The document discusses rubber trees and rubber plant houseplants. It describes how rubber plants are ideal houseplants that can thrive in low light conditions, growing up to 6 feet tall indoors. It provides tips for caring for rubber plants, such as providing indirect light, keeping the soil moist but not overwatered, and misting leaves to increase humidity. Common reasons for leaf drop include dry air, drafts, pests, overfertilizing, and overwatering. The document also discusses the cultivation and uses of rubber trees.

1. Rubber
By
Kinnari Joshi
Shweta Verma
Deepti Jain
Gayatri L.

3.  The rubber plant (Ficus robusta)
was named one of the top 20 plants
by Dr. B.C. "Bill" Wolverton's
"Eco Friendly House Plants." The
rubber plant adds humidity, removes
bioeffluents, removes chemical toxins
and suppresses airborne microbes
when added to a room. Rooms filled
with rubber plants and plants such
as dwarf date palms, English ivy or

4.  Rubber plants are ideal hardy
houseplants that can survive and
thrive in low-light conditions. The
rubber plant can easily grow up to 6
feet tall indoors. The plant can be
pruned to keep its size under control.
Leaves of the rubber plant measure
between 8 to 12 inches long and are
oval in shape. The leaves are tough,

5.  When you have a rubber tree house
plant it needs bright light, but it
prefers indirect light that isn’t too
hot. Some people recommend putting
it near a window that has sheer
curtains. This allows plenty of light,
but not too much.

7.  The rubber tree plant also needs the
right balance of water. During the
growing season, it needs to be kept
moist. It is also a good idea to wipe
off the leaves of your rubber tree
house plant with a damp cloth or
spritz it with water. If you water
the rubber tree plant too much, the

8.  Rubber tree plants are susceptible to
cold air and while your home may be
the right temperature for rubber tree
plant, cold drafts from windows or
doors in your home may be hitting
the plant and causing the rubber tree
leaves to fall off.
 Move the plant away from any draft
windows or doors that may be letting

9.  In order to promote new leaves on a
current rubber tree house plant, cut a
slit in the node where a leaf fell off.
This will allow a new leaf to grow
quicker.
 There are a couple different methods for
creating new rubber tree plant cuttings.
The simplest is to take a small branch

10.  Pests are another common reason for
rubber tree plant leaves falling off.
In particular, rubber tree plants are
susceptible to being infested with
scale bugs and these pests will cause
the leaves to drop off until the plant
is treated.
 Treat scale or other pest with an

11.  Rubber tree plants need higher
humidity. Houses can be dry,
especially in the winter when the
heat is on. This lack of humidity
can cause leaves falling off rubber
tree plant.
 To correct this problem, mist the

13.  Rubber tree plants are frequently
killed with kindness from their
owners. One way this happens is that
a rubber tree owner will fertilize the
plant too often and this causes a
rubber plant to lose leaves.
 Rubber tree plants only need to be

15.  Another way that rubber tree owners
can over care for their plant is by
over watering the plant. When a
rubber tree plant is over watered, it
can shed its leaves.
 Only water the plant when the top of
the soil is dry.

16.  The trees often grow in areas where
tropical rainforests were logged and
clear cut to make room for rubber
tree plantations. Some of the first
rubber plantations formed in Java,
Singapore and Sri Lanka after the
British carefully shipped the seeds to
these countries in the 1890s. The
trees also grow in areas including
southern Thailand, South America,

17.  Rubber trees grow best in sun or
partial shade in well-drained soil.
The drought-tolerant trees thrive in
hot, humid weather where the soil
dries out between watering. In the
U.S., the trees grow in hardiness
zones 10 and 11. The trees also
grow well in containers or above-

19.  The sap from the rubber tree is made
into numerous products, including
tires, belts, insulation for electrical
writing, gloves and gaskets. A
variety of toys and waterproof
clothing also are made from the
valuable sap. The trees work well in
the landscape when used as screens or
single specimens. The trees also
provide shade for a patio or deck.