Ficus Elastica Plant Care

Care for Ficus Elastica Plant
Indoor House Plants

Working in the interior landscape industry for many years, I have found that most indoor plants are very adaptable as long as changes are made slowly. This even applies to the fickle Ficus tree. Some of the Ficus trees can be difficult to acclimate because they are quite sensitive to environmental changes. Ficus benjamina will often react to changes by dropping most of their still green leaves quite suddenly. The Ficus elastica is a much easier plant to care for indoors.

The most common Ficus around is the Ficus Benjamina or "Weeping Fig". It is the old standard but it is one of the varieties that is more likely to do the shedding that leaves it bare and may leave you weeping!

While the some Ficus may be difficult to acclimate, if you know that it may happen (some Ficus trees barely lose a leaf), you may be a little more prepared to deal with it when and if it does happen. Ficus Elastica is more likely to lose leaves if it is kept too wet or not provided enough light.

Ficus Elastica Plant Care Question?

Ficus Elastica houseplant questions? I would be happy to answer any houseplant questions as I can. Free of charge, no sign-ups required!

Ficus Elastica house plant questions or problems? You can send a houseplant question but before you do, please finish reading this page and other house plant care information on watering your indoor house plants, how to help keep your houseplant's root system healthy, lighting for your houseplants, and basic houseplant care. These are most important for your house plant's health and this is some of the information I will refer you to if you send an email.

Working in the interior landscape industry, I get a lot of questions from customers about their personal houseplants. It is nice helping them keep their indoor house plants growing and healthy. That is why I started this website, to help others learn how to care for their indoor plants and flowers. So please read on!

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Plant Care Ficus Elastica
How To Water

In bright light with some morning sun, which is what your Ficus plant should be in, water the soil thoroughly when it has dried down about 1/2 of its depth. You should slowly let your Ficus dry a bit more, even almost all the way. With no sun, let the soil dry down 3/4 its depth or more. Reducing the frequency of watering slowly is a good idea with Ficus. It most likely has come from a high-light greenhouse and has been accustomed to more frequent watering. Using a moisture meter to check the soil of your Rubber tree will also be helpful. This type of Ficus can eventually be allowed to dry almost completely between waterings.

Symptoms of under watering would be yellow and/or brown leaves dropping (lots of them) and stems may start to wither. Temperatures for your Ficus should ideally be kept between 65° and 85°F, avoiding very cold drafts.

Plant Care Ficus Elastica
Other Plant Care Tips

Prune your tree as needed to shape and promote new, beautiful growth. Ficus trees are prone to insects, including scale, mealy bugs, mites and thrips. Always inspect new plants thoroughly before purchase and reject any plant that has distorted growth, discolored growth, new growth that is dying or anything that looks unusual. Check the roots too, if possible. They should be firm and healthy looking.

Although some Ficus varieties are temperamental, the Ficus elastica is an easy plant to care for. Check once a week as you would any other houseplant for water needs. This Ficus can be allowed to dry almost completely between waterings. Don't take that to an extreme either.

• Your new Ficus tree most likely came from a plant growers greenhouse very recently. Sometimes they acclimate them under shade cloth, sometimes not. Assume that they did not and provide as similar an environment to that greenhouse environment as you can. Warm temperatures, lots of humidity and moisture and most important, lots of natural light.
• Do not immediately fertilize your Ficus tree. It should have any needed nutrients already present in the soil, enough to last a year or so.
• Place your Ficus elastica near a large window or in a sunroom.
• Give it a good watering, allowing excess water to drain away.
• Mites and scale are most common insect problems with Ficus elastica.
• Clean tops and underside of leaves of your Ficus elastica.
• Basic house plant care should be all that the easy care Ficus elastica requires.

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It is a good idea to quarantine any new additions to your house plant family for a few weeks just to be sure there are not any insects that were not noticed at first. Wash down your new house plant with a mixture of water and mild dish detergent. I like to add a few drops of Eucalyptus essential oil or Orange Essential oil to my houseplant cleaning solution.

Apply to top and lower leaf and stem surfaces of your house plants, being careful not to saturate the soil. You can clean by hand or use a spray bottle to apply your house plant cleaning solution. I use a sponge moistened with my cleaning solution to gently wipe the top and lower leaf surfaces. Cleaning of your houseplants should be a regular part of your houseplant care.

Never apply anything to the foliage of your plant while it is in the sun or when the soil is dry. Water first and move to a shady location. Hope this has been helpful to you as you care for your indoor plants and flowers! More houseplant care information below...

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Houseplant Care Question?

Questions about your indoor house plants or plant care problems? You can send a house plant question, free of charge, no sign ups, registration or log in required!

Before you send a houseplant care question, please be sure to read this information on watering your indoor house plants, how to help keep your your indoor house plants root system healthy and lighting for your indoor house plants and flowers. These are most important for the health of your house plants and this is some of the information I will refer you to if you send an indoor house plant or flower care question.

You can post comments, find answers to plant care questions, or share some of your own plant wisdom on our plant care Facebook Page, Twitter page or visit my plant care blog. You can also find plant pictures, gardening ideas, and more at our plant and flower Pinterest page.

Thanks for visiting and come back soon as houseplant care information, pictures and more are being added all of the time. I hope that your indoor tropical house plants and all of your plants and flowers are happy, green and growing because that is why I started this indoor house plant and flower care website, PlantAndFlowerInfo.com.

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