The Burgundy Rubber plant is the go-to choice of an indoor plant for any plant parent looking to brighten up their living space and give it a warm and welcoming vibe because it is Iincredibly easy to grow, look after, and propagate
In this article, we’ll go over all there is to know about this plant, its care, and propagation.
Contents
What Is A Burgundy Rubber Plant?
A Burgundy rubber tree has huge glossy leaves in the ficus elastica burgundy family, also referred to as variegated plants. This plant can grow to a tremendous height if it is planted out in the open air. It can grow up to 25 feet tall if kept within the house.
Burgundy Rubber Plant Care Guide
The care guide for this plant is simple, all you have to do is keep reading to know how to help it thrive.
– Water Requirements
The best technique to water this plant is to wait until the top 3 inches of soil are completely dry before giving it another drink. Check for moisture in the soil by sticking one of your fingers in there.
The bottom of the pot’s damp soil might quickly lead to the rotting of the root system in the plant. This can be detrimental since decaying roots will eventually ruin the entire plant and rob it of its vibrant crimson color.
To prevent that, you may check to see if the soil is still wet in the plant’s upper two to three inches. If so, be patient and let the soil absorb the rest of the moisture.
– Light Requirements
Even though the burgundy plant can thrive in the sun’s intense, direct light, it is better to keep it in indirect lighting to avoid leaf discoloration. If not, the leaves’ smooth, velvety feel will quickly be burned, leaving you with crisp, weaker leaves that are discolored.
Another factor contributing to the yellowing of this plant’s leaves is improper lighting. Choose a location in your living room and put the plant under a window that faces east to offer the plant the greatest lighting conditions.
– Soil Requirements
You may make your peat moss, perlite, and pine bark potting mixture home to use with your burgundy plant. However, if you decide to use one from the shop, choose the potting mix with the optimum aeration, this is to ensure the growth of the plant in a healthy way.
– Temperature Requirements
Temperature control is an important aspect of taking care of the Burgundy Plant. The ideal temperature range for burgundy plants is 65 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 25 degrees Celsius).
This plant is very sensitive to temperature variations and cannot withstand sudden temperature changes when the plant is moved to another location. Make careful you always change the plant’s temperature gradually and slowly.
This procedure can take several days and sometimes up to a month, but your plant must thrive as best. It will exhibit drooping leaves and discolored ends if suddenly moved to a cooler environment.
– Humidity Requirements
Given these plants are native to South Asia, for these trees, the ideal level of humidity is 50 percent or more.
Regarding how much humidity these plants need, there are no restrictions. Do not stress too much about restricting the humidity level in your space because all varieties of rubber plants benefit substantially from humidity.
Keep in mind that regulating humidity is important, which is why it is wise to make a suitable humidifier investment. Regular misting of the plant will ensure enough moisture and its growth is not stunted.
– Fertilizing Requirements
It is not necessary to fertilize the tree frequently. However, selecting a water-soluble, slow-release fertilizer for this plant is advised to support the plant’s optimum growth.
In reality, frequent feeding should be minimized because, depending on the fertilizer used, fertilizing more frequently than once per month might have negative effects, result in discolored leaves and attract specific insects.
– Pruning Requirements
Parts of the plant can remain robust and produce more side shoots by making regular cuts and size adjustments. Pick out a few stems that need to be pruned because they have grown too tall, and then gently wipe the plant with a disinfectant.
Trim the stems with a sharp instrument, such as a knife or secateurs, after cleaning them. The plant’s few central stems have the capacity to sprout exponentially as they get smaller.
Propagation
– Propagate A Rubber Tree With Cuttings
A rubber plant kept in your house periodically must be clipped because rubber plant can get rather tall. Use those trimmings to propagate a tree rather than discarding them after pruning. Getting a good cutting is the first step in growing a rubber tree plant from cuttings.
The trimming should contain at least two pairs of leaves and be around six inches (15 cm) in length. The bottom set of leaves on the cutting must be taken off as the next step in starting a burgundy rubber plant from cuttings. The cutting can optionally be dipped in rooting hormone.
The cutting of the rubber plant should next be placed in damp but quick-draining potting soil. Ensure that the intact leaves do not come in contact with the glass or plastic while covering the cutting with either a jar or transparent plastic.
The remaining leaves can be divided in half if necessary, with the stem-free half removed. The plant cutting should be placed in a warm area with indirect lighting. When trimming the stem, ensure the cutting has roots by two to three weeks, at which point the covering can be taken off.
– Using Air Layering For Propagation
Air layering is a different method of burgundy rubber plant propagation. This technique essentially leaves the rubber tree “cutting” while establishing roots.
Selecting a stem to turn it into a new plant is the first stage in air layering rubber plant propagation. If you prefer, the stem can be longer; the shortest it can be is 12 inches (30.5 cm) long.
Then, make use of a sharp knife to carefully trim a one-inch (2.5-cm) broad strip of bark from around the stem. Brush off any leaves directly above and below the place where you will be rooting the stem.
