The Healthy Houseplant
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • HOUSEPLANTS
    • ANTHURIUMS
    • BIRD OF PARADISE
    • CALATHEAS
    • DRACAENAS
    • DUMB CANES
    • FIDDLE LEAF FIG
    • MONEY TREES
    • MONSTERA ADANSONII
    • MONSTERA DELICIOSA
    • PEACE LILIES
    • PILEA PEPEROMIOIDES
    • POTHOS
    • PRAYER PLANTS
    • RUBBER TREES
    • SNAKE PLANTS
    • ZZ PLANTS
  • RECOMMENDATIONS
    • HUMIDIFIERS
    • GROW LIGHTS
    • LECA
    • GIFT IDEAS
  • eBooks
    • MONSTERA DELICIOSA
    • PILEA PEPEROMIOIDES
    • ZZ PLANTS
  • Why Your Monstera Deliciosa Is Crying, Sweating and Dripping Water
  • Monsteras & Aerial Roots: What Are They & What Should You Do With Them?
  • Training Monstera Deliciosa: How to Make Them Climb
  • Why, When & How to Prune Your Monstera Deliciosa
  • How to Save a ZZ Plant From Root Rot: A Step By Step Guide
Subscribe
The Healthy Houseplant
The Healthy Houseplant
  • House Plants
    • ANTHURIUMS
      • ANTHURIUM CARE
      • ANTHURIUM HELP
      • ANTHURIUM PROPAGATION
      • ANTHURIUM TIPS
    • BIRD OF PARADISE
      • BOP CARE
      • BOP HELP
      • BOP PROPAGATION
      • BOP TIPS
    • CALATHEAS
      • CALATHEA CARE
      • CALATHEA HELP
      • CALATHEA PROPAGATION
      • CALATHEA TIPS
    • DRACAENAS
      • DRACAENA CARE
      • DRACAENA HELP
      • DRACAENA PROPAGATION
      • DRACAENA TIPS
    • DUMB CANES
      • DUMB CANE CARE
      • DUMB CANE HELP
      • DUMB CANE PROPAGATION
      • DUMB CANE TIPS
    • FIDDLE LEAF FIG
      • FLF CARE
      • FLF HELP
      • FLF PROPAGATION
      • FLF TIPS
    • MONEY TREES
      • MONEY TREE CARE
      • MONEY TREE HELP
      • MONEY TREE PROPAGATION
      • MONEY TREE TIPS
    • MONSTERA ADANSONII
      • MONSTERA ADANSONII CARE
      • MONSTERA ADANSONII HELP
      • MONSTERA ADANSONII PROPAGATION
      • MONSTERA ADANSONII TIPS
    • MONSTERA DELICIOSA
      • MONSTERA DELICIOSA CARE
      • MONSTERA DELICIOSA HELP
      • MONSTERA DELICIOSA PROPAGATION
      • MONSTERA DELICIOSA TIPS
    • PEACE LILIES
      • PEACE LILY CARE
      • PEACE LILY HELP
      • PEACE LILY PROPAGATION
      • PEACE LILY TIPS
    • PILEA PEPEROMIOIDES
      • PILEA CARE
      • PILEA HELP
      • PILEA PROPAGATION
      • PILEA TIPS
    • POTHOS
      • POTHOS CARE
      • POTHOS HELP
      • POTHOS PROPAGATION
      • POTHOS TIPS
    • PRAYER PLANTS
      • PRAYER PLANT CARE
      • PRAYER PLANT HELP
      • PRAYER PLANT PROPAGATION
      • PRAYER PLANT TIPS
    • RUBBER TREES
      • RUBBER TREE CARE
      • RUBBER TREE HELP
      • RUBBER TREE PROPAGATION
      • RUBBER TREE TIPS
    • SNAKE PLANTS
      • SNAKE PLANT CARE
      • SNAKE PLANT HELP
      • SNAKE PLANT PROPAGATION
      • SNAKE PLANT TIPS
    • ZZ PLANTS
      • ZZ CARE
      • ZZ HELP
      • ZZ PROPAGATION
      • ZZ TIPS
  • About
  • RECOMMENDATIONS
    • GIFT IDEAS
    • GROW LIGHTS
    • LECA
    • HUMIDIFIERS
    • TERRARIUMS
    • LIVE PLANTS
  • eBooks
    • MONSTERA DELICIOSA
    • PILEA PEPEROMIOIDES
    • ZZ PLANTS
  • RUBBER TREE CARE
  • RUBBER TREE TIPS
  • RUBBER TREES

How to Force Rubber Trees to Branch Out and Grow the Way You Want

  • David Worth
  • 6 minute read
Total
6
Shares
1
0
5

Let’s be honest, everyone loves a houseplant that rewards us with vigorous growth. This is the main reason Rubber Tree plants (Ficus elastica) are such popular additions to our homes. You give it a good spot and it will grow…a lot. However, left to their own devices, Rubber Trees don’t branch easily, so without a little intervention, you may be left with a single stalk reaching from floor to ceiling.

