How to grow the Indian rubber tree? Detailed guide to the latest cultivation methods
The Indian rubber tree (Ficus elastica) is an evergreen tree of the genus Ficus in the mulberry family, native to India and widely cultivated across China. Its leaves are large and glossy, and it stays green through all four seasons, making it a common foliage plant. Grown in pots, it can be placed in living rooms and bedrooms as decoration, and it is often used to beautify the environment in hotels and restaurants. In warm regions it can be grown outdoors as a street tree or landscape tree. Now let us take a look together at how to grow the Indian rubber tree!
Growth habits of the Indian rubber tree
The Indian rubber tree is a tropical tree species, native to India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka and other places. It likes to grow in warm, humid environments with plenty of sunlight, and it is not cold-hardy; in relatively cold environments the Indian rubber tree finds it very hard to survive. In addition, the Indian rubber tree quite likes fertilizer, so when growing it, it is best to choose fertile soil for planting the Indian rubber tree.
Propagation methods for the Indian rubber tree
The Indian rubber tree is mainly propagated by cuttings, and it can also be propagated by layering. For propagating the Indian rubber tree by cuttings, May to September is suitable. When taking cuttings, select 1- to 2-year-old Indian rubber tree branches and cut them into sections of 3 to 4 nodes each for rooting. Note that when taking cuttings, you should immediately apply slaked lime powder or plant ash to the cut surface of the severed branch and press firmly with your thumb for three to five minutes to prevent the loss of sap. Each branch section should retain one to two leaves to allow for better rooting. In addition, the cutting temperature is best kept above 15°C.
Cultivation methods for the Indian rubber tree
1. Temperature: For the Indian rubber tree, 20-25°C is best, and it can even grow well above 30°C, but in winter, if the temperature is too low, the rubber tree will drop a large number of leaves, and its cold tolerance is very poor. In the northern regions of China it needs to overwinter in a greenhouse.
2. Light: It is indeed true that sunlight is the food of plants. In the cultivation methods for the Indian rubber tree, sunlight is also a treasure; giving it plenty of sunlight lets it grow strong and healthy, with appropriate shading from May to September.
3. Fertilizing: Fertilizer is like calcium supplements, strengthening its “physical health”. In the cultivation methods for the Indian rubber tree, fertilizing is also one of the key points; it can reduce the occurrence of mottling and make the leaves more lustrous. Using nitrogen fertilizer alone is fine, but remember to stop fertilizing in winter.
4. Pruning: When spring arrives, it is time to prune the Indian rubber tree. Cut away the forked branches inside the canopy, inward-growing branches and thin, weak branches, to maintain good internal ventilation, good light penetration and the overall shape. Usually, in the cultivation methods for the Indian rubber tree, the pot must be repotted once every 2 years, with materials such as leaf mold added and the mix prepared anew; it prefers loose, well-drained loam.
5. Soil: The Indian rubber tree prefers fertile, loose, slightly acidic soil. The potting soil should preferably be prepared with 4 parts leaf mold, leaf ash soil plus about one part river sand and a small amount of base fertilizer.
6. Watering: In the high-temperature summer season, the Indian rubber tree grows quickly and should be given plenty of fertilizer and water, but waterlogging in the pot must be avoided. After autumn begins, gradually reduce watering to promote solid plant growth and help it overwinter.