by Raven Lebeau

Created on: September 22, 2007

Some say dog is man's best friend, while others extol the virtues of feline friendship. However, the love of a furry friend comes with a heavy price. Dogs will loudly demand walks, food, and attention with their ear-shattering barks. And cats? Two words- litter box. For those who crave undemanding companionship, I would posit that mankind's staunchest supporter is the humble rubber tree.

It's almost impossible to kill a rubber tree, and trust me I would know. While philodendrons and spider plants languished and died, falling victim to my debilitating forgetfulness, my little rubber tree held on. Through sweltering summers and frigid winters, it endured the rigors of my cheapskate husband's energy budgeting. Unphased by my sporadic waterings and nonexistent feedings, it still managed to reproduce in its little pot, sending brave offshoots up out of the dirt and into the realm of lonely neglect.

Recently, I've turned over a new leaf, vowing to care for my plants as I do for my cats, which means giving them food and water at least a couple times a month. (Relax, the cats have a huge waterer and feeder.) When I repotted the hardy little tree and its offspring, they began to grow taller while still sending out offshoots. A bit of fertilizer stimulated further growth. I now have miniature rubber tree forests in two different pots, as well as a couple of offshoots doing time in a makeshift greenhouse in an attempt to grow aerial roots.

There are a few things to be considered before buying a rubber tree and embarking on your own journey of half-assed horticulture. You do need to make sure the tree is in an appropriately sized pot. It doesn't mind being squeezed into a small pot and becoming a bit root bound, but a large pot can lead to root rot, a disease that will fell even the most stalwart of specimens. Also, make sure the top root, the big fat part at the base of the trunk, is exposed. It will grow and look interesting as the plant ages, but more importantly, it serves a purpose. If the lower roots do become saturated with water because the drainage holes are blocked or because of over-watering, the tree can breathe through that exposed upper root. Even with a properly exposed upper root, drainage is important. If you are using standard potting soil, it's best to mix in a fair amount of perlite, peat, or sand (about a third of the pot's contents should be drainage material). Make sure your tree's pot has adequate drainage. Many mass-produced plastic containers have drainage holes- that is, drainage holes for you to punch out. Check the bottom of the pot before planting anything it it. With these caveats in mind, your rubber tree will be your loyal, leafy pal for life- no matter how much you neglect it.

Learn more about this author, Raven Lebeau.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.