Growing guide · Houseplant

Ficus elastica

How to grow Rubber Plant 'Belize'.

'Tineke', but make it pink.

Light
Bright indirect
Water
Moderate
Zones
Indoors, any
Size
2–6 ft tall
Pot
4.5 or 6.5 in. pot; size up one or two inches every couple of years.
Pets
Not on the ASPCA pet-safe list; keep it out of reach
See sizes · from $25
Rubber plant with glossy leaves variegated pink, cream and dark green

Light

Bright, indirect light, close to a window. Pink fades and leaves go greener in dim rooms.

Water

Water when the top two inches are dry and let it drain completely.

Pot and soil

A well-draining potting mix with some bark or perlite. Repot in spring when roots circle the pot.

Pot it inRosy Houseplant Soil · 4 qtThe everyday peat-free mix. 4 qt repots 2–3 plants. Peat-free, by Rosy Soil

Feeding

Liquid fertilizer monthly in spring and summer.

Grooming

Prune the top in spring to make it branch. The milky sap irritates skin, so wear gloves.

Through the year

Spring and summer: feed, turn it every few weeks and repot if roots crowd the pot. Fall and winter: water less, stop feeding, and keep it off cold glass and away from heat vents.

If something's off

Dropping lower leaves usually means a cold draft or overwatering. Leggy, pale growth means more light. Sap is toxic to pets.

Plays well with

Plant it with friends.

Rubber Plant 'Ghost Rider'
Ficus elasticaRubber Plant 'Ghost Rider' from $25
Philodendron 'Fall Leaves'
Philodendron hybridPhilodendron 'Fall Leaves' from $20

Why we stock it: It's a sturdy floor plant that happens to be pink.

That's the whole guide. Thanks for reading.

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