Water your plant in the morning. Although brown spots are usually associated with a dry plant, scorching or underwatering, with a rubber plant this can be a common sign of . Why Does My Rubber Plant Have Spots On The Leaves. That's the compound that appears as the white spots or dots. Potting your plant into a pot that is much too big for its root system greately increases the risk of the soil staying wet for a longer period of time because you have a lot more soil. When it comes to preventing diseases among houseplants, sanitation is key! Lithocyst. This is most likely a watering issue. degree in Biological Engineering from North Carolina State University. . This stimulates branching at the cut. As is the case with humans, nutrient deficiencies can cause serious trouble for rubber plants also. Like we said in the beginning of the article here already, the rubber plant has something which is called lithocysts in it. Take a look at the plant below. The pore-to-pore distance is d = 1/2, where is the stomatal . As youve discovered, there can be a LOT of problems with rubber plants. Keep your plant away from the rest of your houseplants for a few weeks to ensure it is pest-free. It is especially effective at removing formaldehyde from indoor air! Id like to clarify once and for all, that this is incorrect. Soft tissues can be damaged due to compression and sudden release. So it is important to monitor the soil moisture by feeling the potting mix. When plants lack nutrients, they cannot properly manufacture important molecules, such as chlorophyll, proteins, and lipids, among many others. You can still place your plant in your windows, but make sure you are filtering the sunlight. But not too worry because we will be delving into how to fix rubber plant spots on leaves. One word of caution, if you have had your plant growing in really low light, dont just place your rubber plant immediately into a lot of direct sunshine. North windows would be acceptable, but the plant needs to be as close to the window without touching it. It is an indication that there is a problem that you need to address immediately. Some people mistaken this for a flower, but it is simply a protective covering that each new leaf has when it grows. Why are there little yellow spots on my plant? I simply add 1/4 teaspoon to a gallon of water and fertilize every time I water. . Pests may have laid eggs in the hidden parts of the plant and they may not be visible to the naked eye. You can also add fertilizers with zinc sulfate, which has higher zinc content. Insecticidal soaps and neem oil can also be effective in removing this pest. Soon, you should hopefully see at least a couple new stems forming. This occurs when the roots absorb water faster than a plant can transpire through its leaves. This is especially effective if the grime on the leaves is a little thick. 5 wks into flowering from www.420magazine.com They're lithocysts and occur naturally on rubber plants. She is especially fond of growing roses and enjoys experimenting with different varieties and colors. Check your plant for pests. On the contrary, cystoliths are actually an integral part of many plant leaves (Pierantoni et al., 2018). If the plant lost some leaves due to sunburn, reduce watering. The below mentioned article provides an overview on the epidermal tissue system of plants. You can filter light through the use of window treatments such as sheer curtains or combi blinds. I recently moved it from NY to Texas. Another common pest that you may occasionally see is scale. Hiltz and Pobeguin [6] studied the inorganic composition of cystoliths of Ficus elastica and found amorphous calcium carbonate as a main component of cystolith together with small amounts of silicon and magnesium with traces of titanium, aluminum . Manage Settings Why Does My Rubber Plant Have White Spots? Always disinfect the tools that you use when pruning. Use water-soluble fertilizer for your rubber plant and apply it only once a month. The lumen of the cell contains an outgrowth of the cell wall on which is deposited a concretion of calcium carbonate crystal (lime). These can cause a blister-like appearance as the cells in the leaves swell due to the excess water. Check out my blog post on the 9 easiest plants to clean your indoor air. This algae leaf spot is caused by a parasite known as Cephaleuros virescens and this parasite thrives in a humid and warm environment. Let the plant rest and resist pruning frost-damaged parts of your plant. If youve been growing your rubber tree plant in a southern or western window, immediately move it to an area with a lesser light exposure to stop further damage. It immediately is absorbed and drains very quickly. Aim to let approximately the top quarter of the potting mix to dry out. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . Throughout the growing season, except in the pits of winter when almost nothing is growing, I like to use Dyna-Gro Grow fertilizer on my rubber plant which I get on Amazon. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Thank you! In some instances, however, white spots are simply dusted on your leaves! If you just have slight curling but the plant looks healthy otherwise, I wouldnt worry. Many of the end products have enormous commercial value, e.g. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Avoid overwatering your plant and always aim for humidity levels that are below 70 percent. Areas to check to include the surface and undersides of leaves, the stems, and even the soil. I have a question regarding my rubber plant. With their tall stems and large, deep green leaves, rubber plants can be a striking addition to any home. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Is it super dry? It is about 8 feet tall. Rubber plants grow in full sun outside, so there is no reason you cant give your plant as much sun as it can get indoors, where light intensity is much less than outdoors. When I water my own plant, the water doesnt sit on the surface at all. You can spray your plant with a sulfur-based fungicide, captan, or copper-based fungicide.