if ($(window).width() < 1025) { Watering too frequently may cause leaf yellowing. Step 1: Using a clean, sharp blade, cut off a six-inch portion of a healthy-looking branch, making the cut just above a leaf node. A rubber plant should be planted in a big earthen pot with well drained potting soil. That way, the tree will send energy into the old growth instead of the new growth. There are a number of companies that sell rubber for making molds, but Smooth-On and Polytek are very popular ones. This plant can gradually be acclimated to a few hours of morning sun. Look for brown rings on the stem approximately 1/4 from the top of the jade or end of the branch, and cut along the ring with a sharp pair of pruning shears or a knife. Water: Use lukewarm water for the rubber tree plant, as cold water can cause a shock to the roots. It should be moist at all times, but too much or too little water can both cause issues. A gorgeous variegated version of the burgundy Rubber Tree, the strawberry-colored leaves of the Pink Rubber Tree make this plant a unique addition to any indoor space. You’ll be cutting off the top 1/4 of the plant or branch. Max Growth (approx): Height 10ft (3m). Cut the air layered portion (the baby) off just above a node. Use a knife to slice off the excess layers of hardened sap. Each stem branches at the pinched point, resulting in less upward growth but a fuller, denser plant. The rubber tree plant (Ficus elastica) is a common houseplant in the United States. document.write(''); Avoid lower than 55°F (12°C), sudden temperature drops and cold drafts. You can also prune just above a leaf scar. University of Illinois Extension. 2. Rubber plants’ water needs vary according to season: In the growing season (summer), the plant should be kept moist. Pruning should be done with a sharp, sterile blade. Step 5: Tie the plastic around the stem or branch just above and below the cutting so that it's completely covering the ball of moss. Privacy Policy and Since rubber plants can grow up to 10 feet tall in just a few years, they’re great for accenting a space with high ceilings. Plant your new rubber tree—leaving the moss on the roots—in an appropriately-sized pot with fresh soil, then care for it as usual. This will hold in moisture and warmth without suffocating the plant. You can prune it which should encourage it to branch out. MyDomaine uses only high-quality, trusted sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. These plants require accurate water and … Step 2: Using a clean, sharp blade, carefully make an upward diagonal cut about one-third of the way through the stem or branch at the point you chose. During the dry summer season, rubber plants require more water and watering should be done more sparingly in winter. This is especially true when it comes to fluctuations in temperature or air flow. Step 1: Examine your rubber tree’s stem or a healthy side branch and identify the spot where you’d like the roots on your new plant to grow. The Burgundy Rubber Tree is a spectacular indoor plant with thick, glossy leaves that range from a rich burgundy red to almost black. As homes and apartments have become smaller, though, these plants have fallen out of fashion. I air layered mine which is another very successful way to propagate a Rubber Tree. Since rubber plants are kept indoors, you’ll want... 3. If your plant has been in a low-light area, additional lighting will soon help create additional growth and branching, especially after you’ve made the proper cuts. document.write(''); The only surefire way to make a rubber tree grow more limbs is through pruning. If you are air layering before pruning the leafy top of a too-tall specimen, choose a spot that’s at least six inches below the lowest leaves. I thought maybe it was just growing quick after it's first watering since it was so neglected.. just want to make sure its in a good place! Yes, they’re smaller and won’t make nearly as much Caprese salad as those big leaves on the bottom, but there’s a good reason to pick off the leaves from the top of the plant. Hong SH, Hong J, Yu J, Lim Y. Native to the rainforests of India and South America, it can quickly adapt to common indoor temperatures. Remove any branches that grow across the middle of the plant, which decreases the amount of sunlight and air circulation the inner part of the bush receives. A member of the Ficus family, rubber tree plants can grow up to 50 feet tall but are typically grown to 6-to-9 feet indoors. They usually come in a kit with two separate compounds that are mixed together to create the liquid rubber. Step 4: Moisten a big handful of the sphagnum moss and tie it around the cut on the stem using the twine or twist ties. Their large, glossy leaves make a striking visual impression while helping to purify the air in your home.. They can't react as quickly as animals to most things. Plant your rubber tree in a fast-draining, all-purpose potting mix. Avoid touching the toxic sap that will form on the cut ends of the stem—it’s a good idea to wear gloves while pruning or propagating rubber plants. Your plant may not be getting enough light which would account for the legginess. Step 2: Cut off any lower leaves. }, © 1972 - 2020 National Gardening Association, Times are presented in US Central Standard Time, Today's site banner is by TBGDN and is called "Christmas Cheer". Pruning a rubber tree plant is simple and quite easy. Alexandra Jones is an avid urban grower and Master Gardener writing about houseplants, gardening, and sustainability from her home in Philadelphia. Dumb Cane Remove about a third to one-half of the plant’s branches but take care not to … Everything about Rubber Plants! If your plant has only one branch or shed most of its leaves and you want it to make it bushy, trim the top of the branch with a sharp pair of pruning clippers to encourage branches. Observe the trunk of the tree and try to find spots with hardened sap. Rubber trees do not require much light, but flourish in bright, indirect light. Try to avoid sudden changes in environment: As with its relative, the fiddle-leaf fig, relocating your rubber tree to a spot with different conditions may cause it to drop leaves. To speed the process, you can apply rooting hormone to the cut surface of the stem at this point, but new roots will still grow without it. To get this all started, you can cut the trunk or stem (whichever you prefer to call it) straight across with clean, sharp pruners and either toss the