March Plant of the Month

Ficus Elastica

Ficus elastica
Indian rubber tree, rubber fig

The Ficus is a large genus of about 800 species of trees, shrubs and creepers which belong to the Moraceae family.  The Ficus/Figs are native to the tropics with a few species coming from the warm temperate zones.

Have you ever wondered why the Ficus plants do not seem to have any flowers even though they produce 'fruits'?  That is because the flowers of the Ficus are found inside the 'fruit'/fig.  The fruit as we call it is not exactly a fruit but rather a 'container' which holds the unusual flowers.  The female pregnant pollinator wasp/fig wasp is the only insect which is able to crawl through the tiny opening in the fig in order to lay her eggs and carry out the process of pollination.  Therefore, these plants do not have the need to produce colourful or fragrant flowers to attract other types of insects.  Though the figs of most species are edible, they are not consumed as much as those commercially produced by Ficus carica.

The Ficus/figs have been mentioned in many ancient texts and have also been used as food source and for many religious and medicinal purposes since ancient times.  Fossils of early figs have been dated back to almost 10,000 years.  Figs are a valuable source of food for many animals of the tropical rainforests such as the orang utan, primates, squirrels, fruit bats and hornbills.

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The Ficus elastica is native to India and is also found in some parts of Indonesia such as Sumatra and Java.  This species produces large oval shaped leaves which are thick and glossy.  Interestingly the new leaves are enclosed in a reddish sheath (stipules) which falls off as the new leaf emerges.  Originally it was grown as a source of natural rubber but these days it is a valued plant in homes and gardens in many western countries.  The latex used as rubber now comes from Hevea brasiliensis which belongs to the same family as Tapioca and Poinsettias.

Care: The Ficus elastica with green leaves can be grown as an indoor plant, while the variegated types require a fair amount of sunlight.  It requires a well drained soil and a good amount of natural light to grow as a houseplant.  Allow the soil to dry slightly in between watering. Wipe the large leaves with a soft wet cloth to remove dust.  Alternatively, give the plant regular misting of water but do not over-water.  A general purpose houseplant fertilizer is sufficient for these plants.  Spray neem oil to prevent diseases and keep the leaves looking shiny.

Propagation: As Ficus plants need pollinator wasps in order to carry out the process of pollination, most cultivated plants are propagated by cuttings or air-layering (asexual propagation).

The Ficus elastica like all other species of Ficus is an air-purifier and therefore very suitable for indoors.