The Growth Per Year of the Rubber Tree Ficus Elastica

Growth

• Sometimes the rubber tree is called the India fig or India rubber plant because it's native to India and Southeast Asia. It can reach heights of 100 feet in its native habitat but usually becomes no taller than 10 feet in cultivation. The tree can grow 2 feet or more per year when given ideal conditions. An evergreen plant with thick, leathery, glossy leaves up to 1 foot long, it has milky sap that was once used to produce rubber. Its new leaves emerge as bright red, tightly twisted cones that slowly unfurl, making a strong contrast against its green stems and foliage.

Light

• The rubber tree performs best in partial shade, especially in areas with warm summers where it benefits from protection from afternoon sunlight. When grown outdoors, it often develops a treelike form and can become a specimen plant that provides shade, thanks to its large leaves and dense branching pattern. Grown indoors, it needs bright, indirect light and does well placed 2 or 3 feet from a south- or west-facing window. Avoid siting the plant in full-sun exposure, either indoors or outdoors, because the bright light may scorch the plant's foliage and slow its growth.

Soil and Water

• The tree grows in any kind of garden soil and does well in any soil-based potting mix when container-grown. The soil must have good drainage, however, because the tree can grow poorly in soil rich in clay and other soil that tends to stay wet and soggy. Adding some fine sand to a planting site improves the soil's drainage, and including some organic matter such as compost can increase soil fertility and give the plant a good start. A rubber tree needs an even amount of moisture during its growing season, which spans spring, summer and early fall. During dry spells, it benefits from extra watering, but reduce watering from fall through late winter to give the plant a rest.

Problems

• Although free of serious disease and pest problems, the rubber tree can attract scale, mealybugs, thrips or spider mites, which can slow its growth when an infestation becomes severe. Scale can be controlled by spraying with horticultural oil, which is available pre-diluted at garden centers. Soft-bodied pests are controlled best by spraying the plant every two or three weeks with insecticidal soap, diluted in water at a rate of 5 tablespoons of insecticidal soap per 1 gallon of water. Ensure that foliage and stems become thoroughly wet with the soap-water solution for the best results.