---
title: "Bought these today at a local shop. Any tips on them?"
description: "Bought these today at a local shop. Any tips on them?"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/hKdm_velRVSD9Sq2ImJgUw?language=nl"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Ashlee"
published: "2024-09-08T23:59:43.916314Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZHd7S0ok-nyQ_OUdVwaihAUnbJHb6iqy4D8i_7STgTQ/eyKEjAfUTbSRRC_aIpKT7Q.webp?size=large"
---

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# Bought these today at a local shop. Any tips on them?

_Geplaatst door Ashlee op 2024-09-08_

Bought these today at a local shop. Any tips on them?

![Bijlage 1 van 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZHd7S0ok-nyQ_OUdVwaihAUnbJHb6iqy4D8i_7STgTQ/eyKEjAfUTbSRRC_aIpKT7Q.webp?size=large)

## 2 reacties

### Adrian reageerde op 2024-09-09

I’m new to ficus elastica, but I can tell you what I do for mine. 1. Mine are good in a south window, but they do well in east/west windows. I just don’t have one, so they stay within 1ft of the south windows.  
2\. I use a mixture of neem oil and peppermint Castile soap in a spray bottle with some microfiber cleaning gloves to wipe the leaves down. They get dusty pretty often, and wiping them down helps them photosynthesize better. It also works as a good preventative treatment for pests. When I first brought them home, I checked the soil and roots, undersides if the leaves, and sprayed the leaves and top of the soil down with insecticidal soap.

![Bijlage 1 van 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/CQyscbeN5f0KZltdaSyx3VQZZh8uHYoaKDmCZlFICjE/OeEMMUNNSwayvZu2LiQSoA.webp?size=large)

#### Adrian antwoordde op 2024-09-09

3\. The sap is literally liquid latex, so if you or any family members have a latex allergy, wear gloves and use separate tools for the ficuses. Their sap can also be a mild skin irritant even for those that aren’t allergic, but not for everyone. I haven’t had a reaction from touching it without gloves, but as someone with a cousin with that allergy, I make sure to wash my hands thoroughly after touching it, especially during repotting or when a new leaf opens, just in case I come in contact with someone with that allergy.  
4\. I have yet to need a humidifier for them, but I live in PA, so if you live in a really dry environment, you might want one in the room for yours.  
5\. They like being more snug in their pots, and rootbound, but it’s important that their roots have at least a thin layer of soil over the roots to protect them. Make sure when you repot them that it’s to match the size of the root ball, not the height of the plant. If they get top heavy, you can either chop them between nodes to become bushier over time or use a support pole to keep it from toppling over.  
6\. They are toxic to cats and dogs if eaten. My dog is curious, but once I let her initially smell them when they first come in, she ignores them. If you’ve got more curious pets (or kids), try to put it in a room with a door they can’t enter or one they ignore.  
That’s about it. Mine have been very low-maintenance aside from the leaf cleanings about once a month, but I got mine from a really nice nursery that had them in really good condition, so if you got them from a box store I would definitely quarantine them, check them for pests, check the soil and roots, etc.

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