Rubber tree plants generally don't require a high amount of fertilizer to stay healthy. However, it can be essential if your rubber tree has experienced any health issues. You may be wondering, what is the best type of fertilizer for a rubber tree? We've checked with the gardening experts to provide you with the best fertilizer options.
The ideal nutrient ratio for rubber trees is 10-10-10. This means the fertilizer contains 10 percent nitrogen, 10 percent phosphorous, and 10 percent potassium. Here are a few fertilizers that meet this requirement:
- Southern Ag All Purpose
- Triple 10 All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
- The Andersons PGF Balanced
- Lebanon Seaboard No. 40
- Bonide Liquid Plant Food
- Jobe's 5001T Houseplant Food Spikes
- Joyful Dirt All-Purpose
- Botanicare HGC732635 Pure Blend
- Kindred Indoor Plant Food Liquid
- All-purpose Indoor Plant Food by Aquatic Arts
- Espoma Company INPF8 Organic
- Botanicare CNS17 Grow Plant Nutrient
In this post, we'll discuss each fertilizer in greater detail, providing you with application tips and product examples. We'll also cover other common questions when it comes to feeding your rubber tree. Just keep reading!
Rubber Tree Nutrient Ratios
Similar to other indoor plants, the types of nutrients that are most important to rubber trees are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It's best to use a nutrient ratio of 10-10-10 (NPK) when fertilizing a rubber tree, but they can grow wonderfully using all-purpose fertilizers as well.
Nitrogen
Rubber trees require a steady flow of nitrogen to continue to produce new foliage and maintain their luster. If your rubber tree plant begins to fall short on its nitrogen supplementation, you will notice a halt in the tree's growth--and it will begin to wither over time. The more foliage a rubber tree plant has, the more nitrogen it will need.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus plays an important role in helping to maintain the vitality of a rubber tree. It's also beneficial for preventing common plant diseases and initiating metabolic activities within the plant. Rubber trees need phosphorus to help transfer nutrients throughout their leaves, branches, and roots.
Potassium
Rubber trees require phosphorous for everyday metabolic functions and photosynthesis. Young roots of a rubber plant need a particularly high phosphorus fertilizer to efficiently stimulate root development. As the plant matures, this nutrient supplement can be leveled off.
Did you know there are multiple kinds of rubber trees? Read about the 10 Types Of Rubber Trees And Plants.
12 Best Rubber Tree Fertilizers
Providing your rubber tree with a constant supply of the nutrients that it needs to thrive is the key to ensuring a healthy tree that continues to grow and produce strong branches and shiny leaves. Let's take a look at some of the best ones available.
1. Southern Ag All-Purpose Fertilizer
This all-purpose fertilizer by Southern AG is a 10-10-10 fertilizer that will give your rubber tree all of the nutrients that it needs to survive. It's a granular fertilizer, and within a short time, it can provide your tree enough nutrients to recover from damage from over-watering under-watering and sunlight issues. It can be applied every couple of weeks by simply adding half a cup to the rubber plant's soil.
Check out this fertilizer on Amazon.
2. Triple 10 All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Another 10-10-10 fertilizer, this all-purpose fertilizer by Triple 10 is an easy-to-use generic fertilizer that is designed to nourish your plant in all stages of its growth. If your rubber tree plant is suffering from plant shock, the amino acids in this liquid fertilizer can revitalize your plant in no time and help to rebuild its foliage.
To apply it, you'll simply need to add 1-2 ounces to a gallon of water and pour it into the plant's soil every couple of weeks. It also comes in a convenient measure & pour bottle to allow for accurate application.
Check out this fertilizer on Amazon.
3. The Andersons PGF Balanced 10-10-10 Fertilizer
If you are looking for a professional-grade fertilizer, the PGF Balanced 10-10-10 may be the perfect fit for your rubber tree plant. It contains essential micronutrients as well as iron to help supplement any nutrients that your plant may be lacking. It can also be used during any season and at any phase of your rubber tree plant's growth.
This fertilizer offers daily balance and healthy metabolic activities for indoor plants and can be added every 2-3 weeks by simply mixing it in with the soil.
Check out this fertilizer on Amazon.
4. Lebanon Seaboard Corporation Green View No. 40
Green View No. 40 is a simple and easy to use 10-10-10 fertilizer that is perfect for older rubber tree plants. This formula is gentle and excellent for plants that require an even distribution of NPK nutrients. It can also be used to help bring sick rubber plants back to life by providing them with an ample amount of micronutrients. The great thing about this fertilizer that you can also use it on your lawn and outside trees, flowers, and shrubs.
Check out this fertilizer on Amazon.
5. Bonide Liquid Plant Food
This liquid plant fertilizer is excellent and promoting steady growth in your rubber tree plant. If you are having issues with the foliage on your trees, such as withering or dropping leaves or brown spots, this fertilizer or maybe just the remedy that your tree needs.
