Ficus elastica

Credit: Владимир Гладков

Ficus elastica

Credit: brahim GHARBI

Ficus elastica fruit

Credit: Jean-Michel SANIAL

Ficus elastica in pot

Credit: Maja Dumat

Ficus elastica, a tree with decorative foliage

The decorative foliage of Ficus elastica has become the star of our interiors and social networks. Yet nothing predestined this shrub for a career as a green plant. In East Asia, this tree of the Moraceae family has long been cultivated for its latex-filled sap and sturdy roots.

How to recognize Ficus elastica

Ficus elastica is an upright, evergreen tree. It reaches 50 meters in height in the wild. But it grows more modestly in pots and indoors. In your living room, however, it could grow to almost three meters.

The irregular, brown trunk can measure up to two meters in diameter in the largest specimens. The tree then develops aerial roots, which act as buttresses. Highly resistant, they are sometimes used to build bridges.

The tough, oblong leaves are born in a red envelope. Once out of their cocoon, they turn a brilliant dark green with a lighter midrib. But there are also varieties with variegated foliage, such as ficus elastica 'Tineke.

The flowers are hidden in greenish-yellow syconiums. But you can't eat these false fruits! And the seeds they contain are often sterile.

Nor should the rest of the plant be eaten. The limbs contain latex, a toxic juice. It causes skin irritations and stomach upsets in humans and animals.

Our maintenance tips

Ficus elastica don't like change. Once yours has been installed away from draughts, don't move it again. It could lose its leaves.

Watering

Before watering, make sure the substrate is two or three centimetres dry by dipping your fingers into the soil. If this is the case, moisten the root ball with non-calcareous water at room temperature.

To avoid drowning the roots, don't leave stagnant water in the dish.

Spray

Your Ficus elastica appreciates a misting of its foliage and fruit. Spray it with non-calcareous water at room temperature. In addition to improving humidity, you'll prevent the appearance of pests.

Repotting

In spring, transfer your Ficus elastica to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

Choose a pierced pot slightly larger than the previous one. First lay a bed of clay balls or gravel to optimize drainage. Top it off with a special potting soil for green plants. This will provide your shrub with nutrients, at least for a few weeks.

You can place the pot in a saucer filled with moist clay balls. This will improve the hygrometry without risk to the roots.

Fertilization

You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

Add nutrients with a green plant fertilizer.

Cleaning

Remove dust from foliage with a clean, damp cloth. This will enable your plant to take full advantage of the sunlight.

Prune

Trim your Ficus elastica, whatever its size, to make it denser. Use a clean, sharp tool. Shorten each branch by at least five centimetres, cutting above a healthy leaf. Remove dead branches too.

Caution! Sap is toxic. Wear gloves for protection.

Plantation

Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.

Choose your location with care:

a sunny location facing south or south-west ;
close to a wall to protect the tree from the wind and retain heat at night.

Immerse the rootball in water until the bubbles disappear.

Meanwhile, dig a hole twice to three times as wide and deep as the root ball. Remove stones, roots and other weeds. Place a little compost at the bottom and cover with a thin layer of soil.

Place your plant in the center of the hole. The neck of the shrub should be level with the ground. Fill in with a mixture of soil, potting compost and sand. Tamp down.

Dig a trough and water. Finish by mulching the base to keep weeds down and retain moisture.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Cut off the end of a branch about fifteen centimeters long. Remove all leaves except the top pair.

Soak your cutting in a glass of water at room temperature. Only the stem end should be immersed. Change the water every three days to keep it clear.

Place your cutting in a bright spot away from direct sunlight.

Diseases / Threats

Whiteflies

Red spiders

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Moraceae - Moraceae
Type	Ficus - Ficus
Species	Ficus elastica - Ficus elastica
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Substrats	Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots In tubs
Categories	Tree Interior
Tags	Beginner Toxic
Origin	East Asia
Hardiness (USDA)	10a
Leaf color
Fruit color