Hello. I was wondering if anyone could help? I have rescued a 10 year old rubber plant in a very sorry state and am attempting to bring it back to health.
I have spent an hour going through a massive thread (now discontinued) called "Trimming/propagating Rubber Tree and found three short mentions of my particular problem. Most was not overly clear to me, so I hoped to check a few things before I actually do them. The problem is the length of trunk, which I don't think can be sustained as it recovers - it will be too top heavy.
So far, I have cleaned up the good leaves, removed the dying ones, cleaned up the roots and repotted. The plant definitely has the will to live, new leaves started within 2 days of this! I have also immersed a good deal of the trunk in soil hoping that it may root as well as reduce the height.
If I understand the points in the lengthy thread I mentioned, it is possible to shorten the trunk by as much as 75%, even with no leaves left, once the plant has gained strength with a period of new healthy leaves growing well. Then, if lopped off, the plant should bud back on the previous stem points of lost leaves and branches. I understand this kind of aggressive pruning can only take place June - August.
Before I do any of this, I would feel happier if someone with better knowledge than me could confirm the plant will survive! I thought at the same time I would attempt to propagate from the cuttings, but I would be devastated if neither course of action worked!
Could I kindly ask for any thoughts on this? Many thanks!
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
PenzanceUKOriginal Author
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PenzanceUKOriginal Author
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
PenzanceUKOriginal Author
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
PenzanceUKOriginal Author