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Get the iPhone app Browse the guideRubber Plant
Ficus elastica
Also called Rubber Fig, India Rubber Tree, Rubber Bush
About Rubber Plant
This is a tough tropical tree grown indoors for its thick, shiny leaves. It copes well with average home conditions if given bright, indirect light. Wipe its leaves occasionally so it can take in light easily.
- Type
- Evergreen tree
- Height
- 1.5–3 m indoors
- Spread
- 1–1.5 m
- Sun
- Bright indirect light
- Water
- Moderate; let the top soil dry between waterings
- Soil
- Well-draining indoor potting mix
- Hardiness
- Needs minimum 12 °C indoors
- Flowers
- Rarely flowers indoors
- Growth
- Upright, single or multi-stemmed tree
- Toxicity
- Mildly toxic to dogs, cats, and humans if ingested
- Native to
- Southeast Asia
How to recognise it
- Thick, leathery dark green leaves
- Pink or red sheaths on new leaf buds
- Woody upright main stem with a support stake
- Milky white sap inside the stems
Caring for Rubber Plant
Watering
Every 9 days- How often
- Water when the top 4 cm of soil feels dry
- How much
- Water thoroughly until it drains out the bottom
- When
- Morning
- Tips
- Never let the pot sit in standing water. Empty the saucer after 15 minutes.
Feeding
- How often
- Monthly in spring and summer
- What to use
- Balanced liquid houseplant feed
- When
- Morning after watering
- How
- Dilute to half strength and pour over the soil
Pruning
- When
- Spring, once growth begins
- How
- Snip tall stems just above a leaf node to trigger branching
- Tips
- Wear gloves when you cut stems. The milky sap can irritate skin.
Jobs it will ask for
- Move pot away from the radiator Shift the pot to a bright corner away from the radiator before the heating turns on this autumn.
- Wipe the leaves clean Use a damp, soft cloth to gently remove dust from the leaf surfaces.
Through the year
Spring
Cut back tall stems to encourage bushy growth. Resume feeding with half-strength liquid plant food.
Summer
Keep the soil evenly moist. Protect leaves from harsh midday sun through windows.
Autumn
Stop feeding as natural growth slows down. Water less often as days get shorter.
Winter
Keep the plant warm and away from heaters. Water only when the soil feels mostly dry.
What to watch for
- Lower leaves turn yellow and drop
- You are likely watering too often. Allow the top soil to dry out before watering again.
- Brown, dry leaf tips
- The indoor air is too dry, likely from the nearby radiator. Move it to a cooler, draft-free spot.
Reference photos
Compare what's in your garden with confirmed photos of Rubber Plant.
Photos from iNaturalist contributors.
Written by Garden Rescue from photo identifications, in metric units. Local advice from your extension service or garden centre beats a general guide.