Introduction to the placement and cultivation methods of potted rubber plants
The rubber tree originated in the Amazon forest, was transplanted to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in England in 1873, 22 three-leaf rubber trees were shipped to Singapore in 1877, and it spread to the Malay Peninsula in 1898. The rubber tree is a tall tree with abundant latex. It is suited to growing in deep, fertile, moist, well-drained acidic sandy loam. After planting for 6 to 8 years, the latex can be tapped. The economic life of a seedling tree is 35 to 40 years, that of a bud-grafted tree is 15 to 20 years, and the growth life is about 60 years. The dedicated national rubber planting areas are mainly distributed in Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Yunnan and other regions. The main raw material for making rubber is natural rubber, which is obtained by coagulating and drying the latex that flows out when the rubber tree is tapped.
The growth habits of the rubber plant
The rubber plant prefers a warm, humid environment with plenty of sunlight, and can also tolerate slight shade, but is not cold-tolerant. It requires fertile, loose soil and grows well in neutral or slightly acidic soil. When potting, it is best to use a potting mix made of leaf mold, leaf ash soil plus about 1/4 river sand and a small amount of base fertilizer. Keep the soil moist at ordinary times, and apply a dilute liquid fertilizer once every 15-20 days. In the high-temperature season of summer, the rubber plant grows relatively fast and should be given plenty of fertilizer and water, but avoid water accumulating in the pot. After the beginning of autumn, gradually reduce fertilization and watering to promote solid plant growth, which helps it overwinter. Because the rubber plant likes sunlight, it should be placed outdoors in a sunny spot for care from spring to autumn; if placed in a shaded place for a long time, it easily causes leaves to turn yellow and drop. It likes sunlight but is also fairly shade-tolerant. When watering, often use overnight tea. The whole plant should be misted frequently, and the leaves should often be wiped clean with a damp cloth, which benefits photosynthesis.
Because the rubber plant is not cold-tolerant, in winter it must be moved indoors to a sunny spot for care, keeping the room temperature above 10°C, and the lowest temperature should not drop below 5°C; if the temperature is too low and the potting soil is damp, it will cause leaves to turn black and drop and the roots to rot, and may even kill the whole plant. At the end of April to the beginning of May the following year, move it to a courtyard or balcony for care. In the north, note that when moving it from indoors to outdoors with the change of season, it must not immediately receive strong direct sunlight, that is, changes in light and temperature should not be too great. In winter, when room temperature is low, water sparingly and keep the potting soil slightly moist. The rubber plant has glossy leaves that are fresh and pleasant green, and the plant is tall and imposing, suitable for placement on a balcony to green the environment.
Placement
Potted plants can be placed on east-facing, south-facing or west-facing balconies for care, among which cultivation on a south-facing balcony gives the best results. Its plant is relatively tall, suitable for planting on a very spacious balcony. During its vigorous growth stage, place the plant where it receives at least 2 hours of direct sunlight per day. In summer, the environment should be kept ventilated. Slightly low temperatures in winter are not a problem.
Potted plant care
It is best to choose a sandy loam rich in humus as the growing medium. If conditions permit, the potting soil used can be made from leaf mold, fine sand and garden soil in a volume ratio of 1:1:2. The rubber plant is relatively tall and grows quickly, so a large flower pot is usually chosen for planting. The rubber plant likes a slightly moist, somewhat dry soil environment. Summer is the stage when it needs the most water, so it can be watered more; winter is the period when it needs the least water, so water less. In addition to applying about 50 grams of horse hoof slices and the like at the bottom of the pot as base fertilizer when planting, during the vigorous growth stage a dilute liquid fertilizer should also be applied once every 10 days. The rubber plant likes direct sunlight and also tolerates shaded environments. If conditions permit, it is best to let the plant receive full sun. Keeping the environment properly ventilated is enough. The rubber plant likes high-temperature environments and grows well within a temperature range of 16°C to 30°C, and the overwintering temperature should not be lower than 5°C. Every spring, before the new buds sprout, cut the old branches of the plant back by 2/3 or 1/2 to encourage new branches, and at the same time prune the inner branches and thin, weak branches. In balcony cultivation, the rubber plant usually rarely suffers from disease, but it is susceptible to attack by white grubs. Every spring in March, a large plant more than three years old should be repotted once. During the operation, part of the old roots can be cut off, some new soil added, and the plant's branches moderately pruned to encourage branching. In this way the plant will have stronger growth vigor, greatly increasing its ornamental value.
