Rubber tree needs a LOT of pruning help. Where to begin?
Isabella Storm
8 years ago
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zzackey
8 years agoMentha (East TN, Zone 6B-7A)
8 years agoRelated Discussions
var. rubber tree (ficus) omg!! gnats, mushrooms & burn!! help!!!!
Comments (6)Hi Tracy. Sorry about your dilemma, especially with this plant that is so beautiful. I have this one and the regular all-green variety. Both of them are right smack in front of a southeast window, basking in the sun from the early morning till about lunch time. Your Ficus can grow in sun without a problem if it is acclimatized in its new location from where you had it before. Overwatering and underwatering can share similar symptoms, especially if some roots of the plant have died due to overwatering. This makes it difficult for the plant to draw up moisture, which produces symptoms similar to underwatering. Since the fungus gnats have exploded in population (and mushrooms are starting to surface), I would think that itÂs an overwatering problem. I have a feeling some roots may have been permanently damaged. Make sure that the soil is a porous, fast-draining type to help avoid overwatering this plant. And let it go moderately dry between each watering session. And like Toni, I clean/shower this plant regularly  about every two weeks or so. It helps keep the leaves dust and pest-free. Good luck!...See Morevar. rubber tree (ficus) omg!!! gnats, mushrooms & burn!! help!!!
Comments (2)It's being kept too wet all the time - water well, but only once some of the soil has dried out, and the soil should really be quite gritty, and not mostly 'potting' as it's full of peat and never dries out (beyond the top layer). Also, good air circulation is important, so an airy room, not necessarily intensely bright, is better than too much heat and constant watering....See MoreNeed help! Prune this tree? How to get it to flower?
Comments (11)Arborists aren't trained for this kind of work so you are on your own but you can probably find some kind of video about maintaining espaliers, which require a different strategy than free standing trees- for one thing, it is standard to do almost all maintenance pruning during the summer. Of course, such a video won't guide you out of your current pickle. Corrective pruning is a subject that doesn't get much coverage, even on the internet and yours is a very specific case. I should make a video of making a hinge to bend a branch but don't have the equipment. The important thing is not to cut (much) more than a third of the diameter and do it on the side your are bending it. Use as many cuts as it takes to make the branch reasonably limber working your way up the branch. The suggestion of taking it out of espalier form and turning into a conventional free standing tree is also a workable strategy and good idea, but the question is, would this work within the space? Espaliers are attractive but somewhat complicated to maintain as productive trees. But then, that can be said for all corrective fruit tree pruning. Apple trees are relatively forgiving of transplantation. Here is a publication that begins to explain some of the biological issues you are dealing with. If you are interested, I can find you more. Here is a link that might be useful: fruit tree physiology...See MoreHelp! Adopted huge (and unruly) Rubber Tree & could use some guidance.
Comments (49)That's the best part about using the turface. It's almost like cat litter in regards to its change of color from wet to damp to dry. When I initially stuck the cuttings, I loaded the first cup with turface I had just rinsed to reduce the dust particles. Therefore it was damp when stuck. After inserting the dusted cutting, topping with another upside down cup (with hole cut in bottom to slide over stem), I then poured additional turface thru the top hole. Then I watered just until saturated. Lastly, I cut slits in the bottom cup until I was sure it was adequately draining. Other than sticking them in a shaded location and adding water anytime I saw the turface drying out... that was it! With these, just having them next to other plants that were regularly watered on the porch was sufficient. The hole let in just enough, but not too much!...See MoreIsabella Storm
8 years agoDave
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agozzackey
8 years agoIsabella Storm
8 years agoMentha (East TN, Zone 6B-7A)
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
8 years agoMentha (East TN, Zone 6B-7A)
8 years agojane__ny
8 years agoIsabella Storm
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoDave
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)