Plant Library

Other Names:  Rubber Plant, Rubber Fig

Description:

A highly ornamental accent plant producing deep green leaves with cream, gray green, and ruby red variegarion; bright sunlight produces the darkest red color; grows quite large in frost free areas; a popular houseplant in colder climates

Features & Attributes

Ruby Rubber Tree's attractive glossy oval leaves remain dark green in color with showy creamy white variegation and tinges of ruby-red throughout the year on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth.

This is a multi-stemmed evergreen houseplant with an upright spreading habit of growth. This plant usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning.

Planting & Growing

When grown indoors, Ruby Rubber Tree can be expected to grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 50 years. This houseplant will do well in a location that gets either direct or indirect sunlight, although it will usually require a more brightly-lit environment than what artificial indoor lighting alone can provide. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and may die if left in standing water for any length of time. This plant should be watered when the surface of the soil gets dry, and will need watering approximately once each week. Be aware that your particular watering schedule may vary depending on its location in the room, the pot size, plant size and other conditions; if in doubt, ask one of our experts in the store for advice. It will benefit from a regular feeding with a general-purpose fertilizer with every second or third watering. It is not particular as to soil type or pH; an average potting soil should work just fine.

There are many factors that will affect the ultimate height, spread and overall performance of a plant when grown indoors; among them, the size of the pot it's growing in, the amount of light it receives, watering frequency, the pruning regimen and repotting schedule. Use the information described here as a guideline only; individual performance can and will vary. Please contact the store to speak with one of our experts if you are interested in further details concerning recommendations on pot size, watering, pruning, repotting, etc.

-- THIS IS A HOUSEPLANT AND IS NOT MEANT TO SURVIVE THE WINTER OUTDOORS IN OUR CLIMATE --