Propagation methods
Propagation is mainly by cuttings, mostly carried out in spring from March to April. Fine sand can be used as the propagation medium. The size of the pot used can be determined according to specific needs. Combined with pruning, cut the just-lignified branches of the rubber plant into single-node segments, each with 1 leaf. The cut end of the stem segment will exude a white sticky sap, which can be washed off with warm water, and then a small amount of charcoal powder can be dipped onto the surface of the cut for later use. Fill a small flower pot with fine sand, then insert 1 bamboo stick about 20 cm long vertically, bury the stem segment of the prepared rubber plant cutting in the soil while maintaining polarity, wrap the middle of the leaf around the bamboo stick, and tie it firmly with fine string. Then place the flower pot with the cutting into a plastic tent, mist frequently to keep it moist, and under conditions of 25°C to 30°C the rubber plant cutting can take root in about 4 weeks. When the young plant grows 2 to 3 new leaves, it can be knocked out of the pot and planted. Layering can also be used for propagation.
Propagate by cuttings and air layering. After the temperature warms up in May, cut 1- to 2-year-old branches, with every 3 nodes as one cutting (single-bud cuttings can also be used). Remove the lower leaves, bring the upper two leaves together and tie them with fine string, then insert them into the cutting bed. To prevent lodging, a stick can be set up separately. Seal the cutting bed with plastic film to keep it moist. At a temperature of about 25°C, roots can form in about 4 to 6 weeks for potting. At home, air layering is more convenient for propagation and also has a high success rate. Choose a 2-year-old branch, first make a ring-cut in the bark on the branch, 1 cm to 1.5 cm wide, then wrap moist moss, peat and the like around the wound, and finally wrap it tightly with plastic film and tie both the upper and lower ends. Layer in June, and after rooting in July to August, cut it off and pot it.
The feng shui role and cultivation methods of indoor potted rubber plants
The rubber plant is a famous potted foliage plant with high ornamental value, extremely suitable for indoor beautification and arrangement. Small and medium-sized plants are often used to beautify living rooms and studies, while medium and large plants are suitable for placement on both sides of the entrance hall of large buildings and in the center of the lobby, appearing majestic and spectacular, and can reflect a tropical scenery. It also has a very good feng shui role. Let us take a look below at the feng shui role of the rubber plant!
The cultivation value of the rubber plant
1. Ornamental value: The rubber plant has large, glossy leaves and stays evergreen all year round. It is a large shade-tolerant foliage plant. Whether placed in the halls and corridors of ordinary homes or used to decorate the lobby of a hotel, the potted rubber plant is an excellent decorative material, and it has vigorous growth ability and does not need much care.
2. Air purification: In places with plenty of sunlight, the rubber plant can carry out vigorous photosynthesis and transpiration, regulating air humidity and oxygen content. Moreover, the rubber plant has a unique function of purifying dust, and can also absorb harmful gases such as formaldehyde among volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen fluoride in the air, purifying the stale indoor air.
The feng shui role of the rubber plant
1. Removing yin energy and sha qi: The rubber plant 'Black Prince' is a rare excellent variety among rubber plants. Placing it in the home can help detect whether the placement direction has too much yin energy or sha qi, and placing it in different positions in the home produces different feng shui effects, because it likes high-temperature, high-humidity environments, likes light, tolerates direct sunlight, does not tolerate shade, does not tolerate cold, and can withstand mild drought.
