Indoor rubber trees come in several colors in both solid and variegated forms Deep ruby red, black and green colors are the most common

The Rubber Plant  is related to the Fiddle Leaf Fig Rubber plants do enjoy many of the same conditions as the Fiddle leaf, however, it is not as fussy as its plant cousin

The home cultivars of the rubber tree will grow 10 to 12 feet tall when happy Unless you have high ceilings, expect to prune it back to keep it off your ceiling

This plant is considered mildly toxic When cut or chewed, the stems secrete an irritating latex sap that is not good for your kids or pets Gloves are recommended when pruning this plant.

Rubber plants require a light well draining soil A mix of potting soil and perlite will keep the roots happiest

Rubber plants need to be planted in pots that fit the root size Any well draining pot can be used When repotting always choose a pot that is 2-3 inches larger in diameter than the previous pot

Rubber plants plants require 6-8 hours of bright indirect sunlight everyday for optimal growth Turn the plant every few weeks to maintain even leaf growth and variegation

Water your Ficus Elastica when the soil is dry down an inch or so Rubber plants enjoy moist soil and humidity

Apply a good quality fertilizer  once or twice a month during growing season This plant requires fertilizer to maintain the large green leaves

Keep rubber plants at a low of 65 Degrees F. to upward of 85 Degrees F.  It enjoys consistent temperatures along with warmth and humidity

If your rubber tree is too tall for your home you can prune it Pruning will result in the plant bushing out from the stem at the node below the cut into two branches

Be careful not to severely prune the plant, rather, cut the new offshoots to maintain your preferred height

Wash the leaves gently with water and Neem oil on a monthly basis Neem oil leaf shine will give the leaves a wonderful shine and deter pests

Rubber trees need to be checked periodically for pests Spider mites, mealy bugs, scale, thrips and whitefly are the most common houseplant pests you will see

Propagation is tricky and inconsistent  The best method is stem cuttings

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