Rubber plant: caring for the houseplant at home

Flowers

Ficus plants are known for their diversity. One of the most interesting and popular is the Elastica species, also known as the Rubber Plant, which was introduced from India.

This plant has been popular among Russian gardeners for many years, and it's no wonder, as its glossy, fleshy leaves decorate and refresh any interior. Furthermore, the rubber plant is completely unpretentious and thrives indoors, so caring for it won't require much time or effort, even for those with no experience.

Characteristics of the rubber plant and its species diversity

This species of ficus, growing in its natural habitat, differs significantly from its ornamental counterpart. While in the wild, the tree can grow up to 60 meters tall, indoors it rarely reaches even 2 meters.

The tree is distinguished by its leathery, fleshy, oval leaves with a prominent central vein, which grow to a fairly large size. The pointed leaves are dark green or variegated and arranged alternately.

The tree's young leaves are a brownish-red hue, along with a similarly colored stipule that eventually falls off. The tree is classified as a flowering plant, but it blooms only in the wild because it is pollinated by only a specific species of insect. The tree's flowering produces small, inedible fruits called syconia.

Ficus has several varieties, the most popular of which are:

Melanie. A synthetically bred variety distinguished by its miniature size and dense foliage.
Melanie
Belize. Distinguishing features include white and pink streaks along the edges of the leaf blade.
Belize
Robusta. A tall, branched tree with dark green foliage.
Robusta

The intricacies of home care for rubber plant

Ficus is an unpretentious plant, but in order to grow a healthy and beautiful tree, it is necessary to follow some care recommendations.

Lighting

The tree responds well to bright, filtered light, but does not tolerate direct sunlight. Ficus can also grow in partial shade, but its growth will be significantly slower, and the lower leaves will become limp and eventually fall off.

Please note!

Variegated varieties require more intense lighting, otherwise their leaves will lose their decorative color.

Temperature

Ficus is a heat-loving plant that doesn't respond well to low temperatures or drafts. The optimal temperature for growing the tree ranges from 18 to 25°C. However, in winter, when heating systems dry out the air, the plant can grow at 15°C if its soil is insulated with foam.

Accommodation

The tree doesn't like frequent rearrangements or sudden changes in environmental conditions, so keep this in mind when placing it. Place the plant in a well-lit area, away from heating appliances and drafts. West- and east-facing windowsills are excellent locations for the ficus.

Watering and spraying

Water the plant only after the top layer of soil has completely dried out. Typically, one or two waterings per week are sufficient. Use well-settled, warm water.

During the summer, the tree's leaves should be misted to help maintain optimal humidity. However, in the winter, it's best to avoid misting and instead wipe the leaves with a damp, soft cloth or sponge.

Fertilizers and types of fertilizers

The plant's active growth period lasts from April to May, and it is during this time that the tree requires additional feeding once every 14 days.

Ficus responds well to alternating feedings of mineral and organic fertilizers. Nitrophoska diluted in water can be used as a mineral fertilizer, at a ratio of 1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water. To provide the tree with organic matter, fertilize the soil with a mullein infusion. Any type of fertilizer should be applied to pre-moistened soil. When fertilizing the plant, avoid getting fertilizer on the leaves and shoots.

Diseases, pests and treatment methods

Ficus is a fairly hardy plant and resistant to diseases and pests. However, improper care can reduce the tree's defenses.

Typically, a plant responds to poor care by dropping leaves. This can be caused by unsuitable room temperatures, drafts, excess moisture, or insufficient nutrients or light.

Overwatering causes brown spots on the leaves and leaf drop. In more severe cases, excess moisture can cause root rot. To resolve this, repot the plant, removing any rotted roots, and adjust the watering schedule.

Red spots on the leaves indicate that the plant is exposed to direct sunlight. Simply move the tree to a location with indirect light, and the problem will resolve itself.

Deformed leaf edges indicate damage to the root system during repotting. Watering with Kornevin and foliar feeding will help resolve the issue.

The appearance of silvery spots on the leaves, which later turn brown, indicates a thrips infestation. Thrips larvae live in the tree's leaves, feeding on them. Thrips can be eliminated by treating the above-ground portion of the plant with an Aktara solution and then watering the soil with it. This treatment is repeated four times, at weekly intervals. Florists also recommend treating all indoor flowers, as thrips are airborne.

If a plant is infested with spider mites, white spots and fine webbing will appear on its leaves. To get rid of spider mites, wash the tree under a warm shower and treat it with Fitoverm 3-4 times, at 10-day intervals.

Hygiene

Dust often settles on the plant's fleshy leaves, which significantly detracts from its appearance. Therefore, gardeners recommend washing the ficus under a warm shower once a month, after covering the soil with a plastic bag.

As dust settles, the leaves can be wiped with a damp sponge or soft cloth. Treating the leaves with a cloth soaked in non-alcoholic beer will also give them a bright shine.

What kind of soil is needed?

The tree prefers fertile, porous soil. You can mix the soil yourself or purchase a ready-made potting mix for ficus at a specialist store. You can also use a general-purpose potting soil with added river sand.

To prepare the soil, you need to mix river sand, leaf, peat and turf soil in a ratio of 1:1:1:1.

Propagation and transplantation of flowers at home

It's best to repot the plant during the warmer months; spring or early summer are excellent times. Young ficus trees require annual repotting, but mature trees can be repotted every few years, as the soil in their container depletes. The tree should be repotted in a pot that is 5 cm larger in diameter and 6 cm deeper than the previous one.

Stages of transplantation:

Place a 3-4 cm drainage layer on the bottom of the container. Broken brick, small crushed stone, or pebbles can be used for drainage.
Place a layer of soil on top of the drainage.
Carefully, without damaging the roots, remove the ficus from the old container and place it in a new pot along with the old lump of soil (transshipment method).
Add new soil to the pot to fill all the voids.
Water the plant.

Ficus, as a rule, quickly takes root in a new substrate, which is noticeable by its active growth.

The tree is propagated by cuttings and layering. It is believed that the flower can be propagated by leaf cuttings, but this is nothing more than a myth; this propagation method will never result in shoots.

Frequently asked questions about growing

Ficus is an unpretentious plant, but during its cultivation, questions arise one way or another, especially among novice gardeners.

The leaf took root in water, but stopped growing in the ground, what should I do?

This type of ficus does not propagate from leaves. The leaf can root in water, but this is the end result; shoots will not appear, regardless of how well it is cared for. The tree should be propagated by cuttings or layering; this is the only way to obtain a new plant.

How to make a ficus grow in width?

To encourage the growth of lateral shoots, simply pruning the top of the tree periodically with a sharp, sterile knife is sufficient. Early spring is the ideal time to prune the plant, as this will encourage growth from the lateral buds rather than the top growth point. You can also plant several plants in a single pot and place it in partial shade. Rotating the plant periodically will prevent its shoots from stretching in one direction, resulting in a lush, bushy growth.

Is it possible to simply remove the aerial roots?

There's no need to remove the plant's aerial roots. Overly long roots, which spoil the plant's appearance, can simply be buried in the soil. This will also provide the ficus with additional nutrition. Removing aerial roots will reduce the plant's protective properties.

Brown spots appear on the leaves – what is it?

The appearance of brown spots indicates a thrips infestation. Brown spots may also indicate overwatering, but in this case, the spots will be localized to the leaf edges.

Ficus elastica is an ornamental plant that, with proper care, will enhance any space, be it an apartment, house, or office.