How to Prune a Rubber Plant
This article provides a detailed explanation of how to prune a rubber plant, as well as insights into the pruning timing and techniques for cultivating rubber plants. Let's take a look together!
Also known as the rubber tree or Brazilian rubber, the rubber plant is a large tree of the Moraceae family, native to Brazil, now widely cultivated in tropical regions of Asia. It has high ornamental value and is very suitable for indoor decoration. Smaller plants are often used to beautify living rooms and studies, while medium to large plants are ideal for decorating the sides of the entrance halls and central areas of large buildings. Let's explore the pruning methods for rubber plants!
Pruning Season for Rubber Plants
When pruning rubber plants, it is important to follow the principle of "pruning branches in winter, controlling lateral growth in summer." This means that in winter, strong trees should be pruned heavily and weak trees lightly, with a focus on removing the strong, upright competitive branches from the base. In summer, strong, vigorous branches should be heavily controlled, with a focus on retaining weaker growth to balance the tree's vigor. The pruning should emphasize cutting off strong lateral branches, pruning strong branches heavily, and cutting weak branches lightly, with the principle of retaining more small branches to highlight the main trunk and promote faster tree growth.
Pruning Height for Rubber Plants
The pruning cut of a rubber plant should be smooth to prevent bark splitting. The stub height should be 1 to 2 centimeters. Too high or too low can affect wound healing and tree growth. The best pruning seasons are early spring, late autumn, or winter. Early spring pruning should be done before the sap starts flowing. Pruning when the tree is budding can lead to rapid water evaporation and nutrient loss, which is not conducive to tree growth. If pruning in summer, avoid doing so in rainy days to prevent waterlogging and disease infection.
Pruning Techniques for Rubber Plants
In the shaping and pruning of rubber plants, it may sometimes be necessary to emphasize the growth of the main trunk or branches, thinning out dense branches or those that affect the shape. Common techniques include bud removal and thinning. This involves removing buds that are just beginning to sprout to inhibit lateral growth, essentially eliminating the side branches at the germination stage to allow nutrients to concentrate on the main branches. Thinning involves cutting branches from the base with pruning shears, often used to thin out dense branches. It is a补救 measure for missed bud removal, where lateral branches have already formed and need to be removed to strengthen the main trunk or meet shaping requirements.
Post-Pruning Care for Rubber Plants
After pruning a rubber plant, to prevent excessive loss of latex from the cut, it is important to apply wood ash to the wound promptly. The treated cuttings should be inserted into a bed with river sand or vermiculite as the base. After insertion, maintain a high humidity in the bed and regularly water the ground (without causing waterlogging) to increase air humidity. Under temperatures of 18-25°C and semi-shaded conditions, roots should form within 2-3 weeks.
Have you understood the detailed introduction on how to prune a rubber plant, including the pruning timing and methods shared above?