How to care for a rubber plant

The rubber plant, also known as ficus elastica is a member of the Moraceae family and originates from Asia, particularly India, Malaysia and Java, this is according to Feng Shui research.

In the wild the plant can grow into a sizeable tree with many aerial roots. Rubber plants represent abundance, happiness and wealth. According to the teachings of feng shui the rubber plant’s round leaves make it an ideal candidate to be placed in a corner in order to soften the sharp angles.

In many Kenyan homes you will find the plant in different corners of a room. Depending on the beliefs of a family, the wealth corner of the home is particularly suitable. You will probably have to find out what corner that is for yourself. 

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We look at the care given to this rubber plant as an indoor plant.

Light

Like most plants in their genus, rubber plants thrive well in bright, diffused light. They can tolerate soft morning sunlight but should be moved out of the line of harsh direct rays in the afternoon as they can singe the leaves.

Soil

When it comes to soil, the plant is not picky. It can grow well in well-drained soil, many people prefer potting mix. In addition, rubber plants prefer an acidic soil mixture.

Rubber plants "eat" their soil and will eventually have their roots exposed. When this happens, simply top your pot with additional soil and it will not be an issue.

Watering

Water your rubber plant frequently because the plant likes to be kept steadily moist but not soaked. Rubber plants also are vulnerable to excessive dryness and don't tolerate drought well.

To check if its time for another watering, check the moisture levels in the first few inches of soil if they're dry and crumbly, it's time to water your plant again.

Humidity

Rubber trees are best kept in moderate to warm temperatures between 16 degrees and 24 degrees, with moderate humidity as well. If your home tends to be dry, invest in a space humidifier to increase the levels.

Fertilizer

Feed the plant a weak liquid fertilizer throughout the growing season. They are relatively heavy feeders when healthy. Some experts recommend only lightly fertilizing indoor plants to prevent stretching and plants becoming root bound because they grow too fast.

Propagation

Rubber plant can be propagated form leaf cuttings but it is not probably easy, so it is advisable to buy a potted one.

Common pests

Treat scale bugs and mealybugs as soon as they appear with weekly sprays of horticultural (Neem) oil and regular wipe-downs of the plant.

Benefits of growing the rubber plant

Inexpensive

Rubber tree plants are both common and inexpensive, making them easy and affordable to obtain. Additionally, since they’re so easy to propagate, you only need to purchase one rubber tree to eventually grow as many rubber trees as you desire.

Drought Resistant

While rubber trees prefer even moisture in well-draining potting soil, they are drought tolerant. Without enough water, a rubber tree’s leaves might begin to droop, but most can survive months in low-moisture, drought-like conditions.

Air Purification

NASA’s clean air study demonstrates that several plants along with their roots, leaves and associated microorganisms can remove various toxins from the air. Rubber plant specifically cleanse particles of formaldehyde from the air in addition to eliminating other nasties like bacteria and mold from your indoor air.

Point to note

The name ‘rubber plant’ is not entirely accurate, the plant is not used for commercial rubber production. But the rubber plant does have latex-like white sap in the stem and leaves.