Did you know that the multi-stemmed Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica) you brought home from the shop is most likely a few individual plants potted together in the same container? Nurseries often do this with plants that don’t stem easily to make the pot appear fuller. However, if you want your plant to have the standard, single-trunk look, is it possible to separate the individual plants from one another?
When multiple Rubber Trees have been planted together in one pot, it is possible to separate the individual plants. Simply remove the root ball from the pot, wash away as much soil as possible, and gently untangle the roots of each plant, cutting away roots only when necessary. This is most effective in springtime.
Rubber Trees very rarely produce more than one stem from a single root ball. So if you have a plant that has two, three, or even four stems poking out of the soil, chances are those are actually separate plants.
However, because Rubber Trees are such quick growers, each plant’s root system is probably already intertwined with the others, forming one big root ball, which makes separating the plants a bit more complicated. By reading this article, you’ll learn the pros and cons of dividing your Rubber Tree and the best way to set your separated Rubber Tree plants up for success.
To Separate or Not to Separate…
The first step to dividing your Rubber Tree plant is to ask yourself what you are trying to achieve. Is your Rubber Tree outgrowing the pot it is planted in? Are you wanting a single trunk with a more tree-like appearance? Do you just want more Rubber Trees in your life?
Although a fairly straightforward procedure, separating your Rubber Tree isn’t completely free of risk. Any time you disturb or damage roots, the plant might become shocked or forced into dormancy.
Separating Rubber Trees may compromise the health of your plant as it struggles to acclimate to its new single-stemmed life, which will make it susceptible to disease and pests. It is important to consider that possibility before you decide to divide your plant.
If your Rubber Tree plant looks overgrown, but you still like the multiple stem look, potting the entire plant up to a larger container may be all that is necessary to give your Rubber Tree more room to thrive.
If you are trying to achieve a single trunk appearance but are worried your Rubber Tree can’t handle the stress of separation, you can always prune back all but one stem without disrupting the root ball at all. You would sacrifice a couple Rubber Tree stalks, and you may eventually need to repot the entire root ball in a new container to center the remaining trunk, but the remaining plant will quickly thrive on its own.
On the other hand, if your Rubber Tree is generally in good health and the idea of separating it to create multiple plants is appealing to you, go for it! Basic houseplant math tells us that more plants always equals more fun, and separated Rubber Tree stalks can turn into really beautiful single trunk specimens with a little love and strategic pruning.
When Is the Best Time to Separate Rubber Trees?
When it comes to dividing Rubber Trees, you basically have to disturb the entire root ball, separate out the individual plants, and repot them in new soil. This is a lot of interruption to your houseplant’s regular daily schedule, so it’s important to time this process for when the plant is strongest.
I recommend that if you want to divide your Rubber Tree, you should plan to do so in the spring. This allows enough time for the plant to wake up from its dormancy and fully enter its growing season. Root systems will have been shored up and strengthened, processes like photosynthesis and food production will be in full swing, and the plant’s transport systems will be fully operational. All of these things will aid in your plant’s recovery once it has been separated and repotted.
By timing your division in the spring, you also set your separated plants up for success by giving them all summer and fall to acclimate and get established in their new pots. If you’re lucky, you may even see some new growth from your Rubber Trees after a couple months.
Getting Your Tools Ready
Separating your Rubber Tree plants is a relatively straightforward process, very similar to what you would do if you were actually dividing a houseplant or outdoor perennial. To make things run a little smoother, gather everything you’ll need ahead of time and lay it all out on the floor or counter.
First and foremost, you will want to make sure you have clean, sharp garden shears or scissors. You will most likely need to cut away some tangled roots to fully separate the individual Rubber Trees from one another, and using sterile tools will reduce the risk of damaging roots or spreading diseases.
You will also want to ensure you have containers to plant each individual Rubber Tree in. Make sure they are new (or sterilized), are the appropriate size (allowing 1-2″ of space around the plant on each side), and have a drainage hole at the bottom.
You will also need additional potting soil to plant your separated Rubber Trees in. Luckily, this particular plant isn’t super picky about the type of soil it is planted in, so a standard potting soil mixture would be fine. However, to ensure excellent drainage for your Rubber Tree, I suggest you add in an additional part of pumice or perlite to lighten the mix further.
Do not apply fertilizer to your newly divided plants at first. Because you are disturbing the plant and potentially cutting away a significant portion of the root system, your Rubber Tree will take a while to acclimate to its new pot. Adding fertilizer to an already compromised plant can easily overwhelm it, running the risk of burning or killing it.
The new soil you’ve planted your Rubber Tree in will have plenty of nutrients for the plant while it gets established in its new container. Wait to resume your fertilizing schedule until you’re sure that your plant’s root system is expanding in the soil and you see new growth at the stem tip.
How To Separate Rubber Tree Plants
Now that you’ve got your supplies on hand, it is time to separate your Rubber Tree plants into individual pots. To begin, very gently tip your pot to the side and pull the entire root ball out of the container. Each plant will have its own root system, but most likely, they have all grown together to form one mass.
Remove as much soil as you can with your hand or a garden spade, and then rinse away any additional soil with water. The idea here is for you to see the root systems well so you can begin to untangle them.
Focusing on the first stem, coax the root systems apart from one another, working carefully to preserve as much of it as possible, minimizing breakage. You will most likely find that parts of the root ball are too entwined to untangle, and you’ll need to use your scissors to cut away knotted roots to free the stem.
The goal is to preserve as much of the original root system as possible. Your Rubber Tree will endure the transplant and become established much faster if you can minimize the number of cuts you need to make.
Once you have successfully separated the first stem from the original root ball, set aside and repeat the process for the remaining stems.
Replanting Your New Rubber Trees
Now that your original Rubber Tree plant has been divided into multiple individual plants, it’s time to repot them.
Fill your new containers about a third of the way full with new potting soil. Place one single Rubber Tree stem into the pot, gently spreading the roots throughout. While holding the plant in place, scoop in additional soil, carefully packing it down around the roots and against the stem, supporting the plant.
Make sure you position the stem in the new pot so that the new soil line aligns on the stem close to where the old one was. Once your container is full and sturdy, water the plant deeply, allowing excess liquid to drain from the bottom of the pot. Ensure all the soil gets fully saturated to avoid dry spots that can wick away moisture from the plant’s fragile roots.
Repeat this process with the other Rubber Tree stems you’ve separated.
Final Thoughts
Rubber Trees are resilient houseplants that can handle repotting or separating, as long as you are careful about the process. By following the guidelines above, you can successfully turn your multi-stemmed Rubber Tree into multiple single-stemmed trees without any issues.
Just be sure that your Rubber Tree is healthy enough for division before you begin, and be mindful about preserving each individual plant’s root systems to make sure you are setting your newly separated Rubber Trees up for success.