food.
- Trim back rubber plants that become lanky or take up too much room.
The low-maintenance rubber plant can be the ideal plant for you if you’re new to houseplants, have accidentally killed houseplants in the past (it happens! ), or just don’t have enough light for growing. This laid-back plant, which is actually a ficus (particularly, Ficus elastica), got its nickname because it produces latex, a sap-like substance that can be converted into rubber. However, since the development of synthetic rubber, rubber plants are now primarily grown as indoor houseplants.
Where to Grow Rubber Plants
While south or west-facing windows provide the strong, indirect light that rubber plants enjoy, they can also thrive in dimmer conditions, which makes them excellent office plants. Except for the risk of sunburn from intense, direct light, they really don’t have many preferences when it comes to light. Since rubber plants are native to tropical regions, they don’t like to be hit by chilly air blasts from doors or drafty windows, and if they are, they may start to drop some leaves.
You can cultivate rubber plants outside in both sunny and shaded areas if you live in zones 10 through 12. Rubber trees can grow to be rather large (20 to 30 feet tall) when grown outside in rich, well-draining soil, so put them where they can spread out a little or prepare to cut them.
How to Plant Rubber Plants
1. Pick a pot that is no more than one-third the size of your plant’s root ball.
2. Add Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix to the top 1/3 of it. Because of how effectively it drains, allows for optimum air circulation, and holds and releases water as needed, this mix is perfect for rubber plants.
3. You might wish to put on gloves and a long-sleeved shirt before planting, just in case a stem breaks. Some people may have skin discomfort from the milky latex it contains.
4. To prevent dirt from overflowing when you water, position the plant in the container so that the top of the root ball is about an inch below the rim.
5. Add extra soil to the area around the root ball.
6. Water until the liquid in the pot’s bottom starts to drain.
7. Transfer your rubber plant to its new location by placing a saucer under the container.
Be aware that rubber plants grow quickly when they are content, so you may need to repot them every few years.
How to Water Rubber Plants
Rubber plants do not consume a lot of water. In fact, they like soil that is about as moist as a wrung-out sponge for growing (translation: not sopping wet, but not super-dry, either). Water the plant till the water flows out of the bottom of the pot whenever the top 2 inches of soil become dry. Set the plant back in its saucer after allowing the soil to completely drain. Also be aware that too-wet or too-dry soil can cause leaves to start falling off.
How to Feed Rubber Plants in Containers
Your rubber plants will be prepared for a healthy feed within one month after planting. Give them what they want by feeding them Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food, an instant source of the ideal nourishment, once a week while they are actively growing. Apply it as usual, using 2 pumps for small pots and 5 pumps for bigger pots, directly to the soil and water (over 6 inches in diameter). Just like with any product, always follow the instructions!
How to Prune Rubber Plants
Rubber plants attempting to spread out and seek more light may become a touch lanky and floppy while growing in low light. If this occurs, don’t become alarmed! Plants will branch when they re-grow if you only cut stems back to a leaf (in order to avoid leaving a naked, unsightly stem stump hanging out). To avoid getting sap on your skin during pruning, remember to wear gloves and long sleeves.
How to Make Rubber Plants Look Their Best
Do you want your rubber plants to appear spotless and new-home-fresh? Simply mist Miracle-Gro Leaf Shineso Fresh on leaf tops!
How can you increase the size of rubber plant leaves?
Leggy, or lacking leaves on the lowest portion of the plant, is a condition that can occur when rubber plants lose their leaves. Only the top of a rubber plant’s stalk produces new leaves; the lower portions do not. Therefore, it is impossible to make a plant less lanky.
Replanting little stalks alongside the larger ones in the planter will make your Rubber Plant appear fuller. This will cover the lower exposed area and make the plant appear bushier.
How can I get a bushy rubber plant?
You must first choose the location of your trunk’s amputation. Right where you cut it, there will be at least two new branches developing, and there may be more below that!
Make sure the original plant still has at least a few leaves after pruning. Leave additional space for larger rubber plants.
When pruning your rubber plant to promote bushier growth, you have three options:
Propagate in water or soil
Making a stem cutting and attempting to propagate in water are options if the trunk of the part you desire to remove is still flexible and not woody (and the cutting is not too large).
When the cut end of the rubber plant stops oozing latex, add it to a jar of water (see the latter portion of this page on rubber plant sap).
Instead of first roots the cutting in water, you can also plant it in a pot with soil. Maintain moisture in the potting mix and raise the humidity.
If you place a clear plastic bag loosely over the cutting, you can raise the humidity (but not touching the leaves). Your rooting cuttings will grow new roots more quickly if you place them on a heating mat.
Air layer your plant before cutting it off
The greatest technique to get a new plant when you still want to propagate it and it has woody stems is to air layer the top part of the plant. If you want to learn more about this alternative, I have a post that demonstrates how to air layer a rubber plant.
When you have truly mature, woody stems, air layering is really your only secure alternative.
It is also a fantastic technique to revive a rubber plant that is languid after losing many of its lower leaves.
My rubber plant has to be replanted.
It’s time to switch pots once you have everything you need for repotting your rubber plant. Take the plant out of its current container, then gently tease the roots. Inspecting the roots and performing any necessary root cutting are also good ideas at this time.
