Rubber plants prefer bright, indirect light from an east-facing window. Place your plant off to the side or separate it from the window with a sheer curtain to prevent sunburn. They can adjust to lower-light conditions, too—especially if you get them used to it when they're young.
Place plants in bright, indirect light (if available) or grow outside with plenty of room to spread out in zones 10 to 12. Plant rubber plants in Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix. Let the soil dry out slightly between waterings. After a month, feed when plants are actively growing with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food.
As per the experts, the best Rubber tree plant vastu direction is the south east direction of hall or living space.
Rubber plants like humidity and bright indirect light. Mine is in an east-facing window and is very happy with morning sun. They can get burns/sun spots if the light is too intense. Let the top inch or two of the soil to dry between watering (once a week or every 2 weeks). Remove dead and dying leaves or offshoots.
Rubber Plants will look their best if kept in a room with moderate to bright indirect sunlight. They also do well in office environments with artificial lighting, as long as the lights are on for at least eight hours per day (excluding weekends).
Watering. Your Rubber Plant enjoys weekly waterings. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, especially during the winter when you may only need to water your plant fortnightly.
Remove the yellow leaves to encourage new growth. It's a bit like weeding, but for your plant. Maintaining plant hygiene is also important. It's not just about looks - it can also help to prevent further yellowing.
Rubber plants like humid air and appreciate an occasional misting—especially during winter, when the air is usually drier. But if your home is on the dry side, your plant can learn to deal with it.
Lifespan and Growth Insights
Average Lifespan: In the right conditions, a Rubber Plant can grace your space for 10-15 years, sometimes even longer. Growth Timeline: Achieving full size can take several years, with the plant's growth rate slowing as it matures.
To make a rubber tree plant bushy, prune back the branches a few inches in late winter. This stimulates branching at the cut. Remove dead or damaged leaves anytime, but always wear gloves — the rubber plant's milky sap can cause skin reactions.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH RUBBER? Rubber grows on around 14 million hectares worldwide. Similar to palmoil, the production of natural rubber has been associated with deforestation. Also loss of biodiversity and soil erosion due to monoculture cultivation are major ecological problems of rubber cultivation.
Sometimes a rubber plant may not be growing uniformly or branches out too much. This can also be remedied by pruning. To promote upward growth, cut the side shoots of the tree – either directly on the trunk or above a node where you want new branches to grow.
Rubber Plant Helps Purify Air
Rubber plant increases humidity within a room and prevents the pollutants and any other unwanted particles to turn into dust and harm your respiratory system.
Yellow leaves and a heavy pot may be your Rubber Plant's cry for help—overwatering is often the culprit. Root rot can follow, turning roots into mush and sapping the life from your plant. Signs: Yellow leaves, root rot. Causes: Too much water, poor drainage.
You can put your rubber plant outside in the summer, provided you keep it in partial shade on the porch, where it's shielded from the UV rays. For a young rubber tree, gradually acclimate it to the outdoor environment, ensuring it doesn't get overexposed to heat and direct sunlight.
Trim a 2- to 4-inch section off the top of a healthy stem. Remove all the leaves from the shoot except at the very top. Plant the cutting in your prepared container and mist with a spray bottle. Place in a warm and humid environment receiving bright light.
Juvenile Plants: As your Rubber Plant grows, upgrade to a pot that's 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the current one, allowing for comfortable root expansion. Mature Plants: Aim for a pot that's 2-5 cm (1-2 inches) larger than the plant's root system, providing space without overwhelming the roots with soil.
Water every 1-2 weeks, allowing soil to dry out between waterings. Increase frequency with increased light.
A rubber plant (Ficus elastica) is an easy-care houseplant that can be propagated by air layering or stem cuttings. In only a few weeks, you can make new plants to give away to friends or keep to create the indoor jungle of your dreams.
Keep their soil slightly moist, make sure they get plenty of sunshine, and if you're at a comfortable temperature, they'll be comfortable too.
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.
Best Times and Frequency for Repotting
Signs that your rubber plant needs repotting include roots growing out of the drainage holes, stunted growth, and the plant becoming top-heavy. Late winter, spring, and early summer are the ideal times for repotting rubber plants.
Leaves: Contact with the leaves can lead to skin irritation, making it essential to handle them carefully. Sap: The milky latex sap is the primary irritant, notorious for causing discomfort. Stems: Handling the stems can also provoke irritation, so caution is advised.
Should I cut the brown leaves off a rubber plant? While you can remedy the brown leaf situation and prevent it from happening to future leaves, you can't revive the brown spots themselves. These areas can be snipped to restore the plant back to its fully green glory.
“There is a chance the leaf drop could be related to overwatering or underwatering. Give a rubber tree too much water, and its leaves will fall off. Let it get too dry between waterings, and that can make the leaves fall off, too,” Lalicata says.