Ficus elastica is native to southern China, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia. It is a tropical evergreen that makes a great houseplant. It thrives in low-light conditions and NASA even recommends it for cleaning the air. Additionally, the facility has its own history. It is used, along with Hevea brasiliensis, to extract latex for rubber. That is why it is called the rubber tree. In the tropical regions of north-east India, Ficus elastica has roots. People there use them to create amazing ‘living bridges’! A dead tree is placed over the river and the roots of Ficus elastica are directed towards the tree. One side of the trunk rots. The roots on the other side grow and thicken. They grow more roots to complete the wind and flood bridge.
The large rubber tree is a Ficus elastica
It is in the family Moraceae, which has shrubs, trees, and willows. They are known for their lazy bleeding and ‘leaf polymorphism’ after injury. This means that leaf shapes will differ at different life stages. This is unique because many other plants keep the same leaf shape for their whole lives.
Caring for rubber trees
How much light does a rubber tree need?
Rubber trees need at least six to eight hours of light per day. This can also be a little light, but it is better to give this kind of medium to bright light, preferably direct light. If your windows get direct sunlight. Installing a sturdy curtain can help spread the light. You may find that if the rubber tree does not receive enough light to color its leaves, they will wilt.
How often should you water a rubber tree?
It is best to water the rubber tree every 1-2 weeks, allowing the soil to dry between waterings. Plant more often when the plant gets more light in spring or summer. Then, plant less often in fall or winter. If the plant’s leaves begin to move forward or the pot dries out, this is a sign that you need to water more often. If the leaves shrivel or the potting mix becomes wet, water less.
Do rubber trees need moisture?
Rubber Wood is not very sensitive to moisture. It can withstand any humidity level, including normal room humidity.
What temperature does Rubberboom like?
For rubber trees, choose a temperature between 18°C and 30°C (65°F to 85°F). Do not allow the temperature to drop below 15°C (60°F). Remember that this plant comes from tropical forests!
How big is a rubber tree?
This plant, which can reach a height of 10 meters outdoors, will grow up to 3.2 meters in recent years. If you grow it indoors, it will still be large, probably reaching heights of 6 to 10 feet or 2 to 3 feet if properly provided.
Are rubber trees easy to care for?
Rubber tree is generally a very sensitive plant. You need to give it light and water. But, you also need to keep it free of pests like scales and mealybugs. If so, act fast. Apply neem oil weekly and clean the plants often.
Are rubber trees safe for pets?
This plant is not a pet; It is considered poisonous due to its milk. It is poisonous to cats, dogs, and humans when eaten. Best practice is to keep these indoor structures out of reach of children and pets. For a different but easy-to-find ficus, consider Ficus elastica ‘Tineke’. It is sometimes sold under the ‘Chroma’ label. As is known, the rubber plant variety is mostly green and cream. It also has a reddish-brown color tone. The green on the stem is dark red. It is usually grown indoors. But, it can be left outdoors all year in very cold and frosty places. However, Ficus elastica is not native to North America. It can be invasive. So, you should grow it where its roots can spread widely. Keep your Ficus away from curious toys. Like other native plants, they are poisonous to pets.
Ficus Tineke Kwita Care
They are low-maintenance, which is ideal for novice homeowners. The basic requirements for growing Ficus Tineke are:
- Put it in bright, direct light. But, keep it away from direct sunlight. Pour into a pot of well-mixed, preferably slightly acidic cactus mixture. Water when you feel the top few inches of soil are dry. Keep the room 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid drafts by using air conditioning. Fertilize lightly every few weeks in the growing season. Stop feeding in winter. Turn leaves if necessary for photosynthesis. Repotting every few weeks gives the plant good variety.
- The Ficus elastica prefers bright, direct light. It is the kind found in tropical climates. Preserving the teak’s unique diversity is a huge challenge. The challenge is to find the right balance. Too much light burns the leaves. But, too little light fades their brown color. It also slows new leaf growth and may give your plant unattractive legs. Placing your plant in an east-facing window works best. Placing it in a south- or west-facing window also works well. Your Ficus Tineke may like some morning sun. But, it should avoid harsh sun in the afternoon.
- Soil Ficus Tineke does not create a mess when mixing pots. Delivery is loose and dry, you should have no problems. They tend to thrive in slightly acidic environments. You do not have a maintenance plan for the care of your Ficus Tineke.
