Rubber Plant Pests

Rubber tree ficus elastica is an impressive plant with huge shiny leaves but this cold sensitive plant survives outdoors only in very warm climates for this reason it is usually grown indoors.

Rubber plant pests.

If properly cared for few pests or diseases seriously threaten rubber trees. Southern blight caused by the fungus sclerotium rolfsii southern blight is an easily preventable moisture related infection found in rubber trees during the summer months. They might look like pests or a disease but these dots are actually perfectly normal and no treatment or special care is needed. Even the best house plant owner will come across pests.

Although healthy rubber tree plants tend to be pest resistant they can be infested by several sap sucking pests. Don t worry though as a houseplant rubber plants usually get to around 8 10. Armored and soft scale bugs are tiny insects that attach themselves to the stems or leaves of a rubber plant and remain in the same spot throughout their lives feeding on the plant juices. However you can still expect spider mites and scale insects to drop in from time to time.

In it s natural habitat it grows over 30 metres tall however the varieties grown indoors are a much more manageable height. In its native environment it s normal for a rubber plant to grow to over 100 tall. If caught early you can remove these bugs by wiping them with a warm soap and water solution or an insecticidal soap. Our guide looks at common pests on indoor plants and helps to identify aphids mealybug red spider mites scale insects sciarid flies fungus gnats slugs snails and springtails.

In its native jungle habitat in india and malaysia the plant can grow up to 100 feet tall. View on amazon popular plants. If you re new to plant parenting a rubber tree is the plant for you. With its glossy leathery leaves and upright form it s a striking addition to almost any room in your house.

White raised dots on my rubber plant. Mealy bug scale and mites are common pests that like to cause this ficus tree problems. However if weakened by overwatering or dark conditions they can be afflicted by several illnesses. The rubber plant ficus elastica is a popular ornamental plant from the ficus genus.

With careful pruning you can shape your rubber tree to be exactly as tall as you want. Mealy bugs mites scales and aphids are a few common bugs that can find a home in your rubber plant. In particular rubber tree plants are susceptible to being infested with scale bugs and these pests will cause the leaves to drop off until the plant is treated. Pests are rare because the rubber plant is so resistant to them.