Growing guide · Houseplant

Ficus elastica

How to grow Rubber Plant 'Ghost Rider'.

Spooky, but strictly daytime.

Light
Bright indirect
Water
Moderate
Zones
Indoors, any
Size
2–6 ft tall
Pot
4.5 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 splattered cream and green on red stems

Light

Bright, indirect light. Variegation needs light to stay cream instead of green.

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

Pinch or cut the top to make it branch. Wear gloves for the milky sap. Dust the leaves now and then.

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

Brown edges on the cream sections mean dry air or harsh sun. Dropping leaves mean cold or soggy roots. Sap is toxic to pets.

Plays well with

Plant it with friends.

Rubber Plant 'Belize'
Ficus elasticaRubber Plant 'Belize' from $25
Weeping Fig 'Over the Edge'
Ficus benjaminaWeeping Fig 'Over the Edge' from $25

Why we stock it: A rubber plant with enough pattern to carry a corner by itself.

That's the whole guide. Thanks for reading.

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