2. Promoting good fortune and vitality: For example, evergreen broadleaf tree species among rubber trees can promote vitality. Place them in the auspicious direction for regulating qi within the home. For example, the living room should emphasize sufficient light, so on the balcony one should try to avoid placing too many dense potted plants, so as not to block the sunlight. A bright living room can make the family fortune flourish and can play a role in promoting good fortune. It has vitality and can produce an effect of good or bad fortune momentum, but note that it must not be placed in an inauspicious position, otherwise it will play a role in bringing bad fortune.
3. Harmonizing family relationships: The feng shui of the living room is related to family harmony and the cultivation of interpersonal connections. The correct placement of the rubber plant will ultimately affect the family's fortune and prospects. Usually small and medium-sized potted plants or flower arrangements are mainly used, avoiding large potted plants, so as to avoid easily attracting mosquitoes and creating a sense of oppression. The rubber plant should first focus on decorative beauty, and the quantity should not be too many, otherwise it will not only be messy, but the growth condition will also be poor.
Cultivation methods for the rubber plant
1. Temperature: The best temperature for the rubber plant is 20-25°C, and it can even grow well above 30°C, but in winter if the temperature is too low the rubber plant will produce a large number of fallen leaves, and its cold resistance 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 rubber plant, sunlight is also a treasure. Giving it sufficient sunlight allows it to grow robustly. From May to September, provide appropriate shade.
3. Fertilization: The existence of fertilizer is like calcium supplementation, which can strengthen its “physical health.” In the cultivation methods for the rubber plant, fertilization is also one of the key points. It can reduce the occurrence of mottling and make the leaves become bright and beautiful. Using nitrogen fertilizer alone is enough. Remember to stop fertilizing in winter.
4. Pruning: When spring arrives, it is time to prune the rubber plant. Cut off the forked branches inside the crown, the inward-growing branches and the thin, weak branches, maintaining its internal ventilation as well as good light penetration and overall shape. Usually, in the cultivation methods for the rubber plant, it must be repotted once every 2 years, adding materials such as leaf mold and reconfiguring the soil. It prefers loose, well-drained loam.
5. Soil: The rubber plant likes 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 season of summer, the rubber plant grows relatively fast and should be given plenty of fertilizer and water, but avoid water accumulating in the pot. After the beginning of autumn, gradually reduce watering to promote solid plant growth, which helps it overwinter.
Cultivation methods and precautions for the potted foliage plant rubber plant
The rubber plant is a famous potted foliage plant, also known as the rubber tree, Brazilian rubber, etc. It is a large tree of the genus Ficus in the mulberry family, with high ornamental value, extremely suitable for indoor beautification and arrangement. Small and medium-sized plants are often used to beautify living rooms and studies, while medium and large plants are suitable for placement on both sides of the entrance hall of large buildings and in the center of the lobby. Let us take a look below at the cultivation methods and precautions for the rubber plant!
The growth habits of the rubber plant
The rubber plant is native to Brazil and is now widely cultivated in the tropical regions of Asia. In China, it is cultivated in Taiwan, China, southern Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and southern Yunnan, with more planting in Hainan and Yunnan. It likes high-temperature, humid environments with plenty of sunlight. The suitable growth temperature is 20-25°C, and it avoids direct sunlight. It can also tolerate shade but not cold, and the safe overwintering temperature is 5°C. It tolerates dry air. It avoids clayey soil, does not tolerate barrenness or drought, and likes loose, fertile, well-drained slightly acidic soil.
Propagation methods for the rubber plant
1. Cutting method: The cutting time is in late spring and early summer, and it can be carried out in combination with pruning. The cuttings mostly use 1-year-old semi-lignified middle branches, and the wounds should be sealed promptly with clay or plant ash. The length of the cutting is based on retaining 3 buds. Cut off the lower leaf, bring the upper two leaves together, and tie them with fine plastic string. Then insert them into a cutting bed with plain sandy soil or vermiculite as the medium. After insertion, keep the cutting bed at relatively high humidity, but do not let water accumulate. The suitable temperature is 18-25°C. Frequently sprinkle water on the ground to increase air humidity, and do a good job of shading and ventilation. Roots can form in about 2 to 3 weeks.
