Rubber Plant

Almost all of us have seen a rubber plant in our house or somewhere nearby. It's one of the most commonly sighted plants in the world and is also called Ficus Elastica by botanists. They are found in India and Southern Indonesia and are also called rubber bush, rubber fig and Indian rubber bush. Rubber plants produce latex which is a gummy sap and is used to make rubber. Rubber trees of the wild are also native to South America which constitutes almost 40% of the rubber production of the world. Rubber plants are also popular houseplants. In the wild, rubber plants can grow very big and huge. These trees are basically grown for their valuable sap. Hardness is an important characteristic when it comes to the rubber plant. If the plant is not hard enough, it would not be able to survive the frequent climate changes.

How to Care for a Rubber Plant

Rubber plants can grow up to 50 feet tall, so it's recommended that you remember a few key things while you follow the instructions of rubber plant care.

• Buy the smallest plant from the nursery to start with. Make sure you get the plant which is manageable and also get information from the supplier. Check the plant for damaged leaves or stem.
• The temperature required for the optimum growth of rubber plant is 70 to 80°F.
• Sunlight is ideal but make sure direct sunlight is not received in excess. Light is good for these plants but excess sunlight will dry them up causing them to lose leaves.
• Limited quantity of water is more than enough for the rubber plant. Ample drainage is essential for rubber plant and make sure water is not added in excess.
• For ideal rubber tree care, water the plant thrice a week.
• Clean the leaves regularly and fertilize the plant after every month.

Rubber Plant Propagation

So now that you know enough about rubber tree, it's time to learn some thing about propagating rubber tree. In order to make sure that new leaves and shoots constantly grow on your rubber plant, make a slit in the node from where the leaf fell off. This ensure the growth of new and more green leaves. A simple way to make sure that you get more rubber plants in your home, is to take a small branch from a healthy tree and put it in a good fertile soil and water it thrice a week. Another way of promoting rubber plants is called air layering. Once you've made a slit in a healthy rubber plant, place a toothpick in the hole, then seal it with damp moss. Now cover that area with a plastic wrap to make sure there is abundant moisture in that area. Once the root starts growing, cut it and plant.

Rubber Plant Pruning

The best part about pruning rubber tree plant is that the pruning can be done anytime. You can actually cut all the extra branches without causing much damage to the plant. However, the best seasons for pruning are considered as spring or early weeks of summer. Before you prune, make sure the tools are sharp and clean. Prune the tree by slitting above the node for better and new leaves. Make sure you remove all the old branches but remember not to take out too much foliage out.

Hope this article on rubber plant was an interesting read. It's very necessary to take care of houseplants and pay attention to their needs. They not only purify your surrounding environment but also act as an attractive house decor.