rubberplant care

How Do You Care For Indoor Rubber Plants?

Rubber Plant or Ficus Elastica is definitely a passion for indoor gardeners. You just have a look at its mesmerizing waxy leaves and handsome huge appearance and you will fall in love with it. When it comes to their native regions like southeast Asia these rubber plants can grow tall up to a hundred feet tall. But when it comes to their indoor growth, How do you care for an indoor rubber plant can be a bit tricky.

As if you want to make it bushy but you are not aware of the fact that how to make a rubber plant bushy? that might be a problem. But if you are a domesticated plant grower, with a little knowledge and good care they can get the height of 10 or a minimum of 6 feet easily in indoor gardens as well. When it comes to their appearance they look like trees and their height and beautiful leaves are their distinct features.

Rubber plants come in more than one variety and even colors. So they are one of the best plants to complement your interiors and decoration theme. As you can choose it according to your desired color and variety

Tips To Care For Indoor Rubber Plants

If you want to embellish your home decor with the shiny and rubbery looks of these elegant rubber plants. You need to know a few tips to take care of indoor rubber plants. Mostly you might have seen only one variety that is in the dark green color. But there are few more colorful varieties like black Prince and burgundy with Maroon leaves is also in vogue.

Indirect Bright Sunlight

Indirect Bright Sunlight

Rubber plants don’t like direct sunlight, on the contrary, they prefer indirect bright light. As their natural environment is not very hot they prefer it in the same way for good and healthy growth.

So if you are growing a rubber plant in your indoor garden it’s better that you place it near a window with a transparent curtain. That reduces the heat but provides bright sunlight to your rubber plant. Moreover, if you are wishing your rubber plant to shows the perfect color you need to put it in bright light. I said bright, not hot.

Watering Schedule In Summers For Indoor Rubber Plants

As far as watering is concerned rubber plants need more water in summer as compared to winter. Because summer is their growing time. You need to be very careful while watering your rubber plants. As under-watering and overwatering these both conditions can be deadly for your rubber plant.

As under-watering can cause variegated rubber plant Brown edges. Moreover, if you are experiencing leaves Browning and falling off rubber plants again the reason can be under-watering.


Change of season from summer to fall can also cause trouble. Lower humidity levels can also result in leaves browning and falling off. You need to keep its soil moist if the soil gets dry the chances are high that brown spots on rubber tree leaves will appear and it can even die. Lower humidity levels can also harm your rubber plant. You can solve this problem by placing a tray filled with pebbles and water nearby.

If you are noticing that the leaves at the bottom side of your above plant are Browning or getting yellow it means that your plant is being overwatered. In such a situation you better leave it to dry for a while or try to drain out extra water.

Note: you need to water rubber plants more often in summers maintaining its soil to be adequately moist.

Temperature Requirement For Indoor Rubber Plants

Temperature Requirement For Indoor Rubber Plants

When you are adopting a rubber plant in your indoor garden you need to upgrade your knowledge about the favorable temperatures for rubber plants. So they can thrive and sustain well.

The most preferable temperatures for rubber plants vary from 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. And in winters if the temperature goes as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit Deccan can still manage to survive. Rubber plants are not very much happy with temperature changes; they like constant humidity and temperature. So to make it favorable for them try to maintain it as far as possible.

Indoor Rubber Plant Hazards

Skin Irritation

If you are parenting a rubber plant keep in mind that they can cause you skin allergies or skin irritation. Especially when you come in contact with the sap. It can cause itching and irritation so after having a lovely meeting with an indoor rubber plant don’t forget to wash your hands properly.

Toxic For Stomach

If you have some pets and kids keep in mind that rubber indoor plants can cause stomach irritation, diarrhea, and even vomiting. The infection depends upon the quantity you have consumed.

Pest Care

There are a few pests and bugs that love to stay in your rubber plant. Aphids, Mealy-bugs, scales, and mites are the most common bugs which love your rubber plant as much as you do. But you need to protect your plant and yourself from these bugs. You can help your plant with warm water wipes. Or washing your plants with some soft insecticide soap can be a good way to get rid of these intruders.

Repot To Make A Rubber Plant Bushy

If you want to grow your rubber plant taller and bigger you need to repot your plant at appropriate intervals. Most rubber plant parents are concerned about why their plant is not getting any bigger.

If you want your rubber plant to get as bushy as you have seen it in its natural environment. But when you put a plant into a small pot it might be adequate for it in the beginning. But after a while when it is growing bigger the roots need some space to grow. If the roots will grow bigger the plant will get taller. So for a healthy and bushy plant, you need to replace its pot at inappropriate intervals.

Pruning For Proper Care

When you are taking proper care of your rubber plant keep in mind pruning is also part of it. Spring is the best time to prune your plants, you should avoid pruning your plant in winters as in winter the plant growth is already slow. Pruning helps in making your plant healthy.

Note: Be careful that while pruning the released sap can cause skin irritation.

Conclusion

Proper rubber plant care is not a very difficult task. What you need to keep in mind is the needs and requirements of your rubber plant. If you provide them the required care these rubber plants will definitely be a gorgeous and elegant addition to your interiors. Not only imparting some freshness to your environment but also making you proud in front of visitors.