How to Prune a Ficus Elastica

Leaf from a Ficus elastica.

Ficus elastica, also known as the rubber plant, is a common household plant that is easy to grow and fairly easy to maintain. The main maintenance concern is that the plants tend to grow straight and tall and do not branch out enough. To get a fuller look, pruning the Ficus elastica is essential. With some simple cuts, your plant will grow back fuller and healthier than ever.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears
• Rubber gloves
• Newspaper

Instructions

1. Place a newspaper under the Ficus elastica plant and put on gloves before you begin to prune the plant. When trimmed, the plant secretes a white milky substance which can be irritating to human skin. The milky substance can also be toxic to cats so beware of their presence when pruning.

2. Cut the main leader stem of the Ficus elastica; take a couple of inches off the top. Ficus elastica tends to grow straight up and won't branch out unless the main stem is trimmed.

3. Trim the branching stems of the plant 1 to 2 inches if they appear long and stringy. The more branches you trim, the bushier and fuller the plant will grow back.

Tips & Warnings

• Ficus elastica and the milky substance it produces is toxic to cats.

References

• www.botanical-journeys-plant-guides.com: Rubber Tree Plant Care