Ficus elastica ‘Tineke’

The variegated rubber tree has eye-catching foliage with cream-white margins around grey-green variegation. Pink new growth. Prune to maintain size.
height 5–50ft
width 5–50ft
tolerates Heat, Pots
water
needs		 When soil surface is dry.
water
info		 This plant wants water when the top of the soil is dry, but you can still feel moisture just below the surface. This plant will often fall into a once-a-week watering cycle, but remember that your watering should be based on the moisture left in the soil, which will depend partly on the moisture in the room and the weather outside. The soil surface goes a bit deeper for larger pots; for example, a plant in a 14-inch diameter pot should dry out a couple of inches deep before you water it, while a plant in a 4-inch pot will only want to dry out in the top half inch or so of soil.
hardy
to		 25F
exposure Moderate Indirect – Bright Indirect
indoor
outdoor		 Indoor
drainage In Ground: Planting Mix, In Pots: Potting Soil, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing All Purpose
origin SE Asia
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 13, 16, 17, 19–24, H2

Sunset Zones Map

Indoor Exposure Guide

INDOOR EXPOSURE GUIDE

Direct Sun
Beams of light hitting the plant near a window four or more hours a day. The most intense light. If you're in a direct sun spot, you can feel the warmth of the sun on your skin.

Partial Direct
Occurs when you have a plant that is in less intense direct sunlight. This happens when a plant is in a few hours of direct morning sun, or an hour or less of direct afternoon sun. It also happens when a plant is in direct sun, but more than six feet from a window, where the light is diffused.

Bright Indirect
This is just beyond the direct beam of light (or through cracked blinds or a sheer curtain filtering direct sun). Bright indirect areas are characterized by a place where you can sit and read a novel comfortably without artificial light.

Moderate Indirect
Beyond the bright indirect light. In these areas you wouldn't turn on a light walking through the room, but if you were hanging out there you would probably have the lights on, even during the day.

Low Light
Dim spots, usually the backs of rooms or hallways where you would always turn lights on, even if just walking in to grab something.

SUNSET ZONES MAP

Growing Notes

All ficus respond well to pruning, allowing even very large ficus to be maintained at a modest size. They do exude white sap, often containing latex, so if you have a latex allergy avoid the sap.
Pruning them consistently and keeping in a smaller pot will make the leaves proportionately smaller. If you’d like to keep your tree very small (six inch to a one gallon size) remove the plant every three to five years and prune back the roots by one third. Repot in fresh potting soil.

More Info

While many rubber trees grow well outdoors (and we assume it would do well and represent that with the Sunset zones here) we have never seen this cultivar growing outside in California. Do you have any experience with it? We’d love to hear from you!