HELP!! Narrowing down Ficus Elastica aka Rubber Tree varieties!
Jasmin Beltran
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Does anyone wish they would make the names simple so it's easier for us plant lovers to find and horde our babies?! Lol.. Sorry not sorry :p
Anyway! I've recently been obsessed with the rubber plant, mostly the variegated ones. It had the generic Bell Nursery(apperantly exclusive to Home Depot) tag so I'm not sure what variety it is. Upon doing research(Google, EA, GHW, Delray, etc...) I've come to realize there's a whole lot of varieties of this plant and I'm still lost as to which one I have. This becomes even more difficult when companies "fancy up the names" so now you have the problem of multiple names for the same plant. I want to expand my collection of them but I also don't want copycats. So this is where I need your HELP! If I list the varieties I've found can you please post a picture(Google or your own) and the name of the plant you think it is. I think this will be a fun thing to see what others find or maybe already have in their collection. Thank you my plant brothers and sisters! Happy hunting! :D
Some of these may be the same but have different names, we'll see.
Ficus elastica "ruby"
Ficus elastica "tineke"
Ficus elastica "burgundy"
Ficus elastica "tricolor"
Ficus elastica "variegata"
Ficus elastica "black prince"
Ficus elastica "strawberries and cream"
Ficus elastica "lemon lime"
Ficus elastica "decora" and/or "congesta"*
Ficus elastica "doescherii"
Ficus elastica "robusta" and/or "rubra"**
Ficus elastica "abidjan"(possibly alternate name for "burgundy")
Ficus elastica "asahi" and "sylvie" (may also be alternate name for a variegated plant)
Ficus elastica "schrijveriana/schriverianas"
* more compact versions?
** newer name for the plant?
I'm sure there are more I haven't found, so feel free to add those as well.
Also I'd like an ID of the plant I already have.
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Comments (16)
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
8 years agoJasmin Beltran
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoRelated Discussions
Questions about Ficus Elastica (Rubber Plant)
Comments (11)Is the plant's capacity to support its unpruned upper compromised at all by any root pruning that takes place first? Yes, it is. To some degree that can be offset by siting the plant in the shade and keeping it out of the wind. Also, if you're repotting from a water-retentive soil to a well-aerated soil, the improvement in root function and the number of fine roots usually becomes quickly evident & additionally helps the recovery. If, for instance, you have a healthy 3 gallon tree and you reduce the roots by say 75%, you might need to remove a substantial volume of foliage to prevent the tree from seemingly indiscriminately shedding what it can't support. It's better to select the branches that don't compliment your vision for the tree's design than to let the tree decide. Also, you can partially defoliate if you remove a LOT of roots and the tree will quickly replace lost leaves as soon as the roots' ability to keep up with the canopy is back in balance. Everything revolves around the roots - the roots have to be able to support new growth before it can occur. >> Best time to do extensive root work (repot) is between Father's Day - 4th of July. Al, is this applicable to other trees or to other plants in general? I grow tropicals indoors with no direct light all year round. Does someone's zone affect this best repotting window? Plants have internal clocks (search "endogenous rhythm" and/or "circadian rhythm") that tell them when they are supposed to grow. I keep all my tropical trees (about 75 of them) under lights in a basement grow area. There is only one window at the far end of the basement, so it supplies no usable light. Somehow, the trees know when the vernal equinox is eminent and begin to exhibit more vigorous growth, despite the only usable light they get is artificial and on a 16/8 schedule. I don't think the Father's Day - July 4th rule of thumb is nearly as important if your trees were outdoors or living on sunlight, but I'd still say that even if there were no changes in artificial light intensity/duration throughout the year, that the time frame I suggested would still be the best time. If your trees grow actively all year and they're healthy under artificial light, repot any time you have a mind to. The most significant effect of that sort of 'out of season' repotting would probably be a little longer recovery before active growth can resume. For trees that AREN'T healthy, the timing is a more significant consideration. I don't think a growers zone affects the best window much, but I would say that the closer to the equator you get, the wider the window becomes. In consideration of the best timing, I have a much narrower window than someone who lives in south FL or TX. Growers in those locales can repot with fast recovery anytime in Jun or July, and the effects of repotting in May or Aug - mid-Sep are much easier on the plant than they would be closer to the 40-45th parallels. Al...See MoreTrimming/Propagating Rubber Tree
Comments (186)Rach - Sometimes, the greenhouse will stick (an actual horticultural term) several individual propagules in a single pot; and sometimes that will stick a single propagule (cutting) in a single pot. Because there may be several nodes on a propagule, and each node is place from which branches often occur, you won't really know if you're dealing with multiple stems from a single propagule or several propagules, unless you dig around in the roots a bit. If they're separate propagules, you can separate them at repotting time. If they're all attached to the same propagule you can remove as many stems as you like by cutting them off flush to the main stem. You can then try to root each propagule individually or in a 'clump' arrangement. You can often tell, if the plant isn't too root-bound, if the stems are all part of the same propagule if you hold one stem and move another around a bit. Sort of like, shaking one limb of a small tree makes the whole tree move. Jontte - F elastica doesn't make a good bonsai subject because its large leaves don't respond well enough to leaf (size) reduction techniques to keep it's leaves in proportion to the size of the tree. There ARE many ficus trees that have the same cultural wants as your rubber tree, but have smaller leaves and much shorter internodes./ There are several varieties of benjamina that are suitable. Also, salicifolia/nerifolia, retusa, microcarpa, are all good. You can also train F pumila to an upright position and get some really nice looking weeping style bonsai with little more skill than it takes to ensure the tree's good health. Al...See MoreRubber Tree: Sick/Dying?
Comments (35)The white milky stuff would be ficus sap. That would mean the leaf was still viable when it was removed/fell. Leaves that the tree naturally drops should not produce sap. have you fully inspected for any pests? read through these links. http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/3825798/sick-or-dying-plants http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1476078/ficus-trees-in-containers-iv?n=223 http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/2842847/container-soils-water-movement-and-retention?n=8...See MoreMy favorite plant: Ficus Elastica (Rubber Plant)
Comments (5)Ficus elastica "Burgundy" This plant is also one of my favorites. Back when I first moved out on my own, well I moved in with a couple of my best friends into our bachelor pad, lol. By splitting the cost, we could afford a really nice high rise apartment. Well, one of my friends had a really big rubber tree plant. I still remember helping him trying to move it into the elevator and up into our apartment. This past Spring, I seen them for sale, and seeing them brought back many good memories. So I had to buy one for my own. Since then, it has already grown quite considerably. I think that I may have to repot it next Spring into a bigger pot. These plants really are very forgiving. One (all- natural) trick that I use to keep the leaves nice and shiny is to clean them with lemon juice. This works great for removing water spots, dust, etc. :)...See More
Russ1023 (central Fla)
8 years agoJasmin Beltran
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoJasmin Beltran
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoF. Elastica "Doescherii"
Photo from Costs Farms/Exotic Angels page
Russ1023 (central Fla)
8 years agoJasmin Beltran
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoHere's a better picture of the colors on my plant, no yellow more of a grey/cream. Almost army colored. I sent an email to Bell Nurseries to see if they can help.
Jasmin Beltran
8 years agoRuss1023 (central Fla)
8 years agoJasmin Beltran
8 years agoRuss1023 (central Fla)
8 years agoJasmin Beltran
8 years agoJasmin Beltran
8 years ago
jorina cabonillas
3 years ago
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