The base of the new pot should be filled with a good amount of your soil media. Place the rubber plant atop of this, making any necessary adjustments. Simply add soil all around and over the root ball until it reaches a point just below the rim. Make sure to allow a space for watering of around an inch (2.5 cm) from the pot’s rim.
After repotting, give the plant plenty of water and let the extra run off. After that, take usual maintenance of your plant.
Having earned a bachelor’s degree in dietetics/nutrition, Anni Winings combines her passion for growing as much wholesome, delicious food for her family with her education. Before relocating to California and starting her current garden, she spent a year in Tennessee managing a public kitchen garden. She has extensive knowledge of the limitations and potential of various plants and gardening conditions, having gardened in four different states. She has experience preserving many different garden vegetables’ seeds and is a novice garden photographer. She is currently focusing on enhancing and stabilizing a few floral and pepper types in addition to several pea species.
Do rubber plants enjoy being in small pots?
Although it is easy to grow rubber tree plants, maintaining them requires some attention. You will need to assist them in some way, especially if you keep them inside. For the greatest results, heed these suggestions.
Watering
Overwatering rubber plants is the main error individuals make when growing them. They don’t fare well, though, if the air is allowed to dry up.
It is best to continuously water them, especially when they are actively growing. When the soil is continually damp but never waterlogged, they thrive.
It’s a good sign that you’re overwatering if the leaves start to yellow or brown or start falling off the plant.
In that scenario, you should wait longer between waterings to let the soil fully dry out. Never, however, allow your rubber tree to dry out to the point where it begins to droop.
It is very simple to provide them with the ideal amount of water thanks to an affordable soil moisture gauge.
Sunlight
Rubber trees prefer a location close to a south-facing window where they will receive bright, indirect sunlight as an indoor plant. They will thrive outside in an area with dappled sunlight or partial shade.
Keep rubber plants out of direct sunlight if you’re growing them outside or inside because the leaves could burn. Move yours out of the sunny window throughout the summer because they don’t like it too hot too.
It’s probably getting too much sun if the leaves begin to wilt, become white, or appear to be burning. Place it somewhere where it will receive bright indirect light.
Rubber tree plants may adapt to lower lighting levels indoors, but if they don’t receive enough sunlight, they will grow leggy. Move it to a brighter place or add grow light if that starts to happen with yours.
Fertilizer
Because rubber plants don’t require much food, you don’t need to bother about feeding them the right quantity of fertilizer. To encourage new growth, begin feeding them in the early spring and continue through the summer.
To provide your rubber tree plant with the nutrients it requires, feed it once a month using a water-soluble fertilizer. It’s a terrific idea to drink compost tea, either in tea bags or as a liquid concentrate.
Or, if you’d like, you may periodically add granular fertilizer to the soil during the summer.
If you skip a month or even two, don’t panic; as long as they have access to enough water and sunlight, they will still function properly.
Simply remember to stop fertilizing in the late summer and to cease feeding them in the winter. You don’t want your rubber plants to develop in a weak, lanky manner over the winter by feeding them.
Repotting
Rubber plants want to have their roots tightly packed inside of their container and like to be somewhat pot-bound. They will, however, develop slowly if you leave them in the same container for too long.
They can expand by being placed in a bigger pot. Repotting rubber trees once they have outgrown their container is therefore a smart idea if you want them to grow larger.
A pot one to two sizes larger than the one it is currently growing in should be chosen. Always use a container with drainage holes while planting rubber plants to help prevent overwatering.
However, they don’t enjoy being repotted, so avoid doing so unless absolutely essential. And if they appear wilted for a few weeks after that, do not be alarmed.
Soil
It’s not difficult to select the ideal soil for rubber plants. Just get some regular potting soil with good drainage.
The rubber tree plant is particularly adaptable to a wide variety of soil conditions, so there is no need to spend extra money on specific mixes.
However, you should add some perlite or pumice to the mixture to promote drainage if you tend to overwater if the soil isn’t draining quickly enough.
Cleaning
The leaves can soon become dusty and unclean due to their large surface area. This prevents healthy growth in addition to having a poor appearance.
Therefore, it’s crucial to clean them as part of your regular rubber plant maintenance schedule.
A quick fix is to occasionally spritz the leaves with water and use a soft towel to gently wash the surface.
However, avoid using wax or leaf polish. These products will clog the pores and obstruct healthy airflow.
You can take them outside in warm weather and use a soft spray of water to rinse the leaves off.
You may do this throughout the winter by putting your rubber tree plant in the shower, but be cautious not to overwater it.
Pest Control
In general, pests do not pose a serious threat to rubber plants. Aphids, spider mites, or mealybugs are most likely to blame if yours develops pest problems.
But if yours does get infected, you can use an organic insecticidal soap to gently wash the leaves (or make your own using 1 teaspoon mild liquid soap to 1 liter of water).
In certain rare instances, insect issues may continue. Neem oil or horticultural oil may be needed to get rid of an infestation that is particularly difficult to eradicate. Find out more about how to get rid of insects on indoor plants here.
Pruning
The optimum times to prune for size and shape are in the spring or summer, but you can remove dead or dying leaves at any time. Always use sharp pruners to prevent stem damage.
However, exercise caution when cutting rubber trees as the white sap will leak from the wounds. In order to shield the plant from the sap, you might want to cover the floor beneath it.
Wearing gloves and eye protection while pruning is also a good idea. You definitely don’t want to get the sap in your eyes because it might irritate your eyes and skin.