How To Care for A Rubber Tree Plant

You might know a rubber tree plant by the name Ficus elastica. These are large trees that can reach a height of about 15 metres. While taking care of your rubber plant tree, you need to remember only a few little things to let it thrive better. However, one thing you need to know is that it's not difficult at all to care for your rubber tree plant. It's actually better to start your planting experience with a young and new rubber tree indoor plant as it will help your plant adapt to your home environment more easily than a mature houseplant.

The Rubber Tree Is an Easy Maintenance Houseplant 

The great news about rubber trees is that they don’t require a lot of fussing over. You can water your indoor rubber tree plant when the soil seems dry to touch. Overwatering is not good for your plant's health as it causes its leaves to turn yellow. Be sure to keep an eye at the plant's pot to ensure there is no stagnant water and if there is, dump out the dish beneath it. If you want, you can feed your rubber tree houseplant with fertiliser a few times a year. For active growth, you can use fertiliser strength at ¼ to ½, especially in summer and spring. 

Light

You need to care about the amount of light your rubber tree houseplant gets, especially throughout a sunny day. While a rubber tree indoor plant likes bright sunlight, this doesn't mean you should place it under direct sunlight. It prefers bright but indirect light that is not excessively hot. Many plants and gardening experts recommend placing rubber tree houseplants on a windowsill or near a window with sheer curtains on it. That will allow adequate light but not excessive heat.

Water

The right amount of water is essential for your rubber tree houseplant. You need to keep your plant moist during its growing season and water it at least once every week. Alternatively, you can wipe off your plant's leaves using a damp cloth or spritz with water. If you are overwatering your plant, consider yellow and brown leaves as a hint for that. Remember to let the soil completely dry out between watering to ensure better root health of your rubber tree plant.

Propagation

After understanding how to care for your rubber tree houseplant and you’ve succeeded in helping it to thrive perfectly, then it's time to start thinking of propagating new rubber tree houseplants. There are some simple methods available to produce new cuttings of rubber tree plants and you can start with the simplest method. One of the easiest ways tot do this is to cut a small branch of a healthy rubber tree plant and put that in a high-quality soil potting mix or place in water and allow it to root. Another effective method is known as air layering. In this method, you need to cut a healthy rubber tree and insert a toothpick in that hole. Next, take some damp moss, pack it around that cut and cover it with some plastic wrap. As soon as you notice the root growth, you can cut that branch off and start planting in another pot to propagate a brand new rubber tree plant.