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Ficus elastica ( FY - kus ee - LASS - tuh - kuh)is an attractive repeated evergreen bush native to Western Malaysia , India , Nepal , and China .
The genus name , Ficus , is Latin and means “ comestible Ficus carica . ” The specific epithet is a extension to the plants ’ sticky white sap , which is a key constituent in echt rubber production .
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This epiphytic extremity of the Moraceae family of plants is commonly known as :
Ficus Elastica Rubber Plant Care
Size and Growth
Fast - growing Ficus elastica has an upright , rounded maturation habit .
In their native land , Rubber Trees can develop to be nearly 200′ feet mellow . They can also survive for ten in their innate home ground .
In a jungle setting , India Rubber Tree produces many ethereal roots , which it may use to stomach itself as it clambers up a nearby Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
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When grow outdoors in a semi - tropic or desert setting away from its native habitat , this tropical plant can reach about 35 ’ invertebrate foot tall .
When continue as houseplant , they typically top out at about 6′ to 10′ foot .
Flowering and Fragrance
In its native setting , Rubber Tree produce very small blooms pollinated by fig wasps .
The blooms conversion into glowering green , spotted Ficus carica that turn jaundiced as they suppurate . The FIG are edible .
Foliage
Ficus elastica ’s deep green leaves grow to be quite large ( 17″ x 6″ inches ) . They are elliptically shaped , leathery , uncompromising , and stiff .
The basic leaves , midribs , and undersides are mysterious Burgundy wine . Some cultivars exhibit pretty variegate leaves in shades of deep green with pick , white or burgundy markings .
Light and Temperature
As a woods denizen , Rubber Tree prefers bright , collateral light . It can put up 6 hours of full Dominicus day by day but is happier with all - twenty-four hours mottled or indirect sunlight .
The ideal locating provides hopeful sunrise sunlight , shelter from the rough noonday sun , and mottled or bright collateral sunlight in the good afternoon .
Make certain to place this plant out of lineal sunshine , as this bright light can sear the farewell .
An indication of too much luminousness is crispy , brown leaves . Remember , rubber plant leaves are sore to direct light condition .
Moreover , it ’s important to note that variegate character need more light to retain their foliage ’s mixing of people of color .
Also , remember that wrong clear levels will ensue in slow growth or a lack of young leaf ontogeny .
If you do n’t have memory access to natural light , you could use grow light or else for good lighting precondition .
systematically warm temperature are a must . Daytime temps of 75 ° to 80 ° stage Fahrenheit with nighttime temp of 60 ° to 65 ° degrees Fahrenheit are idealistic .
Do n’t allow the temperature to drop below 55 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
Moreover , render moderate humidity to grow your golosh plant well . In gain , protect your rubber plant from both hot and inhuman drafts .
Ficus elastica is winter fearless in USDA hardiness zone 9 and above , with reliable shelter supply by surrounding building . For illustration , it might do well in an inside court in this sort of semi - tropical setting .
When planted in this path , it can tolerate surrounding temperature ranging from 32 ° to 115 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
It ’s of import to interpret that the industrial plant will not feel these temperature extreme because of the tribute bring home the bacon by buildings or walls .
Without this protection , India Rubber Plant would not survive very cold or scorching temperatures .
Ficus Elastica Care – Watering and Feeding
expend soak - and - teetotal lacrimation to provide your plant with a thoroughgoing , deep tearing when the top inch or so of the land lead off to feel ironical .
Remember to keep the soil moist , but never countenance it be soggy or lactating . Excessive watering will result in sensationalistic leaves .
you’re able to check for wet levels by sticking your fingerbreadth into the soil . If it ’s dry and crumbly in the first few inch of soil , it ’s time to irrigate your rubber plant again .
In the rubber plant ’s dormant season through the winter months , you should irrigate it 2 or 3 times per month .
For container plants , let the pee hunt through the works ’ substratum and empty any surplus piss from the drainage saucer . Never permit your Rubber Plant to bear in water .
For trees planted in the landscape , water deeply , on occasion , never tolerate the soil to dry completely or stay sloppy .
As jungle dwellers , Rubber Tree Plants prefer a fairly humid environment but can grow well in a desert setting with good tribute from harsh sunlight and mellow winds .
Make certain to keep the wet level to keep the large waxy leave shiny and healthy .
Use a general - purpose , H2O - soluble plant food for healthy rubber tree houseplants doubly a month during the arise season .
you may also apply an constitutional , in high spirits - phosphorus liquid fertiliser to corroborate new root growth .
Indoor liquid fertilizers will also work well , as they provide the right counterpoise of nutrients in the right assiduity the rubber plant needs .
If you keep your Rubber Tree in a low - Christ Within setting , only fertilize once a calendar month during the turn time of year .
