Rubber Plant Taming!

bushie_2

Hi,
Can anyone help me please, I have a collegue with an out of control rubber plant in his family home and is after advice on how to cut it down to size without killing it. It is apparently so far up and across their ceiling and now working its way up the stairs!! :eek: Also would any off cuts grow as a new plant if placed in compost?
Any advice would be appreciated,
Thanks:T

evilgoose

Not much help - but still makes me laugh - the shopping centre near use had a refit - they removed the 'flowerbeds' - the plants were given to a charity to raffle - which one of my mam won - a rubber plant, it just kept growing, we've got high ceilings, this thing had reached them and started bending over some 10ft high. We cut it back, and as I recall, it didnt like it much and it died a while later. But that could have just been from general neglect.

Blackpool_Saver

I have one that is making its way across the conservatory roof

jomio123

I chopped mine back - it was over 20 years old, planted in a dustbin sized tub & had grown up the conservatory wall, across the ceiling & was attempting world domination.
I'd nothing to lose so just went for it last spring, using tree loppers to cut each branch back to about 3 - 4' high, cutting just above a bud.
Also turned it out of it's tub, cut back some of the big old roots, repotted in fresh compost & gave it a good soak & a feed.
It survived to tell the tale - in fact, it's rather drastic haircut seemed to rejuvenate it & it's still thriving.
I trimmed back some of the tips to about 12 - 15" & put them in water, just to see what would happen .................. they all rooted!

If you want to propogate it properly, try air-layering as it causes less stress to the plant.

Good luck!

System

Many years ago I watched Anne Swithinbank demonstrating how to do it. Rather than cut it off, it is layered, that is you get the stem to root while it is still attached to the plant. First, a decent section of stem was wrapped in plastic, secure bottom with elastic fill with damp compost secure top with elastic. I can imagine you might wish to cover the floor while doing this. When plant then roots into the compost, then you cut below the wrap and pot up your ready rooted "cutting". With rubber plants they are often happy to resprout when cut back anyway if you are happy with the base, the layer works best when you wish to start over an discard the woody base.

bushie_2

:jThank you Jomio and down the garden- I'll pass your advice on and fingers crossed should survive to tell the tale, it really appreciated your help.

:beer: