Figuring out how to choose a gardening soil is no small task, especially when selecting a soil for a rubber plant. I selected this list of potting soil that suffices the rubber tree’s need for a well-draining soil mix.
My personal choice is this soil mixture by Dirtco. This natural mix is specially made to suit the health of your rubber plant and uses a blend of peat, perlite, lime, and worm castings.
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Top 5 Potting Mixes Perfect For It’s Preferences
What kind of soil mix is best for this plant?
The best soil for rubber plants should be well-draining, as rubber plants do not like to sit in moisture. In fact, many soils that cater to succulents are also highly suitable for a rubber fig as well.
Top 10 Potting Mixes
1. Dirtco 100% All Natural Rubber Tree Soil
This Dirtco soil mixture literally has “rubber tree” in the product name, and they truly deliver on that! This product comes in a 4 quart bag and is a specially made blend of all-natural materials that is tailored to ensuring the health of your beautiful rubber bush. This soil for rubber plants boasts that it is free of chemicals, making it a great choice for those who are conscious of exposing their ficus elastica to harmful materials.
Reviews
Reviewers rave about how this soil mix specifically caters to the rubber tree and how it’s the perfect blend for a strong, healthy plant.
2. Bliss Gardens Premium Potting Soil
Bliss Gardens Premium Potting Soil is an organic mix of peat, coco coir, perlite, charcoal, bat guano, and mycorrhizae. This blend is specially designed to foster healthy root growth in your rubber tree while also draining out any excess moisture. This soil mix comes in a 4 quart bag, which is a perfect size for repotting your rubber plant.
Reviews
Reviewers are pleased with the rich quality of soil. Other reviewers noted that the soil itself had a pleasant smell, which is very important if you intend on keeping your rubber plant indoors. However, some buyers were disappointed with how small the bag size was.Reviewers rave about how this soil mix specifically caters to the rubber tree and how it’s the perfect blend for a strong, healthy plant.
3. Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix
A recognizable household name, Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix is a soil blend that is specifically made with indoor plants in mind, which is excellent if you intend on housing your rubber tree indoors. This soil is not mixed with compost or bark, which are known causes for gnats. This mix also includes plant food, which will feed your rubber plant for up to 6 months!
Reviews
Reviewers are happy with the soil and say that their plants are doing very well since repotting their houseplants using this soil mix. Some reviewers did take notice at the reduction in gnats ever since using Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix. However, some reviewers were not so fortunate, as they reported finding mold and spores in some of their bags of soil.
4. Yeah Plants Professional Potting Mix
Don’t let the “cactus and succulent” tag fool you-Yeah Plants Professional Potting Mix has all the qualities of a perfect soil for rubber plants. This fast-draining soil mix recipe ensures that your Indian rubber bush will stay adequately hydrated, while also draining out any extra wetness. Not only that, but this mix also includes enough nutrients for your plant to keep it fed for up to 4 months. This product comes in three sizes; 2 quarts, 4 quarts, or 8 quarts. And the bag is resealable, which is very convenient for storage.
Reviews
Reviewers agree that this potting mix is of a very high quality, most specifically the perfect blend of perlite and organic material. However, there were some reviewers that reported an increase in flies and suspected that the mix might be the culprit.
5. Miracle-Gro Potting Mix
The Miracle-Gro Potting Mix is not only a great choice for container gardening, but it is also a great economic choice too. The bag this product comes in is huge, and covers 2 cubic feet. It’s an excellent choice if you have a large rubber tree or if you’re expanding beyond just the rubber plant. Either way, this potting mix is all-purpose and completely flexible to your needs. Miracle-Gro Potting Mix is a blend of coir, peat, fertilizer, and perlite; which not only keep your plants drained, but also gives them a healthy diet of plant food that will feed your rubber plant for up to 6 months.
Reviews
Reviewers are thrilled with the amount of product they received when ordering this soil mix. But it’s not just the size that makes them happy- it’s quality too. Reviewers also rave about how much their plants have grown since using Miracle-Gro Potting Mix, attributing it to the pre-mixed plant food. On the other hand, some reviewers reported the soil had a strong odor, while others were not impressed with the results after using this soil.
6. The Next Gardener Professional Grower Mix Soil
This soil mix by The Next Gardener checks off all the boxes when it comes to the perfect soil for rubber plants. This organic potting soil includes perlite, which is essential to ensuring your soil will be fast-draining. With this mix, you won’t have to worry about your rubber tree sitting in moisture. Not only that, but this soil has a neutral pH level, which is vital for the well being of your Indian rubber tree The Next Gardener’s soil mix comes in multiple sizes, so you can easily find the perfect match for your needs.
Reviews
Reviewers agree that this soil mix is perfect if you own any plants that require a well-draining soil. Overwatering became a thing of the past when they switched over to The Next Gardener’s soil mix. However, some gardeners did report an increase in bugs since using this product.
7. Soil Sunrise 100% All-Natural Professional Grower Mix
Soil Sunrise’s potting mix is an organic mixture of perlite, lime, sand, and peat, making this a perfect well-draining mixture for your ficus elastica. Say goodbye to overwatering and root rot with Soil Sunrise’s soil mix. This soil is available in a small 2 quart bag size, which is a perfect size for repotting any small to medium rubber tree.
