Q.New Rubber Tree Plant
I’m in NJ, by Newark and not sure if I’m in 6a or 6b gardening zone. Last year I was pruning my rubber tree plant down. Got a nice branch, decided to propagate it. Just put it in water and put in the window sill. Doesn’t get more than 5 hours of sun a day. Finally after three months, it grew these nice long roots.
I’m a very patient man. I justed potted it yesterday, propped it up with some sticks and tied the plant to the sticks for now until roots catch. Here are my questions:
1. How often do I water a newly potted rubber tree plant?
2. When do I change the size of the pot, it is now in a 5- to 6-inch pots?
3. When should I remove the stcks and/or the rope?
4. What else do I have to do to make this a strong growing plant?
5. Can I make the rubber tree plant into a bonsai rubber tree?
6. My mother rubber plant is in a 14-inch pot and is 4-5 feet high. I will prune so it won’t get bigger. Do I need to repot that one in a bigger pot every so often?
7. I have many other plants I have questions on, do you answer on other plants as well or just rubber tree plant?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
If you have not yet read it, this article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/rubber-tree/propagation-rubber-tree-plant.htm It's generally better to start new cuttings in soil as this creates stronger roots, but their care would be the same once planted in soil. For additional information on rubber plants and repotting, these articles will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/rubber-tree, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/learn-more-about-repotting-houseplants.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/should-you-repot-your-plant-happy-root-bound-house-plants.htm And yes, we provide information on a variety of plants, indoors and out.