Things You'll Need.

Jul 24, Prune rubber tree plant by making your cuts just above a node– where the leaf attaches to the stem or where another stem branches off. You can also prune just above a leaf scar. Remove about a third to one-half of the plant’s branches but take care not to Estimated Reading Time: 2 mins. Oct 15, The video shows how to prune a rubber plant, a leggy rubber plant or a stalking rubber tree plant in a pot or ground to make it bushy, dense, short and wide.

Rubber Trees are resilient houseplants that can handle anything from a light trim to a hard prune. Pruning can help you maintain your tree’s shape and health, control its height by topping the main stem, or encourage bushier trees through branching out.

Regardless of your reason, pruning is. Oct 17, Steps in Pruning a Rubber Tree Plant Cut the main trunk or stem at a lower height, just above a node. A node is a point where the leaves are attached to the stem. The branches need not to be cut.

The best way to do this is by strategically pruning the plant at certain points to encourage new branches, each with their own growing tip, to sprout below where the cut was made.

Pruning should be done with a sharp, sterile blade. Trim just above a node, or growing point. You can cut straight across or at a 45º angle. New branches emerge below the cut.

And more importantly, to check that it has enough access to light and airflow, two things that will keep your plant healthy.

Rubber Plants can take a lot of trimming. It’s okay to prune a third or even half the plant at one time, but be aware this affects photosynthesis and so its recovery.