Rubber Plant
Ficus elastica
A popular indoor houseplant known for its large, shiny, leathery oval leaves. New growth often emerges from a pinkish sheath.
- Light
- Bright, indirect light is best (6-8 hours); can tolerate lower light but may become leggy. Avoid direct summer sun which can scorch leaves.
- Water
- Moderate. Water when the top inch or two of soil feels dry. Drooping leaves usually indicate thirst; yellowing leaves often indicate over-watering.
- Growth
- Evergreen perennial tree. Indoors, it can reach 6-10 feet; in its natural habitat, it can reach over 100 feet. Slow to moderate growth rate.
Care instructions
Provide bright indirect light; water only when the top 50-75% of soil is dry. Use well-draining soil and feed monthly during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
Growing details
Sunlight
Bright, indirect light is best (6-8 hours); can tolerate lower light but may become leggy. Avoid direct summer sun which can scorch leaves.
Watering
Moderate. Water when the top inch or two of soil feels dry. Drooping leaves usually indicate thirst; yellowing leaves often indicate over-watering.
Soil
Well-draining, aerated potting mix (e.g., pine bark, perlite, and peat moss). Preferred pH is 6.0 to 7.0.
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 10-12; not frost-tolerant.
Growth habit
Evergreen perennial tree. Indoors, it can reach 6-10 feet; in its natural habitat, it can reach over 100 feet. Slow to moderate growth rate.
Bloom season
Rarely flowers indoors. In nature, it produces small, oblong, inedible greenish-yellow figs pollinated by specialized wasps.
Propagation
Propagated via stem cuttings or air layering during the spring or summer.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to spider mites, scale, and mealybugs. Common cultural issues include root rot from over-watering and leaf drop due to sudden changes in temperature or light.
Similar species
Ficus lyrata (Fiddle Leaf Fig) has larger, violin-shaped leaves. Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig) has much smaller, thinner leaves.