The Ficus elastica ‘ Tineke ’ and Ficus elastica ‘ Ruby ’ are both varieties of the caoutchouc tree , Ficus elastica . Due to their modest - upkeep necessity and their attractively colored farewell , they have become some of the most popular houseplant in recent old age .
Because both industrial plant are derived from the same parent tree , they divvy up plenty of similarity and are often false for each other .
The most blazing difference between these two plants is the colors of their leaves . The leaves of the ‘ Tineke ’ are a compounding of white and greenish , while the ‘ Ruby ’ has a reddish bloom on its leaves .
In this clause , we will talk over both the differences and the similarities between these two Ficus plant . If you want to know more about either or both plants , then keep reading .
Ficus elastica ‘Tineke’ vs Ficus elastica ‘Ruby’
Sheath
Both plants have a case that hatch their unexampled leave-taking . These sheaths shoot out from the industrial plant ’s primal chaff and look like flowers at first glance , but in fact they are not .
The cocktail dress of the ‘ Tineke ’ is dark-green in color with a slight pinkish chromaticity , while that of the ‘ Ruby ’ come in shades of pinkish and blood-red , true to the plant life ’s name .
Color of the leaves
As mentioned above , the most dazzling difference between these two plant life at first glimpse is the departure in color .
The leave-taking of the ‘ Tineke ’ are promiscuous to dark green , with pink and milky vena . The pink tinge will fade over time , and mature leaves usually just have unripe and lily-white as their primary colour .
The ‘ Ruby ’ also has white and green variegation , but the presence of pink and red on the leaves is much more prominent and vibrant . The red speck is most detectable on young farewell .
When a ‘ Tineke ’ has a lot of young leaves , the pink tinge may be more plain , which is one of the reasons it gets mistaken for a ‘ Ruby ’ . Remember that , for the Ficus to be consider a ‘ Ruby ’ , it really has to have vibrant red and pinkish hues on its leaves and sheath .
Confusion is also possible when the ‘ Ruby ’ is kept in low - sparkle conditions . When the ‘ Ruby ’ does not get enough light , the vibrant red and pink on its foliation will become paler and slice . you’re able to easy correct this by incite the ‘ Ruby ’ to a spot where it become more bright light . If there is little to no natural light during the wintertime , you’re able to avail the works out by purchasing grow lights .
Availability
Both Ficus elastica ‘ Tineke ’ and Ficus elastica ‘ Ruby ’ plant have break loose in popularity in the retiring few yr . This means you may now get your hand on either plant quite well , the ‘ Tineke ’ more so than the ‘ Ruby ’ because this variety has been around much longer .
The ‘ Ruby ’ may be slenderly more expensive than the ‘ Tineke ’ , because it is a little rarer and also has a more striking and unique look .
Ficus elastica ‘Tineke’ and Ficus elastica ‘Ruby’: Similarities
Leaves
Aside from the departure in the color , everything else is the same about these plants ’ leaves . They have the same ellipse shape with a pointy close , and they have the same waxy grain when touched . The leave can grow as long as a foot .
The cosh in the plants ’ leaves and prow is holler latex , and this subject matter play as first help for the plant . It can plug up any holes or wounds in the event of damage by an insect or infection . Do not touch the latex , because it can be an thorn when it fare into contact with skin .
Growth pattern
Ficus elastica plants do from nation in South Asia and are wonted to grow under lots of sun and rainfall .
Both plants , in ideal consideration , can mature up to two fundament in a single develop season . India rubber trees have been known to reach a hundred feet tall . Do not vex about your indoor ficus becoming a hundred foot tall , though . As long as it is implant in a pot , its growth should be much slower than in its instinctive home ground .
If you tolerate the plant to grow without pruning it , it should grow on a individual stem . If you trim some leaves off , however , fresh leg might grow from the pruning site , which is how you may make the plant fill up out and look more heavy . If you prefer the undivided - stem smell on your ficus , simply refrain from pruning it .
Temperature requirements
Both plants like their ambient temperature to be between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit . The temperature can douse below 60 degree , but not for extended periods of time . Because these plants are native to South Asia , they do not tolerate frost . Bring them indoors during the fall and wintertime to protect them from the cold .
If keeping it indoors , do not place the plant under an air conditioner or near a fastball . The cold and ardent line significantly feign the temperature around the industrial plant and can also dry out its foliage .
Light requirements
Even though the ficus can survive in low light conditions , they will make the plant quite sad . Ficus elastica plant get plenty of light in their natural habitat , so it is good to attempt to model these condition at home . The colors on the leaves will become even more vivacious and deep if the works gets the ripe amount and character of light .
send the plant in a slur where it gets lustrous , indirect light . The longer the flora is kept in obscure conditions , the more the diversification will fade and the leaves will become wholly green .
Six hour each solar day in lustrous , indirect light should do the trick ; also make certain you rotate the pot every three weeks so that all sides of the plant life get their time under the Sunday .
Water requirements
These plants like their soil damp but not quaggy . To achieve this , use a well - draining potting mix so that any extra water in the territory will simply drain off .
The frequency of lachrymation will bet on several factors such as the weather condition , the season and the humidness where you live . Someone who survive in a juiceless , arid office with little to no rain will have to water their genus Ficus more often than someone who lives in a position with stale wintertime and plenty of rainfall .
ensure you take these factors into consideration , because you do not want to overwater your plant . Overwatering can lead to ascendant rot and a legion of other problems . base rot is a condition that arise when the soil around the plant ’s roots is always inert , causing the roots to submerge . The utter roots become susceptible to opportunistic pathogen that make the rot spread faster to the relaxation of the plant , until the entire works is affected and die .
The best way to know whether your plant call for to be water is by touching the top two inches of the dirt . If the territory is dry to the feeling , water the works , but if the soil is damp , wait one or two day before checking it again .
Repotting the plant
A potted Ficus elastica is slow - growing and will only call for to be repotted every two to three geezerhood . These plants are o.k. with being a little rootbound .
When repot your plant , change the soil and replace the pot with one that is just one size large . Use a terracotta or clay sess as opposed to a plastic or blade crapper . Terracotta and clay pots countenance better stream of water and air . Also ensure the pot has drain gob at the bottom .
Fertilizer
fecundate the plant once a month during its growing season in the spring and summer . Refrain from fertilizing in the crepuscule and winter , because the works ’s maturation will slow up at this time and it will not be able-bodied to consume all the nutrients provided by the fertilizer . If the unused food outride in the grease for long menses , this can leave to grunge toxicity .
Conclusion
Ficus elastica ‘ Tineke ’ and Ficus elastica ‘ Ruby ’ are both derived from the Ficus elastica , or gumshoe tree diagram . The most obvious remainder between the two varieties is the color of their leaves . While both works have green and blanched leaves , the ‘ Tineke ’ only has thin pinkish tinges on its leaves and sheath , while the ‘ Ruby ’ has more vivacious pink and red hues .
The ‘ Tineke ’ is a small easy to pander and a second cheaper than the ‘ Ruby ’ , but they are both popular enough that you should be capable to get hold of either plant comparatively easily .
When it hail to the general care and growing of the two plants , they are virtually identical .
Whichever miscellanea you cease up select , you could never go wrong , as either will brighten up any way .
Image : istockphoto.com / Olga Gubskaya
