How to grow Rubber Plant

Ficus elastica · Indian rubber tree, rubber fig

A popular evergreen houseplant with thick, glossy, dark green leaves that can grow into a large plant indoors; easy to care for and adaptable to lower light.

Quick facts

Type	Houseplant
Family	Moraceae
Light	Partial shade
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Soil for sowing	from 13 °C
Where it grows	At home

When to plant

Planted as a young plant from a nursery while it is dormant — in early spring before the buds open, or in autumn after leaf fall.

Frost dates · When to plant

Care

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 7 days	16…27 °C	nitrogen, 14 days into the stage; nitrogen, 44 days into the stage; nitrogen, 74 days into the stage; nitrogen, 104 days into the stage; nitrogen, 134 days into the stage; nitrogen, 164 days into the stage
Winter rest	every 14 days	13…27 °C	—

Growing notes

Light

Bright light is best, ideally morning sun from an east window; it adapts to lower light but grows more slowly, and too little light can make it lose leaves.

Soil

Loam-based potting compost with added fine bark. Empty the saucer after watering.

Care

Water thoroughly, then let the soil dry slightly to the touch; in winter keep it only just moist. Ideal temperatures are 24–27 °C by day and 16–18 °C at night; avoid temperatures below 13 °C, sudden drops and cold draughts, which together with dry air or too little light cause leaf loss. It prefers humid air but tolerates dry rooms. Feed regularly in spring and summer, with a high-nitrogen feed for leafy growth, and less often if the plant is in low light. Wipe dusty leaves with water. Repot in spring every couple of years if needed. The sticky white sap may irritate skin or the stomach if swallowed, so wear gloves when pruning; figs are toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).

Pests and diseases of Rubber Plant

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.