If planted outdoors in a tropical , semi - tropic , or desert context , use a balanced ( 10 - 10 - 10 ) grainy , tedious - release fertilizer as shortly as you see active maturation in the other spring .
you could also put on a tablespoon of fertilizer per square fundament of surrounding soil from about a 1 - foot circuit around the tree trunk to the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s drip cable .
Do n’t apply fertilizer justly next to the trunk , as it could cause chemical tan . And do not fertilize during the wintertime .
Soil and Transplanting
These aerophyte like very light , Laputan , teetotal soil . They also thrive in well - draining soil that is well - activate too .
you could also use good timber , well - draining houseplant mix with a bit of coco coir or other organic affair commingle in to improve drain .
Choose a container with significant weight to forestall tip and plenty of drain holes to prevent water retention and root rot .
Terra Cotta is an ideal fabric for a Rubber Tree planter .
You need n’t repot your Rubber Tree unless it becomes root bind . When/ this happens , move up to the next size Mary Jane . Just make certain you habituate fresh ground when repotting .
The just time for repotting is in the springtime .
Grooming and Maintenance
If farm in an out-of-door desert place setting , you ’ll need to prune your Rubber Tree regularly in the outflow and summertime months to help it create a warm , supporting branch structure .
Also , make trusted to prune wry , stagnant leaves and branches year - round . take away damaged leaves from the rubber plant will also help redirect the plant ’s push toward healthy growth .
As it mature , take charge not to thin the canopy because the mature plant will postulate the protective covering of the leaves against the desert sun .
If your Rubber works is felicitous and well - deal for , you may need to trim it fairly frequently to control its sizing and form . Its growth pattern can be pretty irregular if left to its own devices .
TIP : Always lay down some sort of tribute under your Rubber Tree when pruning time come .
Whether your plant is a houseplant or a towering Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , it will dribble lots of glutinous sap when you prune it . It ’s a set easier to pick up a tarpaulin or newspaper or some such and confound it away than to endeavor to clean up all the sap .
The orotund leave can become cold over meter . It ’s a good idea to occasionally wipe them off with a delicate , moist textile to raise the plant ’ appearance and prevent dust from interfering with photosynthesis .
Also , verify to range your rubber industrial plant away from inhuman air drafts , air vents , large window , and opening doorway .
How To Propagate Ficus Elastica
These plants are easily propagated with stem film editing or tip cutting . It ’s pretty uncomplicated .
Just find the cardinal shank and hack where you ’d prefer the new top .
Ensure each thinning is at least 6″ inches long and with four leaf node .
Air layering is another alternative .
Ficus Elastica Main Pest Or Diseases
With correct care , Ficus elastica is fairly trouble - gratuitous . If you overwater , your industrial plant will be subject to root rot and other fungous trouble .
Excess watering will also stimulate greensickness ( yellowing leave . )
insensate or hot drafts or systematically wrong temperatures will make leaf drop cloth , wilting , and yellowing leaves .
Weakened plants may also be attractive to pests such as various works mites and mealy bug .
you could spray the entire plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap , making certain to get both side of the leaves . This will help see any infestation .
Is the plant considered toxic or poisonous to people, kids, and pets?
Rubber Tree produces a gluey , latex sap that is quite toxic . This cosh oozes from the plant ’s woody stanch and leave if scratch or contract . So keep your indoor works out of the reach of tyke , pets , and livestock .
Wear glove and eye protection when crop the indoor tree because the sap can be quite devil to the cutis and eyes . rinse up immediately after pruning .
If the sap does come in middleman with your eyes , crimson it out with plentiful amount of race water . Seek medical assistance if this does not resolve any aggravation .
Is the plant considered invasive?
Rubber Fig Tree can be quite invasive in a contributive tropic setting where the fig wasp is present to pollenate its bloom ( e.g. , Australia , Papua New Guinea , Singapore , and New Caledonia ) .
In most configurations , the fig wasp is not present , though . For this reason , this rubber plant is usually not invasive .
Suggested Ficus Elastica Uses
promiscuous - care Rubber Trees make popular houseplants . A beginning indoor nurseryman can gain a strong mother wit of success by starting out with one of these attractive plant .
The large , showy leaves make this plant a consummate specimen for a ardent interior setting with plenty of shining , collateral lighting .
The plant ’s cultural taste might make it a respectable choice in a public background , such as a center , but unhappily experience has taught us that the very folio that make the plant life beautiful also play as a draw to those who wish to leave their mark by scrub their initials or graffito into the broad , glossy foliage surface .
In very warm clime , such as in Arizona , Rubber plants can be institute outdoors very tight to the compass north or east wall of a substantially tall building .
In a very warm setting , it can make a nice accession to a protected terrace , porch , or court as a container plant .
In tropical preferences , India Rubber Tree is sometimes plant along highway medians .
