I got a rubber tree cutting several months ago and by the time it started rooting most of the leaves had fallen off. It has fully rooted this 13" pot now (brown pot) and starting to grow tall, but there is a large bare section of the trunk. I actually dont mind it as i think it looks "tree" like, but my gf thinks it looks silly. I was going to repot it in this giant pot (grey) and wanted to bury the trunk and was hoping the buried part would just sprout roots. Afraid I will kill it though. Anyone have experience with this?
by hagravenicepick
14 Comments
You’ll kill the plant, if you want it to look fuller crown it just above the bottom leaf so it’s forced to branch out. You just shoving it in that giant pot wouldn’t be that different from if you buried yourself in the giant pot
As with any tree, if you bury it too deep youre dooming it to a shorter life. The root flare needs to be exposed otherwise the tree will rot out where the trunk is buried.
You are correct, you will kill it.
Its etoliated from lack of light. They reach for better light, stems grow long and weak, bottom leaves are sacrificed for new growth at the top.
The solution has 3 steps. First, it needs a grow light, 12-24″ away. Then it will give you some new growth that’s more compact, with thicker, darker leaves. Thats when you (second step) pinch off the growing tips at the top, where new leaves emerge. This will prompt it to put out new growth farther down. When you start to see this, its ready for the 3rd step, to start pruning off the top, but take that slowly too, no more than 1/3 of the plant at a time.
You’ll have a nice healthy, bushy, rubber plant in no time.
The bare trunk actually looks great to me, but if she wants it fuller, air layering that section would give you a whole new plant without risking the one you’ve got.
just asking, but couldn’t you top it and push out more growth lower?
If the small brown planter fits inside the gray one, just put it in there without repotting it. It’ll help you achieve the look you want aesthetically without having to bury it.
Never ever bury a tree deeper than you first got it. If anything you only want barely enough soil to cover the highest roots.
Putting more soil around the trunk will quickly rot the trunk and kill it.
Edit: this plant has high light requirements. You really need to move it in front of a bright window or it will continue to drop it’s lower leaves.
You could air root it further up and then replant once the new roots have taken. Or you could use hormones to try and force new leaf growth (BAP-6 would be worth a shot).
Just start giving it more light and if you tilt the pot of the plant at 30-45 degree angle and it will start putting all new growth
I agree that air rooting is the way to go
Sounds like you want a smaller tree or less trunk? If so, cut above a node and it’ll grow new leaves closer to the trunk. This process sacrifices current leaves, but allows for a smaller plant with leaves closer to the trunk.
Your girlfriend is wrong, just saying.
It might just be a coincidence that I experienced, but if you shake your tree a bit like once a week for 15 seconds to emulate strong winds, it gets some micro fractions. When it heals from these, it gets woody and stronger. I used to do this regularly to my baby rubber tree and then when I cut the tip to encourage branching at the top, it sprouted new growth from every single grow point that it could muster. It was also at a very nicely bright sunny south facing window (in northern hemisphere) which got bright light all afternoon and early evening. So I think it was the combination of the two that helped my tree become a very prolific brancher with many leaves.
Here the first picture is August 2024. And the last picture is from last week.
I would recommend giving her weekly shakings (be gentle but not too soft), and bright light. You can get a grow light, I would recommend a sansi bulb with a (heat resistant) light fixture of your choice.
https://preview.redd.it/l795fd6gfwug1.jpeg?width=2160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=562dcf8407b042061570f590ab29bee8ffcb0c7d
I like it the way it is.