The Rubber plant (Ficus elastica) is a popular indoor plant with large, glossy leaves.

Rubber plants are strong plants that are easy to care for and can thrive in a variety of light conditions, making it a great choice for both beginner and experienced plant enthusiasts.

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To ensure the health and vibrancy of your rubber plant, follow these care tips: Provide bright, indirect light, water when the top inch of soil is dry, and maintain a warm indoor temperature. Regularly dust the leaves, and consider repotting when it outgrows its container.

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Indoor Rubber Plant Care

The Ficus elastica is one of over a thousand different varieties of Ficus plants. This means among many others, your fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata), is related to your rubber plant.

If the stem of a rubber plant is scratched or cut, a sticky, milky liquid will come out. This latex sap could be collected and refined into actual rubber.

Now, this is NOT something I tell you to try at home. Just take it as a fun fact about your plant. The sap can even trigger allergic skin reactions, so be careful. More on this later.

Botanical name: Ficus elastica. Common names: Rubber plant, Rubber fig, Rubber tree, or Indian rubber bush.

Need a plant care refresher? Check out the Beginners Guide to Houseplant Care. It will teach you all the basics about indoor plant care.

Light Requirements

Rubber plants can tolerate growing in low light. One of the reasons they are such popular indoor plants.

However, it’s important to note that while the Rubber tree can survive in low light, it may not thrive or grow as quickly as it would in brighter conditions.

For optimal growth, provide your plant with a few hours of morning sun and bright, indirect light the rest of the day. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, while too little light can lead to slower growth and smaller leaves.

Variegated rubber plants, like the Ficus elastica ‘Ruby’ and the Ficus ‘Tineke’, require more and brighter light than regular green or burgundy rubber plants. If a variegated rubber plant gets too little light, the pretty colors may fade.

Occasionally wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to keep the dust off. This will help your plant to breathe and soak up as much light as possible.

If you are wondering why your rubber plant isn’t growing, or is growing small leaves, it most likely needs more light.

How Often to Water Rubber Plant

Water your Ficus elastica regularly to keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. You want the soil to feel like a well-wrung-out sponge.

Never let the soil dry out completely. Too little water will cause the leaves to droop and eventually fall off, leaving the plant with bare stems.

Give your rubber plant a good soak when the top of the soil has dried out. Allow all excess water to drain out of the bottom of the pot.

Rubber plants don’t like cold water. Use room temperature water to prevent cold water shock to the roots.

Use a diluted liquid plant fertilizer to feed your rubber plant about once a month in spring and summer. Don’t fertilize in winter.

You can use a moisture meter to tell if it’s time to water. And read up on the basics of how and when to water your indoor plants.

Humidity

Rubber plants are not very needy when it comes to humidity levels.

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They can grow in average household humidity. No need for misting or humidifiers.

Repotting Rubber Plants

I have seen pictures of rubber plants sitting in pots that are way too small. Sometimes so much that they are top-heavy and about to fall over. If this happens, it’s definitely time to repot!

On the other hand, there are plenty of small rubber plants potted in pots that are way too large.

If the pot is too large for your plant, the soil will stay wet for too long after you water it. This may lead to root rot, which could be the start of the end of your rubber plant.

When to Repot a Rubber Plant

Every two to three years repot in spring when the plant is actively growing. The soil will have lost its nutrients and will need to be replaced with fresh well-draining potting soil.

If your rubber plant has outgrown its pot, repot it in a pot one size bigger. Too large of a pot keeps the soil wet for too long for the roots to absorb.

Make sure the new pot has drainage holes on the bottom. Without those, excess water has no way to get out. Leaves will yellow and roots can rot.

In need of a repotting reminder? Follow the steps on how to repot your plants.

Rubber Plant Pruning

Rubber plants can grow as high as 8 to 10 feet indoors. If you have the space and like the look of an indoor rubber tree, this is great.

But if your plant is getting too tall for your home, pruning can help to keep it at a manageable size.

