Where To Keep Rubber Plant At Home? (Right Spot+Factors To Consider)

Rubber plants, botanically called ficus elastica, if not placed correctly, can have a few issues. They will not have steady growth, harm pets, droopy leaves, flaccid leaves, root rot, fungal infections, diseases, and may even perish due to improper living conditions. Thus, it is crucial to place your rubber plant appropriately.

A west-facing patio or window is an excellent spot for your rubber plant. Rubber plants do enjoy a bright spot but without direct sunlight. Use a sheer curtain to keep the sunlight shielded. Make sure you keep the rubber plant away from pets and children as it can be bad for their health.

If your plant is not growing or improper growth means the plant placement might be wrong or the plant is not getting enough light, inadequate watering, temperature fluctuation. That calls for a better spot for your rubber plant, along with proper care.

This article will definitely help you find the right spot for your rubber plant by informing you about the related factors and things to keep in mind. Let us jump right into it.

Factors determining the placement of rubber plant

Light

Light is a fundamental supplement for rubber plants. It is an essential factor regarding the placement of your plant.

Light being a crucial factor for your rubber plant, it is also crucial to keep in mind that morning should not be tense.

So, you need a spot for your plant where a lot of light is coming in, which is bright and indirect, which means near a window is an excellent choice as the glass and curtains will diffuse the light reducing its strength, making it perfect for your plant.

If you want to keep it outdoors, make sure you implement shade over it irrespective of the light’s direction to save the plant from direct sunlight.

A perfect spot would be where it gets early morning light and late afternoon light. A west-facing window or balcony is celebrated. Somewhat medium light is the key to find your spot.

For more understanding of direct and indirect light, check the shadow cast by your plant.

If the shadow is sharp and defined, then it is natural light. If it is weak with blurry edges, then it is indirect light. However, if the light is scarcely visible, then it is considered low light.

As long as the plant is in surroundings filled with light avoiding straight light, your plant will bloom.

Also Read: How Much Light Do Rubber Plants Need?

Temperature

Temperature is another important determinant for your plants; this plant thrives best in climate from 55 degrees Fahrenheit up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Please keep it in such a place where it meets the recommended temperature requirement. Once the temperature goes up, you need to move your plant.

If you keep it around the balcony or patio, move it indoors to save from hot heat outside.

Please don’t keep your plant near vents or apertures; the hot hard air from it will hurt the leaves, burning them and making the plant lose its moisture very fast.

Your plant needs just the same temperature, which you generally oblige. Low light may result in droopy leaves or leaves falling off. 1-2 hours of sunlight is tolerable.

If you stay in a colder region, the plant will tolerate up to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but if the temperature drops below that, you need to save your plant.

The plant may even die in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. You can burn wood or a furnace to provide your plant with the right temperature.

Also Read:

Moisture

Rubber plants perform best in average humidity. The plant will furnish beautifully in a moist atmosphere. You need to keep the plant in such an area that fulfills its demand.

If you live in an arid climate, the plant may suffer. You need a space where there are high humidity and moisture levels.

You can keep your plants in a group together, the reason being that their leaves lose water from the pores, and this water vapor mixes with the air increasing the local moisture in the area.

In dry areas, keep misting the plant using a spray bottle. This will also increase the moisture levels in the environment keeping the plants moist for a few hours.

Preferably, mist them in the morning, giving the water time to evaporate during the day time. This will keep your plants away from being trapped by any fungal infection or diseases.

Use a humidifier, keep the humidifier in a room, use it to maintain a perfect level of moisture and humidity in the air. It has a two-fold advantage, your plants will get the required moisture, and your skin will also remain moist and supple.

One of the best places to retain your plants is in the bathroom, yes it is true. Your bathroom will provide your plant with high humidity levels as the sinks, baths, and showers support to create a wet environment.

Rubber plants are easily susceptible to pest attack, fungal infections, diseases, root rot, and drooping leaves if the soil and roots are kept soggy.

In case you don’t like the spots or arrangements given above, a humid tray can help to raise the moisture level, take a tray and put a layer of gravel on it, and set your pot on the gravels.

Pour water on the tray so the pebbles remain wet, ensuring that the pot’s bottom does not touch the water. Otherwise, the moisture will leach up the drainage hole, causing root rot.