Can you force a Rubber Tree plant to branch out? Due to the natural habit of a Rubber Tree, branching rarely occurs naturally (especially in younger plants), so it is necessary to prune the plant to promote branching through nodes on the stem. By pinching or cutting back new growth, the plant will begin to produce new branches below the cut. 

Now, this practice is not for the faint of heart. As plant people, we do our best to nurture our houseplants and keep them healthy, so the idea of cutting back otherwise happy plants seems a bit horrifying. However, pruning back Rubber Tree stalks, sometimes drastically, is, by far, the best way to promote branching for a fuller, bushier look. 


What to Expect From a Rubber Tree Houseplant

There’s a reason why your Rubber Tree plant shoots straight for the sky. In their native habitats in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, the forests are thick and diverse with many different plants. Resources like nutrients, water, and light are always in high demand, and competition for these necessary elements is stiff. 

Native Rubber Trees grow over 100 feet tall at a fairly rapid pace. This helps them reach the forest canopy faster to capture what light they can. So, it is not surprising to learn that cultivated varieties of Rubber Trees do the very same thing in our homes.

Although it isn’t necessary for them to grow that tall to find light indoors, they are genetically wired to do so. Only with some strategic pruning can we get them to stay at a manageable size and shape.


How to Force Side Shoots on a Rubber Tree

It is actually quite simple to manipulate a Rubber Tree into a general shape and size you desire, as long as you plan for it. Envisioning the shape you are trying to achieve will help you decide where to strategically prune the plant in order to make it branch out correctly.

First though, a little science lesson on why pruning promotes new branch growth. Rubber Trees have apical meristems, which is botany talk for the region of the plant where the growth tissue is located. In this case, the growth occurs at the stem tips of the Rubber Tree.

Because Rubber Trees are typically just one stalk, they have one apical meristem, and all the new growth is produced from the top of the plant. That is the reason they tend to grow straight up.

However, when you prune or pinch the apical meristem from the Rubber Tree, the plant sends a signal down the stalk of the plant and activates structures called “nodes.” These are located in the spot just above where a leaf meets the stem. Once activated, the nodes just below the cut tend to produce new branches, each with their own new apical meristem.

This means that in order to produce a multi-stemmed Rubber Tree, you need to strategically prune your plant, being mindful of where the nodes are located and where branching will then occur.

In many cases, store-bought Rubber Trees are actually three or four separate plants potted together in one container. This is done to make the plant look fuller from the get-go. Each of these stalks has its own apical meristems, so depending on how large your plant is, you can cut each one at the same or differing heights to achieve a bushier or more staggered branching effect.

When making your cuts to grow new branches, it is important to remember a few things to be successful. First, you want to use clean, sharp equipment. Make sure your garden shears or knife has been sterilized to avoid spreading disease. You may also want to wear gloves to avoid skin contact with the Rubber Tree’s sap, which is known to be an irritant.

Locate where you want to make your cut. Generally, it is best to decide how far back you want to prune your plant first and then make sure you cut just above a leaf node. Rubber Trees can handle a hard prune, so taking one-third to half of the plant is ok, as long as it is healthy and established.

Make a clean cut through the stem at a 45° angle, using a rag to dap up the excess sap that will flow out of the cut. Over time, the sap will dry and scale over the cut, sealing the wound. 

Within a few weeks, you should start to see the nodes swelling and new growth pushing from them. Depending on the time of year, you may see growth from the first two to three nodes down from the cut.

After a couple of months, the branches should show significant growth, perhaps with a few new leaves beginning to unfurl. 


How Big/Old Should a Rubber Tree Be Before Pruning?

When you first bring home a new Rubber Tree, pruning is probably the furthest thing from your mind. Typically, single stem plants tend to only 6-12 inches tall, while multi-stemmed plants may only be a couple feet. 

Even if you don’t plan on pruning for a while, it is worthwhile to start thinking about how you want your plant to look. This way, you’ll be ready to make the cuts necessary to grow new branches where you want them when the time comes.

Rubber Trees are pretty hardy plants by nature, so there are no hard and fast rules about how big or old they should be before you prune them. More importantly, you should consider the plant’s overall health to make sure it can recover from the trauma of a pruning session. 

