In order for the Ficus elastica to develop bushier, you must regularly shorten and cut the rubber tree. With the right pruning, the plant not only branches evenly, you can also promote the vitality of the plant.
In a nutshell
- best cutting time: spring
- Tools: sharp secateurs, wound closure and gloves
- Always disinfect tools before use
- trimming the crown encourages branching
- only leave strong side shoots of the plant
time
In principle, it is possible to shorten rubber trees all year round. If the plant gets too big for you, you can cut it back at any time. In order to promote bushy and strong growth, however, you should preferably choose spring for the cut.
Plant parts often die off over the winter or are no longer as beautiful. Spring usually shows where there is still healthy plant tissue that also has the potential to form beautiful shoots.
tool
The choice of tool depends on the condition of the plant. For older plants with a thick trunk or side branches, you will need correspondingly more massive tools.
The following tools are required:
- bypass scissors
- gloves
- alcohol
- wound closure
- possibly knife
You only need the knife if you want to remove unwanted side shoots from the trunk. You should always have pure alcohol or a suitable disinfectant to hand when you cut back, because the cutting edge should be disinfected both before and after using the tool.
Source: Fritz Geller-Grimm, Pfungstadt fg18, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
With every wound on the rubber tree, a skin-irritating milky juice escapes. Therefore, you should only shorten the rubber tree with gloves.
Notice: However, if skin-irritating milky juice gets on your skin, wash it off immediately with cold water. Continue to monitor the area and seek medical attention if irritation is severe.
cutting technique
Different pruning techniques can be used to cut a rubber tree. In order for the plant to branch, you should not use radical techniques that slow down growth. In order for the plant to become branched and bushy, you should refrain from removing side branches. Maximum shoots that are disruptive or not developing well are removed to allow the other shoots to develop well.
In order for the plant to branch out, shorten the crown of the rubber tree. Be sure to start the cut with the bypass scissors over a strong eye that faces outward. Make the cut at a slight angle.
Shaping
Sometimes rubber trees can branch out a lot and get out of shape. If this is the case, remove the excess side shoots. Only leave suitable side shoots and remove shoots that have little potential.
Choose suitable side shoots:
- upright growth
- thick trunk
- does not cross other shoots
You should always cut weak shoots that have few leaves from the rubber tree. You should also remove shoots that do not look healthy. The rubber tree tends to grow very tall, so you can encourage the formation of side shoots again next year by cutting it back, which is why you should never leave weak shoots on the plant.
wound care
As soon as the plant has an injury, the milky sap comes out. This costs the gum tree a lot of strength, which is why you should close the wound quickly. A wound closure made of wax is suitable for this or you can use a closure for trees. It is important that the wound closure does not impede growth but remains flexible or perhaps even degrade over time.
Instructions for applying the wound closure:
- wait until the milky juice stops running strong
- Apply wound closure
If the latex continues to flow after a wound closure has been applied, wipe the area with hot water. Then cover the area again with the wound closure.
Tip: There are special plastic plugs on the market that can be used to easily close the interfaces.
frequently asked Questions
Can I grow new plants from the cut shoots?Yes, rubber trees can be propagated using top cuttings. The shoot from the pruning should be at least 10 centimeters long and not too lignified.
Can a wound closure be removed again?Once the cut has healed, a miracle seal, made of wax, for example, can be removed again. However, wait at least two months before removing it.
Can the trunk dry out despite wound closure?Yes, it is quite possible that the trunk dries up well in spite of the wound being closed. The reason for this is that there is no sleeping eye below the interface or the eye is no longer floating.