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Why Rubber Plants Are The Most Underrated Houseplants: Best of Growing Joy Replay

Why Rubber Plants Are The Most Underrated Houseplants: Best of Growing Joy Replay

Author: Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness July 30, 2026 Duration: 54:36
Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care
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If you're looking for a large, tree-like plant, a pop of color, or a cool, structural statement piece for your home, might I suggest the rubber plant? Ficus elastica is one of the most underrated houseplants out there, and today we're giving it the hype it deserves!

In this Best of Growing Joy series, I pulled my conversation with Raffaele of Ohio Tropics, a fellow rubber plant lover, where we talk about everything you need to know about rubber plant care: how to help your rubber plant truly grow, how to stop it from dropping its leaves, and how to keep those glossy leaves from crisping up.

Because whether it's a simple green rubber tree or a stunning variegated variety like my beloved Ficus Belize on my green wall, those huge, glossy leaves make such a statement in your home. Listen in to learn simple rubber plant care tips, plus the most common mistakes plant parents make (and exactly how to avoid them), so you can grow your very own iconic indoor tree.

In this episode, we learn:

  • [00:43] Maria’s plant and personal updates
  • [02:12] Introducing Raffaele from Ohio Tropics
  • [03:14] Your invitation to a free 10-day virtual garden festival!
  • [03:58] What to expect from this rubber plant episode
  • [06:40] How Raffael became the plant parent he is today
  • [10:06] What is a rubber plant?
  • [11:26] Do rubber trees produce latex?
  • [12:53] Where can you find rubber plants in nature?
  • [14:33] What are the different types and varieties of rubber plants?
  • [18:54] How to water rubber plants
  • [21:27] Raffaele’s watering tip using a turkey baster
  • [23:21] How much sunlight does a rubber plant need?
  • [27:35] Are rubber plants low-light plants?
  • [28:35] What kind of soil mix is good for rubber plants?
  • [30:52] Where to get pre-grown plants and seeds for your spring garden
  • [32:09] The best indoor and outdoor gardening products
  • [34:49] How to fertilize rubber plants
  • [37:11] Rubber Plant FAQ #1: Why is my rubber plant not growing?
  • [39:03] Rubber Plant FAQ #2: How do I get my rubber plant to branch and be bushier instead of taller?
  • [39:51] What is the air layering propagation method?
  • [44:15] Rubber Plant FAQ #3: Why are my new leaves smaller than the older ones?
  • [45:32] Rubber Plant FAQ #4: Why are my rubber plant leaves dropping?
  • [48:20] Why overwatering can cause issues to your plant (in ways you might not expect)
  • [49:12] Rubber Plant FAQ #5: My plant looks healthy, but the branches are all over the place; why is this happening?
  • [50:26] Rubber Plant FAQ #6: What are the tiny white spots on my rubber plant?
  • [51:26] Rubber Plant FAQ#7: Why are the edges of my variegated rubber plant browning?
  • [54:09] Rubber Plant FAQ #8: My rubber plant has aerial roots, but do they grow better in slightly cooler conditions?
  • [55:18] Raffaele’s recommendations of the best rubber plant varieties for beginners
  • [57:35] What Raffaele’s book Houseplant Warrior is about!
  • [59:41] Where to connect with Raffaele
  • [01:01:52] Upgrade your plant education with these two events!

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

 

Which rubber plant variety are you most excited to try?

Check out the full show notes and blog to start growing your own statement rubber plant!

 

Follow Raffaele:

Blog

Instagram

YouTube

Book

 

 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

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Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

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There’s a quiet, accessible kind of wellness waiting for you on a windowsill or in a patch of soil. Growing Joy with Plants explores that very idea, moving beyond basic tips to examine how our relationship with the natural world directly nurtures our mental and emotional health. Hosted by Maria Failla, a self-proclaimed Happy Plant Lady and author of "Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness," this podcast feels like a warm conversation with a knowledgeable friend. Maria guides you through the practicalities of keeping your houseplants alive and thriving, but the discussion always circles back to the deeper connection-how the simple acts of watering, repotting, or simply observing growth can become anchors of calm in a hectic day. Each episode digs into how gardening and engaging with nature, even in small urban spaces, offer tangible tools to manage feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. This isn't about achieving a perfect indoor jungle; it's about finding moments of peace and genuine happiness through the process of care. The underlying message throughout the podcast is a powerful and gentle reminder: tending to your plants is fundamentally an act of tending to yourself. You’ll come away with not just better plant care knowledge, but a refreshed perspective on cultivating joy in your daily routine, learning that the serenity you might seek on vacation can be rooted right in your own home.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care
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