Excessive growth is a good reason to prune the rubber tree. With the loving care of the gardener, the exotic houseplant thrives unbridled in height and width. The slim, compact silhouette with a dense dress of leaves falls by the wayside. This tutorial will make you familiar with all the precautions for skilfully caring for the cut of Ficus elastica. This is how you cut your rubber tree in an exemplary manner.

If the rubber tree is too big, you can still use scissors

Table of Contents

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  1. Best time to cut
  2. Types of cuts and dates
  3. education cut
  4. topiary
  5. taper cut
  6. frequently asked Questions

    7. The best time is in late winter

    A rubber tree tolerates pruning at any time of the year. Due to its different growth phases, this exotic ornamental tree does best with pruning in late winter. In February or March, the plant organism is in the transition phase from dormant growth to the beginning of budding. During this time, the ornamental leaf plant responds particularly well to intervening care measures, such as repotting or cutting.

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    Take protective measures against rubber tree sap in advance

    Flowing through the floral veins of a rubber tree is a milky, sticky sap rich in natural rubber and containing significant amounts of allergens and toxins. Before starting a cutting measure, you should therefore protect your skin from the milky juice as well as clothing and floor coverings. Gloves with long cuffs prevent direct skin contact with the secretion and protect you from allergic reactions. Garden aprons or plastic overalls catch plant sap splashes, because even the best washing powder no longer washes natural rubber out of your clothes. Old blankets, tablecloths, curtains or foil protect the floor from irreversible stains.

    Sensible types of cuts

    You can promote dense branching with lush foliage on your rubber tree with a skilful pruning. Cutting out the deadwood every few years prevents bare trees from inside out. A rejuvenating pruning gives new impetus to the growth of an old, senile rubber tree. The following overview summarizes useful types of cuts:

    cut type goal/occasion
    education cut Structure with densely branched growth
    topiary Regulation of height and width
    taper cut revitalize old rubber tree

    If a rubber tree sheds its leaves, this is no reason for pruning. Leaf fall on evergreen indoor plants is always a signal for discrepancies in the location or in the care. Question all framework conditions, such as light, temperature, water and nutrient supply. Once the problems are over, the ornamental leaf plant will sprout again.

    Raising rubber trees skillfully

    The rubber tree is native to the tropical regions between north-east India and Indonesia. This exotic ornamental tree can be found far away from its homeland in living and working rooms in Central Europe. This fact is reflected in the fact that Ficus elastica varieties find it difficult to branch out densely and luxuriantly. With expert training pruning, you can give the rubber tree a floral arm and encourage compact growth with many side branches bearing magnificent leaves. How to do it:

    • The best time is in February up to the desired final height
    • At the center drive from last year's increase Cut back a third or half
    • Apply scissors a short distance from a leaf or bud (thickening under the bark)
    • Stop sap flow with tissue, old (but clean) rag or cotton ball

    An educational cut makes use of the findings of top promotion. According to this law, woody plants bundle their growth forces at the top bud. If you regularly cut back the floral hotspot by a few centimetres, reserve substances will be distributed to buds that are lower down. You can see the effect on the rubber tree by the strong budding of side branches.

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    Bypass scissors easily cope with rubber tree shoots

    Clean, freshly sharpened bypass scissors should be at hand for training and topiary pruning on rubber trees. In contrast to anvil shears, bypass shears cut through the lignified shoots smoothly because they two sharp blades are equipped. If you cut your rubber tree with anvil shears, you have to expect that the shoots will be crushed. The reason for these concerns is the way it works with a sharp blade that presses branches against a blunt opposite side and only then cuts them.

    Topiary regulates growth

    When a rubber tree shines in all its splendor and at the desired height at the end of its upbringing phase, pruning leads to a shape cut. This takes place annual or only if necessary. How to cut correctly:

    • Place the rubber tree at eye level and easily accessible from all sides
    • Cover the floor, put on gloves and protect clothing from the milky juice
    • Cut back branches that are sticking out
    • Reduce height growth by cutting the central shoot just above a leaf
    • Dab off any milky juice that runs out

    Topiary cuts are a good opportunity to clean old, large rubber trees from dead shoots. Remove deadwood at the base, without injuring the supporting shoot or trunk. Please keep in mind that a leafless shoot is not necessarily dead. To see if life is still pulsing in the branch, scrape off a little bark. If dry, brown or rotten tissue appears, you can trim the shoot because no more leaves will thrive here. Fresh green to cream-colored tissue gives reason to hope that new leaves will soon sprout here.