2. Layering method: Choose a 2-year-old branch of appropriate size, well developed and with solid tissue. At the part where soil is to be wrapped, make a light ring-cut in the bark about 1 cm wide, and apply a 30-50 ppm naphthalene acetic acid solution. Then use wet soil or a moss mixture or water-saturated vermiculite to wrap the ring-cut part, and on the outside bind it with plastic film, tying the lower end tightly and leaving an opening at the upper end to facilitate air flow and watering. Pay attention to care. Layer in June, and roots form in July to August. After rooting, it can be cut off and potted.
Cultivation methods for the rubber plant
1. Temperature: The best temperature for the rubber plant is 20-25°C, and it can even grow well above 30°C, but in winter if the temperature is too low the rubber plant will produce a large number of fallen leaves, and its cold resistance 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 rubber plant, sunlight is also a treasure. Giving it sufficient sunlight allows it to grow robustly. From May to September, provide appropriate shade.
3. Fertilization: The existence of fertilizer is like calcium supplementation, which can strengthen its “physical health.” In the cultivation methods for the rubber plant, fertilization is also one of the key points. It can reduce the occurrence of mottling and make the leaves become bright and beautiful. Using nitrogen fertilizer alone is enough. Remember to stop fertilizing in winter.
4. Pruning: When spring arrives, it is time to prune the rubber plant. Cut off the forked branches inside the crown, the inward-growing branches and the thin, weak branches, maintaining its internal ventilation as well as good light penetration and overall shape. Usually, in the cultivation methods for the rubber plant, it must be repotted once every 2 years, adding materials such as leaf mold and reconfiguring the soil. It prefers loose, well-drained loam.
5. Soil: The rubber plant likes 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 season of summer, the rubber plant grows relatively fast and should be given plenty of fertilizer and water, but avoid water accumulating in the pot. After the beginning of autumn, gradually reduce watering to promote solid plant growth, which helps it overwinter.
Precautions for cultivating the rubber plant
1. The suitable growth temperature for the rubber plant is 25-30°C. In winter, if it is below 3°C, the leaves will turn yellow and drop. Therefore, in winter it should be placed indoors in a sunny spot, keeping the room temperature above 10°C. In summer, when it exceeds 35°C, the plant should be moved to a cool, ventilated place for care, and water should be sprayed in a timely manner to lower the temperature.
2. The rubber plant is a plant of the mulberry family, and the whole plant contains latex. Therefore, after each pruning, immediately seal the cut with clay or apply charcoal powder, so as to avoid excessive sap flow causing dehydration and death.
3. During the seedling stage of the rubber plant, the direction of the pot needs to be rotated regularly, in order to avoid the plant growing toward one side, which causes the plant shape to be unsymmetrical and affects its beauty.
4. Generally, after the rubber plant becomes an established plant, as the roots grow larger, the soil becomes compacted, hindering soil aeration, causing the rubber plant to turn yellow, and in severe cases possibly dying. It is best to repot once every spring before the new buds grow. Loosen the soil once every 15 to 20 days until it returns to normal growth.
The cultivation value of the rubber plant
1. Ornamental value: The rubber plant has large, glossy leaves and stays evergreen all year round. It is a large shade-tolerant foliage plant. Whether placed in the halls and corridors of ordinary homes or used to decorate the lobby of a hotel, the potted rubber plant is an excellent decorative material, and it has vigorous growth ability and does not need much care.
2. Air purification: In places with plenty of sunlight, the rubber plant can carry out vigorous photosynthesis and transpiration, regulating air humidity and oxygen content. Moreover, the rubber plant has a unique function of purifying dust, and can also absorb harmful gases such as formaldehyde among volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen fluoride in the air, purifying the stale indoor air.
3. Feng shui role: In home feng shui, the rubber plant is related to family harmony and the cultivation of interpersonal connections, etc. The placement of the rubber plant will affect the family's fortune and prospects. Placing the rubber plant in an appropriate position indoors has the effect of promoting good fortune and vitality and dissolving indoor yin energy and sha qi.
What to do if the rubber plant drops its leaves?
