Ficus, Rubber Plant Ruby Red - Ficus elastica

It wants bright, indirect light. The pink and green colour on the leaves fades in a dark spot, so keep it near a bright window but out of harsh direct afternoon sun, which can scorch the leaves.

Water when the top inch or two of soil feels dry, which is often about once a week in spring and summer. In a heated Canadian home in winter the plant drinks less, so wait longer between waterings and check the soil first. This full watering guide walks through how to judge it.

A rubber plant does not naturally drop all its leaves in winter, so leaf loss usually points to a cold draft, a chilly windowsill, or a sudden temperature swing near a door or heat vent. Move it away from cold glass and drafts and keep it warm. This winter care guide covers keeping plants steady through the cold months.

No. Grown indoors as a houseplant it does not flower or fruit, and it is kept purely for its colourful foliage. Flowers and small figs only appear on mature trees in their tropical native range.

Indoors it can reach about 6 to 10 feet tall over time, with leaves up to a foot long. You can prune the top to keep it shorter and bushier if your space is tight.

Yes. The ASPCA lists Ficus plants as toxic to cats and dogs. The milky sap holds a proteolytic enzyme called ficin and a compound called psoralen, and chewing a leaf can cause mouth irritation, drooling, and vomiting. Keep it on a high shelf or in a room your pets and young children cannot reach. If you have pets at home, check out the Pachira Money Tree or the Parlour Palm instead, both confirmed non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA.

Mostly, yes. The thick, leathery leaves cope with the average dry air of a forced-air heated home better than thin-leaved tropicals. In a very dry winter room you may see brown leaf tips, so a pebble tray of water under the pot or an occasional misting helps.

Dry winter air from forced-air heating stresses the plant and invites a few common pests, so check the leaves now and then.

Mealybugs. Looks like: white cottony fluff where leaves meet stems. Fix: dab them off with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.

Spider mites. Looks like: fine webbing and pale speckled leaves. Fix: rinse the leaves and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil.

Scale. Looks like: small brown bumps stuck to stems and leaf backs. Fix: scrape them off and wipe with insecticidal soap.

Milky sap. Looks like: white latex that oozes from any cut or broken leaf. Fix: wear gloves when pruning, keep the sap off your skin and eyes, and wash it away if it touches you.

Keep a new plant away from your other plants for two weeks and wear gloves when you prune.