    In this video, Detlef Römisch clearly explains how to properly cut a rubber tree and how to use the clippings for propagation:

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    Rejuvenate Oversized Gum Tree

    The legendary growth power of rubber trees is primarily based on their ability to vigorously sprout from sleeping eyes. Parallel to growth in height and width, all Ficus species create numerous buds that remain dormant. Their only purpose is to replace lost shoots or stems as quickly as possible. This floral feat allows you to radically prune an oversized gum tree and be confident of regrowth. How to proceed professionally:

    • Clean, disinfect and have the bypass pruning shears and folding saw (17.70€) ready
    • First clear out all dead wood
    • Saw off the center trunk to the desired height, just above a bud or leaf
    • Cut back side branches to 5 to 10 centimeters, or one to two buds

    In addition to the rejuvenation pruning, please repot the rubber tree in fresh substrate. Shake off the depleted soil to inspect the root ball. Cut off dead, stunted root strands before potting the plant. The green plant should regenerate for 8 to 10 days in a semi-shady, warm window seat.

    frequently asked Questions

    Is a rubber tree poisonous?

    A rubber tree is permeated with milky plant sap. The secretion is sticky and poisonous at the same time. Toxic ingredients cause nausea and vomiting if consumed. Children are particularly at risk because they do not notice the bitter taste of the rubber tree leaves and swallow parts of the plant. Ficus elastica poses a deadly threat to cats, dogs and rodents. Even small pieces of leaf are enough as a lethal dose if a veterinarian does not take countermeasures immediately. Gardeners with a latex allergy should refrain from cultivating Ficus species or only devote themselves to cutting and care work with gloves and long-sleeved clothing.

    Can the rubber tree go outside on the balcony?

    A rubber tree shows itself from its most beautiful side when its leaves are spoiled by mild sunshine in a warm, sheltered location. As long as you take into account their pronounced sensitivity to cold, your Ficus elastica is in good hands outside. If the temperatures no longer drop below 16 degrees Celsius in spring, you can clear out your rubber tree. In autumn, please put the plant in good time before the temperature drops below the minimum of 12 degrees Celsius.

    Is rubber tree clippings suitable for propagation by cuttings?

    In fact, cut shoots of a rubber tree are much too good for the garbage can or the compost heap. Cut a healthy branch to an ideal length of 8 to 10 centimeters. Defoliate the cutting down to the top leaf. Please dab off any escaping milky juice with a cloth or cotton swab. Then place the shoot in a glass of soft water in a warm, partially shaded location. Alternatively, place the cutting in a nursery pot with a mix of potting soil, coconut fibers and sand. Rooting usually takes four to six weeks.

    The 3 most common cutting mistakes

    If a rubber tree only has leaves on its outer branches or shoots unbridled into the herb, its gardener has made a typical pruning mistake. The same applies to variegated varieties whose foliage changes from variegated to monochromatic green. The following overview draws attention to the three most common pruning mistakes, classic damage patterns and provides tips for prevention:

    cutting error damage picture prevention
    never cleared Balding from the inside out Remove deadwood every 5 years
    never cut sprawling growth in all directions Cut back shoots that are too long in spring
    Green wild shoots are not removed on variegated varieties Decrease in variegated leaves in exchange for solid green foliage Thin out wild shoots promptly on a variegated rubber tree

    Another common pruning mistake leaves its mark on the floor, on clothing and, in the worst case, on your skin for a long time, because indoor gardeners overlook important preparatory work. We are talking about the milky, sticky plant sap that is interspersed with various toxins. Before attempting the cut, please take the precautions recommended in the tutorial to protect yourself from the milky sap.

    tips

    Silky shiny leaves are the most beautiful decoration on the rubber tree. Rub the green or variegated leaves with the insides of banana peels. With this trick you can give the picturesque leaves a lasting shine without having to resort to expensive care sprays. The juicy pulp also has the advantage that it does not clog the leaf pores, but acts like a natural seal against dust.

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Trees