1. Insufficient light: Insufficient light is one of the reasons the rubber plant drops its leaves. The rubber plant is a sun-loving, shade-tolerant plant. Leaving the rubber plant in a dark place for a long time without sunlight can easily cause it to drop its leaves. Place the rubber plant in a sunny place and maintain good light. In winter, it is best if it can also receive sunlight all day long.
2. Too low temperature: Too low temperature is also a cause of the rubber plant dropping its leaves. The rubber plant likes high temperature, high humidity and plenty of sunlight, and the suitable growth temperature is 20-25°C. Especially in winter, generally when the temperature is below 10°C the rubber plant will begin to drop its leaves. At this time, the rubber plant needs to be moved indoors or to another place with a higher temperature for cultivation, but note that it needs sunlight.
3. Improper watering: Watering the rubber plant too frequently or not watering for a long time will both cause it to drop its leaves. During the growth period, the rubber plant must be watered frequently, especially in the hot midsummer season. Because evaporation is high, it not only needs watering from the roots, but also needs frequent spraying on the leaf surface. However, if the potting soil for the rubber plant is too wet, the roots easily rot, so it must be watered only when the potting soil is dry.
4. Pest infestation: The rubber plant sometimes also has pest problems. Red spider mites on the leaves and scale insects on the branches and leaves can both cause the rubber plant to drop its leaves. If the rubber plant drops its leaves, check whether it is a pest problem and deal with it promptly.
Pruning methods for the rubber plant
1. Pruning season: Pruning the rubber plant should 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. In summer, pruning the rubber plant means heavily controlling strong, vigorous branches, controlling the strong and keeping the weak, adjusting the tree vigor to be balanced, and mastering the principles of cutting back strong side branches, heavily pruning strong branches, lightly pruning weak branches, and keeping more small branches, so as to achieve the pruning goal of highlighting the trunk and promoting faster tree growth.
2. Pruning height: The pruning cut of the rubber plant should be smooth, strictly preventing splitting of the bark. 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, late autumn and winter. Early spring is best before the sap flows. If pruned when the tree is sprouting, the tree body transpires quickly, loses water, and consumes much nutrition, which is not conducive to tree growth. If pruning the rubber plant in summer, be careful not to prune on 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, sometimes it is also necessary to highlight the growth of the trunk or main branches and remove 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, to achieve the purpose of inhibiting the growth of side branches. The principle is to eliminate the growth of side branches in the bud stage, so that nutrients are concentrated to supply the growth of the main branches. That is, use pruning shears to cut off the branch 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 excessive loss of latex from the cut and affect survival, promptly apply plant ash to the wound. Insert the prepared cutting into a cutting bed with river sand or vermiculite as the medium. After insertion, keep the cutting bed at relatively high humidity, and frequently sprinkle water on the ground (but do not let water accumulate) to increase air humidity. At a temperature of 18-25°C under semi-shade conditions, roots can form in about 2 to 3 weeks.
Four-season care of the rubber plant
1. Spring care: Every spring when the temperature stabilizes at around 15°C, repot it, and prune appropriately before repotting. In spring it should be placed in a place with light, keep the potting soil moist, and frequently sprinkle and mist 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 viewing. 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 promptly to keep the potting soil moist, and at the same time mist its leaves and surroundings more to meet its requirements for air humidity.
3. Autumn care: In autumn, the potted plant should be moved to a sunny windowsill or balcony for cultivation, keeping the potting soil moist. When the temperature is relatively high at noon, sprinkle and mist water on its surroundings and leaves to increase air humidity. In autumn, in order to enhance its cold resistance, it can be allowed to toughen outdoors at low temperatures for a period, but it must not be allowed to be hit by frost. Before frost, promptly move it indoors to a place with light.
4. Winter care: The rubber plant is not cold-tolerant and can withstand 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 in a stagnant state. Sufficient light should be ensured, and the potting soil should be kept moist but on the dry side. If the potting soil is too wet, the roots easily rot. When the temperature is relatively high at noon, sprinkle and mist water on its surroundings and leaves several times. When the indoor temperature is kept above 15°C, the rubber plant can grow normally, and care can refer to spring.