Pink Variegated Rubber Plant: Care Tips You Wish You Knew Earlier

The pink variegated rubber plant of the Moraceae family is one of the most beautiful varieties of the rubber tree. Its colored and patterned leaves are sought-after all across the country. The best thing about this plant is that it super easy to look after!

Read our concise guide to find out extensive care tips regarding this Ficus genus plant.

What Is Pink Variegated Rubber Plant?

The pink variegated rubber plant is a gorgeous variety of rubber plant that is also known as the ficus elastica ruby or the ficus elastica tineke plant. Its green leaves have red veins and cream-colored margins, while the undersides sport a light pink color. This plant can grow to quite large sizes.

Pink Variegated Rubber Plant Care

The pink rubber tree needs brightly-lit spaces, warm temperatures, and moderate humidity levels to grow successfully. It also needs soil that is loose, airy and well-draining.

Below, we have provided a complete care guide for your perusal.

Water Requirements

Water when the top three inches of soil becomes dry. You can use your finger or a stick to gauge how dry or moist the top layers of soil are.

It is better to use distilled or filtered water for your ficus ruby houseplant. When using normal tap water, make sure it doesn’t contain a high mineral or salt content. If this is the case, then you will need to filter it before watering.

When watering, allow the extra water to drain out completely. This plant can be a bit sensitive when it comes to overwatering.

Light Requirements

The pink rubber plant light needs to be bright but indirect. Keep this plant away from direct sunlight.

What Type of Light Is Most Suitable for My Ruby Pink Rubber Plant?

Bright, indirect light is the most suitable for this plant and this property makes it an ideal indoor plant. Keep it in a brightly lit room with plenty of partial sunlight. 

You can substitute natural light for artificial grow lights. These lights need to be turned consistently on for about 13 to 14 hours each day to be effective. We recommend using LED lights because they are more energy-conserving.

– Which Window Should I Put the Variegated Ficus Plant Near?

Place this plant near the eastern or the western-facing windows, because these windows receive direct light in the morning and evening, respectively. You will need to place a curtain over them during these few hours. For the rest of the day, your plant can safely bask under indirect light from these windows.

Soil Requirements

Variegated rubber trees, when grown as houseplants, need airy and quick-draining soil. They are very sensitive to water retention. You can use any good potting mix and add porosity-improving ingredients to it.

– What Should You Add to Soil To Make It More Porous?

Add perlite, coco coir, or pieces of bark to the potting mix to make it more porous. These will shake up the soil and improve its airiness. You can also add in some sand.

Rubber plants grow most successfully in such soil.

Humidity Requirements

At least 40 to 50 percent humidity is absolutely essential for the rubber tree plant to grow. Most indoor spaces have this much humidity to begin with. You can increase the humidity around the plant by artificial means as well. 

– How To Increase Humidity Around Variegated Rubber Plants

Here are some effective ways to increase humidity levels around your plants:

• Make your own humidity tray.
• Huddle similar humidity-loving plants close together.
• Buy a humidifier.

Temperature Requirements

Keep the temperature between 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This is an important part of rubber plant care, as this plant is extremely sensitive to changes in temperature. It stops growing when it is suddenly exposed to temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Don’t keep it near an open window at night. Also, protect it from cold air drafts from vents and air conditioning units.

Fertilizing Requirements

This plant is best fertilized during its growth period from spring until early fall. Stop fertilizing during the colder rest months.

– How to Fertilize the Rubber Tree

Buy a good fertilizer that is rich in phosphorus. This nutrient is most useful for the growth of the rubber tree plant and also keeps insects away. A slow-release fertilizer is better than a liquid one because it comes in the form of pellets.

You can bury these pellets in the soil around the roots, and they will continue to release their content over a period of several months.

When using a liquid fertilizer, don’t forget to always dilute it first. Dilute until half or one-third of its original strength is left. One tip to prevent chemical burns from fertilizer is to water the roots right before using a liquid fertilizer.

Pruning

It is important to prune your rubber plants during its growing season. This not only helps the plant conserve its much-needed energy, but also makes it look neater and healthier. Make sure to prune the branches just above the plant’s leaf nodes.

 

Propagation

Stem cutting propagation is most suitable for your variegated fiscus plant. Read below to find out the steps to this process.

