Indian Rubber Plant Care
Avoid lower than 55 f 12 c sudden temperature drops and cold drafts.
Indian rubber plant care. The rubber plant is a member of the fig family and is native to india. Because of its large glossy tropical looking leaves and ease of growth rubber tree ficus elastica is a popular houseplant that grows 2 to 10 feet tall indoors. Rubber plants are usually sold as floor plants. The rubber tree plant s native environment is the still warm bright understory of the tropical jungle.
A nice brightly lit spot is ideal without direct sunlight. If the plant gets less light while leaves are growing the leaves will actually be larger. Rubber plants potentially grow outdoors in u s. Many people put their rubber trees near a window where the light is filtered through a pair of sheer curtains.
A rubber tree plant is also known as a ficus elastica these large trees can grow up to 50 feet 15 m tall. Rubber trees do not require much light but flourish in bright indirect light. It produces shiny oval shaped leaves and inedible fruit in the form of a fig. Mine was growing in a 10 pot and i repotted it into a 15 pot last year more on that below.
Rubber trees formally ficus elastica can be enjoyed as either medium sized house plants or grown to become focal point beautiful indoor trees if you re patient enough to grow your own plants that start out younger when you buy them adapt better to indoor living than starting with a more mature plant. Its thick glossy leathery green leaves and fast tall growth mean that rubber plants add to the aesthetics of any room. Rubber tree plant care sun. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12 but sheltered in an enclosed patio.
An indoor rubber plant can be grown with very little care. If you re new to plant parenting a rubber tree is the plant for you. When learning how to care for a rubber tree plant there are a few key things to remember but rubber plant care isn t as difficult as one might think. Average room temperatures of 60 75 f 15 24 c are fine.
Yes it s definitely a tree. But indoors a rubber tree typically tops out at 6 to 10 feet tall. Unless you can duplicate these gentle surroundings year round prepare to pamper your plant. In its native jungle habitat in india and malaysia the plant can grow up to 100 feet tall.
The rubber tree plant botanical name is ficus elastica is a hardy houseplant that is very easy to care for the plant also has names such as indian rubber tree rubber fig and indian rubber bush. With its glossy leathery leaves and upright form it s a striking addition to almost any room in your house. It now stands 6 from the ground. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12 where rubber tree usually grows between 25 and 30 feet high and wide outdoors.
Growing in their native environments ficus elasticas can get 60 80 tall.