top or root it in a light mix. This process can be asexual (creating plants identical to the parent plant) or sexual (the parent plant creating seeds not genetically identical to it). This will hold in moisture. Remove the twist ties & the plastic so you can cut the air layering off. When you see new growth appearing on the stem, you can gradually give your rubber tree more water. Using a clean, sharp blade, cut off a six-inch portion of a healthy-looking branch, making the cut just … } However propagating a Rubber Plant is easy if you follow the four steps below: To get started you'll need a piece of stem, (often a growing tip), it needs to be about 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) long. Use these convenient icons to share this page on various social media platforms: ~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt! After two to three months, new roots should grow, and you can remove the plastic bag. For your plant to thrive, the soil must be kept evenly moist at all times—not too wet and not too dry. Once you have found a spot of hardened sap, slice off the hardened exterior to obtain the soft, liquid sap underneath. Continue reading below to learn how to prune a rubber tree plant to remove unwanted parts of the plant and make it bushy.The pruning of the rubber plant will confine your rubber plant in a pot or in ground to a lower height but thick and bushy. With proper care, the plant will eventually adjust to its new home. If not an evergreen tree, I would need to know what kind of tree it is before I could advise you as to how to make it bushier and taller. Propagation is the process of producing new plants from a parent plant. How Can I Propagate a Rubber Tree? Ficus Elastica. A rubber tree is a hardy plant that requires little care and thrives in a humid, indoor climate. In terms of light, rubber trees are highly adaptable and able to thrive in bright indirect light or lower-light spots. Plant Propagation. Two or more new branches will emerge at the end. Learn how to care for, clean, and propagate a Rubber Plant as well as troubleshooting why your Rubber Plant is struggling! Too little or too much water will lead to chlorosis (yellowing leaves) and leaf drop. Keep in mind that your rubber plant may need less frequent waterings during the winter months. Air layering is often used with plants like rubber trees that tend to grow very tall and accumulate leaves at the top of a bare stem. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Garden & Yard. Every time you prune the leaves from the top of the basil plant, it allows the plant to create two new branches from the spot that you picked. Spring is the best time of year to cut back your rubber plant. In its native habitat, the jungles of South America, a rubber tree can grow to 100 feet tall. When you notice dust accumulating on your rubber tree plant’s shiny leaves, simply wipe them gently with a dusting feather or a damp cloth. Trim unruly or unsightly branches to keep the plant looking tidy. Rubber trees are finicky when it comes to change, so be sure to pick a spot to place it and don’t move it. Rubber plants can easily grow 6 to 10 feet tall or more indoors if there is enough space. I agree, pruning your leggy Rubber Plant ( Ficus elastica) will force branching but it may also need more light for optimum growth and health. I took another leaf off after I did this. Propagating with cuttings is a great way to put the pruned-off pieces of your rubber tree to work. You can use tip cuttings—the end of a branch with new growth—or a portion of stem with at least one leaf at the top. Hello: I have had a ficus elastica for some years now, and it seems to be coming along OK. This technique allows you to turn the top portion of the stem into a short yet full-leaved new plant before cutting back the original plant, which will eventually regrow. A rubber tree plant requires only a small amount of plant food and water to thrive. Two new branches will sprout from this … Watch for droopy leaves, which indicate a need for more water. New branches emerge below the cut. Terms of Service apply. Every week see the 10 best gardening photos to inspire your gardening projects. Planting & Potting Your Rubber Plant. Focus on Plant Problems: Chlorosis. Use a chopstick or other implement embedded in the soil to keep the sides of the bag away from the cutting if need be. They prefer to be pot-bound, so avoid choosing a container that’s disproportionately large for the plant. Since variegated cultivars like pink-veined ‘Ruby’ need bright light to maintain their light green and cream coloring, only choose these varieties if you have a particularly bright spot indoors for them to grow. Water your rubber tree when the soil is slightly dry to the touch. Don't look for too much tight cause and effect with plants. Decide on a shape for your rubber plant. Water your pruned rubber tree sparingly, but keep a close eye on the soil moisture. Environ Health Toxicol. It's always hard to compare with brand new nursery stock grown in optimal conditions. I moved mine to a place where it gets 3 hours of direct sun, and it's next to a bright window.. but I find growth has slowed.. it put out two new leaves quick in its old location and now it's very slowly growing.. normal? If you still need to cut back a leggy rubber plant after the air layering process, cut off the remaining bare stem about five inches above the soil line and add some fresh soil to the pot. It's coming along - more light, and support as well. Pothos are not heavy feeders and don’t require fertilizer, but if you want to … Wash your hands right away if you come into contact with the sap, as it can cause irritation to skin. Fertilize Your Pothos. Updated 2020. Ficus elastica (botanical/scientific). While the timeline for propagating rubber plants is months rather than weeks, the process will go more quickly if you begin propagation in the spring and take longer if you start the process in winter. Step 6: When you see new roots within a few months, remove the plastic wrap and cut through the stem or branch just below the new root growth. A rubber tree grown in a sunny spot will require more water and vigilant attention to soil moisture levels than one grown in shade. The level of soil in the pot should be at least 1 to ½ inches below the rim of the pot as the rubber plant requires a lot of water. What is the best light for a rubber plant? Updated n.d. 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