How To Care For a Rubber Fig

How To Care For a Rubber Fig


3 minute read

Ficus Elastica

Nickname: Rubber Fig orRubber Tree

Rubber Fig trees actually earn their nicknames from the sap that they produce, which is occasionally used to make rubber. The leaves also have a shiny, rubbery look, so it just makes it all the more appropriate.

Rubber Fig is seen mostly with their dark green variety but also has a red sibling called Ruby Ficus which has a beautiful variegated red/green look to it. 

Both are very popular among interior design blogs because of their attractiveness overall.

How to take care of Rubber Figs

Rubber Figs are easy to take care of and aren't fussy at all. Just be sure to give it bright, indirect light near a window and water it consistently - a bit more during Summer when it has accelerated growing.

The variegated ones actually need more light than the non-variegated ones.

A good rule of thumb when watering is to make sure the soil is moist, but don't water too much. Whenever the soil feels dry to the touch, water a bit more and be sure to drain it out completely. 

Although these plants are resilient, refrain from watering too much and just stick to the rule of thumb. 

Humidity

30-40% 

Average indoor home humidity

Light

Bright Without Direct Sun

Water

Water once the soil becomes slightly dry to the touch and make sure the pot has sufficient drainage holes to allow excess water to seep through. The worst thing you can do regarding watering is overwatering.

Temperature

60-75°F

Plant Food

Fertilizer isn't completely necessary for the survival of a Rubber plant, but if you want to achieve the large glossy leaves, then you will need to feed your plant. Various feeding routines will work for this plant, using your chosen fertilizer every few weeks or monthly during the growing season.

Pests

Rubber Plant is susceptible to many common pests such as mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites, root knot nematodes and thrips. Pathogen (fungal and bacterial) problems may also occur in the form of leaf spots, crown gall, twig dieback and Southern Blight.

Pet Toxicity

Toxic

Repotting

From May - June re-pot once the roots have become pot bound or every year when the plants are very young, and then once every 3 years after the plant has matured. I would renew the soil every year.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Rubber Figs need a lot of sun? 

Bright Without Direct Sun

Unlike a lot of houseplants, Rubber Trees actually prefer growing indoors and not in heavy direct sun. They like the room to be lit bright but not under direct sunlight.

Are Rubber Figs toxic to pets?

Yes

Rubber trees are toxic to both dogs and cats.

What do you do if you overwater?

The best thing to do when you've overwatered a Rubber Tree is to stop watering and relocate it to a place with a lot of sun so that you can dry out the soil. After that, you probably will want to inspect the roots for root rot and repot the plant.


Do Rubber Figs like to be misted?

Yes

Rubber Trees like to be misted, especially throughout the summer to keep the leaves nice and moist.

 

For other plant guides, check out here Declutterd Plant Guide.

Happy Planting!

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