Things to keep in mind while placing rubber plant at home

There are various spots where we can keep our rubber plants. However, there are few key points you need to understand. Let us have a look at some of them.

Near window

Yes, your plant requires a lot of light. A light-filled area is ideal for placing your plant.

Keeping your plant near a window means it will get a lot of light, both direct and indirect, which is ideal for the plant.

When placing near the window, keep in mind the window is not open all the time. Keeping the plant in direct searing sunlight will create many plant issues like burnt leaves, drooping leaves, etc.

Watch out for extreme heat and cold while keeping your plants near a window.

During hot weather, keep the plant a few inches away from the window to protect the plant leaves from getting burned and the soil getting dry too fast.

During cold, don’t let the plant touch the windows as the cold window glass will reduce the moisture from plant leaves leading to droopy leaves, weak leaves, and other problems.

Keeping away from children

Just as much as your rubber plant is a friend to you, it is not a friend to your child (if any). It is all beauty but with some toxicity.

This plant has a latex textured sap when you cut it, which is noxious and irritant on the skin.

If consumed, it might lead to further critical problems. So while installing the plant, ensure it is out of range for your child.

Source: University of California

Avoid placing near fireplace

This tropical plant loves high humidity and moisture, as you must have read in this article before. They like their soil and roots moist, keeping the plant healthy.

If you put the plant near a fireplace, the plant’s soil and roots will dry out too swiftly, leading to drooping leaves and weak plants all over. The plant leaves may also burn or turn brown due to the blaze.

If you live in a colder region, you can place it near the fireplace making sure the distance is at most limited 4-5 feet away.

Keeping it out of reach of pets

Not all indoor plants are pet friendly, and the same applies to your rubber plants as well.

Rubber plant has a toxic substance i.e, the sap that flows out of it, which, when ingested (in case of pets), will severely harm them. Thus, it makes this plant quite toxic for your pets.

Keeping your pets away from your plants or plant away from your pets is an ideal situation and place to keep in.

If your pet doesn’t play or hang around your plants or scratch, eat your plants, you are risk-free.

Temperature of the room

Ideal ranges: When looking for the best area for your rubber plant, you want to make sure that the temperature of the room ranges between 55 degrees Fahrenheit up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

That means you need to keep them in such a place to maintain the plant’s given range of temperature.

Colder range: The rubber plant keeps thriving till the temperature drops down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Below that, you need to provide them with possible means to provide them with the right warmth. They cannot stand the temperature below that; they may even die in such low-temperature conditions.

If colder regions are your living space, you need to either ensure the optimum temperature required by your plant or get rid of your plant.

By keeping them near the fireplace, furnace you can easily keep them thriving.

But always keep the rubber plant at a distance; otherwise, the heat may burn the leaves, or the plant may dry out, causing problems like curled leaves, weak plants, diseases in the long term.

Rubber plant in bedroom

Rubber plants in your room will always give you a beautiful appearance and feel, and it is an excellent place for the plant. But a few points need to be considered while placing them.

Do’s: The plant should be kept near a window or in a spot to get sufficient indirect bright light. The right temperature needs to be maintained, as most of the time, the cold air coming out of the AC can make it challenging for the plant to survive as they love warm temperatures around them.

Don’t: The plant should not be placed in a spot where the AC’s direct cold air goes. You can keep them on the side table, in a corner where the appropriate light comes, the temperature is maintained, and other conditions get fulfilled.

Rubber plant in bathroom

Rubber plants find your bathroom a happy place. The humid environment in your bathroom from sinks, showers, even the wet towels helps maintain the perfect moist environment for your plant to flourish.

All you need to see is that the plant is not getting wet all the time due to showers or while cleaning your bathroom.

Though the plants like the moist air and moist soil and roots but don’t mean you will keep pouring in undesired water on them, this will make the soil soggy and lead to problems like root rot, droopy leaves, fungal infections, etc.

Some tips on placement of rubber plants

Quick tips to help you find a perfect spot and area for your rubber plants are,

1. Keep the plant near the west-facing window.
2. Move the plant as soon as you find something kosher.
3. Don’t panic if you cannot meet all the placement specifications; compensate with the best alternative resolutions for the problem.
4. Mist the plant every few hours if the climate is arid.
5. Cover the plant with plastic to sustain the moisture level.

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