The Ruby Ficus, or Ficus elastica ‘Ruby’, is a popular houseplant known for its striking variegated foliage. Its leaves display a captivating blend of deep green, creamy white, and vibrant pink or red hues, making it a visually appealing addition to indoor spaces.
Ruby Ficus Care Essentials
The Ruby Ficus thrives in bright, indirect light, which maintains its vivid pink and red tones. Place the plant a few feet from south or west-facing windows, or directly in an east-facing window. Direct, intense afternoon sunlight can scorch leaves, causing brown, crispy spots. Conversely, insufficient light can lead to a loss of variegation, causing the leaves to appear greener and less vibrant.
Watering requires a balanced approach. The Ruby Ficus prefers consistently moist but not waterlogged soil; allow the top 1 to 2 inches to dry between waterings. Overwatering can lead to yellowing leaves, mushy stems, and potentially root rot. Underwatering may cause leaves to droop, become crispy, or drop. Water until excess liquid drains from the pot bottom, ensuring adequate hydration.
A well-draining, aerated potting mix is important to prevent water retention around the roots. A suitable mix includes components like peat or coconut coir for moisture retention and perlite or coarse sand for drainage. This composition helps ensure roots receive sufficient oxygen. Enhance typical houseplant potting mix by adding perlite or orchid bark to improve drainage.
The plant prefers temperatures between 60°F and 80°F (15°C and 27°C). Temperatures below 55°F (13°C) can negatively affect leaves, causing misshapen or dropped leaves. While it tolerates average indoor humidity, a range of 40-60% is considered ideal. To increase humidity, use a pebble tray, a room humidifier, or group plants together.
During spring and summer, apply a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer. It is recommended to dilute to half strength to avoid over-fertilization. Fertilize every two to four weeks during these months. Refrain from fertilizing in fall and winter when growth slows.
Maintenance and Growth
Pruning maintains shape and encourages bushier growth. Prune to remove leggy or damaged stems, or to control size. The optimal time is during the active growing season, from late spring to early summer, when the plant recovers quickly. Use clean, sharp shears and cut just above a node, where new leaves or branches emerge. Remove dead or yellowing leaves for health and appearance.
Repotting is necessary when the Ruby Ficus outgrows its container, indicated by circling roots or slowed growth. The best time is spring, when the plant is actively growing and recovers easily. Select a new pot that is typically one size up. Gently remove the plant, loosen circling roots, and place it in the new pot with fresh, well-draining soil. Water thoroughly after repotting to settle the soil.
Common Problems and Solutions
Leaf drop signals stress, often from overwatering or underwatering. Changes in location, light, or temperature can also cause leaf drop as the plant adapts. Browning leaf tips indicate low humidity or inconsistent watering. Increasing humidity can help alleviate this issue.
Yellowing leaves, especially with mushy stems, indicate overwatering and potential root rot. Yellowing throughout the plant may also suggest insufficient light. Adjusting watering and ensuring drainage resolves these concerns. Nutrient deficiencies or over-fertilization can also cause yellowing.
Common houseplant pests include spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects. Spider mites create fine webbing; manage by rinsing leaves with water, insecticidal soap, or neem oil. Mealybugs appear as white, cotton-like masses; remove with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. Scale insects look like small brown bumps; scrape off or treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Isolate infested plants to prevent spread.
Propagation
Propagate Ruby Ficus using stem cuttings. Select a healthy stem, approximately 4 to 6 inches long, and cut just below a node. Remove lower leaves, ensuring a node remains submerged if water propagating. Allow the cutting to “callous” for a few hours or overnight before placing it in water or soil; this prevents rot.
For water propagation, place the cutting in a clear jar with room-temperature water. Position the jar in bright, indirect light. Roots typically develop within a few weeks to a month. Once roots are 1 to 2 inches long, transfer to a well-draining potting mix. For soil propagation, plant the cutting directly into a moist, well-draining soil mix and keep in a warm, humid environment with bright, indirect light.