The rubber ficus which is also known as ficus elastica is a green plant of Asian origin, especially from South and Southeast Asia. This ficus gives virtues to the room where it is located by purifying the air and making it healthier and more breathable. It may happen that one day, we notice that our ficus elastica encounters certain growth difficulties. Months can go by without the plant growing, it stagnates without showing any signs of weakness. However, it is normal to want to know what could have caused this kind of phenomenon. It may be due to a natural factor or as a result of lack or poor maintenance.
It can be seen that in general, the triggers for this problem are about the same on all ficus species whether for ficus benjamina, lyrata or elastica etc. It will therefore be easy to treat several cases with a solution. It should also be noted that if this kind of phenomenon comes from a natural cause such as the winter season, it will be necessary to wait before acting. Here are the 5 reasons that your rubber ficus may not grow.
Why is your ficus elastica not growing?
When we are faced with a situation in which our rubber or elastica ficus is stunted or simply has trouble growing, it is quite normal to ask questions. This phenomenon could arise after repotting or because of a completely natural need. Here are five points of the reasons that could explain this phenomenon.
1. Substrate problem
The rubber ficus or ficus elastica needs a good quality of soil, it must be special indoor green plant. Any problem with the substrate could cause growth to slow down. The soil being unable to provide the necessary nutrients and water. It should be noted that the substrate must be granular enough to allow the water to circulate well. The substrate could rot causing some diseases, so remember to repot and change the potting soil.
2. The Winter season
During this season, temperatures are not favorable for all tropical plants like ficus elastica. It may be that the child is experiencing growth problems, including stunted growth. There are effective ways to avoid this, however, it could be expensive such as installing a heated greenhouse to a temperature that is normal for your plant. Otherwise, you can always wait until spring for a repotting.
3. The location
Location plays an important role in the health and growth of your rubber ficus. It must be assigned a location that provides it with a certain amount of light and humidity. In the event that these are lacking, for the light it will be necessary to use an artificial means and to humidify it, a daily spraying would be required. On top of all this, your ficus can't stand to be moved. For this purpose, make sure to place it in a fixed place and out of the way.
4. The lack of light
Light is really essential for the survival and health of your ficus elastica. The ficus needs to be exposed to natural light without being subjected to direct sunlight. The correct distance could be mistaken, the ficus pot must be attached to the window at a distance of about 10 cm. In the event that all the rooms in your house have struggled to capture daylight, you can still use the artificial technique. The one that uses a horticultural lamp.
5. Lack of fertilizer
Ficus elastica like all green plants needs nutrients to grow well. You should know that you must put fertilizer in the soil every 1 to 2 months. The plant needs 7% nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. However, be sure to select a natural fertilizer based on organic or mineral matter. Chemical fertilizers could harm the ficus in the long run. It is also necessary to respect the dose according to the size of the plant, it can range from 15 g to 100 g.
Some tips that could help you overcome this problem of ficus which has trouble growing
The phenomenon of ficus which is experiencing certain difficulties in its growth could be explained by different reasons. It could be quite natural like the weather or stem from bad or lack of maintenance. In any case, it will be necessary to ensure an adequate environment so that your ficus can grow even during the winter. It should always be given all the necessary care such as providing it with the necessary nutrients every month by putting fertilizer.
Your plant may fail to grow due to a lack of substrate or an unsuitable substrate. To this end, check the quality of the substrate during repotting.
When repotting, do not forget to assign a suitable pot to your rubber ficus so that it can grow and use a special indoor green plant potting soil that promotes growth.
