How to maintain your rubber tree - tips and tricks

Content

• How to maintain your rubber tree - tips and tricks
• Plant the rubber tree properly
• The best place for the rubber tree
• Pour the rubber tree and fertilize
• Diseases and pests in the rubber tree
• The rubber tree in the winter
• Cut the rubber tree
• Multiply the rubber tree
• The essentials in brief:
• Tips

The rubber tree should be poured only moderately

How to maintain your rubber tree - tips and tricks

Very popular in the 60s, the rubber tree has lost much of its attractiveness as a houseplant. He is not old-fashioned but very easy to find and in different shades of color. About cuttings, he can easily multiply.

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Plant the rubber tree properly

With its low nutrient requirement, the gum tree does not need a special substrate, commercially available potting soil or slightly sandy soil is quite sufficient. The pH of the soil should be nearly neutral. Choose a sufficiently large plant pot, because the rubber tree can grow up to three meters high. If necessary, he can also be repotted quite easily.

The best place for the rubber tree

The rubber tree likes it warm and bright. Unlike many other indoor plants, it also gets along well with dry heating air. However, drafts are causing him drafts. Therefore, the rubber tree should not necessarily be on the frequently open window or on the door to the cold hallway.

If he feels well, the rubber tree can grow to the ceiling over time. However, in the open air reaches a height of 20 to 40 meters and the trunk can be up to 2 meters thick. Leaves up to 40 cm can become light, then simply wipe them off with a damp cloth.

Pour the rubber tree and fertilize

The rubber tree should be poured only moderately. Wait until the top layer of soil has dried slightly. The rubber tree can best withstand stale, room-warm water or rainwater. Avoid the emergence of waterlogging, because the rubber tree reacts quite sensitively. In the planter or coaster should definitely not be permanently water, which easily leads to decay.

As an alternative to ordinary casting, you can also "dip" your rubber tree from time to time. Place the plant in a large, water-filled container until the soil is soaked. If there are no more bubbles left in the water, then it's time to remove the rubber tree. Let it drip off thoroughly.

About every two to three weeks you fertilize your rubber tree with a commercially available liquid fertilizer. Just mix it into the irrigation water. The rubber tree does not need a lot of nutrients, so do not dose the fertilizer too generously.

Diseases and pests in the rubber tree

With good care and suitable location the rubber tree is quite robust against diseases or pests. When waterlogged or overcast, it easily happens that he loses his leaves.

The most common pest species found in rubber trees are spider mites and mealybugs. However, they can be fought biologically without the use of harsh chemicals. Check your rubber tree for pest infestation, especially during the heating season.

The rubber tree in the winter

A slightly cool winter break tolerates the gum tree very well, it may well last from October to February. However, the temperature should not drop below about 16 ° C during this time, because the rubber tree is quite sensitive to cold.

During the winter break, the rubber tree needs only a little water and should be fertilized twice at most. If the potting soil is still relatively fresh, then you can do without fertilizer in winter.

Cut the rubber tree

The rubber tree does not need a regular cut. He is however good cut well. If the rubber tree becomes too big, cut it off at the desired height. The cut piece can be used for propagation. You can also use side shoots for this purpose.

Multiply the rubber tree

The rubber tree can be sowed, but that is a very difficult matter. Quite simply, however, is the multiplication by cuttings. It is best to cut them out of the side shoots in the spring when the rubber tree forms new leaves. The rooting takes place in a glass of water or in damp Anzuchterde. That takes about four to eight weeks.Only when the roots are strong, you should repot the young rubber tree.

The essentials in brief:

Tips

The rubber tree belongs to the easy-care and beginner-suitable houseplants. In addition to light, heat, water and fertilizer, he only needs a slightly cooler winter break for good growth.