The rubber tree (Ficus elastica) is a fairly tolerant plant that grows rapidly in perfect problems inside residences and greenhouses as a container plant and outdoors as a landscape sampling. Its evergreen leaves offer winter season interest, while its 1/2-inch long, green fruits provide aesthetic rate of interest as well, however the fruits seldom appear outside the tree’s indigenous environment. But how fast do rubber plants grow?
A rubber plant will grown on average around 24 inches in height per growing season. While a rubber plant in the outdoors can grow up to 100 feet in height. You will find that the ficus will grow dependent on the size of the pot it is in.
Best Growing conditions for Rubber Plant
F. elastica requires intense, filtered light and also can tolerate early morning sunlight. Plants that are maintained as well dark will become leggy, shed their reduced leaves, and the color will certainly pall as opposed to glossy and also vivid.
Water frequently. This plant needs to be kept progressively wet. It is vulnerable to extreme dry skin. When it comes to soil, any kind of great, fast-draining potting soil will likely do. Feed the plant a weak liquid plant food throughout the growing period. They are reasonably hefty feeders when healthy and balanced.
Propagating your rubber plant
Rubber plants can be circulated from leaf-tip cuttings, but it is not especially very easy. It is possibly much better to simply purchase a potted plant. If you try to take cuttings, utilize a rooting hormonal agent and also be vigilant about high humidity and also a lot of heat. Do not be dissuaded if they do not circulate quickly. It is an inexact science that takes a while.
Repotting Rubber Plant
This ficus grows fairly quickly under good conditions as well as will certainly require to be repotted yearly until the plant reaches its desired dimension. Bigger plants can be tough to repot, so if you can stagnate the container, scrape off a couple of inches of potting media and change it with brand-new potting soil. Some professionals advise just gently feeding interior plants to prevent stretching and also plants ending up being root-bound due to the fact that they expand also quick.
Rubber Plant Selections
One of the most typical variety of this plant is the “Decora” cultivar. This is the most acquainted rubber tree, with a minor reddish or bronze cast to the undersides of its shiny green leaves. As a whole, F. elastica is bred for larger, glossier leaves. F. elastica “Robusta” has bigger leaves than “Decora,” F. elastica “Black Prince,” or “Burgundy,” which has nearly-black reddish leaves.
Growing Tips
These are not specifically tough plants, however successfully growing this plant typically implies finding the right balance in your setting. That implies light yet not too light, wet but not wet, and sufficient fertilizer to keep it healthy and balanced but not way too much to motivate quick development.
Like various other sorts of ficuses, these plants are at risk to cool down drafts. Plants that are experiencing for whatever reason will end up being leggy, with extending internodes, and also the leaves may first turn yellow and after that brownish prior to leaving totally. F. elastica looks its best when fully outfitted with leaves, so take any fallen leave yellowing seriously (although once a fallen leave begins to yellow, it is probably gone already).
If the leaves look full and are drooping, your light degrees are possibly expensive. Ficus elastica is prone to pests including aphids, mealy pests, mites, scale, as well as whitefly. If possible, recognize the problem as early as feasible and treat it with the least poisonous option.
