Variegated Ruby Rubber Tree plant care
INSIDE : Learn best practices for Variegated Ruby Rubber Tree plant care! Helpful Rubber Plant Care + tips, from watering needs, light requirements will help grow big healthy Variegated Ficus elastica Rubys.
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Rubber Plants are one of my very favorite plants. Their gorgeous big waxy leaves are such showstoppers and I even included them in my 13 Hard to Kill Houseplants list!
So imagine my JOY when I discovered Variegated Ruby Rubber Trees – I mean the colors that are on these leaves are mind blowing. I constantly am in awe of each of every one of them… mini pieces of art work.
Let’s take a deeper look into this beautiful plant.
How do you care for a Variegated Ruby Rubber tree?
The Variegated Ruby Rubber tree is a type of rubber tree with shiny green leaves edged in pink, red, and cream. This variety of Ficus elastica will have brighter, more pronounced red variegation with brighter light.
As you can see below, Ficus Elastica Ruby plants have a deep red or pink sheath around the new leaves before they uncurl.
How often should I water a Ruby Rubber plant?
When the top inch or two of soil has begun to dry out, it’s time to give Variegated Ruby Rubber plants a drink. Try to avoid letting the soil dry out entirely.
Overly wet soil can cause root rot, so be sure not to let the plant sit in accumulated water in its saucer.
Are variegated rubber trees rare?
Yes, some varieties of variegated rubber trees are rare. Two more common ones however are the Tineke and Ficus elastica variegata. The ficus elastica variegata has wide oblong leaves with blocks of dark green and cream, and can also have pink, red, and purple hues.
Elastica ‘shivereana’ or Moonshine Rubber Tree, this is one of the rarest Ficus species! It has variegated lime green to mint leaves with specks of cream, white, and dark green.
Want to learn more about Rubber tree plants? Check these posts out.
Do Variegated Ruby Rubber trees need direct sunlight?
Rubber Plants thrive in medium to bright indirect light, but can tolerate some bright direct light.
They can tolerate direct sunlight – especially in the early morning or late afternoon, but prolonged exposure to harsh, direct sunlight can scorch their more delicate leaves.
Here are some tips for providing the right amount of light for your Variegated Ruby Rubber tree:
- Ideal placement: Place your plant near a window that receives medium bright, indirect light, such as an east-facing window.
- Avoid direct sunlight: Shield the plant from too much harsh direct sunlight – especially during the strongest sun hours in midday.
- Monitor for signs of stress: If you notice your plant’s leaves turning brown or crispy, it may be getting too much direct sunlight. Move it to a shadier location.
Do rubber tree plants like sun or shade?
Rubber tree plants prefer medium to bright, indirect sunlight. However they should be kept away from prolonged direct sunlight. Too much direct sun may burn and scorch their leaves.
They need at least 6 to 8 hours of bright, indirect light each day, but can tolerate lower light conditions. However if they don’t get enough light, they may become leggy, lose the glossy look of their leaves and may get curling leaves.
Ideally, place your rubber trees near an east-facing window or several feet away from a south-facing or west-facing window.
How tall are variegated rubber trees?
The height of a variegated rubber tree depends on whether it’s grown indoors or outdoors, and the specific variety of it.
The Ficus elastica ‘Ruby’ (shown below) with white, pink, and green colored leaves is one that can grow to be around 7–8 ft tall indoors.
Where to buy Variegated Ruby Rubber Tree Plants?
I am happy to report that these beautiful Variegated Ruby Rubber plants are becoming more popular, so they aren’t as difficult to find as they once were.
You can find them both online and most likely in local nurseries or your closes big box stores like Home Depot or Lowes.
Amazon, The Sill, Etsy and Bloomscape are all great resources online for finding quality plants. And Home Depot and/or Lowes often carries them, but they do seem to be a bit more seasonal on when you can find them there.
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