Rubber plant
Ficus elastica · Moraceae
📷 VuThiAnh · CC0
⚠️ Sève et feuilles irritantes ; chiens, chats et enfants risquent dermatite de contact, irritation buccale et digestive par ingestion.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around rubber plant and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, glossy dark green
- Mature size
- Up to 2 m indoors
- Growth
- Rapid under optimal conditions
- Hardiness
- Tropical plant, 12 °C minimum
- Origin
- Southeast Asia, India region
- Soil type
- Rich, well-draining, slightly acidic
- Toxicity
- Irritant to pets
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Ficus elastica (Rubber Tree) needs bright light but not direct sun which burns young leaves. Moderate watering: let the substrate dry out a bit between waterings.
The common mistake
Overwatering with the idea that it's a lush tropical plant: the roots rot.
The pro's trick
Wipe its leaves every other month with a damp cloth: they breathe better, it prevents scale insects, and it's psychologically rewarding to see them shine.
Care
Watering
Water regularly in summer when the soil begins to dry at the surface, about once a week. In winter, reduce watering and let the substrate dry out more. Use lukewarm, preferably non-limey water. Avoid waterlogging, which promotes root rot.
Light
Place your Ficus elastica near a bright window, ideally in indirect light. It tolerates partial shade but growth will be slower. Avoid intense direct sun rays in summer, which can bleach the leaves. Good light ensures dense and vibrant foliage.
Pruning and maintenance
Prune lightly in spring to encourage branching and maintain a balanced shape. Remove dead or damaged leaves as they appear. You can gently clean the leaves with a damp cloth to restore their shine and improve photosynthesis.
Soil and repotting
Use a rich, light, well-draining substrate made of quality potting soil mixed with compost. Repot every two to three years in spring into a slightly larger pot. Ensure the pot has drainage holes to prevent water stagnation.
Fertilizer
Apply a balanced, diluted fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season (April to September). In winter, space out or stop fertilizing. Follow recommended dosages to avoid harmful salt accumulation on roots.
Diseases and pests
Watch for spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids, especially in dry air. Regular misting of the foliage helps prevent these issues. If infested, isolate the plant and treat with natural methods. Brown spots on leaves may indicate excessive watering or poor ventilation.
Did you know?
The Ficus elastica was once cultivated in the Amazon for natural rubber production; this species provided the original latex used industrially before Asian rubber plantations took over. Although less used commercially today, it remains an emblematic plant of Victorian interiors and is still highly prized for its majestic form and spectacular foliage.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Fig treeFicus carica
- White MulberryMorus alba
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- Red mulberryMorus rubra
- Black mulberryMorus nigra
- Korean mulberryMorus indica
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.