Rubber Plant
Ficus elastica
- Light
- Bright indirect; tolerates medium light but with slower growth
- Water
- Every 7-10 days; let the top 3-4 cm of soil dry between waterings
- Soil
- Well-draining indoor potting mix; chunkier for larger pots
- Temperature
- 18-24°C (65-75°F); avoid sudden cold drafts
- Humidity
- 40-60%; tolerates lower
- Growth habit
- Single-stem tree; can be pruned to encourage branching
- Mature size
- 1.5-3 m (5-10 ft) indoors over several years
- Pet toxicity
- Mildly toxic to pets; latex sap can irritate skin
Watering baseline: ~9 days between waterings, in a 6-inch pot, medium light, spring growth, normal household humidity, and standard potting mix. The full guide's watering estimator adjusts the interval for your specific pot, light, season, humidity, and soil.