How to care for a rubber plant
The web tells everyone about how to care for rubber plants and the cultivation methods and precautions for maintaining green plants. Let's take a look together.
The rubber plant is a famous potted ornamental leaf plant, also known as the rubber tree or Brazilian rubber tree, belonging to the ficus genus of the mulberry family. It has high ornamental value and is very suitable for indoor decoration. Small and medium-sized plants are often used to beautify living rooms and studies, while medium and large-sized plants are suitable for decorating the sides of large building entrances and in the central lobby. Let's take a look at the cultivation methods and precautions for rubber plants!
Growth habits of rubber plants
Native to Brazil, rubber plants are now widely cultivated in tropical regions of Asia. They are cultivated in southern Taiwan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and southern Yunnan in China, with more plantations in Hainan and Yunnan. They prefer a hot, humid, and sunlit environment, with a suitable growth temperature of 20-25°C and dislike direct sunlight. They can tolerate shade but not cold, with a safe overwintering temperature of 5°C. They can tolerate dry air. They dislike clayey soil and are not resistant to barrenness and drought, preferring loose, fertile, and well-drained slightly acidic soil.
Propagation methods for rubber plants
1. Cutting method: The cutting time is at the end of spring and the beginning of summer, which can be combined with pruning. The cuttings are usually selected from one-year-old semi-woody middle branches, and the wounds should be sealed with clay or plant ash promptly. The length of the cuttings should retain three buds, cut off the lower leaf, and bind the top two leaves together with fine plastic绳. Then, insert them into a cutting bed with sand or frog stone as the base. After insertion, maintain a high humidity in the bed without waterlogging, with a suitable temperature of 18-25°C. Regularly sprinkle water on the ground to increase air humidity and ensure shading and ventilation. It usually takes 2-3 weeks to root.
2. Layering method: Select branches that are 2 years old, appropriately sized, well-developed, and firm in tissue. Make a mild ring-shaped incision about 1 cm wide at the intended earthing site, apply 30-50ppm of naphthalene acetic acid solution, then wrap the incised part with moist soil, moss mixture, or well-watered vermiculite. Wrap the outside with plastic film, tie the bottom tightly, leave the top open for ventilation and watering. Pay attention to maintenance. Layering in June, and rooting in July-August. Once rooted, they can be cut and potted.
How to care for a rubber plant
Cultivation methods for rubber plants
1. Temperature: The ideal temperature for rubber plants is 20-25°C. They can also grow well at over 30°C, but in winter, if the temperature is too low, rubber plants will shed many leaves, as they have very poor cold resistance. In northern China, they need to be overwintered in a greenhouse.
2. Light: Sunlight is indeed the food of plants, and it is also a treasure in the cultivation of rubber plants. Providing them with ample sunlight will help them grow robustly, and they should be shaded appropriately from May to September.
3. Fertilization: Fertilizers are like calcium supplements for the plant, which can enhance its "health." Fertilization is also a key point in the cultivation of rubber plants, which can reduce the occurrence of stains and make the leaves brighter. Using nitrogen fertilizer alone is fine, and remember to stop fertilizing in winter.
4. Pruning: With the arrival of spring, it's time to prune rubber plants, removing internal branches, inward branches, and weak branches to maintain good ventilation, light transmission, and overall shape. Typically, rubber plants need to be repotted every two years, adding leaf mold and other materials for reconfiguration, as they prefer loose and well-drained loamy soil.
5. Soil: Rubber plants prefer fertile, loose, slightly acidic soil. Potting soil should be a mixture of 4 parts leaf mold, grass ash soil, about one part river sand, and a small amount of basic fertilizer.
6. Watering: In the hot summer months, rubber plants grow quickly and require plenty of fertilizer and water, but avoid waterlogging in the pot. Reduce watering in the fall to promote the plant's growth and prepare it for winter.
Precautions for cultivating rubber plants
1. The optimal growth temperature for rubber plants is 25-30°C. If the temperature drops below 3°C in winter, the leaves will turn yellow and fall off. Therefore, they should be placed in a sunny indoor location and maintain a room temperature above 10°C. In summer, when temperatures exceed 35°C, move the plant to a cool and ventilated area and spray water to cool it down.
2. As a member of the mulberry family, rubber plants contain latex throughout. Therefore, after each pruning, immediately seal the cut with clay or apply charcoal powder to prevent excessive juice loss and potential dehydration and death.
3. For rubber plant seedlings, it is necessary to regularly rotate the pot to prevent the plant from growing偏向 one side, which can affect the appearance and beauty.
4. Generally, after rubber plants have matured, the roots become larger and can cause soil compaction, hindering soil aeration, leading to yellowing of the plant and even death in severe cases. It is advisable to repot once every spring before new buds grow. Loosen the soil every 15-20 days until it returns to normal growth.
Cultivation value of rubber plants
1. Ornamental value: Rubber plants have large, shiny leaves that stay green all year round, making them large shade-tolerant ornamental leaf plants. Whether placed in ordinary family halls and corridors or decorating hotel lobbies, they make excellent decorative materials and have a strong growth capacity, requiring little care.
2. Air purification: In a well-lit environment, rubber plants can perform vigorous photosynthesis and transpiration, regulating air humidity and oxygen levels. They also have a unique dust purification function and can absorb harmful gases such as formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrofluoric acid from volatile organic compounds, purifying the indoor air.
3. Feng Shui effect: In terms of home feng shui, rubber plants are related to family harmony and the cultivation of interpersonal relationships. The placement of rubber plants in the room can affect the family's fortune and prospects, promoting good fortune and化解 indoor Yin and sha Qi.