Ficus Elastica

Ficus Elastica Care Guide

In this guide we will give you our top tips for caring for a ficus elastica plant. We aim to make your ficus elastica plant care stress-free and simple.

It is important to note that ficus elastica plants are mildly toxic to pets including cats and dogs.

The ficus elastica plant is also known as the rubber tree ficus elastica plant due to the sap that the plant produces being used to make rubber. This indoor tree plants is perfect to add a tropical feel to any indoor space.

Need a Ficus Elastica care kit? It includes everything you need to keep your Ficus Elastica plant roots, leaves and soil in top condition so your plant will look great!

Buy our Ficus Elastica plant care kit

Just here for the plants? Check out our Ficus Elastica plants to buy here.

Caring for an Ficus Elastica Plant

A ficus elastica plant is great for beginners and will be happy in a variety of spots around your home, office or workspace. Let’s take a look at the specific requirements of this plant:

Ficus Elastica Light Requirements

Ficus elastica light needs are for bright, indirect light, which will help them grow at their optimum. They are quite flexible and will still grow in more shaded spots as well as direct sun. These plants will thrive near a window where they can receive filtered light.

One key indicator that that your plants is getting too much sunlight is ff the leaves appear to be scorched. Should this happen, it is easy to resolve, simply move the plant to a less bright spot. Alternatively you could consider the use of sheer or voile curtains to filter the light.

Ficus Elastica Water Requirements

How often to water ficus elastica?

Ficus elastica watering can sometimes be a balancing act. Too much water can lead to root rot but underwatering can cause leaves to wilt and drop.

How to water ficus elastica plants?

Water your plant when the top inch of soil feels dry. We recommend watering this plant from the top, to allow the water to works its way through the soil and drain out if the bottom. Having drainage holes in your pot will allow any excess water to drain out of the pot, leaving the plant in standing water will cause problems with root rot and should be avoided.

An easy way to know when to water your plant is to use a Watering Indicator to help you to monitor your plants water requirements.

Ficus Elastica Humidity

Ficus elastica plants love a high level of humidity. A simple way to achieve this is by using Houseplant Myst Spray. It comes in a handy 100ml size bottle and contains essential nutrients to help your ficus elastica to flourish too.

Another simple way to increase the humidity levels around your plant is to fill a tray with clay pebbles and water near the plant.

Ficus Elastica Temperature Requirements

When it comes to heat, the Ficus elastica temperature tolerance is more limited than other houseplants. Avoid exposing them to extreme temperature changes or cold drafts, which can cause stress to the plant and cause it not to look its best. The perfect temperature range for this plant is between 60-75°F (15-24°C).

Ficus Elastica Fertilizer

Feeding your plants is easy, the best fertilizer for ficus elastica plants is a balanced fertilizer. Feed your plant once a month throughout the growing season.

Houseplant Focus is a great choice as it contains all the essential nutrients your plant will need to thrive.

Soil for Ficus Elastica Plants

What is the best soil mix for ficus elastica plants?

We recommend using a well-draining potting mix that doesn’t hold too much moisture.

A peat-free houseplant soil is a great option. Adding Vermiculite and Perlite are great additions to your soil, they will help to increase drainage but boost water retention in the soil mix.

Repotting Ficus Elastica Plants

Soil is an vital part of keeping your plant healthy and so you want to ensure you have the the best type of soil to use for ficus elastica plants.

When to repot ficus elastica plants?

Ficus elastica repotting is necessary when you start to see roots appearing at the bottom of the pot. As these plants grow upwards and have large leaves, they can become quite top heavy leading to them falling over. If your plant is becoming top-heavy, then it is time to repot your plant into a larger pot.

How to repot ficus elastica plants?

Repotting your plant is easy - gently remove the plant from it’s current pot. You will need a suitable sized pot to rehome your plant in. Add new soil to the pot, place the plant in the new pot and ensure it is stable and upright. Finally, give it a good water.

We have all the supplies you need to repot your Ficus Elastica too.

How to Prune Ficus Elastica Plants

Regular ficus elastica pruning will enhance the shape and appearance of your plant. It can be quite therapeutic for many plant owners too!

When pruning your plant, yellow leaves and dead leaves should be removed, this will hep to help promote new growth.

When pruning, we recommended using sharp, clean pruning shears. This will ensure that you make clean cuts and which will help to prevent the spread of any diseases from other plants.

Ficus Elastica Diseases

Ficus elastica plants generally do not tend to have any problems with pests. However, they may be affected by scale insects or spider mites.

Regularly inspecting your plants leaves will ensure that you are able to spot any signs of pests. One easy way to make this easy is to incorporate it into your watering routine.

A product like SB Plant Invigorator and Bug Killer spray is a great easy to use product for pest control and it can be used through the year.

Is Ficus Elastica Toxic?

Ficus elastica is mildly toxic to humans, so we recommend keeping them out of the reach of children. It is a good idea to and wash your hands after handling the plant.

The Ficus Elastica cats conundrum is a common one among pet owners. There is one key question pet owners need to ask themselves.

Is ficus elastica toxic to cats?

Unfortunately, Ficus elastica is mildly toxic to cats, with a range of quite serious, side effects for your kitty. Our advice would be that Ficus elastica & cats don’t mix, particularly if your kitty is curious or a nibbler! If your plant is out of the reach of your cat or in a space where the two will not mix, then of course this will not be an issue.

Are ficus elastica toxic to dogs?

Ficus elastica plants are unfortunately toxic to dogs as well as cats. We would recommend keeping this plant out of reach of your dog.

Final thoughts on Ficus Elastica Plants

With their simple care requirements, it is easy to see why these plants make a popular choice for any home or indoor space.

By monitoring your plants carefully, and using this guide, you should have all the tips you need to help your ficus elastica plant to thrive and hopefully bring a trendy, tropical vibe to your home or workspace.

Check out our Ficus Elastica plants to buy here.