How to Grow a Rubber Plant

The dramatic foliage and treelike appearance of rubber plants appeals to many people, particularly those seeking an attractive and relatively low-maintenance potted house plant. Several cultivars exist, including a red-tinged type called "Burgundy" and a showy, variegated strain commonly called "Variegata." However, most rubber plant cultivars feature solid green coloring on their large, leathery leaves. Because most varieties of rubber plants are hybrids, the only reliable means of growing new plants is through vegetative propagation, which involves transplanting cuttings. Unfortunately, rubber plant cuttings sometimes take several months to root, but they root reliably nonetheless.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp sand
• Perlite
• 6-inch pot
• Gloves
• Shears
• Watering can and water
• Plant mister

Instructions

1. Prepare a rooting pot for the rubber plant cutting before taking it. Combine four parts sharp sand with one part perlite to create a sterile yet moisture-retentive rooting medium for the cutting. Fill a 6-inch pot with the rooting medium.

2. Put on gloves before working with rubber plants since they exude a latex-like sap that provokes a skin reaction in many people. Measure 4 to 6 inches from the tip of the stem, not the leaf. Make an angled cut just below a leaf using a pair of sharp shears.

3. Snap off the lowest leaf to expose the node. Run water over the end of the rubber plant cutting to staunch the flow of the latex-like sap.

4. Insert the end of the rubber plant cutting into the prepared pot up to the lowest leaf. Shake the pot slightly to settle the sand and perlite around the cutting.

5. Pour a 1/2 cup of water onto the rooting medium immediately after potting the rubber plant cutting. Water the cutting again with a 1/2 cup of water only when the rooting medium feels dry 2 inches below the surface.

6. Set the rubber plant cutting somewhere with bright light and very high humidity, such as in a bathroom with large windows. Mist the cutting several times a day with a plant mister if a humid growing place is not available.

7. Check for roots beginning 45 days after potting. Gently tug on the base of the rubber plant cutting to test for resistance. Do not be discouraged if it takes two to three months for the cutting to root.

8. Transplant the rubber plant cutting into a large pot filled with standard potting soil two to three weeks after rooting.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash your hands thoroughly after working with rubber plants to remove any sap.

References

• "American Horticultural Society Plant Propagation: The Fully Illustrated Plant-by-Plant Manual of Practical Techniques"; Alan Toogood; 1999
• University of Oklahoma: Department of Botany and Microbiology: Ficus Elastica