– Cut an Eight-inch Piece of Stem

Choose a healthy-looking stem that should be free of pests and spots. Using a clean and disinfected knife, cut off an eight-inch piece of stem. 

Using clean instruments is very important. Otherwise, you risk transferring infections to both the parent and the cutting. Use 70 percent isopropyl alcohol for this task.

– Apply Rooting Hormone

Place the cut stem piece of ruby rubber on a piece of tissue paper. Keep it there for a few hours to dry completely, then apply rooting hormone to the cut end. The rooting hormone promotes growth and improves chances of success.

– Place It in a Plastic Bag

Take a plastic bag and fill it with soil from the parent plant’s pot. Bury the cutting within the soil. Place the bag in a warm, humid place that has plenty of light.

For the first couple of weeks, water this soil daily and drain it each time. Take note that the soil needs to be kept moist at all times.

– Repot in Fresh Soil  

In just several weeks, new roots will begin to grow from the cutting. When they become 3 to 4 inches long, it is time to transfer the plant. Take a new pot, but the pot size needs to be only 6 inches in diameter.

Fill this pot with a new soil mix suitable for ficus elastica. Carefully transplant your baby plant in its new pot. 

Problems

Common problems with the rubber tree are yellowing of leaves, a severe leaf drop, or fungal infections.

You can learn about all these problems in detail below.

– Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves on the ficus elastica house plant can be due to overwatering or low light. Find out how to differentiate between the two below.

– Overwatering

Yellow leaves due to overwatering will appear swollen and mushy. The soil will also appear runny. Immediately improve the watering of your plant and check if the drainage of the pot and the soil are adequate.

– Low Light

Yellow leaves due to low light will be dry and wrinkly. Move the plant near a window, and if this is not possible, then invest in artificial grow lights.

– Leaf Drop

This plant will experience leaf drop whenever it is subjected to new conditions. This includes even moving it from one room to another. It will take about a month to recover and adjust to its new environment.

The leaf drop that occurs as a result of sudden drops in temperature are more serious. Your plant can even die of cold shock. Don’t keep it near open windows, vents or air conditioning units. 

– Root Rot

Root rot is a severe fungal disease that affects water-logged plants. Yellow, brown or black rot spots will appear on the stem and leaves. These spots will be wet and moist in appearance.

Find out its causes and treatment below.

– Causes Of Root Rot

• Overwatering
• Poor soil drainage
• Inadequate hole in the pot

– Treating Root Rot

Take the plant out of its soil and inspect it carefully to determine if it can be salvaged. Debride the rotten parts using sharp scissors and repot in new soil. Apply fungicide as per instructions.

– Cercospora

This is a common fungal infection of the ficus tineke. It is caused by a fungus belonging to the Ascomycota species.

Cercospora will manifest initially as irregularly shaped spots on the leaves and stem of the plant. Over time, these spots will enlarge and merge together. They will form holes on the affected parts of the plant. The growth of your plant will be affected and the leaves will start to drop.

Buy a fungicide from a reputable manufacturer and use diligently according to the instructions on the label.

FAQ

Is the Pink Variegated Rubber Plant an easy plant?

No, the Pink Variegated Rubber Plant is not considered an easy plant to care for due to its specific light, soil, and water requirements. It can be challenging to keep alive.

How do I get my Pink Variegated Rubber Plant thriving in a new environment?

To help your Pink Variegated Rubber Plant thrive in a new environment, ensure it has proper lighting, well-draining soil, and consistent watering.

Can the Pink Variegated Rubber Plant be force variegated?

No, the Pink Variegated Rubber Plant cannot be force variegated.

Conclusion

Carry on reading as we summarize the most important take-away points from this guide:

• The pink rubber tree is the most colorful and easy to look after type of variegated rubber plant. The prominent veins on its leaves produce the white sap that we call rubber.
• Ficus elastica plants make for ideal indoor plants. Keep them in the brightest, warmest, and most humid location of your house. Keep out of reach of direct sunlight.
• Water consistently whenever the top 3 inches of soil become dry. 
• Propagate variegated ficus using stem cuttings. Always use clean gardening tools when propagating or pruning.

The variegated rubber is a low-maintenance and easy to care for plant. Just keep it warm, water it regularly, and avoid direct sunlight and overwatering and you will have a healthy, thriving plant decorating your home.