It has a 10-10-10 formula and can be added by mixing 1/8 teaspoon of the solution to a quart of water and applying it to the plant's soil. This plant food is relatively light and can be used on your rubber plant every week or two to promote healthy plant growth.
Check out this fertilizer on Amazon!
6. Jobe's 5001T Houseplant Food Spikes
The food spikes by Jobe's are one of the most popular fertilizers on the market. One of their biggest benefits is the convenience of their application, only requiring one or two spikes to be added to the soil every couple of weeks. These spikes can provide your rubber tree with important trace minerals, vitamins, and enzymes that help to promote plant vitality and healthy roots.
Check out this fertilizer on Amazon.
7. Joyful Dirt All-Purpose
Joyful Dirt fertilizer is another popular all-purpose option that can be used for your rubber tree plant. If you need a quality fertilizer to help restore your rubber tree, this is definitely a fertilizer worth taking a look at. It can be added to your potting mix easily as it only requires 1/8 of a teaspoon to effectively reach the roots of the plant and transfer nutrients throughout the branches into the foliage.
The Joyful Dirt fertilizer contains mycorrhizae nutrients that can speed up the healing of a sick plant. It can be added weekly or bi-weekly by mixing in with the soil or adding it to a watering session.
Check out this fertilizer on Amazon.
8. Botanicare Pure Blend
Botanicare is one of the most well-respected brands in the horticulture space. Their Pure Blend fertilizer is a premium and organic fertilizer that you can use as a maintenance option or a recovery fertilizer for your rubber tree plant. This fertilizer contains several trace minerals and enzymes to help speed up the recovery of sick plants as well as promote optimal nutrition and healthy well-aerated roots.
This liquid fertilizer is concentrated enough to where you only need 1/8 of a tablespoon for every bi-weekly application.
Check out this fertilizer on Amazon.
9. Kindred Indoor Plant Food
This indoor plant food by Kindred is loaded with a ton of essential oils and nutrients to offer general maintenance to your rubber tree plant. This solution works great for a young plant as it is a 3-1-2 ratio that will be gentle on the new budding roots of a young rubber tree while offering enough nutrients for steady growth.
It can also offer your plant much-needed nurturing if it is struggling to adapt to new conditions and displaying signs of low-stress. You only need a tablespoon of the solution to add it to water and apply it to the plant's soil.
Check out this fertilizer on Amazon.
10. All-Purpose Indoor Plant Food By Aquatic Arts
Here is another all-purpose fertilizer that works to restore your plant if it is in bad health, though it can definitely work as a maintenance fertilizer as well. This formula works well to stop the browning, wilting, and yellowing of your rubber plant leaves by supplying them with a sufficient supply of micronutrients.
This granular fertilizer formula can be added every couple of weeks by mixing it with the plant's soil or diluting it with water.
Check out this fertilizer on Amazon.
11. Espoma Company Organic/Indoor
This fertilizer formula by Espoma is a great organic option if you're someone who prefers to use all-natural fertilizers on your rubber tree. It's a liquid fertilizer and it has several beneficial microbes and important proteins that can help your rubber tree find its way back to an optimal state of health.
Check out this fertilizer on Amazon.
12. Botanicare CNS17 Grow Plant Nutrient
Botanicare's CNS17 fertilizer is a professional-strength fertilizer suited for plants that are experiencing significant health issues. By adding just a small amount of this fertilizer to your plant soil, it can help the roots that deliver several essential nutrients to the plant's branches and foliage.
This fertilizer is very strong. You only need a very small amount to be effective at treating your rubber tree plant. You're going to pay special attention when measuring this fertilizer, as not to accidentally burn your plant.
Check out this product on Amazon.
What kind of soil do rubber trees like?
Rubber tree plants prefer damp soil that is well-aerated and well-draining--which helps to avoid root rot. If your rubber tree plant is mature and has a lot of foliage, you may want to consider applying nitrogen fertilizer every month or so to help maintain the foliage.
How do you make a rubber plant grow faster?
Rubber trees will grow the fastest when they are in their ideal environment (i.e. temperature, sunlight, humidity, etc.). To speed up this process, you need to make sure to re-pot the plant every few months so that the roots will have more room to grow as they get bigger and longer.
On a related note, check out our post, How Big Does A Rubber Tree Get? [Indoors And Outdoors].
How do you make your rubber tree leaves shiny?
Keeping your rubber tree's leaves shiny simply requires proper care and maintenance. Mist the rubber plant leaves with water and wipe them down with a damp cloth. Or you can apply a specially-formulated leaf shine to your rubber tree.
Click here to see more on Amazon.
Are coffee grounds good for a rubber plant?
Adding coffee grounds to your rubber plant's soil may help to encourage growth, especially since rubber trees prefer a bit of acidity. It's best to add a small amount first, as not to shock the plant.
Is compost good for a rubber tree?
Yes, compost can be good for rubber trees. It can slowly release necessary nutrients to the plant's roots.
In Closing
So there you have it. Twelve rubber fertilizers that you can use on your rubber tree to help maintain it or bring it back from an unhealthy state!