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From: SBJ Category: Life Date: 18 June 2008 Time: 05:45 PM Review: The Rubber Plant At first appearance the young plant is pleasing to the eye, it's dark green leaves have a satisfying waxy sheen, and there may be subtle roles of red as new leaves begin life. The plant will exist in any room, in any house, surviving without water, or food for many weeks – potentially months, thus making a handy self-sufficient accompaniment to busy modern living. However, as one gets older and becomes a little more responsible, one may feel the urge to up-grade the rubber plant to a larger pot and to treat it to weekly doses of water – even occasional feeding. This, I have learnt, is where the rubber plant comes into it's own. It will grow fast, and rapidly lose its place in any room it had previously fitted. The, once waxy, leaves become velvet deserts of dust, the monotony broken only by the odd white-weeping leaf – its over-sized form accidently knocked, again. Another threat to the rubber plant is the great outdoors, where it is absolutely intolerant to stark sunlight – causing burnt leaves and permanent scarring. To the rubber plants merit, I have discovered it will handle quite a severe hacking of growth – more than half it's bulk gone, it still sends new, resilient shoots. In conclusion, the rubber plant can make for a decent green addition, so long as one is prepared to fight it back once in a while. Despite its rather boring reputation, its interminable vitality must be admired.