Guide
How to Care for a Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
The short answer
Rubber plants (Ficus elastica) do best in bright light — Clemson Extension recommends morning light from an east window — but they adapt to lower light. Water thoroughly, then let the soil surface dry slightly to the touch before watering again, and always use a pot with drainage holes so excess water never sits around the roots.
Keep it away from cold drafts and temperatures below 55°F. Yellowing leaves usually mean the soil is staying too wet; leaf drop usually points to too little light, dry air, or cold drafts.
What a Rubber Plant Is
Ficus elastica, the rubber plant or Indian rubber tree, is a large-leaved indoor ficus grown for its glossy foliage. Indoors it can grow tall and lanky over time; Clemson Extension notes you can stake tall plants or prune them in spring to rejuvenate them.
Light
Rubber plants prefer bright light but are adaptable to low light. They grow best with morning light from an east-facing window. In dim corners, expect slower growth and eventual leaf loss.
Watering, Soil, and Drainage
Water thoroughly, but let the soil dry slightly to the touch between waterings. Use a well-drained houseplant mix in a pot with drainage holes, and empty the saucer after watering — poor drainage combined with overwatering is the main cause of root rot.
- Water deeply until it runs from the drainage holes, then wait for the surface to dry slightly
- Empty saucers so the pot never stands in water
- Yellowing leaves are a classic sign the soil is staying too wet
Humidity and Temperature
Ideal temperatures are about 60–65°F at night and 75–80°F during the day. Avoid temperatures below 55°F, sudden temperature drops, and cold drafts. Rubber plants prefer humid conditions but tolerate the dry air common in homes.
Propagation Basics
- 1Tip or stem cuttings — Take stem or tip cuttings and root them — the standard method Clemson Extension lists for new plants.
- 2Air layering — For thick, woody stems, air layering lets a stem root while still attached to the parent plant.
Common Problems
- Yellow leaves: soil staying too wet — let it dry more between waterings
- Leaf drop: too little light, dry air, or cold drafts
- Pests: mealybugs may infest rubber plants — inspect stems and leaf joints
- Lanky growth: prune in spring to rejuvenate, or stake tall stems
⚠ The sticky white sap can irritate skin or the stomach if eaten — keep rubber plants away from pets and young children, and check the ASPCA toxic plants database for pet-specific guidance.
Sources
Reviewed 2026-07-18. We cite university Extension, government, and established horticultural sources — and never invent pesticide rates or dangerous treatments.
- Clemson University HGIC — Rubber Plant — Light preference (bright/east window, adaptable to low light), watering (dry slightly between), well-drained mix, 60–65°F night / 75–80°F day, avoid <55°F and drafts, propagation by cuttings or air layering, yellowing from wet soil, leaf loss from low light/dry air/drafts, mealybugs, irritating sap