Does the rubber plant bloom? The latest answer is here
The rubber plant is native to Brazil and is now widely cultivated in the tropical regions of Asia. It prefers a hot, humid environment with plenty of sunlight. Its suitable growing temperature is 20-25°C, and it dislikes direct sunlight. It tolerates shade but not cold, with a safe wintering temperature of 5°C. It tolerates dry air and dislikes clayey soil, and it does not tolerate barren soil or drought. Now let us take a look at whether the rubber plant will bloom!
Will the rubber plant bloom?
The rubber plant does bloom. The flowers of the rubber plant are very small and have no petals. Many small flowers are hidden inside a small jar-like receptacle, just like those of its close relative the banyan tree. In its original environment it usually blooms from May to July, and the flowering period lasts several months. The rubber plant has a syconium inflorescence, with no familiar flowers. The very small flowers are hidden on the unseen inner wall of the receptacle, and there is a small opening at the top of the receptacle connecting it to the outside. Small insects can enter and exit through the opening to pollinate the small flowers inside.
Pruning methods for the rubber plant
1. Pruning season: When pruning the rubber plant, pay attention to “prune branches in winter, control side branches in summer”. That is, in winter carry out heavy pruning for strong trees and light pruning for weak trees, focusing on removing the upright, strong competing branches from the base. For the rubber plant, pruning in summer means heavy control of strong vigorous branches, controlling the strong and keeping the weak, adjusting the tree's vigor in a balanced way, and mastering the principles of tipping strong side branches, heavy pruning of vigorous branches, light pruning of weak branches, and keeping more small branches, so as to achieve the pruning goals of highlighting the trunk and promoting faster tree growth.
2. Pruning height: The pruning cut on the rubber plant should be smooth, and cracking of the bark must be strictly prevented. The stubble height should preferably be 1-2 cm. Too high or too low will affect wound healing and tree growth. The best pruning seasons for the rubber plant are early spring or late autumn and winter. Early spring is best before the sap starts flowing. If pruned when the tree is sprouting, the tree body transpires quickly, loses water, and consumes more nutrients, which is not conducive to tree growth. If pruning the rubber plant in summer, be careful not to prune on cloudy and rainy days, so as to avoid the wound being soaked in water and becoming infected with disease.
3. Pruning techniques: In the shaping and pruning of the rubber plant, it is sometimes also necessary to highlight the growth of the trunk or main branches and to thin out overly dense branches or branches that affect the shape. The commonly used shaping and pruning methods to highlight the trunk and main branches are bud removal and branch thinning. That is, remove the buds that have just begun to sprout, so as to inhibit the growth of side branches. The principle is to eliminate the growth of side branches at the budding stage, so that nutrients are concentrated to supply the growth of the main branches. That is, use pruning shears to cut the branch off from its base. This is often used to thin out overly dense branches. Branch thinning is a remedial measure for bud removal, that is, because bud removal was not timely, side branches have already formed, and in order to strengthen the growth of the trunk or meet shaping needs, some excess side branches are thinned out.
4. Pruning and care: After pruning the rubber plant, in order to prevent too much latex from flowing out of the cut and affecting survival, the wound should be promptly smeared with plant ash. Insert the prepared cuttings into a cutting bed with river sand or vermiculite as the substrate. After insertion, keep the cutting bed at relatively high humidity, and frequently sprinkle water on the ground (but do not let water accumulate), so as to increase air humidity. At a temperature of 18-25°C and under semi-shaded conditions, roots can form in about 2-3 weeks.
Four-season care for the rubber plant
1. Spring care: Each spring, when the temperature stabilizes at around 15°C, repot it, and prune it appropriately before repotting. In spring it should be placed in a spot with light, keep the potting soil moist, and frequently sprinkle and spray water around it to increase air humidity. Young plants can begin to be fertilized after new leaves emerge. When the temperature is relatively high in late spring, move it to a semi-lit location or an indoor spot with scattered light for placement and cultivation.
2. Summer care: The rubber plant tolerates high temperatures and strong sun, but when the light is too strong, the leaf color easily loses its luster, which is not good for ornamental value. The rubber plant can be placed in a bright indoor spot. Indoors with weaker light is not conducive to its growth. Because the rubber plant has many large leaves and consumes a lot of water, it should be watered in time to keep the potting soil moist, and at the same time spray its leaves and surroundings more to meet its air humidity requirements.
3. Autumn care: In autumn, move the potted plant to a sunny windowsill or balcony for cultivation, keep the potting soil moist, and when the temperature is relatively high at noon, sprinkle and spray water around it and on its leaves to increase air humidity. In autumn, to enhance its cold resistance, it can be left outdoors to toughen up in low temperatures for a period, but it must not be exposed to frost. Before frost falls, it should be promptly moved indoors to a spot with light.
4. Winter care: The rubber plant is not cold-tolerant and can tolerate short-term low temperatures of 0°C. But the indoor temperature should be kept at around 5°C. At this time the rubber plant's growth is at a standstill, so sufficient light should be ensured, and the potting soil should be kept moist but on the dry side. Potting soil that is too wet easily causes root rot. When the temperature is relatively high at noon, sprinkle and spray water around it and on its leaves several times. When the indoor temperature is kept above 15°C, the rubber plant can grow normally, and care can refer to spring.