- Plants will appreciate it if you allow at least two inches of dry potting mix to soak between waterings. So, water every two weeks in the growing season. This is enough, depending on your home’s light and humidity. They like constant light moisture. Too much dryness is a problem. But, leaving them in standing water will lead to rot. So, some water is better than water. Lots of water helps, but don’t drip it on the leaves as this can cause contamination. As expected from a tropical species. Ficus Tineke likes both hot and cold weather.
- The ideal temperature is 60 to 75 degrees F. Avoid this plant if your home is below 55 degrees or has sudden heat waves. Also avoid it if your home has drafts, dry heat, or air conditioning.
- Fertilizer is key. It helps large, flower-filled leaves grow well. Feed them with weak, homemade fertilizer every few weeks in the growing season. Don’t choose something too strong because then it will grow too fast and your plant will root too quickly. You do not need to feed Ficus Tineke in winter. There are two other popular varieties of Ficus elastica. One is Ficus elastica ‘Ruby’ and it has a distinctive variegated color. It needs a lot of light to preserve strong colors. At 3 to 6 feet tall, it is smaller than other species. Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’ has large, dense, black-leaved leaves. Under good conditions it grows into a tall, straight tree exceeding 12 meters.
- Pruning is key for these fast-growing plants. It maintains their good shape, reduces leg growth, and promotes new, healthy leaves. When you prune the beautiful trees, the leaves look amazing. Any good wood you remove to create a flat structure can be used to grow a new plant.
You can make new Ficus Tineke with air
But, this is a hard way to do it and requires skill. However, it is easy to get rid of new rubber trees as the trees spread. Advertising in the spring, when the growing season begins, produces the best results. Here are some tips for this direct method. Choose a cutting about 15cm from a nice tree with at least four leaves. Use a clean, sharp knife to cut. Remove leaves from the bottom of the cutting and leave one leaf on top. This way, energy is focused on new growth rather than existing leaves. Place the cuttings in a dry, well-drained, soilless mix, ensuring that the top layer of the mix is visible. Soaking cuttings in rooting enzymes before planting increases the chances of successful propagation.
Creating low humidity encourages rooting. So, place a tightly sealed plastic bag over the cutting container. Make sure the bag doesn’t touch the cut (a chopstick works well for this). Continue cutting the pot in a warm place with plenty of direct light and let it dry. It usually takes a month for the roots to begin to form properly. You will know if it will work if there is resistance when you pull the cut. Repot your Ficus Tineke when you see the roots grow in the puddles. These plants grow very quickly, so repotting once or twice a year is normal. Choose a pot that is only a few inches wider than the original. If you choose something too big, it will retain too much moisture.
This will make the roots wet and the pot smaller. Fill the pot with the mixture, mix well, and leave a two-inch gap at the top of the pot for ventilation. Common pests and plant diseases attack the plant. Like other ficus, it is prone to mites, scale insects, mealybugs, whiteflies, and aphids. Control the population with insecticidal soap or neem oil before replacing. Ficus trees are also susceptible to leaf spot disease. Remove infected leaves as soon as possible to prevent the fungus from spreading. Ficus Tineke has common problems. These plants are easy to care for. But, neglect or bad conditions can cause issues. Here are some things to keep in mind. Leaves turn yellow. It’s one of the first signs you are overwatering your Ficus Tineke. This could also be a sign that your facility is struggling. Always check the soil before watering. If the top two inches of soil is still wet, wait a few days and check again.
Plant leaves are falling off.
Underwatering results in premature leaf drop. Some leaf loss is natural. As your plant grows, lower leaves drop off to focus energy on newer growth. But, letting your plant get too dry will kill it. Premature leaf drop is a sign that you may need to increase your watering schedule. Don’t let the potting mix dry out completely between waterings.
Brown Tips
Leaves that turn crispy and develop brown tips may be sitting in overly direct sunlight. Move your plant to a position where the sunlight is more dappled to prevent this from happening.
FAQ
How fast does the ‘Tineke’ ficus grow?
Variegated rubber plants are relatively fast growers. Expect them to grow up to 24 inches annually. They reach heights up to 10 feet indoors. But, outside with the right conditions, they grow faster and much taller.
How long will my Ficus Tineke live?
Look after your plant well, and it could live for at least a couple of decades. These long-lived plants can survive outdoors for 100 years. They do so in ideal conditions.
Why is the variegation fading on my Ficus Tineke?
The main reason the pink hues disappear is lack of light. They don’t thrive in spots with prolonged, intense sunlight. But, they need access to bright, filtered light to keep their striking variegation.
