The Rubber Tree (botanically known as *Ficus elastica*) is a pretty low-maintenance roommate, but it can’t spend its entire long life in the same cramped pot. To keep your plant happy and healthy, you’ll need to give it a new home every now and then.
When to Repot
How often you should repot your Rubber Tree really depends on its age. Young, fast-growing plants need a wardrobe change more often than the seasoned veterans. As a general rule of thumb:
- Young plants: Every one to two years.
- Older trees: Every three to five years.
Beyond the calendar, your plant will usually tell you when it’s feeling squished. Keep an eye out for these tell-tale signs:
- Roots are poking out through the drainage holes at the bottom.
- The soil is bulging or lifting at the surface.
- The plant is becoming top-heavy and losing its stability.
The best time of year to tackle this project is in the spring, just as the plant is waking up for the growing season.
Choosing the Right Pot
Even though Rubber Trees can reach impressive heights of up to 10 feet (and 5 feet wide!), they actually prefer relatively snug pots. When picking out a new container, make sure it:
- Offers just enough room for the roots to spread out.
- Is only slightly larger than the current pot (don’t go too big too fast!).
For larger plants, I recommend choosing a heavy pot (like ceramic or terracotta) to provide a solid base so your tree doesn’t tip over.
How to Repot
The process itself is pretty straightforward. However, if your Rubber Tree has already reached a massive size, definitely grab a friend to help you lift it! Here’s how to do it:
- Carefully lift the *Ficus elastica* out of its old pot. (Pro tip: This is much easier if the soil is dry!)
- Gently loosen the root ball with your hands.
- Add a drainage layer (like pebbles or clay shards) to the bottom of the new pot.
- Fill the pot with some fresh potting soil.
- Place your Rubber Tree right in the center.
- Fill in the gaps with more soil, tapping the sides of the pot as you go to help the substrate settle.
- Give it a good watering.
- Hold off on fertilizing for a while; fresh soil already packs plenty of nutrients for your plant.
If you have a particularly tall tree, it’s a good idea to secure the trunk to a stake. This gives the plant extra stability and ensures it continues to grow nice and straight.
