Can I cut back my rubber plant right now without hurting it?
It has grown so tall it just leans over. If I can, can the cutting be rooted and how?
Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica)
I heard that you can cut them back and they will start a new shoot, but the top is usually not re-rooted because it contains a milky sap and won't root well. This is just something I heard not too long ago and maybe someone else has had luck rooting the top.
You can cut it back to the ground almost and it should pop back... folks here in So Cal chop theirs up haphazardly and no problems coming back. I only have about a 8' seedling, but cutting off limbs and top hasn't hurt it yet. Don't know about rerooting, though
If you want to root a cutting, just make a cut half way thru the trunk where you want to take the cutting. Place a toothpick in the cut, if you just bend it back a little you can get the toothpick in. With out a toothpick it will just heal back over. Take some wet spagnum moss and place around the cut area. put plastic wrap around that and tie at top and bottom (not too tight). Keep the moss damp when you open plastic wrap to dampen moss look to see if there is any progress. I don't remember how long it takes but it will root. Just have patience. That was the almost impossible part for me.
Thanks Brugie,Palmbob,and Ilovejesus99, for the wonderful advice you have given me.