---
title: "I’ve had my rubber tree for 5ish years and only in the last few…"
description: "I’ve had my rubber tree for 5ish years and only in the last few months have I learned how to actually care for plants. Now that I’m finally watering correctly…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/GKVj6xfXcqyh3WB5aOwWU3?language=fr"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Lo"
published: "2025-01-04T23:38:48.941503Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/bietQkiKSR4V9kCj5sMgm0mjb9BlrbOeMgEd5oOLxFA/3Pe211SqRoKTenlkfQ-kpw.webp?size=large"
---

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# I’ve had my rubber tree for 5ish years and only in the last few…

_Publié par Lo le 2025-01-04_

I’ve had my rubber tree for 5ish years and only in the last few months have I learned how to actually care for plants. Now that I’m finally watering correctly etc, there is constant new growth on every branch! However, so many of the bottom leaves have dropped over time and the bottom stems are all bare and not very sturdy. Any idea how to help?

![Pièce jointe 1 sur 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/bietQkiKSR4V9kCj5sMgm0mjb9BlrbOeMgEd5oOLxFA/3Pe211SqRoKTenlkfQ-kpw.webp?size=large)

## 15 commentaires

### Wolfen 🐺 a commenté le 2025-01-05

Possibly some silica to fortify the stems. More light can also help if the weak stems are from elongation from lower light. You could try scoring the lower nodes and using a keiki paste to promote some new leaves

#### Lo ha respondido el 2025-01-05

Thank you for the tips! I will be googling all of those things 😂

#### Wolfen 🐺 ha respondido el 2025-01-05

Lol no worries. To give you a spot to start. The silica i use currently. The paste is also called cloning paste or gel. I've seen people just spread it on and it's worked, but wounding the node makes it more effective.

![Pièce jointe 1 sur 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/LABcXOiTFudmBUCsau2S0dZnnxDdeMAvwSHhNs7sG2k/dbb3fn7HRBOovjfKb2bwKQ.webp?size=large)

#### Lo ha respondido el 2025-01-05

This is so helpful, really appreciate! How often to give silica compared to fertilizer?

#### Wolfen 🐺 ha respondido el 2025-01-05

I use it every time I water. But this bottle will go a long way as it's like maybe less than a tsp per quart

#### Lo ha respondido el 2025-01-05

Thanks!

### Sunny a commenté le 2025-01-05

Keiki paste I got off Amazon. They are about the same.

![Pièce jointe 1 sur 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/wefqOljjhEOiS9LRzOB1-QhxkVJiB4A5DGumXhnNrhs/LLcMJsKpRiqmJKzHlTF6xg.webp?size=large)

#### Lo ha respondido el 2025-01-05

Thanks!

### plantmother a commenté le 2025-01-05

you could propagate from one of the taller stems and plant it in with the rest to sort of cover the bare stems! that’s what I plan on doing

#### Lo ha respondido el 2025-01-05

Could you describe that in more detail please?

#### plantmother ha respondido el 2025-01-05

sure! you can cut a portion off the top that has at least one node and then place in water to grow some roots, once it’s rooted you can plant into the same pot and as that branch grows it will hide the bare stems at the bottom. there are more in depth instructions online about the best way to propagate a rubber plant but from what i’ve heard it’s pretty easy!

#### Lo ha respondido el 2025-01-06

Thank you!!

### YinDeezy a commenté le 2025-01-05

+1 for keiki paste. I’ve used it my ficus and pothos plants before. A little bit goes a long way. Apply a small amount with a qtip by the nodes. May take 3-4 weeks before you start to see sprouts.  
Just note that full branches will grow from the sprouts so keep that in mind.

#### Lo ha respondido el 2025-01-05

Oh I’m so excited to try! Thanks for the input

### Lo a commenté le 2025-01-21

Thanks for all the recs! Check out my new growth!! 🥹

![Pièce jointe 1 sur 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/bietQkiKSR4V9kCj5sMgm0mjb9BlrbOeMgEd5oOLxFA/C2-tsqbeR2iVtQdKQ0BlWA.webp?size=large)

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