The Rubber Plant as an Ornamental House Plant

The rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, is native to South America and it is extremely tall whereas the baby rubber plant, Peperomia obtusifolia, is extremely small and grows to about 30cm tall, but the most popular of all rubber plants is the common rubber houseplant, Ficus elastica. This plant is also known as Indian fig or rubber fig and it is a splendid ornamental indoor plant. Rubber plants have large glossy green leaves.

Where to Grow a Rubber Plant

Rubber plants can grow quite tall but this growth can be kept in check by the size of pot used. Depending on the selected site, a small pot will ensure a small manageable plant whereas a large pot will let the plant grow to its full potential. If the plant is to be allowed to grow quite large – a growth of 10+ feet will be no problem under the right conditions – extra thought should be given to selecting the pot, and as this will sit in the same spot for years to come, something pleasing and perhaps ornamental should be considered.

Caring for a Rubber Plant

Rubber plants are fairly easy to grow and with some care and a minimum of attention can last a lifetime. For best results the following simple requirements will prove invaluable.

• Select a small manageable plant to start with, getting as much information from the supplier as possible. Check the soil/compost mix, check the drainage and look for any sign of cracked or damaged leaves. Damaged leaves will not repair themselves and will eventually die.

• A daytime temperature of 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal but variations will be tolerated.

• It is best to provide plenty of natural light but no direct sunlight. Rubber plants are tropical and enjoy humidity but will also do well in drier situations.

• Do not over water a rubber plant and do not leave the plant sitting in a saucer of water. Allow ample drainage before placing the plant in a saucer or decorative pot and if this is not possible, due to size, put a few inches of pebbles at the base of the compost.

• Watering 2/3 times a week should be perfect but a plant left to dry out occasionally will not suffer too much.

• Keep the glossy leaves as dust free as possible and fertilize once a month during the growing season.

Pruning a Rubber Plant

To help keep the plant in check pruning is necessary and will give a bushier plant once re-established.

• Pruning should be done in stages and while the plant is dormant.

• To control the height of the plant cut away the growing tip.

• To achieve bushier growth prune back the side stems. Decide upon the required length of the stem and make a cut just above a leaf joint.

• Always use a sharp blade or secateurs to make a clean cut.

• Once the cut is made a white sap will ooze out and this may irritate the skin so gloves should be worn.

Rubber Plant Problems

Rubber plants are not susceptible to pests and the most common problem with rubber plants is leaf dropping. This is most likely due to over-watering. Allow the plant to dry out considerably – even a spell outdoors in a warm shaded spot would be appreciated. If the problem is extensive prune back the stems as advised above. Avoid root rot by providing ample drainage.

Rubber Plant Variations

An interesting variation on the standard well known Ficus elastica rubber plant is Ficus pandurata. This is also known as fiddle-leaf fig and has the same growing needs of the standard plant but has different shaped leaves. Both Dracaena and Dieffenbachia plants are good companions to rubber plants.