There has been an enormous number of plants in nature. Some of these are much more suitable for interior decoration due to their aesthetic look and easy care. So Rubber plant can be counted as one of these class plants. According to this plant’s well-known features. It is native to the tropic zones of Southeast Asia. At this point, this plant shows a resemblance with Fiddle Leaf Fig. Also, it has a few common names such as rubber tree, rubber fig, and Indian rubber tree. What’s more, its scientific name is Ficus Elastica.
General Information
Rubber Plant has generally big, round, glossy dark green, sometimes variegated foliage, and a thick green main stem with a few petioles. Besides this, it is an evergreen plant just like Cast Iron Plant. Liking warm and humidity, Ficus Elastica is found 100 ft (30 m) in nature. But its long changes indoors according to care and conditions. In terms of the life cycle, it is a perennial plant. Like Coral Bead Plant, it is a toxic plant. In case of ingestion, it could particularly pose danger to pets and kids.
How to Care for Ficus Elastica
Sunlight: Just like many plants, Rubber Plant is vulnerable to direct sunlight. Instead, this plant should get scattered sunlight. For that reason, sheltered places and semi-shade spots are quite important for its development.
Watering: The emerald-like plant demands regular watering. Specifically, weekly watering will suffice in its growing season. In the winter months, it needs sparingly watering. Because it enters the dormancy period. Monthly watering will meet its water need.
Humidity: Due to being a tropic plant, it likes humidity. To mimic its natural conditions, a few means of producing humidity could provide benefits. Here, they are electronic humidifiers, wet pebbles trays, and water sprays for misting. For a more aesthetical way, moss poles keeping the plant upright could be a great alternative.
Temperature: The range 65°F (18°C) – 85°F (29°C) is perfect. But below 60°F (15.5°C) could be dangerous for such houseplants. Also, irregular weather fluctuations and drafts affect this houseplant negatively. According to the USDA plant hardiness map, 10-12 zones are optimal to have it grown.
Soil Type: Any potting mixes presented in the market works. Generally, peat, perlite, and vermiculite mixes are mostly used.
Fertilizer: Particularly, the water-soluble one does great jobs. When applied monthly in the growing season, the plant will gradually grow yearly.
Propagation: There are two propagation ways for Ficus Elastica. The first way is stem cutting. By benefitting the mother plant’s stems, it can multiply easily. The second way is air-layering. In this way, the roots encourage by keeping a wounded stem moist.
Repotting: This easy-to-care plant needs yearly repotting. In the spring months, it should be transferred a little big pot. I mean, if your existing pot is a tin can planter, the next pot can be a pallet planter.
Common Problems
Loss of leaves: It happens due to seasonal, underwatering, dryness, and stress.
Discoloration: When the essential foods and water aren’t conveyed to leaves from roots, the chlorophyll level reduces. Leaves go yellow slowly.
Pest Infestation: Mealybug, aphids, mites, scales, and so on could give harm to this houseplant. Generally, they invade the plant when the bad condition matures, for example, dryness, dehydration, and so forth.
Suggestions for problems: To prevent loss of leaves, you should adjust the plant’s position first. Wrong place or frequent location change can lead to falling leaves. Also, dryness affects Rubber Plant. Taking all reasons together, the only way is its regular care should go on properly. As for the discoloration, Ficus Elastica isn’t a forgiving plant when everything goes wrong. The yellow and pale leaf look isn’t attractive. With proper care, such bad situations precisely don’t emerge. On the other hand, pest infestation is serious. To prevent it in the first place, first of all, you should clean the foliage with a damp cloth. But, if it happened, you can use neem oils and pesticide soaps.
