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rescued etoliated rubber tree

YnneadYnnead Posts: 250
in Plants
Hi I got this rubber plant yesterday and want to help it recover. It does need repotting which I will do once I know what else i can do. It wasnt getting enough with the lady it was with. Should I cut it back to encourage growth lower down and take cuttings? It has three stems which I dont know if are all separate plants.




London

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I would air layer the top bit by knicking it just below the leaves, wrap in damp moss , then cling film. When roots start to grow so they can be seen under the cling film, sever the top bit and  pot on. Then cut the lengthy stem down to just above the shoot you can see at the bottom, or abot 15cm. New shoots will then grow from the bottom.
  • YnneadYnnead Posts: 250
    I don't have any sphagnum moss unfortunately. Can you take cuttings and try rooting in water with rubber plants?
    London
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited June 2023
    I doubt it.  You can get spaghnum moss in good garden centres and sometimes the florist.  It will be packed dry so you do need to soak it and then squeeze it before wrapping.

    Re-pot in a bigger pot with a mix of loam based and MPC compost as it needs humus rich but well-drained compost and give it plenty of light but not direct sunlight.  It needs to be kept  above 10C all year.  I put mine outside for the summer with my ficus benjamina once night time temps get above 10C.  It's up against the north facing wall of our house with another wall on the east side so is sheltered from direct sun and strong winds.

    Any rainfall is great for rinsing off house dust and cleaning the leaves and I make sure they don't go thirsty between showers.

    This info mayhelp you - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/95720/ficus-elastica/details or this - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/70444/ficus-elastica-robusta/details 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • YnneadYnnead Posts: 250
    edited June 2023
    Ok I'll try finding some online. A ideas about the other two stems? Should I also report now? It is potbound I think.
    London
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I've added extra info to my previous post.  Can you do a photo that shows the whole plant please?
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • YnneadYnnead Posts: 250
    Hope this photo is clear enough. Plant is taller than me at 5ft6 and excuse the mess.

    London
  • Sam 37Sam 37 Posts: 1,271
    I had to look up "etoliated".  That much of a gardener, me!
  • Zoe P2Zoe P2 Posts: 848
    Not just you!



    I have a dream that my.. children.. one day.. will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character

      Martin Luther King

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I think you need to leave the two tall stems with foliage at the end and try rroting them as described above by @fidgetbones.  One of the links I gave you above also has a link to air layering.

    The stem that has a few small leaves at the bottom could be cut right down to just above them.  The remaining stem looks withered at the end so try feeling down it for a small swelling which will be a dormant bud and cut just above that to see if you can provoke it into growing.

    Once you've got the rubber plant re-potted in decent compost and good light it should respond but you'll need to be patient for a few months.

    Good luck.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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