Rubber Plant

Rubber Plant, or Ficus elastica, has big, thick, shiny dark green leaves on a straight, sturdy stem. In the wild it can grow into a huge tree, but as a house plant it stays a manageable size for many years.

It comes in a 25cm pot and grows 70 to 90cm tall, and it works best in a bright spot with indirect light, like near a window with sheer curtains, common in most UAE homes.

Water it once the top few centimetres of soil feel dry, usually once a week, and wipe the big leaves with a damp cloth once a month. This keeps them shiny and also helps the plant take in more light, since dust on the leaves can block sunlight even indoors.

Plant Information

• Botanical Name: Ficus elastica
• Local Name: Rubber Fig
• Family: Moraceae
• Average Size: 1.5m to 3m indoors (full grown)
• Native To: Northeast India and Southeast Asia
• Environment: Indoor, bright indirect light
• Climate: Tropical, subtropical