Rubber Plant

Rubber plant also known as Ficus elastica is a group of Moraceae. As all Ficus plants this plant is also an indoor plant, but can also be grown outdoors depenging on the placement. Rubber plant is called Rubber plant because the gum that comes from its branches is used for the preparation of rubber. It can grow upto 6-7 ft tall which is pretty crazy and also looks really good. Like a mini tree in your house or garden. Rubber leaves are its most attractive factor and also need a bit of maintenance. As the leaves are plain as hell a lot of dust settles on the leaves which will block the cells present inside the leaves to absorb sunlight and prepare food. As this can slow down the growht of the plant, it is recommended to clean the leaves with a wet cloth, or sprinkle water on the leaves once a week. But cleaning with wet cloth is what I personally would suggest because sprinkling makes the droplets seperate dust in a pattern, not removed, looks pretty bad on the leaf. So, cleaning with wet and then dry would take less water and also clean the leaf pretty well. Also, if the plant doesnot respond or grow since you potted it, then donot worry, it is fine. Because rubbers are slow growing plants, for me it took over 6 months to get the first bud and another 2 months bud to grow into a beautiful, elegant, minimalistic leaf.

Light

Rubber plant can tolerate indirect sunlight but would really thrive in direct sunlight conditions. The plant should be place east facing or south east or south west should also be fine. Direct sunlight will work until the leaves turn brown, because then you need to keep it inside under a window - filtered or curtained.

Watering

Rubber plants watering should be consistent especially in the growing season, spring or summer. During winters the plant can survive for weeks or so without watering, but it is better to look for the soil to stay moist. Also once you water, then do not sprinkle the water often, because too much watering will make the leaves turn yellow and they will fall off or droop.

Pruning

Pruning the rubber plant is kind of a necessity in my opinion. Because the rubber plant grows vertically straight until you prune the leaves, then it grows sideways too. The plant will grow broadly. You can grow the plant vertically too without pruning, but due to the big and heavy leaves the plant might lose balance or bend in one side. Also while cleaning the leaves, if the plant is vertically stiff then the leaf might be vulnerable to come out, so it is better to clean them carefully and consciously.