Rubber Plant

Position in bright, indirect light. Variegated cultivars such as 'Tineke' and 'Ruby' need more light than plain green forms to maintain their colour. Water when the top 3-5 cm of compost dries out. Rubber plants are sensitive to overwatering; always check before adding more. Use a well-draining peat-free compost with added perlite or bark. Feed monthly from April to September with a balanced liquid fertiliser. Wipe the large leaves with a damp cloth regularly to keep them glossy and free of dust. Rubber plants tolerate average UK room humidity but appreciate occasional misting. Repot every two to three years in spring, or when roots circle the bottom of the pot. Keep above 10 degrees Celsius and away from cold draughts. The milky latex sap stains fabrics and irritates skin, so wear gloves when pruning.

Prune in spring to control height or encourage branching. Cut the stem at the desired point and the plant will produce one or two new shoots below. Dab the cut with damp tissue to stop latex flow. Remove any leggy lower growth or damaged leaves at the main stem.