Looks like 2 but could easily be 1. If there are 2, they will be very easy to separate at repotting time. Repotting is different from potting up). If it's one plant and they can be cut apart so there are roots on both pieces, you're pretty much assured of a positive outcome. If it is one plant and there are no roots on one side, you can apply a tourniquet on the side with no roots near where it attaches to the other plant and repot. Best time to do this would be 2-4 weeks before the summer solstice. By next spring, roots will have grown just above the tourniquet and you can separate and pot separately. If any of this interests you, ask about the 'how to' parts and more qualifying of the brief outline.

There is no physiological reason to separate them, other that personal preference. The planting will increase its mass about the same amount whether there's one or 2 trees in the pot.

Al

Thanks for the advice! This is very helpful. Wasn't sure if I was potentially hurting them by leaving them together, but good to know I might be able to get two for one either way! Appreciate all the details very much.

I have a 3 stem Rubber tree, i was wondering the same. Is there a physiological reason to separate them? Would keeping 3 hamper their growth?

Somegu - I touched on that in my post above - last paragraph. First, let me say that the only true measure of growth in a plant is its increase in (dry) mass. Branch/ stem/ root extension doesn't necessarily = growth.

When someone provides an answer to your question in the post above mine, it should be qualified with regard to whether the answer is about the planting proper, or the individual plants. Let's say we start with 4 plants about the same size. Plant 3 in 1 pot and 1 in another. All else equal, the o/a mass of the multi-plant planting (MPP) will increase roughly about as much (collectively) as the single plant planting (SPP). From this we can see that the individual plants in the MPP will only gain about 1/3 the annual mass as the single plant in the SPP. This is a rough estimate, but you can see the tendency. YOU can significantly impact the rate of increase of the MPP if you repot it more frequently. The reason for this is, the MPP will show a more rapid increase in mass initially, but reaches a state of root congestion that limits growth sooner than does the SPP. The SPP doesn't increase in mass as rapidly as the MPP initially; and for that reason, its roots don't become as congested as quickly, so it exhibits a higher level of vitality than the MPP for a longer period, which allows it to 'catch up'. Regular repots that occur before serious root congestion limits growth/vitality tips scales in favor of the MPP, insofar as increase in mass is concerned.

Al

Wow amazing answer, thank you!