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Ficus elastica 'Shivereana'

Reviewed by: Kiersten Rankel | Last Updated: 04/17/2025

About Ficus elastica 'Shivereana'

Ficus elastica, more commonly known as the rubber tree, has a white, milky latex that is a source of natural rubber. They’ve also been shown to have excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The aerial roots of the rubber tree have been used to create incredible living bridges in India. The bridges get stronger over time as the roots slowly fuse together, and some are over a hundred years old! 🌉

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana'

Genus

Ficus

Family

Moraceae

Order

Rosales

Also known as

Splashy Rubber Tree

How to care for Ficus elastica 'Shivereana'

💦 Water

How often to water your Ficus elastica 'Shivereana'

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' in your home

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Ficus elastica 'Shivereana'

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Ficus elastica 'Shivereana': repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

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💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

Benefits of Growing Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

Common Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

Outdoor Care Guide for Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

💦 Water Needs

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Water Frequency →

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Light Requirements →

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

Is Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Edible? →

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Toxicity to Cats →

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Toxicity to Dogs →

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Toxicity to Humans →

💨 Humidity

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

Best Pots for Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

When and How to Successfully Repot Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

What Are Healthy Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

🌎 Native Region

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' is native to worldwide Tropics.

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Lifecycle →

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Temperature Tolerance →

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

When to Plant Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

How to Plant Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

Where to Plant Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

Winter Care for Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

Best Companion Plants for Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

Is Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Ficus elastica 'Shivereana', since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.