Ficus Elastica
Ficus elastica — The Glossy-Leaved Office Standby
Light
Medium to bright indirect. Dark green varieties like Robusta tolerate lower light; Burgundy and variegated types such as Tineke need brighter light to hold their colour.
Water
Water when the top layer of soil has dried out. Leaf drop is the first sign the plant is too dry; yellowing lower leaves and a mushy stem base signal overwatering.
Humidity
Moderate. Avoid dry heating vents and mist foliage during Toronto winters.
Temperature
18–27°C (65–80°F). Cold drafts cause sudden leaf drop that can take months to recover from.
Difficulty
Moderate
Sizes
Tabletop (30–50cm) · Floor (90–150cm) · Statement Tree (150–180cm)
Ficus elastica, the rubber plant, is instantly recognisable by its thick, glossy, leathery oval leaves, which can reach 20–30cm long on an upright, tree-like frame. New growth arrives wrapped in a colourful protective sheath that drops away once the leaf unfurls. Varieties range from the deep green Robusta to the near-black Burgundy with red leaf undersides, and variegated forms like Tineke and Ruby.
In the Office
The rubber plant's dark, glossy leaves suit a modern, minimal office look, and Robusta is the most reliable variety for commercial spaces once it settles in. It genuinely needs good light — medium to bright indirect — with Burgundy and variegated varieties like Tineke needing brighter positions to hold their colour. Its main limitation is stability: cold drafts near exterior doors cause sudden leaf drop that can take months to recover from, so it needs a settled spot away from entrances.
Why Choose This Plant
Benefits for Your Office
- Genuine tree-scale presence — upright, single or branched growth that reads as a real tree rather than a plant in a pot
- Robusta, the most reliable variety for commercial spaces, holds up well once established in a stable spot
- Dark green varieties like Robusta tolerate lower light than most other statement ficus, widening where it can be placed
- Leaf drop is an early, visible warning sign of underwatering or a cold draft, so problems get caught before the whole plant declines
Where to Place It
Office Placement Ideas
- 1
Reception areas and lobbies with good natural light — Robusta's dark, glossy leaves suit a modern, minimal look and hold up to a busy space
- 2
Boardrooms or executive offices with a bright window — Burgundy or variegated varieties like Tineke need brighter light to hold their colour, and reward it with a striking accent
- 3
Away from exterior doors and drafty corridors — cold air causes sudden leaf drop that takes months to recover from
How to Care for It
Care Tips for Office Environments
- Prune leggy stems back to a node to keep the plant full and encourage branching rather than one bare trunk
- Wear gloves when pruning — the milky white sap is a skin irritant and can drip and stain carpet, so protect the floor under any cut
- Check the undersides of leaves along the midrib for scale insects at every visit — that's where they show up first
- If leaves drop in winter, check for a cold draft near a door or window before changing the watering routine — that's the more common cause
Want Ficus Elastica in your office?
Our team will recommend the right variety and size for your space, deliver and install it, and keep it thriving with ongoing care.