Rubber Tree (Ficus Burgundy)

Put your Rubber Tree somewhere with bright, indirect light. It can handle medium light too, but its dark burgundy leaves might fade to plain green without enough brightness.

It can take some gentle direct morning sun, but avoid harsh afternoon rays, they'll burn the leaves.

Water deeply, but only once the top 2 inches of soil have dried out completely. Make sure the pot has drainage holes so extra water can escape.

Cut back on watering during winter, when the plant slows down.

Regular household humidity of 40% or more is plenty for this plant. It does well between 65°F and 80°F.

Keep it away from cold drafts, AC vents, and anything below 55°F, sudden drops can cause it to lose leaves.

Use a well-draining, loamy mix with some perlite, pumice, or coarse sand added in to keep it from compacting and help it drain fast.

Feed it monthly from early spring through late summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Stop feeding entirely in fall and winter.

Propagate this plant with stem cuttings during spring or summer. Pick a healthy stem tip with a few leaves and cut cleanly just below a node.

You'll see a sticky white sap ooze out, just wipe it away with a damp cloth or dip the cut end in water to seal it. Let it callous for a day, then place it in water or a moist perlite and peat mix. Keep it warm with bright indirect light until roots form, usually within a few weeks.

Repot every 1 to 2 years in spring. Choose a heavier pot just 2 inches wider than the current one, so the tall plant doesn't tip over.

If you want to keep it from getting any taller, you can leave it in the same pot and just refresh the top few inches of soil instead.

Keep this plant away from pets. Like all Ficus varieties, it has a sticky, milky sap in its stems and leaves. If chewed or eaten, it can cause skin irritation, drooling, vomiting, and mouth discomfort.

Native to the tropical regions of Northeast India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

In its native tropical habitats, Ficus elastica can grow into a massive banyan-style tree reaching up to 100 feet tall, producing extensive aerial roots that have historically been trained to form strong "living root bridges."