Reviews
Reviewers were thrilled with this soil’s fast-draining formula and high quality. However, some reviews did criticize the small bag size and were disappointed with the small amount of soil.
8. Dirtco Air Cleaning Indoor Plant Soil
This potting soil from Dirtco is an organic blend of peat, perlite, lime, and worm castings made specifically for your indoor rubber plant. Having a rubber tree in your home is beneficial to the air quality, so make sure you give your rubber tree a soil that will ensure healthy root growth and keep it comfortable in its pot. This all-natural soil mix comes in a small 2 quart size bag, which is great for repotting your rubber tree without the worry of having any excess soil mix sitting around the house.
Reviews
Reviewers were pleased with the quality of this soil mix and attributed it to the health and longevity of their beloved plants. While there were no negative reviews about the soil itself, one reviewer was disappointed to find that the bag they ordered was opened upon arrival.
9. Repotme Classic Blend
Repotme Classic Blend is a great soil for rubber plants that you intend to keep indoors. This fast-draining soil mix is intended to not only reduce the risk of root rot in your Indian rubber bush, but also reduce the presence of gnats and other bugs (which is a pain for indoor plant owners).
Reviews
Reviewers were over the moon about this soil’s quality. They reported the soil was light and airy, which was the perfect match for their indoor tropical plants. Reviewers also praised the fact that this soil was free of gnats. However, some were displeased by the small bag this soil comes in, wishing they had multiple size options.
10. Dirtco House and Tropical Plant Potting Soil
Dirtco House and Tropical Plant Potting Soil delivers as a great soil mix for rubber plants. This soil mix is hand-blended to ensure that you’re getting a quality product. Dirtco boasts that it is mixed with worm castings, which provide nutrients for your plants without the need for fertilizer. This potting soil comes in an 8 quart resealable bag, which is a good size if you own a large rubber tree, or if you’re looking for easy storage for later use.
Reviews
Reviewers were very happy with this lightweight soil which fulfilled all of their needs. They also noted how easy it was to work with the soil and repot their indoor plants. However, some reviewers were displeased with the amount of soil they received, saying it was not enough to fit their needs. Some also reported the presence of small bugs.
Which Product Should You Choose?
Out of this list of great soils, the top of my list has got to be the Dirtco 100% All Natural Rubber Tree Soil. I know navigating how to choose a gardening soil can be tricky at times, especially for a rubber plant. However, Dirtco really cuts out the hard work and gives you a quality, well-draining soil mix that will ensure your ficus elastica lives a healthy life. This soil for rubber plants is completely natural, and makes repotting your rubber plant a breeze.
What pH Range is Best for this Plant?
Rubber plants do well in a soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. It is recommended to look for a soil with a pH range of 5.5 to 7.0
What Fertilizer Ratio is Best for this Plant?
A rubber tree will flourish if given a fertilizer ratio of 10-10-10.
What is a Good Pot Size for a New Plant like that?
If you’re bringing home a small rubber plant, you can leave your plant in its original container, or a pot of equal size (assuming you want to preserve its small size or prevent it from growing too quickly). An important part of care at this stage is to gently remove the top half inch of potting soil and replace it with a fresh layer.
However, if you would like to grow your rubber bush and repot it in a larger pot, I would suggest you select a pot that is roughly 3-4 inches larger than the last container you used. This will give the roots more space to grow, resulting in a larger rubber plant.
What is a Good Pot Size for a Fully Grown Plant?
When determining a good size pot for a fully grown rubber plant, you must first inspect the size of the plant’s root ball. You don’t want to repot your mature ficus elastica in a pot that is 1/3 larger than the root ball, and you don’t want a pot that is too small because rubber plants do not enjoy being root bound.
What is the Original Habitat of this Plant?
The rubber tree originally hails from the tropical regions of India, China, Nepal, Myanmar, and Malaysia.
How to Make a Rubber Plant Bushy?
The best way to make your rubber plant bushy is through properly pruning your tree. By carefully clipping leaves, new branches will be encouraged to grow.
Why do rubber plant leaves turn yellow?
There are multiple reasons why rubber plant leaves might turn yellow. First possibility is overwatering; please allow your soil to dry first before rewetting your plant’s soil. Another possibility is a lack of nutrients. If you suspect this is the case, try using a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen.
Can I use cactus soil for rubber plants?
Yes and no. While some cactus soil mixes are both well-draining and great for moisture retention (which are crucial for rubber plants), not every mix will have enough nutrients to sustain a rubber plant. Some cactus soil mixes, however, will work great on rubber plants. Of course, I always do recommend careful inspection of the soil contents and preparing soil with any necessary amendments if you see fit.
What’s the best soil for rubber plant cutting?
The best soil to nurture a rubber plant cutting would be a gritty or well-draining soil mix. Please take care to ensure that the soil you keep your cutting in is constantly moistened during this stage of the plant’s life.
Is loam soil good for rubber plant?
Yes, loam soil is good for rubber plants. Not only does it hold in an adequate amount of moisture, but it is also fast-draining.
My Personal Favorite
Of course we have many soil preferences when it comes to determining how to choose a gardening soil. When it comes to selecting a soil for rubber plants, I would have to go with Dirtco 100% All Natural Rubber Tree Soil. It is not only fast-draining, but it can also hold enough moisture to avoid the dreaded root rot. This is the perfect soil medium for your rubber plant, it even has “rubber plant” right in the name!
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