Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree

The Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree is a beautiful plant that, due to its unique shape, transforms any room or garden into a piece of paradise.
In this article we will explain almost everything about the care of the Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree.
Where to best place and water the Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree, and of course all other useful information about the Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree.

The Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree likes a sip of water

For almost all plants, watering is an important part for the plant to survive and grow. The Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree is certainly no exception! In this chapter you will find all the necessary information so that you can provide your Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree with moisture in the right way.

Summer

During the summer it is very important that this plant, when it is outside, is kept well moist. Especially during the warm days it should be watered every day, so that the root ball is well moist. On the less warm days this can sometimes be skipped for a few days. This is so important because otherwise the plant 'drinks' moisture from its leaves, causing it to become dry and eventually die. This should of course be prevented.

Winter

When winter is upon us, the rules are reversed! If the Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree is outside, it must remain dry so that the moisture does not freeze and damage the plant. The Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree does not suffer from a dry root ball during this period, it is in a kind of hibernation!
When the plant is kept indoors during the winter it should be kept slightly moist, so not soaking wet (as in summer), but just so that the root ball feels slightly damp.

General rules

In addition to the above guidelines, it is best to follow these rules:

First, give the plant a little water. If the soil is dry within 2 days, it means it needs a little more water. Adjust the amount of water until it still feels slightly moist between 2 and 5 days after watering, and almost dry after 5 days. If it feels very wet after 5 days, wait until it is almost dry and water again, but reduce the amount.

Spraying

We recommend that you spray the Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree with water weekly. However, we do not recommend this during hot summer days, so that you do it either in the evening after sunset, or on days when the sun shines little, because the water droplets bundle the incoming sunlight into small points that become very hot. These cause the leaves to dry out, or even burn through.
Apart from the detrimental effect of bright sunlight on wet leaves, misting has beneficial effects for your Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree. Namely, it removes dust from the leaves, allowing them to better absorb sunlight and look more beautiful, and it prevents certain types of pests.

Repotting, why and when?

Repotting a Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree whose root ball has grown through has a few advantages. Namely, the plant grows faster when the roots have the space. The plant can also withstand lower temperatures better with a larger root ball. It can then absorb moisture from the soil better and is therefore stronger and more stable.

General rules

When the Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree has taken root (often every 2-3 years) we recommend repotting it in the spring. If it is always inside, it does not matter. If it is outside, it is not a problem to repot it in the summer, but we advise against it in the fall and winter, because it will not grow and take root optimally. This can make it somewhat weak, and it may suffer damage from frost.

When you choose to repot your Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree, choose a nice pot that is twice the size of the root ball. Place a layer of hydro grains at the bottom of the new pot for better moisture control. It will be grateful for that. Fill this layer with some Mediterranean potting soil. This type of soil ensures that the Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree roots optimally and is fed. Then you can place the root ball on the ground. Make sure that the top of the root ball is slightly below the edge of the pot. Aim for a difference of 2 to 6 cm. This difference ensures that the water does not run off the root ball when you water it.
Every year you should replace the top layer of soil, because it hardens and 'wears out' in nutrients, due to regular watering and because of the sunlight on the upper edge of the root ball.

Provide the Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree with good nutrition

During the summer and spring periods your Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree needs to be fed well. Unfortunately, a good type of soil is not enough for this. It certainly helps in certain needs of the plant. But to keep the leaves nice and deep green and strong, we recommend supplementing the nutrition with the specialized food [florentus]. Pokon is often recommended by other shops, but we advise against it, because .... Florentus is a product based on natural nutrients from many different sources, a mix of organic, vegetable acids and pure concentrates. It is the perfect 'fertilizer' for plants. Your plant is very grateful for this nutrition and will reward you with shiny deep green leaves and healthy strong roots.
If you want to give your plant that little bit of extra luxury, we also recommend supplementing florentus with [Plant Ultra]. This provides a few extra useful nutrients that the Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree loves. They are not essential, but do help with root growth and extra health and strength of the palm.

When the leaves change color

The leaves can get black leaf tips. This can mean that too much water has been released. Brown or yellow leaves can mean that too little water is being released. We then recommend checking this and possibly adjusting the watering. We also recommend making the plant a bit more beautiful by simply cutting off the ugly tips with scissors.

It is also possible that the Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree has been moved from a place with a lot/little light to a place with a different amount of light. This can also cause the leaves to discolour. The new leaves will be more resistant to direct sunlight.

How and when should you prune the Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree?

The leaves of the Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree will eventually wither. If this is the case with a leaf, you can simply cut the stem near the trunk. It is not a problem to prune an entire leaf with the stem of the plant. This is the way the plant forms its trunk.

How can I propagate the Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree?

Many plants are easy to propagate by e.g. cuttings or harvesting and planting the seeds. The Ficus Elastica - Indian Rubber Tree propagates only by seed.