The Ficus elastica is a houseplant that we can very often see in private lounges but also in the offices of many companies. The Ficus elastica is a robust plant that still needs to be well looked after.
Your brand new Ficus elastica now sits proudly in your dining room. For the plant to remain vigorous as on the first day, it is essential to maintain it well. For this, we recommend that you perform some fairly simple actions that you can see in our dedicated article!
Maintain a Ficus elastica with appropriate cleaning
Ficus elastica, also known as rubber, is a plant that we like to see in its interior, especially because of its pretty foliage. With proper leaf moistening, you should normally prevent dust from settling on the plant's foliage. If despite everything this is not the case, and a layer of dust settles on the foliage, you can use a cloth or a sponge. To dust the leaves of your Ficus elastica, gently run a sponge or cloth over the surface of the leaves.
Maintain a Ficus elastica by watering it properly
If the Ficus elastica particularly appreciates humidity, you must still be careful not to overwater it. This plant should always be kept in a very humid atmosphere. For this, you can use a mist sprayer and regularly spray the leaves of the plant. The foliage will be very green and your plant will have the impression of returning to its original tropical environment!
If a humid atmosphere is the main element for a good watering of your plant, know that it is still necessary to water the soil of it regularly. Be careful while always waiting for the soil to be quite dry between two waterings. You can then fill a glass of water with clear water, mineral water being ideal, and pour it into the earth.
Maintain a Ficus elastica by placing it in a bright place
It is essential to choose the location of your Ficus elastica. This should be placed in a bright space so that it can benefit from daylight on a daily basis. However, be careful that the plant is not directly exposed to sunlight, at the risk of damaging it or even burning the leaves.
The Ficus elastica is not afraid of half-light, however, in a room with little light, its growth will be very strongly slowed down. If your plant is a variety that has variegated foliage, then be aware that it requires more light than other plants of the same species. If your Ficus elastica do not push, maybe you put it in a place that is too dark.
Maintain a Ficus elastica by choosing a suitable temperature
Ficus elastica is a plant that is particularly suited to the temperatures that can be found in our homes, that is to say between 15 and 25 ° C. In general, once you've found the perfect spot for your plant, avoid moving it. The Ficus elastica doesn't really like changes in the environment, and it might suffer if you change its place in your home frequently. One thing to remember, never expose your Ficus elastica to temperatures below 2 ° C. Accustomed to a tropical climate, it would indeed not withstand such low temperatures.
Maintain a Ficus elastica by controlling its height
The size of your Ficus elastica is not necessarily mandatory. However, it is a houseplant that can branch out easily if you choose to prune it. Pruning your plant will allow it to have beautiful, dense and magnificent foliage. A rather light pruning of the Ficus elastica will be sufficient, to practice rather at the end of the cold period, in winter, and at the end of the hot period, in summer.
By pruning your plant, you promote more abundant foliage but you will also be able to better control the height of the Ficus elastica. If your plant grows a little too fast, do not hesitate to refresh it a little, in order to have better control over its size.
If your Ficus elastica is already big enough, you can buy a stake that will allow it to grow straight. If you want to stimulate wider growth, you can pinch off the young shoots. By pruning the ends of your plant's stems, you promote denser foliage and better growth. New stems will then appear and therefore new leaves. Your Ficus elastica will then have a denser and more compact appearance.
Ficus elastica is a perennial plant that can live for many years if properly maintained. Some plants of this species sometimes live up to 15 years! Never forget that the Ficus elastica is a tropical plant. It therefore needs above all humidity and good light.
