HousePlantJoy is supported by our audience. When you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a small affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Your cost is not affected.
==================
Why People Choose Ficus Elastica Care
Due to the ease and positive results of Ficus Elastica care, many take care of the rubber plant these days. Looking after it even appeals to many novice gardeners looking for easy-care vegetation. With the way it is, it’s the kind of plant that an indoor or outdoor setting can accommodate. Being adaptable to various conditions, it can grow healthy and happy almost anywhere. Still, it’s what can bring good health to a home or even office environment. Hence, it’s not a mystery why many places around the world have this plant.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the different requirements to take care of this plant. Included are other reasons why it appeals to many. Still, this article covers strategies to propagate Ficus Elastica in any garden. So keep reading to find out more about the rubber tree.
Watering For Ficus Elastica Care
Rubber tree plant care involves hydrating the plant by often making its soil moist. When the top part of the ground where it’s on is dry, it’s time to put some water on it. Signs to water it already include having a dried-up potting mix. The leaves of the plant will also toward the inside as a sign that it needs hydration. This is to say it’s easy to tell when it’s thirsty because it shows droopy leaves. Yet, aside from pouring or spraying some water on the soil, try misting it too. But do this often during summer only and less when it’s wintertime. So it may take time to get used to hydrating the rubber tree indoors or outdoors to get everything right.
Usually, during spring to summer or the growing season, this plant needs watering once a week. When it’s time for its dormancy, you can water it every 2 to 3 weeks. Take note that this plant isn’t that active during the fall and winter months. It follows that it also needs less water at that time. Plus, when watering it, wipe the excess moisture on the leaves with a clean cloth. It’s so it can still manage to do photosynthesis well. As part of how to propagate Ficus Elastica, dampen the roots. That would be after transferring the plant to the ground. Hence, there’s more to hydrating it than giving chlorine-free water.
The Right Fertilizer For Ficus Elastica Care
Use a balanced type of fertilizer for rubber tree plant care. Go for something that has equal parts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. That is to say, utilizing an all-purpose or 8-8-8 plant food will do. This kind of compost ought to be available during the spring to summer months. From late March to late September, the Ficus Elastica fig keeps growing. Hence, you need to time the soil fertilization right.
Also, water-soluble fertilizers are way better than granular ones for this plant. Mixed with water and used at half-strength, it’s an effective way to fertilize a rubber fig. But that would be for the growing season. For late fall to the entire wintertime, use granular and slow-release fertilizers. It’s a great choice, considering that this rubber plant isn’t s active and “sleeps” somehow too. Hence, it doesn’t need as much nutrition as it would demand during the growing season.
Soil and Pot For Rubber Tree Plant Care
It isn’t enough to put this plant green plant and its glossy, green leaves on any ground. Even if it’s the kind of foliage that thrives in various conditions, it can do well when placed in the right place. This means that having nutritious soil for it isn’t enough. For a good Ficus Elastica care, it should be where water could drain well from it. It doesn’t like to stay wet so it would be ideal to put it on good potting soil mixes. If you could try using cactus soil with peat, pine bark, and others. Using pumice, perlite, and rough sand helps too. Such things can keep it drained and aerated. So pay attention to where you put your Ficus Elastica tree to make it grow well.
When choosing a pot for it, select the kind that is larger than its root ball. Yet don’t pick something very big. Rather, go for the one that is only a bit bigger. It’s because this type permits quality air circulation. Also, it makes it possible to hold and release water as necessary. Think about this before knowing how to propagate Ficus Elastica. After all, with the right soil and pot, propagating may be somehow easier for you.
Sunlight And Temperature For Rubber Tree Plant Care
Like all plants, it’s also the kind that needs plenty of sunlight. There must be bright yet indirect rays from the sun for Ficus Elastica care. Even if it needs light to process photosynthesis, its leaves can burn with too much heat. Aside from that, giving it lesser than what it requires results in droopy leaves. If you can’t provide direct sunlight for 6 to 8 hours then going for artificial light will do. Thus if you could place this tree near windows that have drapes when indoors.
For the temperature, it can take 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (about 24 to 27 degrees Celcius) in the daytime. It can tolerate cold but not freezing temperatures. So owners must put them where sunlight or artificial light is available. Still, there must be heat sources like heaters nearby. But it should have enough warmth and not too much to make it dry already. So establishing a good spot for it has its challenges but is essential.
Trimming and Propagating The Ficus Elastica Plant
It isn’t that difficult how to cut and propagate Ficus Elastica trees. Many are even saying that each of these things is easy to do. After all, trimming problematic parts, dead sections, and other areas isn’t demanding. This means it doesn’t compel using special tools. Going for any sharp cutting tool will do. Also, propagation involves creating cuttings by trimming its branches and stems. After making them, either dip them in water or put them in the ground. In this way, Ficus Elastica care is convenient. It’s because leaf or stem trimmings can grow with the right treatment.
They are quite easy to trim since their parts are soft. This makes them malleable and thus convenient to shape. In five to six months, the trimmings will have developed a solid set of roots. When this happens, they are then ready for planting in pots. Thus being breedable makes it beneficial for this plant to own.
Benefits Of Ficus Elastica Care
There are so many great things about rubber tree plant care that make people want to have it. A clear advantage to having it is that it’s low-maintenance, considering that it can adapt well. Even when neglected somehow, they can develop into beautiful plants. But, of course, that is when this plant is in a good environment that is conducive to plant growth. Likewise, because it isn’t demanding to grow, we can say that it’s an inexpensive plant to take care of. We can raise rubber fig plants from lead and stem cuttings. This is if you know how to propagate Ficus Elastica. Plus, it cleans or even purifies the air. Since it detoxifies the atmosphere it is healthy to have around. Hence, this one is a true gift that keeps on giving.
The foliage this plant provides is glossy and thick. Also, this decorative indoor plant life turns tall. Hence, it’s easy to clean because wiping its leaves is a breeze. With its big foliage, it’s attractive to look at. It’s likely the reason why homes and even business spaces have this plant as the centerpiece.
More Reasons Why This Plant Is Interesting
Ficus Elastica care is easy and practical, but the plant is also fascinating. Aside from having big shiny and often dark-colored leaves, it’s a long-lasting plant. It gets so tall and lasts for a long time too. It can live for more than a century and get more than 100 feet high. Six years of growth make it capable of producing a milky white sap. Around the world, people call it latex. It’s what some manufacturers use to make rubberized goods. So even entrepreneurs get attracted to it.
It’s the kind of indoor plant that comes with no pollen or anything like that. With that said, we can consider it a hypoallergenic type of vegetation. In some faiths or disciplines, it symbolizes happiness and wealth. Sometimes, it’s seen as a representation of strength and stability too. Thus it’s good for health and embodies beliefs and certain ideas.
With That Said
Knowing and being good at Ficus Elastica care is great. That would be for anyone who has a rubber tree plant or is planning to own one. This article even showed that it’s easy to tend for various reasons. Despite its demand as a plant, it’s quite adaptable to unique settings. Plus, it’s ornamental, interesting, healthy, and long-lasting. Packed with many features, it’s an indoor or outdoor plant that is worth keeping and growing.
We hope this post about the rubber tree plant helped you get valuable information. If you’re searching for a low-maintenance inside or garden plant, you can get this. If you have experience taking care of the Ficus Elastica, let us know what you think of it. Thanks for reading and happy planting!
Read More
