Ficus Elastica Tineke – Variegated Rubber Plant
The Ficus Elastica Tineke is one of the most sought-after variegated rubber plants available. Featuring beautiful broad, glossy leaves with striking green and creamy-white variegation, often flushed with soft pink tones along the leaf sheaths, this stunning houseplant makes a real statement in any room.
As a hardy evergreen houseplant, the Tineke Rubber Plant is ideal for beginners and experienced collectors alike. It is low maintenance, easy to grow, and recognised as an air-purifying plant, helping to improve your indoor environment naturally.
Supplied as a healthy, well-established plant grown in a 17cm root ball, ready to be potted into your chosen decorative container. It makes a thoughtful gift for any plant lover — perfect for birthdays, housewarmings, or as a new home gift.
Cultural Information:
-
Botanical Name: Ficus elastica 'Tineke'
-
Common Names: Variegated Rubber Plant, Tineke Rubber Tree, Rubber Fig
-
Family: Moraceae
-
Classification: Tender Evergreen Perennial (grown as a houseplant in the UK)
-
Fully Grown Height and Spread: Up to 2 m x 1 m indoors (with support and favourable conditions)
-
Growth Habit: Upright, Tree-Like
-
Foliage: Glossy, Broad Oval Leaves with Green, Cream and Soft Pink Variegation
-
Perfect For: Living Rooms, Bedrooms, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Offices, Shelves, Desks
-
Light Requirements: Bright Indirect Light (tolerates lower light but variegation is best in brighter conditions)
-
Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry; reduce in winter
-
Temperature Range: 15–25°C
-
Humidity: Moderate; benefits from occasional misting
-
Feeding: Balanced liquid fertiliser once a month during spring and summer
-
Hardiness: Not frost hardy – indoor cultivation only in the UK
-
Air Purifying: Yes – helps to filter indoor air pollutants
-
Toxicity: The sap may cause irritation to skin and is toxic if ingested; keep away from pets and small children
Care Guide:
Light: Place your Ficus Tineke in bright, indirect light for the best leaf colour and growth. It will tolerate lower light levels, but the creamy variegation may become less pronounced. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves.
Watering: Allow the top inch of compost to dry out between waterings. During the growing season (spring and summer), this is typically once a week. In autumn and winter, reduce watering frequency. Avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to root rot.
Temperature and Humidity: This rubber plant thrives at normal room temperatures between 15°C and 25°C. It appreciates moderate humidity — mist the leaves occasionally or place the pot on a pebble tray filled with water to raise humidity around the plant.
Feeding: Feed once a month from spring through to late summer using a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser. Do not feed during autumn and winter when growth slows.
Repotting: Repot in spring when the plant becomes root-bound, moving up one pot size at a time. Use a well-draining, peat-free houseplant compost.
Placement Ideas: The Ficus Tineke looks stunning as a floor-standing statement plant, on a shelf, or on a desk. Its upright growth habit and elegant variegated foliage complement both modern and traditional interiors.
