In their born environment , India rubber trees , Ficus elastica , can spring up over 100 feet tall .
They will never grow anywhere near that orotund when grown as houseplant , but that does n’t mean they ca n’t use some defining and containment now and then .
Pruning can give an outdoor Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree some Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe or you could help encourage ramify in a houseplant that has grown a scrap leggy .
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The appendage of pruning allows you to remove any sick or damage branches , or rejuvenate a rubber fig that has been neglected . So no matter the size or condition of your plant life , a little passementerie might be in edict .
Ourguide to produce rubber treeshas all the info you need to cultivate these impressive plants in your dwelling house .
In this guidebook , we ’re decease to focalize on pruning for wellness and coming into court .
Here are the issue we ’ll cover :
What You’ll Learn
Why Prune Rubber Trees ?
Preparation
When to figure out
How to Prune
Before we lecture about the physical process , you might be curious why you should be trimming in the first lieu . Here ’s why :
You do n’t have to pruneF. elastica , these flora can go years without any trimming and will be just okay .
When grown indoors , rubber trees can become leggy , with tenacious stretches of stems or branches that want leafage .
If you want to make your plant life bushier , cut back it back can encourage ramification and new foliar emergence to fill in those nude areas .
you could also lop to keep theF. elasticaat a accomplishable sizing in your home or grounds .
asunder from pruning for size , trimming away any offset that are diseased , infested by gadfly , flex , or broken , is helpful to keep the industrial plant healthy and front its best .
Before you get started , you ’ll need to pick out a worthy pruning tool .
A pair of secateurs , like theFelco F-2 , is perfect for houseplant or restrained size outdoor specimen . For larger trees you may need loppers or a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree pruner .
You ’ll also necessitate towear glovesand a long - sleeved shirt , as rubber figs exude sap that can be highly rile to your skin .
If the plant you ’re working with is very tall and you ’ll be forge overhead , wear protective goggles and fend off stand directly underneath where you are making your cut .
When you ’ve chosen your pruning tool , you need to scavenge it exhaustively before use .
If you do n’t clean your tools , you launch the risk of exposure of spreading pests and disease , and the last affair you want is to infect your newly trimmed tree .
I use a 10 pct bleach answer ( one part bleach to nine part water ) to pass over down my tools .
In addition , snaffle some isopropyl inebriant and keep it handy while you work , because the sap can mumble up your tool and you will need to pass over it down regularly between cuts .
If you are growing yourF. elasticaindoors , you may prune whenever you wish .
However , both for indoor and out-of-door specimens , wintertime is good because the plant is torpid during this time .
Or rather , as is the case with many tropic evergreens , it ’s in a semi - inactive state during the colder months .
It is best to prune when plant life are dormant for a number of reasons .
Pathogens and pests are usually less of a problem than during the growing season and the plant life is less likely to be shock by the study you ’re doing .
Having said that , if you notice pathologic or pest - infested branch that need to go , slue those off whenever you see them .
The other exception is if you are trimming solely to encourage ramify . This can be done whenever the plant is actively get .
Before you make the first cut , calculate closely at your plant and identify the leafage client . These are little bumps where the leaves emerge from the stem .
You desire to make all of your cuts about a fourth part of an inch above these foliage lymph gland and at a slight slant so any weewee runs off of it rather than stay on in place and attracting pathogens .
bulge by murder any stems or leaf that are diseased , damaged , infest with pestilence , as well as any branches rubbing against each other .
When you ’ve trimmed off any that ca n’t be saved , step back and look at the flora , noting any areas that are looking leggy or miss in foliage .
If there is an field that is thin , burn the branch slightly below that area so the new growth grows up into and fills it in . If you want to encourage outward , bushy maturation , cut the top off of the stems .
Make any extra cuts you need to give the flora the shape you desire .
Never take away more than a third or so of the plant at a time . You require to leave enough foliation behind that the plant can still photosynthesize and grow .
Shape Up!
Most plants require prune to some grade . With rubber Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya , it ’s about allow some shape and maintaining their health .
I ’m always surprised after I do a little pruning at how much better my plants look . It ’s like I get used to their imperfectness and do n’t realize how fairly they can be with some excess care .
Andfor more information about develop and caring for condom Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , tick out these guides next :
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Kristine Lofgren
