Ficus elastica
India rubber fig, Rubber plant, Indian rubber tree, Snake tree, Assam rubber
- Height × spread
- 60m × 60m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 10C & above (RHS H1b)
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
The rubber plant is often seen as a tall smooth leaved plant that lives in a flowerpot. In the wild it can achieve a height of 60 metres. It will climb up the trunk of a host tree, climb above it and then spread mightily so the host is devoid of light. Its life as a pot plant is somewhat less dramatic. The leaves are smooth and dark green and can be wiped clean to ensure they stay shiny and attractive looking. It is possible to pinch out the crown in spring to encourage a branching habit. It will exude latex and this should be washed off. As a pot plant in a domestic environment its height can be given as around 3 metres.
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 60m
- Spread
- 60m
- Height in 10 years
- 3m
- Spread in 10 years
- 1m
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Indoors, Exotic garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Acid (ericaceous), Alkaline
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 10C & above (RHS H1b)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- full light at all times
- Indoor temperature
- 15C minimum temperature
- Use for
- Structural
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Summer · Indoors
Feed with high nitrogen feed
Give the plant a feed monthly from May until August using a houseplant fertiliser that is high in nitrogen.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), choose one where nitrogen has a high value.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while in growth.
Adopt a regime that means the plants are thoroughly watered every week so that they do not become dessicated. In hot weather watering may need to be more frequent, but less often in cool or moist conditions.
Winter
Winter · Indoors
Water moderately in winter
Water moderately.
Give a small amount of water so that the plant doesn't become flaccid (leaves lose their firmness and may droop or look lifeless), or dessicated, but do not saturate the compost or leave it standing in water.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Loam based compost for repotting
Repot using any good quality standard compost.
Alternatively prepare a special compost that is best suited to the plant's needs: mix equal amounts of loam (John Innes no. 2 or 3), leaf mould, and fine bark.
Indoor temperature · Planting
15C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 15 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a sunny spot, close to window
Give this plant a position where there is as much light and sunlight as possible, within 2-3 metres of a sunny or bright window (one that is south, east, or west facing).
Found in
More Ficus
Ficus
Fig
Ficus benjamina
Weeping fig, Benjamin tree, Tropic laurel, Java tree, Waringin
Ficus benjamina
Weeping fig, Benjamin tree, Tropic laurel, Java tree, Waringin
Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey'
Common fig, Brown Turkey, Higo
Ficus 'Silver Lyre'
Afghanistan fig
Ficus benjamina 'Starlight'
Weeping fig, Benjamin tree, Tropic laurel, Java tree, Waringin
Ficus carica
Common fig
Ficus carica 'Brunswick'
Common fig