Once this step is completed, you will be left with a “naked” ring that wraps all around the stem of the burgundy rubber plant.
The central wood of this ring is the hard part you must save; the rest, which is soft tissue, you should take off. The ring should then be covered with moist sphagnum moss and dusted with rooting hormone.
A plastic coating is used to hold the sphagnum moss to the stem. Ensure all of the moss is covered. The plastic will also assist in keeping the sphagnum moss moist.
The rubber plant’s stem should display grown roots at the ring in about two to three weeks. Finally, trim the rooted stem from the main plant once it has grown roots, then repot the new plant.
Problems
– Yellow Leaves
The yellowing of the foliage is the most frequent issue with burgundy rubber plants. Even though this is a very common problem with this plant, identifying the root of the problem is difficult.
Your plant’s leaves may become yellow for various causes, including wetness, humidity, soil composition, and pests. The main cause of yellow leaves, which should normally be burgundy in color, is soil dampness. When you water your plants, the quantity of water they retain is referred to as soil moisture.
To combat this, you must establish a rigid watering schedule that will allow you to determine precisely when your plant requires water and when it shouldn’t. Make sure the first three inches of soil are dry.
Additionally, confirm that water drains via the drainage hole in the bottom of the plant pot. Stop adding water to the plant once the water starts to flow since this indicates that the whole surface of the soil surface been covered.
Another element that contributes to yellow leaves is dampness. This is due to low humidity conditions when this plant struggles to get enough moisture, which causes the leaves to turn discolored.
The plant may also be vulnerable to mortality if humidity levels are not maintained for an extended period. The lovely burgundy shade of your foliage will also quickly turn to light green and, finally, yellow if grown in an area exposed to direct sunshine.
This can be avoided by relocating the plant to a spot with ample indirect sunlight. The plant enjoys prolonged exposure to sunshine, but it must always be indirect. If not, the foliage is vulnerable to burning and deterioration.
– Pests
Due to its gorgeous shaded colors, the burgundy rubber plant attracts a lot of insects and pests. Plant diseases will be more likely to affect a plant that has been weakened by insufficient water or light.
Spider mites and mealybugs are two of the most notorious insects seen on this plant. When handling these plant insects, extreme caution must be used. They are readily removed if caught in time with a delicate microfiber cloth dampened with detergent.
However, you need to repot the plant immediately if the dangerous bug has gotten deeply embedded in the stem and roots of the plant.
– Sunburn
This plant can face sunburn when it if left under the sun for too long, because it requires indirect sunlight. Sunburn of the leaves, at the beginning will be decoloration of the leaves, you will see the leaves losing their rich, dark green color and slowly turning brown at the edges. Slowly, the leaves will get a crispy texture and start to crumble.
FAQs
– What Is The Lifespan Of A Rubber Plant Tree?
The rubber tree can survive up to 100 years in the wild and reaches heights of 100 to 130 feet. When grown indoors and given proper care, a rubber tree that is a houseplant can last ten years or more.
– How To Tell If I’m Not Watering My Rubber Plant Enough?
If the leaves are fragile and feel crunchy to the touch, this indicates your plant is in dire need of some water. Crisp leaves are a warning indicator because your plant will soon start to lose its leaves once they get crispy.
It is preferable to remove these leaves and keep your plant’s nutrients intact so that it can grow stronger.
– Is The Fruit On A Rubber Tree Edible?
Technically, fruit on a rubber tree is edible, but according to people who have tried it, the taste is awful. To make it taste better, it must first be thoroughly washed, dried, ground, pounded, fermented, and then thoroughly washed one again.
The finished product can then be fried, cooked with eggs to make an omelette, or used to make sambal with chilli paste.
– Does the Burgundy Rubber Plant Need Repotting?
Yes, this plant sometimes needs repotting, preferably once a year, because it grows quickly and can quickly reach extraordinary heights. Ensure you use clean potting soil when you’re changing pots so that the soil is fresh and has the capacity to support a newly replanted plant.
Given the size of the plant’s leaves and the pot’s relative smallness, you may put a thin layer of tiny stones directly to the bottom of the container to add more weight to support the plant. This previously added covering of stones will aid the leaves in maintaining their balance as they enlarge and prevent them from toppling over.
Conclusion
Burgundy Rubber Plant makes a place for itself among some of the most sought-after plant varieties that horticulturalists and gardening enthusiasts worldwide rave about. The reasons behind this are manifold, but some of the most common ones include:
- They add a great visual effect to your space.
- The humidity requirement for this plant needs to be 50 percent or even more in order to thrive.
- You can propagate this plant using various ways, such as air layering, or even through cutting.
- This plant can be grown both indoors and outdoors in your gardens, and will grow up to 25 feet tall.
This plant will benefit you greatly if you provide the prescribed temperature, humidity, water, and sunlight.
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