The rubber plant’s botanical name is Ficus elastica. Its white latex has given it the name of rubber plant though it doesn’t produce rubber. Rubber plant leaves are broad, shiny, and bright emerald. With proper care, rubber plant benefits can be at the top and can grow 100 feet tall reaching 6 feet in just a few years. These plants thrive in warm environments throughout the year, making them suitable for those in temperate regions.
Rubber Plant Care?
Care for your rubber tree plant and you will the rubber tree plant benefits that will make up your day, focus on the following, it’s very easy to care for this houseplant
1. Sunlight
Do rubber tree plants need sunlight?
This plants indoors can be grown near an east-facing window or at a distance from south or west-facing windows to ensure it receives indirect sunlight as direct sunlight can damage the glossy leaves and cause the loss of leaves from the lower end.
2. Temperature and humidity
It thrive in temperatures between 65 degrees F to 85 degrees F with a humidity level of 40% to 50%
3. Water
Keep the soil moist as they cannot stand drought, and check regularly if the soil is dry, its time to water again.
4. Fertiliser
During the growing season, use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half its strength every two weeks.
5. Pruning and maintenance
Prune your rubber plant to control its height, ideally at the beginning of spring. If indoors support the plant stem with a wooden block to keep it upright.
Rubber Tree Plant Propagation
Let us understand how to grow the rubber tree plant or how to propagate the rubber tree plant
During pruning the first step for propagation can be started-
Through soil
- Ensure your cuttings are one inch above the node
- A milky white liquid may drip from the plant when cut, wait till it stops, you can stop it by doing a dab dab with a towel.
- Remove the leaves from the stem and only leave one
- Tie it with a rubber band after rolling it in such a way that its waxy coating faces outwards
- Dip the stem in a rooting hormone before planting it in a potting mix
- Ensure the care steps are followed mentioned above to avail the needed rubber plant benefits
- In 5 to 6 months new growth will start to appear
Through air layering
- Select a stem and cut it from the parent plant
- Cut 2/3 of the stem by a pruning shears or knife
- Wrap the cutting with a plastic bag after coving it with damp moss
- In 2- 3 weeks if moisture is consistently held roots will start to appear
- Remove the plastic bag and plant the stem in the potting mix
- Follow the care steps for a healthy rubber tree plant.
Rubber plant indoor benefits
There are plenty uses of the plant ,It can uplift your room environment, make it cleaner, and can provide an aesthetic touch
- Purifies air- it promotes cleaner air by lowering the level of toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene. Its big lush green leaves can be a savior for your lungs and of course, a source od oxygen will be just beside you.
- They are adaptable to low light, your room might be the best combination of the indirect low lighting it loves.
- It shoots up vertically, if you are looking fall a plant to take up small space and up to the ceiling this might be the one for you.
- According to Feng shui its round leaves soften the negative energy, placing it at a wealth corner could lead to abundance
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs):-
Q1. What does the plant vastu signify?
Ans. According to Vastu this plant is beneficial for workplaces or homes in southeast directions which is associated with abundance and prosperity, don’t plant it in the north or northeast corners as these places are said to be inauspicious for plants.
Q2. Why am I experiencing plant leaves dropping?
Ans. It may be because of too much off-light, overwatering, underwatering, or due availability of fewer nutrients than needed.
Garden Plants – Discover the Best Plants for Your Garden
Q3. Should I grow rubber plants indoors or outdoors?
Ans. If you wish your plant to grow taller plant it outdoors, just ensure a spot with partial shade to avoid damage to the rubber tree plant.
If you wish to enhance your home, plant it as a houseplant which would be easy to take care of.
Q4. What are variegated rubber tree plants?
Ans. It is a variety of this plants with its leaves striking and unique creamy white and yellow margins.