Rubber Plant
4.6 out of 5 (406 experiences)
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
About Rubber Plant
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
Ficus elastica
Ficus
Moraceae
Rosales
Also known as
Rubber Tree, Rubber Fig, Rubber Bush, Indian Rubber Bush, Indian Rubber Tree, Chroma Tineke, chroma chloe and Chroma Abidjan
How to care for Rubber Plant
How often to water your Rubber Plant
every 9
Rubber Plant 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
Finding light for Rubber Plant in your home
a window
Rubber Plant love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Rubber Plant does not tolerate low-light 🚫.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Rubber Plant in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Rubber Plant
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 Rubber Plant after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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I got this as a gift. I was wondering if it's healthy or if the red is a sign of being unwell. Thank you #RubberPlant
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This is some cuttings from my mom’s plant. They are not doing well. What am I missing? #RubberPlant
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I am helping my mom take care of her plant. We moved to my house and although the room is bright, the leaves grow in very small and some wither off and fall. How can I bring it back to its former glory? #RubberPlant
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One stem wilting others fine Hello everyone! I have this rubber plant where one plant is having droopy leaves but the other ones are looking fine. I read that it might be caused by over/underwaterimg but since the other two plants in the same pot are fine - I’m a little puzzled. Does anyone know what’s wrong with my plant?
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Root Rot? Does there appear to be root rot? I am not experienced enough to know normal from early rot…
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Why are some leaves curled on my rubber plant? She has had lots of new growth even during the winter so I think she’s doing well in her North facing window. I also have west facing windows but the evening sun in Colorado is brutal so I didn’t want to risk burning her. I am consistent with watering and wait until at least the top 1” of soil is dry. Her pot has drainage. I haven’t fertilized yet but I have 20-20-20 if anyone knows whether I can use that or should I get something else? Also worth mentioning that the tiny leaves on her main branch are not the newest growth and haven’t seemed to grow at all. #RubberPlant
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Fernie Mac…my rubber tree Hello I’m thinking it’s a good sign I haven’t lost any more leaves since over watering 3 months ago, but I haven’t gotten any new leaves either. I don’t know what to do can someone help me? #HappyPlants #PlantAddict #SucculentLove
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Why is the leaf of my plant getting dry i kept it in the balcony and watering it daily 🥲 please help #RubberPlant
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Ficus Elastica #ficus Does this brown, hard part where the new leaves would normally sprout mean that it’s dying or won’t produce new leaves? It’s very hard. Its leaves are very large now and weighing down rather than being perky. I’m not really sure what this plant needs, if anything! Any tips or thoughts?
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Rubber Plant losing leaves My Rubber Plant has been losing leaves for a few weeks now, and I have no idea what’s going on. At first, I thought it was spider mites, and I treated for them, but her leaves were still yellowing. Now the leaves are browning too, with a white powder on them, and the new growth is uneven. Can anyone help? #RubberPlant
Care Summary for Rubber Plant
Rubber Plant
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 9 days
Placement
< 1ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Large, lush leaves 248
Survivor 219
Fast grower 164
Easy to propagate 38
Blooms easily 18
Browns easily 16
Pest magnet 11
03/30/2022
Big shiny leaves! Thrives in average humidity & temp. Can take a couple hours of direct sun in the summer without getting brown spots. Likes to dry out between waterings. Pests avoid it.
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
Survivor
03/17/2022
I love these plants. Beautiful hardy leaves, for the most part let’s you know when it’s sad, and propagates easy. Mine likes to dry out between waterings.
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
02/08/2022
I’ve had this ficus for years now, probably 3 or 4 and she’s doing so great. She’s survived 3 moves and almost 5 months of no watering at all and just living off a self-watering pot. Unbelievable really. She’s been repotted 3 times and grows so much every time I do that. I did have to give it support so it would stand more upright or else the branches lean and open up toward the side.
Overall a beautiful, hardy plant that, placed in the right spot that she likes, will thrive and grow and grow. It takes a little testing to see where she’s happy but when you find it, boom! You’re set.
I love her!
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
02/04/2022
Grows quickly and does need support like a bamboo stake
Fast grower
01/26/2022
Water plant Biweekly/every 14 days avoid overwatering and let the soil drain. Have good soil that prevents over or under watering.
Blooms easily
Survivor
Easy to propagate
01/24/2022
Love my rubber plant. Starting growing her from a baby. A little finicky with lighting but is growing nicely.
Fast grower
Survivor
01/18/2022
Plays a mean cello
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
01/17/2022
Gorgeous coloration.
01/17/2022
Such a beautiful plant and so easy to care for. Keep the soil moist and give it bright light and it just flourishes.
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
01/15/2022
Very pretty and easy to maintain. Very happy plant 😇🌱
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
12/27/2021
Very pretty and easy to maintain.
Survivor
12/22/2021
Get into ficus it’ll be fun!
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
Survivor
12/21/2021
Super fast grower in the correct light conditions and rewarding to watch because every couple leaves adds inches. Also very tolerant of low light - I had it on a bottom shelf with almost no light for a year and it was fine. It didn’t grow, but it didn’t suffer. Then as soon as I put it in a bright windowsill it started popping out leaves like crazy.
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
Survivor
12/20/2021
Not cat friendly.
Survivor
Large, lush leaves
12/13/2021
Low Maintenance easy to take care of
Fast grower
Survivor
Large, lush leaves
12/08/2021
Easy to grow!
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
12/01/2021
An alright plant. Lovely sized leaves. However they do drop them like there is no tomorrow!
Large, lush leaves
11/24/2021
Super easy. Doesn’t need water all that often and just does its thing! If it doesn’t have enough light it won’t grow very much/at all.
11/24/2021
Very easy plant, just make sure not to overwater. If it’s not getting enough light it just won’t grow very much/fast. Super satisfying to watch new leaves come in.
11/22/2021
When I moved in with my husband four years ago, he had this plant and it’s still as strong as ever, but twice as tall :3
Survivor
Large, lush leaves
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