How to grow and care for a rubber plant

Rubber plants are a hardy and resilient indoor plant that look great in any home. They also have the added benefit of removing potentially harmful toxins from the air – win/win! When selecting one, make sure the leaves look plump and green and the plant has some new shoots ready to come through.

Rubber plants prefer bright, indirect light that isn't too hot. Direct sunlight can result in scorched leaves – no one likes burnt rubber!

During the summer months when the air is dry, water enough so that the soil remains moist. During the winter months, you should only need to water about once or twice a month. If the leaves get droopy it may mean that you are not watering enough. If they go yellow or brown it could mean you're watering TOO much – keep an eye on things.

Cleaning your leaves isn't just to make the plant nice and shiny – it also serves a purpose. It helps the plant breathe and remove toxins from the air.

You will need to prune your rubber plant to promote growth and control the size – these guys can grow quickly, so be mindful of this when choosing your position.

If you find any pests or bugs on your plant, take a photo with your phone and take it down to your nearest Bunnings – show a team member and they will help you find a product to treat the issue. Our plant had mealy bugs, so we used an Ecopest oil spray to kill the pests. This product is great, as it's been specially formulated to remove insects and bugs from indoor plants. It works a treat – just isolate your infected plant for a while until the problem's been eliminated.