Pruning from the top will encourage branching from a lower node. This way you can make your rubber plant grow more compact and bushier.

When to Prune

You can prune your rubber tree at any time of year. Usually, I recommend pruning plants in spring. But for the rubber plant, it is a little different.

When your rubber plant is dormant in winter, the flow of the rubber sap will be slower, making it easier to handle. The flow is also slower at night versus in the daytime.

Note that pruning in winter does mean you will have to wait until spring for new growth to appear.

How to Prune a Rubber Plant

Rubber plants are hardy and can handle a good prune. But avoid pruning too much at once. Do not remove more than one-third of your plant’s growth. Plants need their leaves to grow and thrive.

Use sharp and clean pruning shears. The sharper the blade, the less damage the cut will do to your plant. Cut right above a growing point or node.

When you prune the top of your rubber plant, it will not grow any longer, but new branches will eventually grow below your cut.

Rubber Plant Sap

Be careful with the white sap coming out when you make your cut. This sap can irritate eyes and skin, especially if you are allergic to latex. So wear gloves when pruning your rubber plant. If you do accidentally get it on your skin, wash it off right away.

Sap bleeding is a natural process. The flow of sap will stop after some time. You can simply let it go and allow air to get to the wound and let it heal naturally.

If you feel obliged, you could lightly cover it with an old rag to absorb most of the sap. But you don’t have to.

Do protect floors and other surfaces from the dripping sap. You don’t want this on your floors, trust me.

Rubber Plant Propagation

Rubber plants are not the easiest houseplants to propagate, but it can be done.

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The easiest way to propagate a rubber plant is to take a stem cutting from a healthy, non-woody branch and root it in water or directly in soil.

Rubber plant cuttings don’t root very quick, so be patient.

Want to learn more about plant propagation? Read the complete guide explaining the 6 different ways to propagate all your plants.

Propagation by Air Layering

Air layering is also a good option to propagate your rubber plant. Especially if you are dealing with older woody stems.

Make a shallow cut on the stem in between two leaves. Pack damp moss around the cut and cover with plastic wrap to keep moisture levels high.

Keep an eye on it to make sure it stays moist inside. After a while roots will start to grow from the stem into the moss. When this happens, you can cut the branch off below the moss and plant it in soil.

Rubber Plant Leaves Falling Off

Rubber plants are sensitive plants and don’t like many changes. Leaves falling off is a common rubber plant problem.

Most often this happens due to overwatering or too much fertilizer. But your plant can also drop its leaves as a response to sudden changes in light or temperature, cold drafts or a recent repotting.

Leaves Drooping

If the leaves of the rubber plant are drooping, it is almost always a watering issue.

It is underwatered if your plant droops when the soil is dry. Give it a thorough soak and it should perk right up.

When the leaves start drooping and the soil is still moist, then the droopiness is caused by overwatering. Let the soil dry out more and water less often going forward.

Yellow Leaves

The most common cause of yellow leaves on a rubber plant is overwatering. Water less often and make sure the pot has drainage holes on the bottom.

Small Leaves

If the leaves on your rubber plant stay very small, it is usually because of a lack of light.

Move your plant closer to a window, or use a plant grow lamp to supplement the light.

Plant Pests

Indoor rubber plants can be affected by any common household pests.

Watch out for the usual suspects like spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, scales, and fungus gnats.

Keep the leaves clean and dust-free and inspect your plant regularly for signs of bugs to catch a possible infestation before it becomes severe. Check under the leaves and in axils where insects like to hide.

Learn more about common houseplant pests and what you can do to get rid of them.

Is the Rubber Plant Toxic to Cats?

I’ve mentioned the sap inside the rubber plant, so you might already guess this, but yes, rubber plants are considered to be toxic.

Your pet may vomit and have a lack of coordination if they ingest parts of this plant. Stay safe and keep your rubber plant out of reach of children and pets.

Learn more about the risks of toxic houseplants around your pets (and find out which plants are non-toxic and safe!).

Want more big leaf plants? Check out this list full of stunning big leaf houseplants!

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