Plant care library / Rubber Tree
How To Care For A Rubber Tree
Shop this plantAbout Rubber Tree
Native to Southeast Asia, the tropical Rubber Tree, also known as Ficus Elastica, loves warmth and sun. In Feng Shui, its round-shaped leaves are known to soften up a space, and it is believed to bring good fortune and wealth. Historically, its milky white sap was used by ancient civilizations to produce rubber. With its great size and inherent ability to purify the air from common household toxins, the Rubber Tree makes a perfect indoor plant loved for its ease of growing.
Other common names
- Rubber Fig
- Rubber Bush
- Rubber Plant
- Indian Rubber Bush
- Indian Rubber Tree
- Ficus Burgundy
- Ficus Elastica
How Often Should I Water a Rubber Tree?
The frequency of watering your Rubber Tree will change with the season. The spring and summer are typically growing seasons, so plants may need watering more frequently. In the winter, plants conserve energy and stall their growth by going dormant, so watering should be less frequent. With easyplant, watering your rubber tree is simple. Make sure to check the easyplant reservoir once a month and fill it when empty, and you're all set!
If you don't have an easyplant to make watering your Rubber Tree hassle-free, then manually water your plant every 1-2 weeks. The more frequent end of the range will be for spring and summer than you can reduce in the winter.
Pro tip - If you use tap water for watering your Rubber Tree, let it sit out until it reaches room temperature. This method reduces the shock to the roots if cold water is used and allows chlorine to evaporate.
Rubber Tree Light Needs
Rubber Tree grows best in a space with bright direct light, where the sunlight streams inside directly, and can also adapt to spaces with bright indirect light, where the sun rays are diffused. Avoid placing it in spaces with low light or spaces without natural sunlight.
Lighting will affect this plant in different ways. For example, with consistent light, your Ficus Burgundy will develop the full depth of its burgundy shade. However, the leaves will fade to a light green shade in lower light and grow larger than they would in bright light.
The optimal places for a Rubber Tree in your home are on a windowsill or close to a south-facing window. If south-facing windows aren't an option, west-facing is the next best location. East-facing windows get sun too, but only in the morning, and the light is weaker compared to west-facing windows.
Rubber Tree Plant Care
During your Rubber Tree's first few days at home, it will be extra sensitive and might lose several leaves. You may let them fall out on their own or cut them; no need to worry - newly adjusted leaves will take their place soon.
For the best adjustment, avoid moving the pot around the house too much and allow it to acclimate to one location. To help it grow optimally and evenly, occasionally dust the leaves and rotate the pot by a ¼ turn once a month. To maintain its aesthetic shape and height, you may periodically prune it to your liking.
How Big Do Rubber Tree Plants Grow?
The Rubber Tree is loved for its tendency to grow to great heights within only a few years, easily filling up a space. While there are different variations of the Rubber Tree, including Ficus Burgundy, the growth sizes are roughly the same. The evergreen plant's broad, thick, leathery leaves can measure 12" long and 5" wide on average. The Ficus Burgundy leaves, a darker green with red mid-veins, grow to 12" long and 4" wide.
Indoors, a standard rubber tree can grow between 2-10 ft. tall, and in its natural habitat, it can soar to 50 ft. tall. The Ficus Burgundy, a variant of the rubber tree, can grow to around ten ft. tall as a houseplant and 40 ft. outdoors.
You can expect about two ft. of growth added each year for the indoor rubber tree. It takes about five years for an indoor rubber tree to fully mature. A few factors will impact the growth of your rubber tree, like proper lighting, watering cadence, adequate temperatures and humidity, and more.
Temperature & Humidity
The ideal Rubber Tree temperature is between 65-85˚F (18-30˚C). Since the plant is native to tropical climates, it prefers warmth. Therefore, don't let temperatures drop below 60˚F (15˚C), or the plant will stall growth and develop leaf necrosis. Ficus Elastica is highly adaptable to any humidity level, including typical room-temperature humidity. However, if the air in your space is especially dry, consider grouping your Rubber Tree with other plants or using a pebble tray or a humidifier.
Are Rubber Tree Toxic for Pets & Kids?
Some plants that add a pleasing aesthetic to the home and adapt well indoors can also be unsafe to keep in the house. When considering a houseplant, it's important to know if there is anything toxic about the plant that could harm children or animals if touched or ingested.
Rubber trees may be moderately toxic if ingested, so keep away from curious children and pets. The effects of ingesting the plant include mouth numbness, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is not more toxic to cats than dogs and vice versa. Both will experience similar symptoms.
The toxic nature of the plant lies in its sap, which contains a compound called latex. You can find the components of latex in many manufactured products. Some people have an allergy to latex and may have a reaction, like skin dermatitis, ranging from mild to severe. In a very small percentage of the population, contact with latex can cause blistering, burning, or anaphylactic shock. Despite this rare possibility, Rubber Tree plants are classified as Class 4, the mildest classification.
Troubleshooting Common Problems with Rubber Tree
Part of plant care is observing how your plant is fairing in its environment, so you can make adjustments if needed. Every houseplant will have different signs or tells when they aren't doing well. Here are a few things to look out for with the Rubber Tree and what to do to fix the issue.
First, make sure to allow a two-week adjustment period for your Rubber Tree to acclimate to its new environment. If the leaves are losing their luster, relocate the pot to a more brightly lit area.
If your rubber tree is growing too large for its space, wait until it reaches the desired height before pruning off the top. Once the top is cut off, it will only grow out to the sides. If you notice dropping leaves, check the soil as well. If the soil is wet, lessen the frequency of watering.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rubber Tree Plant
- Do rubber trees actually make rubber?
Yes, Rubber Trees can produce low-grade rubber. Natural rubber comes from latex, a compound that can be found in the sap of the Rubber Tree. The latex is extracted in a process called rubber tapping. - How Toxic are Rubber Trees?Rubber trees are classified as Class 4 on the toxicity scale, the mildest classification. Still, the plant should never be ingested, so keep it away from children and pets. If contact is made with the sap containing latex, wash it off immediately. If you have a known latex allergy, contact your doctor.
- What is a rubber tree good for?Rubber Trees have many benefits. They are good for air purification, particularly cleansing formaldehyde particles from the air. They are also good for oxygen production, are hypoallergenic, and have anti-inflammatory properties. Historically, its milky white sap was used by ancient civilizations to produce rubber, and it is believed to bring good fortune and wealth. With its gorgeous thick, deep green, leathery leaves, the Rubber Tree is the centerpiece of any room.
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