The Burgundy Rubber Tree thrives in temperatures ranging from 65 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures below 55 degrees, rapid temperature drops, and chilly drafts should all be avoided. During the spring and summer, use a liquid fertilizer for indoor plants once a month. The leaves of the rubber tree are somewhat poisonous to people and pets.
How often should I water my burgundy rubber plant?
Ficus elastica is a tropical evergreen tree that can be found in southern China, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia. It is a member of the Moraceae family of plants, and its latex sap was used to make rubber before synthetics became available. Hevea brasiliensis, on the other hand, produces the majority of natural rubber. Although many plants contain significant amounts of isoprene, the latexy sap of these two plants contains enough to be used to make rubber.
F. elastica roots are used to make living bridges in tropical Northeastern India, in addition to being useful for rubber! The F. elastica roots are led along a dead tree trunk that has been placed over a river. The roots grow to the other side of the trunk as it rots, thickening and training new roots to complete the bridge. Because it is flexible, the bridge can withstand strong winds and flooding. This tree is truly elastic in more ways than one! Rubber trees are ideal houseplants since they are low-light tolerant and assist to purify the air.
Moraceae is a plant family that includes shrubs, trees, and lianas that all bleed a latexy sap when wounded. Foliar polymorphisms are found in members of this family, which means that their leaf shapes vary depending on their life stage. Most other plants produce the same leaf shapes throughout their lives, so this is a peculiar trait.
Can tolerate bright direct light and thrives in medium to bright indirect light.
Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Water every 1-2 weeks. Increase the frequency as the light level rises.
Over time, this plant will grow to a maximum height of around 30′ (10m) with a spread of about 10″ (3.2m). As a houseplant, however, it will be much smaller.
It’s a plant that’s generally laid-back. Scale and mealybugs are possible. Scale bugs and mealybugs can be treated with weekly horticultural (Neem) oil sprays and regular wipe-downs of the plant as soon as they develop.
If eaten, this plant is poisonous to cats, dogs, and humans. Houseplants should always be kept out of reach of small children and pets.
Do rubber plants need direct sunlight?
The Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica), sometimes known as the Rubber Plant, is a low-maintenance ficus found in southern Asia. They may grow up to 200 feet tall in their natural habitat, and their buttressing roots have even been trained to grow over rivers in India to build living bridges.
Because the Ficus elastica prefers moist soil, avoid planting it near a drafty window or vent, a heater, or in full sunshine. The Rubber Plant prefers bright, indirect light, however they are exceptionally tolerant of lower light areas for a ficus. However, it is often recommended that the plant be placed near a southern facing window with sheer curtains to let the greater light to seep through.
If you’re unsure about the lighting in your home or business, we’ve put together a primer on how to measure light.
How do you care for an indoor rubber plant?
As with any plant, the right combination of water and light is critical when it comes to rubber plant care. You can regulate the quantity of light and water it receives, which is vital because neither should be excessive.
Light
A rubber tree houseplant requires bright light, but prefers indirect, cool light. Some individuals suggest placing it next to a window with sheer curtains. This allows for enough of light while avoiding excessive heat.
Water
Water balance is very important for the rubber tree plant. It should be maintained moist and watered at least once a week during the growing season. It’s also a good idea to spritz your rubber tree houseplant’s leaves with water or wipe them off with a damp cloth. If you overwater the rubber tree plant, the leaves will become yellow and brown and eventually fall off.
Where should I place my rubber plant?
Bright, indirect sunshine is ideal for rubber plants. They should get morning light from an east-facing window if possible. Place your plant near a window where the light is filtered by a sheer drape or curtain.
Because the leaves of your rubber plant might burn if exposed to direct sunlight, keep it out of direct sunlight. They can also adapt to low-light environments and thrive in workplaces and other dimly lit environments. It’s a good sign that your rubber plant needs additional light if the leaves are becoming paler or the bottom leaves are dropping off.
Why is my rubber plant dying?
Rubber plants are recognized for being one of the easiest houseplants to care for because they are less sensitive to their surroundings than other houseplants. This isn’t to suggest that your Rubber Plant won’t struggle from time to time if its environment isn’t right for it, so keep an eye out for warning signs and treat them as soon as possible to keep your rubber plant alive.
Changes in light conditions, over- or under-watering, dry air, and pests are the most common causes of rubber plant death.
What does an overwatered rubber plant look like?
Water the plant from below by soaking it in a tray for a couple of hours. It’s more uniform and less prone to overwatering in my experience.
When watering it, don’t soak it and make sure the water drains completely out of the pot. Please, no roots in the water! To do so, I hold my plant by the plastic pot and wiggle it, allowing extra water to flow through the drainage holes. After that, I keep the plant outside the decorative pot for a few hours before replacing it.
Rubber plants are a resilient species that tolerates dry soil well, thus they tend to be kept somewhat under-watered.
It’s a symptom of overwatering if the older leaves (typically the largest ones at the bottom) turn yellow or brown.
If the yellow/brown stains spread from the leaf’s interior section to the outside, it’s another indicator of overwatering.
If the plant is under-watered, all of the leaves, not just the lowest ones, will grow softer or droopy.
The tips will dry out first if the air is too dry, and the yellow/brown blotches will develop inwards.
Leaves are sturdy and firm, holding up well, and have a lovely waxy glow when the plant is well hydrated.
How do I know if my rubber plant needs water?
Keep an eye out for droopy leaves, which indicate a lack of water. Overwatering is indicated by leaves that turn yellow and brown and drop. If the air is too dry in any season, especially heated dry air like that found indoors during the winter, mist.
Should I cut brown leaves off rubber plant?
If you look after your Pink Rubber Tree, it will look after you! Here are some easy ways to keep your Pink Rubber Tree healthy over time.
Pruning Pink Rubber Trees
Remove any dry or dead leaves as needed throughout the year, but hold any substantial trimming for the spring and summer. Wear gloves and cover your floor with newspaper when pruning your Pink Rubber Tree; the sap that oozes out can be sticky and damage floors. Cut slightly above the node at a 90 degree angle with sharp, clean shears.
How do I get more leaves on my rubber plant?
Breaking apical dominance is the most typical approach to fix a rubber tree that won’t branch. In layman’s words, this entails eliminating the top growth on the main stem, which re-directs a hormone called auxin downward, encouraging branches to sprout further down the stem. When the plant is young, this is the perfect time to do it. Disturbing the leafy top canopy of older plants is bad for them.
When pruning a rubber tree for branching, do so from March to October when the plant is actively growing. The top cut is the most crucial. Remove as much of the stem and leaves as you want. The bits you remove can be rooted and used to grow new plants with patience.
Cut a leaf scar (a line where a leaf once grew) or a leaf node at 1/4 inch (6 mm). Sharp pruners can be used to nick or lightly slice the leaf scar to encourage the growth of a new leaf.