How to care for a rubber plant in a pot
This article introduces you to the tips and methods for caring for a rubber plant in a pot, as well as the green plant maintenance experience of growing and precautions. Here is a detailed introduction.
Have you ever heard of rubber plants? Their appearance doesn't match their name; they are not soft like rubber, but rather tall trees similar to banyans.
In fact, rubber plants are very easy to grow, preferring warm and humid environments, making them suitable for gardeners in the south. Their leaves are green and glossy, very beautiful, and have high ornamental value. Moreover, placing them indoors can help purify the air. So, how can you grow a rubber plant well? Let's take a look at these four aspects!
One, pot and soil
Firstly, the pot and soil for rubber plants. You can choose a slightly larger pot for rubber plants because they grow very fast and have a well-developed root system. Small pots won't allow them to grow properly. However, some gardeners may not want rubber plants to grow too fast, as they take up too much space, and can use a smaller pot to control their growth.
Rubber plants do not have many requirements for soil, but since it's a potted rubber plant, the soil mixture can be slightly more refined. You must choose soil with good drainage, mix equal parts of garden soil, leaf mold, and river sand, and add a portion of organic compost before potting to ensure better growth of the rubber plant!
How to care for a rubber plant in a pot
Two, watering and fertilizing
Next is watering and fertilizing. Rubber plants have strong drought resistance, so they do not need excessive watering. During the growing season, you can water more to promote faster and better growth. In the hot summer, water can evaporate quickly, so you can water more. However, in winter, when temperatures are lower and water evaporates more slowly, the plant needs less water, so you should also reduce watering to avoid burdening the roots.
Also, rubber plants love fertilizer. During the growing season, you can fertilize more, usually using a balanced compound fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, once every two weeks or so. This will make the leaves of the rubber plant oil-like and glossy. However, in winter, when temperatures are low and plant growth is slow, you should avoid fertilizing and maintain slightly moist soil to help it survive the winter safely.
Three, lighting
Also, many friends think that rubber plants prefer shade, but that's not true. Rubber plants actually love the sun. In the south, you often see rubber plants along roadsides that are not afraid of wind and sun exposure and grow even more vigorously. Therefore, adequate sunlight is very beneficial for the growth of rubber plants. Besides, except for placing them in a well-ventilated and shady place during the hot noon of summer, it's best to provide full sun care during other times!