If your plant is exhibiting any questionable signs, such as droopy or yellowing leaves, focus on getting your plant healthy before doing any pruning. Making cuts on an unhealthy plant can lead to longer recovery times and may kill the plant.

As a general guideline, try to let new plants grow to about 16-24″ before pruning them back to promote branching. Healthy, new plants will handle the cuts just fine, but you want to make sure you have enough plant material left after the cuts for the plant to perform critical processes like photosynthesis.

For older, taller plants, feel free to cut off one-third to a half of the plant at one time. Established Rubber Trees can handle hard toppings like this, but again, just be mindful that you leave enough leaves behind for the plant to function.


When is the Best Time of Year to Prune Rubber Trees?

To successfully make your plant branch out, the best time of year to prune your Rubber Tree is in the spring. The activation of the nodes and creation of new branches takes several months, so performing this task at the beginning of the plant’s growing season will give it plenty of time to recover and establish the new growth before it goes dormant in the winter.

Also, you will be much more successful with branching if pruning is done during the growing season. When the plant is active, making cuts will promote more than one node to create new branches. If you prune when the plant is dormant, you may only activate the node just below the cut, creating one new, lone branch, which defeats the purpose of the entire procedure.


Staking Rubber Tree Branches

You may find that once you have forced your Rubber Tree to grow new branches, they tend to grow out at an angle. It may take a while for the branches to grow rigid and skyward and even longer before they are thick and sturdy enough to grow outward without flopping over.

If this is the case, you may want to get creative about using bamboo or wooden stakes to prop your branches up in the configuration you hope they will grow. Using florist tape or loose ties, attach stakes to keep the branches pointing in the direction you’d like them to grow until they are sturdy enough to hold the shape you are hoping to achieve.


Final Thoughts

We all love Rubber Trees for the vigorous growth they are known for, but to create a bushier plant that doesn’t scrape your ceiling, a little bit of human intervention is necessary.

Hopefully, the concept of pruning back your Rubber Tree to promote branching is not as scary as it first sounded. Healthy, robust plants, when trimmed correctly, will yield beautiful new growth that you can control. 

Keep visualizing what you want your Rubber Tree to look like and follow the guidelines above. Over time, you’ll be rewarded with a truly stunning showpiece in your home.

Total
6
Shares
Share 1
Tweet 0
Pin it 5
David Worth

You May Also Like
View Post
  • RUBBER TREE CARE
  • RUBBER TREES

The Best Soil and Containers for Your Rubber Tree Houseplant

  • David Worth
View Post
  • RUBBER TREE CARE
  • RUBBER TREE DIAGNOSE & TREATMENT
  • RUBBER TREE TIPS
  • RUBBER TREES

Six Reasons Your Rubber Tree Isn’t Growing and Tips to Get it Growing Again

  • David Worth
View Post
  • RUBBER TREE CARE
  • RUBBER TREE DIAGNOSE & TREATMENT
  • RUBBER TREE TIPS
  • RUBBER TREES

How to Make a Rubber Tree Taller, Fuller, Bushier and More

  • David Worth
View Post
  • RUBBER TREE CARE
  • RUBBER TREES

Rubber Tree Sap: What is It? What is it Used For?

  • David Worth
View Post
  • RUBBER TREE CARE
  • RUBBER TREE DIAGNOSE & TREATMENT
  • RUBBER TREES

Will My Rubber Tree Leaves Grow Back? Here’s What You Can Do to Help

  • David Worth
View Post
  • RUBBER TREE CARE
  • RUBBER TREES

Four Signs Your Rubber Tree Plant Needs a Drink of Water

  • David Worth
View Post
  • RUBBER TREE CARE
  • RUBBER TREE DIAGNOSE & TREATMENT
  • RUBBER TREE TIPS
  • RUBBER TREES

7 Tips for Growing Bigger, Healthier Rubber Tree Leaves

  • David Worth
View Post
  • RUBBER TREE CARE
  • RUBBER TREES

Separating Rubber Tree Plants: How & When to Do It

  • David Worth
Recent Posts
  • 11 Possible Reasons Your Pothos is Losing Leaves
  • Marble Queen Pothos Care: What Your Variegated Plant Needs to Thrive
  • Croton Lighting 101: All You Need to Know for Healthy Crotons

The Sill creative banners

The Healthy Houseplant is reader-supported. We are a member of several affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to external sites. When you make purchases through links on our site, we earn a small commission.

  • What Should You Name Your Monstera Deliciosa? 50+ Names to Get You Started

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

Input your search keywords and press Enter.