Rubber plants are among the most loved indoor house plants by many plant enthusiasts because of their large, leathery foliage and easy-to-care-for nature. However, there’s more to these plants than their beauty and no-fuss care requirements.
In this article, we’ll explore the incredible benefits of rubber plants, from air purification to better productivity! Find out how these beautiful giants can elevate your home and health.
About Rubber Plants
Botanical Name: Ficus elastica
Family: Moraceae
Origin: South and Southeast Asia
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: 6 to 10 ft tall if grown indoors
Light: Grows best in bright, indirect sun, although it can also tolerate low light
Water: Allow the top inch of the soil to dry before watering again
Toxicity: Mildly toxic to humans and animals
Ficus elastica, commonly known as rubber plant or rubber fig, is a popular houseplant native to South and Southeast Asia. It’s a large tree that can grow up to 130 feet tall outdoors and 10 feet indoors.
The plants have large, round, leathery, typically dark green leaves, though some have burgundy tints. They’re low-maintenance and can adapt to various growing conditions, contributing to their popularity among many plant growers.
Unlike what some people think, rubber plants are not the primary source of natural rubber. They do produce latex, which can be used to make rubber, but rubber manufacturers mainly use Hevea brasiliensis and not Ficus elastica.
10 Benefits You Can Get From Growing Rubber Plants
Purifies the Air
Everyday items, like air fresheners, air conditioners, and furniture, can release toxins into the air without us noticing. Among these harmful toxins is formaldehyde, which comes from smoking tobacco, new cabinets, laminate flooring, furniture, and more.
According to NASA’s clean air study, growing rubber plants at home can help eliminate formaldehyde and purify air. It also helps absorb carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the air.
Increases Oxygen Level
Plants, including rubber plants, perform photosynthesis to transform sunlight into food and energy. During this process, they absorb carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen, providing the room they’re in with a consistent supply of fresh oxygen.
Breathing in fresh oxygen can help reduce feelings of fatigue, have a more pleasant home environment, and enhance your cognitive abilities, like concentration and attention.
While having a single rubber plant may not be enough to significantly impact the oxygen levels in your living room, having multiple of them or even other plants can contribute to a slightly increased oxygen supply.
Better Sleep Quality
Plants are typically not recommended for bedrooms since they release carbon dioxide at night, making you uncomfortable while asleep. However, rubber plants are different, as they still produce oxygen at night, contributing to better sleep.
A study at the University of Alberta suggests that high oxygen levels help the brain stay in deep, restorative sleep. Hence, keeping a rubber plant in your bedroom can be helpful if you’re having trouble sleeping.
Aside from increased oxygen levels, improved air quality due to the plants’ air purifying abilities can also contribute to a better quality of sleep.
Better Mental Health
We’re always in search of things that can help relieve stress and boost our mental health because of all the stressors we face daily. Growing a rubber plant in our home is one of the simplest things to help us deal with these stressors.
Horticultural therapy is currently one of the most popular therapy methods conducted by trained therapists to help people destress and have better mental health. Plants’ ability to reduce stress is also backed up by research studies.
Although such therapy doesn’t work for everyone, it’s worth giving it a shot. You can start by simply growing a few rubber plants at home.
Better Productivity and Attention Span
As unbelievable as it sounds, simply growing rubber plants and other types of houseplants can help improve productivity and memory.
Studies suggest that looking at real plants can enhance the attention span and concentration of students. Another study showed that workers are about 15% more productive when the office has plants, such as rubber plants.
If you’ve been feeling down and unproductive, it might help you if you put rubber plants in your office. Rubber plants are also low-maintenance, so they also won’t be much of a bother.
Hypoallergenic
A common cause of allergies is pollen, which is mostly found in flowers. However, since rubber plants are unlikely to flower when grown indoors, they’re also unlikely to cause respiratory allergies.
They also have large leaves that can help reduce dust in the air. Just wear a face mask with a damp cloth when wiping it to avoid inhaling the dust and triggering your respiratory allergies.
However, if you’re allergic to latex, you might get irritated if you come in contact with the sap of your rubber plant as it contains latex. Make sure to wear gloves if you’re moving, pruning, or repotting the plant.
Enhances Home Acoustics
Although most plants can help improve indoor acoustics, rubber plants are especially effective because of their larger leaves. They can help absorb certain sound frequencies, which helps reduce noise from your home.
The gentle rusting of the leaves in response to air movement can also create a more calming background noise, which can help mask other sounds.
Although their impact on your home’s acoustics may be modest compared to specialized acoustic treatments, having multiple of them at home can certainly make a difference.
Beautiful Home Decoration
Rubber plants have attractive large, glossy, and leathery leaves, making them great natural decorations for homes and offices. They have an upright and often bushy growth, making them great standalone floor plants once they grow huge.
Place a rubber plant on an empty corner or a coffee table in your living room to improve the overall natural decor of your home. They can adapt to various growing conditions, so they can be placed almost anywhere in your home.
Low-Maintenance Care
If you’re a very busy person who wants to have greenery at home, rubber plants are among the best choices for you. They’re easy to care for, so they’re suitable for those new to plant care or don’t have time for high-maintenance plants.
They’re more forgiving when it comes to watering as they prefer their soil to dry out slightly between waterings. This is perfect for those who often forget to water their plants because of their busy schedule.
The most care rubber plants would need is providing a stake once it gets too tall or occasional pruning to keep it in shape.
Brings in Good Luck and Prosperity
Rubber plants not only purify the air and provide great natural aesthetics but also help bring good luck and prosperity, according to feng shui and Vastu Shastra.
In feng shui, rubber plants’ large, round leaves are said to attract positive energy into your home and can provide wealth or a promising career. Similarly, in Vastu Shastra, they’re believed to help ward off negative energy and attract wealth.
While not everyone believes in feng shui and Vastu Shastra principles, having a rubber plant can certainly add a touch of positivity to your home or office because of all its other benefits, like air purification and its therapeutic value.
