How to Identify and Fix Common Gardening Problems ?
We provide a variety of viewpoints on how to identify and fix common gardening problems. Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced gardeners :
Container-grown rubber trees can be moved outdoors if outside temperatures are consistently above 50°F. Be sure to place the tree in a protected place, and again, shield it from direct sunlight. Rubber trees can also be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11 year round.
All varieties of rubber plant are best kept contained in pots, because of their prolific growth and invasive root systems. When planted in the ground they can reach over 20m in height and their spreading roots can cause untold damage to driveways, paving, swimming pools and even house foundations.
The roots of a Ficus elastica are extensive and grow as fast as the plant grows tall. Outdoors they can be considered to be invasive because as they grow tall and wide, so do the roots. Although they`re beautiful specimen trees, they can tear up sidewalks and foundations and get into sewer lines.
Natural rubber contributes to deforestation, biodiversity loss, pollution, and more. But climate change and disease also threaten natural rubber.
Bright, indirect light is ideal for growing the Rubber Plant, however they are unusually tolerant of lower light spaces for a ficus. To keep the plant happiest though, it is commonly recommended to place it by a southern facing window with sheer curtains for the brighter light to filter through.
Rubber trees have deep roots that anchor them into the ground and help support their eventual larger size. However, you may see some aerial roots on the plant. These are not considered shallow roots even if they haven`t dug too far into the soil to grow quite yet.
Rubber trees growing outdoors in rich, well-draining soil can get pretty big (20 to 30 feet tall), so be sure to plant them they can spread out a bit—or plan to prune them.
Drill holes into the roots and on top of the stump—this will help the scalding water reach as much of the root system as possible and kill the roots with heat. Once all the roots are exposed, pour boiling water over them. The heat from the water will shock the root system, severely damaging it and killing it.
Prepare The Soil
Rubber plants require a well-draining potting medium to prevent rot while developing roots. The soil should also be light, with large spaces between the particles to deliver oxygen and provide the least resistance to root growth.
In the wild, the rubber tree will grow to heights of 100 to 130 feet, and can live up to 100 years.
Can Rubber Trees be kept small? Although Rubber Trees tend to be fast-growing plants that can grow multiple feet in a season, you can control the size of the plant with regular pruning. Also, manipulating light exposure and restricting pot size may help keep a plant small, but could risk the health of your tree.
This means you`ll want your Rubber Tree in a pot that allows for a little more room to grow into. It`s best to choose a pot that is about 1/3 larger than the size of the root ball. This roughly equates to about 1-2″ of space between the roots and the container on all sides.
Long story short, they`re bad news for all living things, including us humans. And that`s just natural rubber. Synthetic rubber poses threats of its own. The main one is that it`s usually made from crude oil, which is non-renewable, non-biodegradable, and releases harmful chemicals into the environment.
The rubber plant is considered auspicious if it is planted inside the house. Rubber Vastu plants for home are believed to bring financial prosperity, wealth and commercial success. You must keep the rubber plant in the southeast direction; if not, it might bring bad luck.
You should keep the soil moist, but not drowning. You should also wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth to keep them moist and to help your plant absorb more sunlight. Misting is another option if you don`t want to wipe down every leaf. Keep your rubber plant in well-draining soil at all times to combat root rot.
A bathroom with lots of natural light would suit them well as there is naturally more humidity in the air. Although most houseplants want to be re-potted yearly in the spring, the Rubber Plant likes their roots to be cramped and compact so only need potting into something larger every 2-3 years.
Soil for Rubber Plants
Rubber plants don`t like to sit in water, so a well-draining soil is important. House Plant Expert suggests, in particular, that a “well-draining and well-aerated potting soil is needed. 1 part peat, 1 part pine bark and 1 part coarse sand (or perlite) is a good mix.”
Generally speaking, Rubber Tree roots should be whiteish or light brown. Aerial roots will appear the same color as the trunk. Roots should be firm to the touch. In addition, there should not be any odor coming from the roots or the soil.
A healthy rubber plant will happily boast beautiful, glossy, deep emerald green leaves. They`re an extremely fast-growing plant, so you`ll also know if your plant is healthy if it shoots up dramatically during its growing season!
Rubber trees are fairly easy to grow, which is one of the reasons that they make such great houseplants. As long as you are meeting all of their light, moisture, and fertilizer requirements, your rubber plant will thrive indoors.
Temperature & Humidity:
Since rubber trees are tropical, they thrive in warmer, more humid climates and don`t handle cold, dry environments so well. They`re best kept between 60 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and you`ll want to avoid any major cold drafts or quick temperature drops.
Water requirements for rubber plants are consistently moist but never soggy. Soggy plants can get root rot, soil gnats and other problems. Dry soil causes leaves to drop and reduces the overall health and growth of the plant.
Rubber plants can easily grow 6 to 10 feet tall or more indoors if there is enough space. They can be pruned to reduce their size.
You can kill a tree stump naturally using Epsom salt. Drill holes into the tree, fill the holes with Epsom salt, and apply water to the top of the tree stump to allow the salt to penetrate. Then, tightly cover the top of the tree with a tarp or garbage bag. Fungal infections will kill off the stump over time.