Ficus Elastica, Rubber Plant, Indian Rubber Bush - Plant
Description for Ficus Elastica, Rubber Plant, Indian Rubber Bush
These tropical plants generally have thick stems and fleshy, variegated leaves.
Gardeners value this small, compact plant for its thick, waxy foliage, ornamental flowers and ease of care.
It has broad shiny oval leaves. Leaf size is largest on young plants. The leaves develop inside a reddish sheath at the tip of branches, which looks very attractive. The tree can yield a milky white latex, which has been used to make rubber.
| Common name | Flower colours | Bloom time | Height | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Rubber Bush, Ficus decora, India Rubber Tree, Rubber Plant | Inconspicuous | Rarely flowers indoors | 20 to 40 m | Easy to grow |
Planting and care
Cut below the thinner parts, just above the thick part of the branches. Cut right above leaf nodes. Try to prune the over all size of the plant. Everywhere you prune, new branches will spring up. Think of it as giving your Rubber Tree a haircut. Always keep one set of leaves, at least, so it can continue to make food for itself and regrow.
| Sunlight | Soil | Water | Temperature | Fertilizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needs bright light but prefers indirect light that isn t too hot. | Place in a light, well-drained compost. | Susceptible to rot, so water only when completely dry. | For ideal growing conditions, plants grown indoors need temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees Farenheight during the night and 85 degrees during the day. | Implement a balanced liquid fertilizer on a monthly basis between spring and summer. |
Caring for Ficus Elastica
- Extremely dry soil causes baby rubber plant to drop its leaves, while consistently wet soil may cause root or stem rot.
- Water only when the soil becomes dry, usually about once every 10 to 14 days for indoor plants and once every week for outdoor plants.
- As a general rule, baby rubber plant prefers to remain slightly pot-bound when grown indoors.
- The plant requires re-potting only once every three or four years.
Harvesting
NA
Typical uses of Ficus Elastica
Special features: Foliage
Culinary use: NA
Ornamental use: Used as an ornamental plant.
References
- http://www.gardenguides.com/107793-baby-rubber-plant-care.html
- http://www.plantsrescue.com/tag/baby-rubber-plant/
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Rubber%20Tree.html
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