Garden Care Guide

Rubber Plant Care

Ficus elastica

A popular and hardy indoor tree with large, glossy leaves. It likes bright, indirect light and is very sensitive to overwatering; the soil should be allowed to dry out between waterings. It does not like being moved.

Frost-tender (protect from frost) · 5 °C / 41 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: When the top half of the soil is dry, every 3-4 weeks (0.5-1 L depending on pot size).
  • General care: The plant is in dormancy; protect it from cold drafts and wipe the leaves with a damp cloth.
  • Pests & diseases: Root rot is the biggest risk; do not water unless you are sure the soil has dried out.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.
February
  • Watering: As in January.
  • Pruning: While dormant, remove dry, broken, crossing and inward-growing branches so that air and light reach the inside of the crown.
  • General care: It is getting ready to wake.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the stem for mealybugs (small cottony masses in the leaf axils) and scale insects.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.
March
  • Watering: As growth begins, increase irrigation frequency (every 2–3 weeks).
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer or well-rotted organic fertilizer once when it wakes from dormancy.
  • General care: It is a suitable time for repotting (every 2-3 years, if the pot is very full).
  • Pests & diseases: Check the new shoots.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing once a month.
  • Pruning: To control height or encourage branching, the tip can be pinched; the cut tip cutting can be rooted in water or soil.
  • General care: Rapid growth period.
  • Pests & diseases: Leaf drop can be a sign of water stress or relocation.
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: You may increase to twice a month.
  • Pruning: Prune if needed.
  • Plant protection: Check the undersides of the leaves for spider mites.
  • General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
  • Pests & diseases: Spider mites love dry air.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Continue regular fertilizing.
  • Plant protection: If you see pests, use soapy water made with Aleppo soap or a suitable insecticide.
  • General care: This is the most active growth period; protect from direct sunlight.
  • Pests & diseases: Watch out for leaf scorch.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing.
  • Plant protection: Check regularly for pests.
  • General care: Keep it in a position sheltered from midday sun; scorching at the leaf edges is a sign of burn.
  • Pests & diseases: Dry leaf tips can be caused by low humidity.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing.
  • General care: Growth continues.
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: Reduce to once a month.
  • General care: Acclimatize the plant to the spot where it will rest through winter.
  • Pests & diseases: Be alert for pests at the change of season.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Fertilizing: At the end of the month, stop fertilizing completely.
  • General care: It prepares for winter dormancy.
  • Pests & diseases: Check for pests that may come from other plants brought indoors.
November
  • Watering: Water roughly every 3-4 weeks, waiting for the soil to dry out thoroughly.
  • General care: Dormancy begins; protect from the drying effect of central heating.
  • Pests & diseases: The risk of spider mites increases because of the dry air.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.
December
  • Watering: Water lightly, as in November.
  • General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.
  • Pests & diseases: General observation is sufficient.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.

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