How to Keep your Indoor Rubber Plant in the Best of its Health?

Ficus elastica aka the rubber plant is a very purposeful plant for many reasons. The word “elastica” or “rubber” is used for this plant because it produces rubber latex. However, generating latex is not its only power. The rubber plant is also a famous air purifying plant which can thrive in both indoor and outdoor settings. Nevertheless, such a plant with such great qualities needs great care as well! So let’s dive into the care guide that will help you keep your rubber plant happy and healthy.

Sunlight Needs

Since Ficus elastica is a tropical plant, it needs a good amount of sunlight to be healthy and green. Keep the plant under soft or indirect sunlight for at least 6-8 hours. Make sure not to keep the plant in harsh rays as it will dry out its leaves and soil.

Note- The best place to keep this plant is near a curtained window. You can also keep it on a roof with translucent shades.

Watering Needs

When it comes to watering needs, the rubber plant is not that demanding! In summer or hot weather, you can water the plant once or twice a week. On the other hand, in winter or chilly weather, it will stand tall even if you water it twice a month. If you are still not sure when to water the plant, you can always take the help of hints i.e. if the soil is too dry or the leaves start to curl within, then it's time to take the watering can in your hands.

Note- Please avoid using too cold or too hot water as rubber plants grow at their best when the water is at room temperature.

Soil Needs

The rubber plant is a very down-to-earth kinda creature. It just needs a soil pot with a good drainage system and it's ready to purify the air in no time. For its fertilisation, you can follow the N-P-K in the equal ratio. If you are new or not sure how to mix it, then you can always get the plant potted from a gardener or plant nursery.

Note- If the plant is outgrowing its pot, then re-pot it into a bigger space. This will help the plant to grow, otherwise, it will be stunted.

Environmental Needs

As mentioned earlier, Ficus Elastica is not a very high-maintenance plant. It can easily stand tall in humid, dry, or cold atmospheres. But since it's a tropical plant, it cannot tolerate temperatures higher than 30 degrees or lower than 15 degrees celsius.

Additional Needs

Apart from the needs mentioned above, there are certain things that one might need to address when it comes to keeping their rubber plant healthy such as -

• Keep an eye out for the pest or insects. In case you see any, spray insecticide/pesticide or neem oil immediately.
• To maintain the hygiene of the plant, you can occasionally wipe the leaves gently with a moist cloth.
• The plant doesn't require frequent pruning. Apart from removing the dead stems and yellow leaves, let the plant grow on its own. If you wish for rapid growth, you can always trim the lowermost branches and leaves of the plant. Do not pluck out the entire branch. Instead, cut the branch leaving its node intact with the main stem.