What are the types of rubber plants and good tips for their care? – A PUZZLE

Rubber plants are attractive, low-maintenance plants that make them unique houseplants. Its leathery and vibrant leaves add charm to any space.

And if you want to make a bold statement by growing a tall tree, that’s also possible because the plant can grow tall and wide.

Today we look at the most common types of rubber plants and what you can do to ensure the plant is healthy:

Contents

What is the rubber tree?

This plant has other names such as rubber fig, rubber tree plant, Indian rubber tree, and rubber shrub.

You may have noticed that the word rubber is common to all of these names and you may be wondering why. Well, the plant produces latex from which humans once made rubber.

The rubber plant originated in South and Southeast Asia, but has since become common in other regions, such as the United States.

As long as you can provide it with the ideal growing conditions, there’s no reason this plant shouldn’t thrive in your home.

The varieties of rubber plants are:

  • a rubber factoryFicus elastica ‘Robusta’.
  • Ficus elastica ‘Decora’.
  • Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’.
  • Ficus elastica ‘Melany’.
  • Ficus elastica ‘Doescheri’.
  • Ficus elastica ‘Tricolor’.
  • Ficus elastica ‘Abidjan’
  • Ficus elastica ‘Tineka’.
  • dwarf elastic ficus

Of these, the most popular types of rubber plants are:

  • Ficus elastica ‘Robusta’.
  • Ficus elastica ‘Decora’.
  • Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’.

Buy your rubber tree here!

How to use rubber?

In the past, the sap of the plant was used to make rubber. Times have changed since then, and now the Para rubber tree fulfills this role.

If you like or like DIY, you can always get factory rubber.

Alternatively, it can resume its current decorative role by embellishing spaces.

Additionally, having a houseplant helps purify the air in your home by removing toxins from the environment.

This does not mean that the plant cannot perform other functions. In India, for example, it is useful for making living bridges.

You can research different ways to use this fascinating strain.

You may also be interested in: Why Does Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Have Multiple Stems?

Common Types of Rubber Plants

Hardy Elastic Ficus

This variety, native to India and Indonesia, is very similar to the original.

However, it has much shinier and wider leaves, making it ideal for anyone looking to make a statement.

It grows to a height of about 30 cm to 2 meters, depending on the care conditions. If you want it shorter, you can prune the plant to the desired height.

This low maintenance plant requires the following growing conditions:

Relief

The plant does well in bright but indirect light. when it is published low light conditions, it may survive, but it will not prosper as much.

Water

The plant only needs water when the soil dries out on top. The soil should be kept slightly moist. Overwatering the soil can cause leaf drop and root rot.

Temperature

Keep the temperature between 16 and 24°C and do not place the plant in a room with cold drafts.

Humidity

The plant is not humidity specific, but does very well with the occasional mist.

Fertilization

For a healthy plant, feed it at least once a month, but only during the growing season.

Learn more about Ficus Elastica Robusta

The plant contains latex in its sap, which is considered toxic to children, pets, and anyone allergic to latex.

If you touch the plant, wash your hands as the latex is a known irritant.

Elastic Ficus ‘Decora’

This popular houseplant has dark, rubbery, glossy leaves with an understated yet aesthetic effect in any room.

It is quite easy to care for this plant, which does well even in low light conditions. Even herbicides can easily take care of it, as it can withstand some periods of neglect.

If you want a little more pop, you can work with cultivars that offer a range of shades and colors.

For best effect, grow this plant in a large part of your home where it can grow freely, such as a stairwell. The bigger it is, the better its effect will be on your space.

It develops under the following conditions:

Relief

This plant does well in bright, indirect light. If it can’t provide that, it will adapt to low light conditions.

Water

The soil should be kept wetter during the warmer months. However, the soil should not be wet.

When the rainy season or cold weather begins, you should reduce the frequency of watering and only water when the top layer of soil is a few centimeters dry.

Fertilization

The plant will do well if you give it a slow fertilizer every six months. Give the plant liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season.

Temperature

The plant should be in cool to warm temperatures that do not go to extremes.

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If you don’t want the plant to grow tall and wide, you can control its size by trimming it occasionally. Ideally, this should be done in spring or summer.

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Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’.

As its name suggests, this plant has rich burgundy leaves that appear almost black, giving it a spectacular shiny appearance.

With proper care, this plant can easily be the centerpiece of any room, filling any corner to your liking.

The best care practices are:

Relief

A rubber leaf plantIt works best when it has constant, bright, filtered light. It is under these conditions that the burgundy red appears.

You can achieve this by placing it near a window and filtering sunlight with sheer curtains.

In low light, the plant will continue to grow, but the leaves will lose their burgundy tint and take on a light green color. However, here’s the interesting thing. In low light, the leaves grow bigger.

Water

Once the top centimeter of the soil is dry, you can water the soil until the excess water runs out of the drainage holes.

Make sure the plant is not in water, as this could drown the roots and cause them to rot. Also be careful when watering and avoid splashing water on the leaves as this can cause spotting.

Humidity

The plant is native to the tropics and will do well with extra humidity, especially during the summer months. In addition, misting keeps dust mites away.

Temperature

The plant thrives in temperatures between 15 and 24°C. Avoid low temperatures or cold drafts

Fertilization

Fertilize the soil monthly during the spring and summer months. When winter sets in, stop fertilizing.

General tips for caring for rubber plants

We’ve covered maintenance practices related to the most common types of rubber plants and you may have noticed some similarities.

Instead of reviewing each plant, let’s now look at the typical requirements of these plants:

Temperature

Temperatures should be between 15 and 24°C at all times.

Any temperature below 12°C can be problematic and cause stunted plant growth.

Also, do not place the plant in a place with sudden drops in temperature or cold drafts.

Relief

The plant should be in a place with bright but indirect light. Make sure the plant is not in full sun.

When there is not enough light available, the plant will adapt to low light conditions.

Water

Water the plant only when the top centimeter of the soil seems dry.

Make sure the pot has enough drainage holes to allow excess water to seep through.

Moreover, you should only moisten the soil, and not wet it; otherwise, the plant may develop root rot and die.

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The potting mix should also be well-drained and ideally contain one part coarse sand, one part pine bark and one part peat moss.

Ventilation is also important. It wouldn’t help you practice proper irrigation techniques if the ground was against you.

transplant

You must move the plant to a larger container if the roots are binding. Always choose a pot one size larger than the original.

You can also transplant the plants when they are young when moving them to another location, allowing for transplant shock.

Once the plants are established in their new home, you can repot them every three years.

Soil renewal should be done every year to provide the plant with enough nutrients.

Fertilization

In spring and summer, you should add a little liquid fertilizer at least once a month. If you want to stimulate growth, you can feed the plant twice a month.

Humidity

The plant does not need additional moisture and will do well in normal humidity. In summer, you can mist the leaves to compensate for moisture loss.

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Once the plant has reached the desired height, you can cut off the top and prune any unwanted branches to achieve a full shape. The ideal is to do it in spring and summer.

If you liked it, you can enjoy it, How to care for your brown leaf coffee tree.

Final thoughts: What varieties of rubber plants are there?

a rubber factorytake care of a rubber tree it’s relatively easy, and by following the requirements that match your choice, you can avoid problems like yellowing and leaf loss.

Also watch out for pests like scale insects and mites.

Happy gardening!

Written by: Daisy Njeric

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