Despite being sturdy and low-maintenance, the indoor Rubber plant still needs extra care and effort in winter to sustain its ornate beauty.
Listen to this article here.
Dormancy hits even those Rubber plants kept indoors in winter. Thus, keep reading to learn what to do and what not to keep them upbeat.
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Does an Indoor Rubber Plant Need a Lot of Care During Winter?
Rubber plants are sun-loving plants that actively grow during spring and summer but stay dormant in winter.
Due to dormancy, the overall plant uptake lowers significantly, and regular care can harm them.
Therefore, indoor Rubber plant requires a slightly deviated care winter routine from regular ones.
Therefore, aim for a flexible winter care routine taking the low uptake factor into account to ensure optimal growth.
Tips for Indoor Rubber Plant Care During Winters
Rubber plants are not fond of cold months and barely tolerate cold conditions.
Thus, follow these tips to maintain ideal winter conditions for indoor Rubber plants.
1. Appropriate Sunlight
Sun barely shines in the winter skies causing light-deficient conditions in a sun-loving indoor Rubber plant.
Stunted growth, root rot, and wilting are common problems caused by low-light conditions.
Moreover, the light deficient Rubber plant is prone to host pests and fungal diseases.
Therefore, carefully relocate your indoor Rubber plant to somewhere with higher light exposure in winter.
Otherwise, use artificial grow lights suitable for the Rubber plant for about 10 hours.
2. Balanced Watering
The water intake in winter drops significantly, so the indoor Rubber plant does not need regular watering.
The temperature is low in winter, so the soil remains wet and moist for longer than in summer.
If the top 2 inches of soil is dry, water the plant till water runs out from the drain holes.
Severely low moisture content in the soil can cause droopy, wilting Rubber plant leaves.
Meanwhile, excess water causes the plant’s lower leaves to turn brown or yellow alongside root rot.
Solutions for Overwatered Rubber Plant
- Check for drainage holes and remove any clogs so that the water runs.
- Inspect the plants’ roots for potential rotting.
- Snip off all infected roots and apply fungicides to prevent further spread.
- Then, carefully repot the Rubber plant using a fresh potting mix.
3. Humidity Requirement
Rubber plants generally proliferate when humidity is between 30% and 50%.
Other than that, you can relocate the plant to bright, well-lit bathrooms or kitchens.
You can also incorporate them with other plants like Areca palm to boost humidity naturally.
Meanwhile, refrain from placing them near the heating appliances to keep the plant warm as they suck out humidity completely.
4. Appropriate Indoor Temperature
Rubber plants are accustomed to growing healthy, tall and darker in the subtle warm summer.
Thus, if your Rubber plant is too close to the windowsill, move them away from the window.
Likewise, do not utilize radiators or A/C to keep the soil warm as it dries out the surrounding air.
But you can use heating pads underneath the indoor Rubber plant to keep them at optimal temperature.
5. No Fertilizing
Although the Rubber plant requires water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks in the active growth season, you must refrain from fertilizing them in winter.
Due to dormancy, they barely consume nutrients available in the soil during the winter.
Excess nutrients in the soil can invite salt buildups and lead to severe chemical burns to roots and stems.
Therefore, wait for the winter’s end to fertilize the indoor Rubber plants to encourage optimal growth.
6. Control Pests
Many common pest problems go away in winter, but not spider mites and scales that trouble the indoor Rubber plant.
But you can prevent such issues by following the ideal watering and humidity routine.
Furthermore, apply neem oil with water to your indoor Rubber plants to keep pests at bay.
Also, regularly clean the leaves using the soapy solution to ensure the healthy growth of the plant without pest invasion.
Final Thoughts!
Once the indoor Rubber plant undergoes dormancy, it must not be bothered with fertilization and propagation in winter.
Carefully lower the watering routine and adapt it to low water intake. Also, provide optimal morning sunlight while keeping them safe from cold drafts.
All The Best!
