Rubber Plants

Rubber Plants: Buying & Care Guide

Style your space with lush Rubber plants to add elegance and style to your interior. Popular as indoor houseplants since at least the 1970s, Rubber trees (known as Ficus elastica or Ficus robusta) have glossy, oval-shaped leaves, and some varieties can grow up to 6-8 ft. indoors with the right care. Ficus Rubber plants require moderately bright light and have low water requirements, making them easy to grow, even for beginners.

Growing a Rubber plant in your indoor space has many benefits; these fascinating plants are well-loved in interior design due to their dignified look and attractive foliage. Rubber tree plants are excellent air-purifying plants for filtering toxins out of the air, and they have a soothing, stress-relieving effect.

The Rubber plant symbolizes wealth, happiness, peace, and resilience. In Feng Shui, they’re believed to promote constructive growth and transformation.

Explore Our Collection of Rubber Plant Varieties

There’s a variety of Rubber plants that thrive in indoor settings. It’s important not to confuse Ficus Rubber plants with Baby Rubber plants, which are tropical plants belonging to the genus Peperomia. A Ficus Rubber plant is larger and grows upright instead of staying compact and bushy, like Peperomias.

Burgundy Rubber Tree (Ficus robusta 'Burgundy')

• Distinct features: The Burgundy Rubber Tree is an impressive Rubber tree houseplant that looks great as a statement plant. It also makes a wonderful office plant due to its easy-care requirements.
• Level of care: Easy
• Toxicity: Toxic to ingest

Ruby Rubber Tree Plant (Ficus robusta 'Ruby')

• Distinct features: A stunning variegated Rubber plant, the Ruby Rubber Tree has beautiful multicolored leaves in shades of yellow, green, pink, and red. These attractive large Rubber plants thrive in medium light and require good drainage.
• Level of care: Easy
• Toxicity: Toxic to ingest

Ficus Elastica Tineke (Ficus robusta 'Tineke')

• Distinct features: One of the most beautiful Ficus elastica varieties, the Ficus Tineke is one of the relatively rare Rubber plants for sale. Its gorgeous leaf patterns will add beauty to your space, while its air-cleansing properties will improve indoor air.
• Level of care: Moderately Easy 
• Toxicity: Toxic to ingest

Rubber Plant Care: Growing & Maintenance Tips

Rubber plants are easy to grow, as long as you know what they need to thrive. Here are our top Rubber Tree plant care tips to grow beautiful, healthy plants.

• Watering and Humidity: Let the soil dry completely before you water your indoor Rubber plant again. Use a pot with drainage holes to prevent root rot. Average humidity is sufficient for this plant; mist it regularly with filtered or distilled water to increase humidity in drier spaces.
• Light and Temperature: Most types of Rubber Plants require bright, indirect light to grow well, but they can also adapt to lower or higher light exposure. Rubber plants prefer average indoor temperatures of 65℉ - 78℉. Always make sure you keep your Rubber plant ficus elastica away from cold drafts.
• Soil and Repotting: Use a well-draining potting mix when repotting. Add perlite to enhance drainage. You don’t need to repot immediately after receiving your plant. Wait for 6-12 months; it’s time to repot your plant if you notice the roots growing out of the drainage holes. Wear gloves when repotting as Rubber tree sap can irritate the skin.
• Feeding and Propagation: When you get a small Rubber plant, start feeding it monthly with a fertilizer rich in phosphorus to help it develop its root system. If your plant is mature, use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer once a month to promote healthy foliage. Probagate your Rubber Plant from cuttings in soil or water, or by air-layering.
• Cleaning and Pruning: Cleaning the leaves from dust is part of regular Rubber Tree care. Wipe the leaves gently with a soft cloth. Most Rubber plants require regular pruning to stay in good shape. Trim branches above the place where a leaf attaches to the stem; new branches will grow from there, promoting bushier growth.
• Common Issues: Overwatering is one of the most common issues your Rubber plants can face in indoor settings. Watch out for yellowing leaves and check that the soil is dry before repeated watering. Crisp, brown leaves and dry soil indicate underwatering, while brown spots or curling leaves show that the plant receives too much direct sunlight.

Order a Gorgeous Rubber Tree Plant for Sale From Lively Root

Shop vibrant Rubber plants for your space from Lively Root’s selection! Place several trees together to create a refreshing island of greenery in your living room, or get a smaller tree to add some green inspiration to your office space.

Choose a large Rubber tree plant to add an instant statement centerpiece to your space; these plants shine as focal points in minimalistic interiors.

Order a Spectacular Rubber Plant for Sale From Lively Root!