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-leader-1','ezslot_11',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-leader-1-0'); Rubber plant spots on leaves can be caused by rubber plant algae leaf spots. So, you will notice spots covered with bluish-gray, purplish, whitish, or bluish cotton-like fungi. Variegated rubber plants can take plenty of sun and Ive seen them grow in full sun outdoors. What could be wrong? Rubber plant spots on leaves are usually a signal that something is wrong with your plant. You can also use pesticides as a primary defense to prevent the disease on the plant. The Green Experiment Company is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. My plant enjoys morning sun and it is thriving. If your rubber plant is heavily infected, it can be hard to get rid of powdery mildew, so prevent the disease from spreading further to your other houseplants. You can also use Epsom salts. You simply make selective partial cuts on a branch, right above a node, and this can trigger side branches to form. The most common rubber plants that will find on the market include: F. elastica 'Decora' is probably the most common and typical variety. Not only do cystoliths form in Ficus plants, they are occur in plants belonging to the following plant families: Urticaceae, Moraceae, Ulmaceae, Cucurbitaceae and Acanthaceae.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'greenexperimentcompany_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_1',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenexperimentcompany_com-medrectangle-4-0'); You may also see these white spots referred to as lithocysts. Wipe scales off using cotton swabs soaked in rubbing alcohol. Then place your cutting in moist compost, seal a clear plastic bag over the pot and put in a bright place out of direct sun. Did you just buy your plant from a nursery and you just brought it home? I have a magmnifecent specim on my patio. Prevention of Nutrient Deficiency In Rubber Plant, rubber plant may be suffering from bacterial leaf spots. If your rubber plant is not sitting right in front of a window, I want you to move it there right now and wait. Or has it been outdoors for a while? Therefore, the present day authors use the term secretion to denote excretion and recretion as well. Don't worry about it. Dyna-Gro Grow is an amazing, complete fertilizer that is urea-free and contains all micro and macro nutrients. Botanical Name: Ficus elastica 'Robusta'. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Adding organic matter and keeping it mulch can also help improve the nutrients in your soil. Prevent dealing with powdery mildew by ensuring that your rubber plant is receiving enough light. Under these conditions shoots grew rapidly with vertically Whatever you do, realize that in most cases, keeping your plant several feet or further away from most windows is not acceptable. Maybe let it stay dry for a very long time while new leaves were developing? The most common rubber plants that will find on the market include: F. elastica Decora is probably the most common and typical variety, F. elastica Robusta has larger leaves than Decora, F. elastica Burgundy has very dark leaves with a reddish midrib, F. elastica Tineke has gorgeous yellow and shades of green variegation, F. elastica Ruby has stunning pink variegation. Hi Tony! This reduces to about 3 parts potting mix, 1 part perlite and 1 part bark mix. 2. They may serve as some kind of protection from leaf-eating insects or other animals . And maybe it is also in a dark spot? The term lithocyst refers to the cells that contain calcium carbonate crystals while the term cystolith refers to the calcium carbonate crystal itself. obtained from Belfast Botanic Gardens. Your rubber plant can also develop white spots due to fertilizer issues, sunburns, and frost damage. Cystoliths are not harmful to the plant. But they truly are easy if you follow my cultural practices concerning light, watering, and soil. When you are done, be sure to rinse the plant off with plain water water to remove any residue, or wipe the leaves off with plain warm water. If youve noticed some light spots with a dark rim on the leaves or some tiny, water-soaked spots, your rubber plant may be suffering from bacterial leaf spots. If your plant was in a 4 inch pot, repot into a 6 inch pot. Maybe remove 1-2 feet or so from the top. Your plant will languish and I will describe the various problems that can occur at the end of this post. Proper soil mix is absolutely critical for any Ficus. It is identical to white spots on your leaves. These are warm growing plants so try and maintain indoor temperatures at a minimum of about 60F. Id love some advice. Oedema, powdery mildew, sunburn, and pest infestation can all cause white spots on rubber plants. The white speckles you see are special cells called lithocysts, a type of cell in the epidermis of certain plant leaves; these are normal in Ficus species. I dont know what their purpose is, but just know that it is normal! White spots on rubber plants are an unattractive sight for any plant enthusiast. (Source: University of California). But most importantly, the leaf shine sprays will clog the stomata (or leaf pores) that plants essentially use to breathe. Avoid these sprays! This is especially true if your plant has been growing in an area with subdued lighting and you suddenly move it to a spot that is directly hit by the sun. The interesting part isthat it is not harmful to plant. link to Why Has My Monstera Stopped Growing? This way you can propagate your plant at the same time! Gently wipe the leaves that have hard water stains. As oedema usually happens due to reduced transpiration on the surfaces of the leaves and a high level of soil moisture, you need to cut back on watering your rubber plant. Secretory Ducts And Latificers 1. I used a blend of an all-purpose potting mix, such as Miracle-Gro, and added plenty of perlite and also orchid bark mix that I have on hand from all the Phalaenopsis orchids that I grow. Rubber plants require a well draining soil. Months! The hair lithocysts were found in the uniseriate epidermis of Broussonetia papyrifera (Figure 1H and I), Fatoua pilosa (Figure 2H), Humulus . Keep in mind that smaller pots, especially terra cotta pots, will dry out much more quickly than larger pots. Internal secretory system of plants may be single-celled or multicellular. The dampness of the soil seemed perfect not too wet but the top was pretty crusty. Growing these plants indoors, Eastern exposure windows should work well in most cases, or even Western or Southern windows. In fact, some studies have actually found that cystoliths may improve the plants ability to photosynthesize efficiently by scattering light (Pierantoni et al., 2018). It is important to water these plants thoroughly, but they need to dry out a bit in between. If you come in contact with this, be sure to wash your hands off immediately. You can also improve air circulation by pruning your rubber plant. Is the soil completely dry and perhaps it has stayed dry for too long? Cystoliths are typically located in enlarged surface cells of leaves called lithocysts, in which CaCO 3 is deposited over a cellulosic stalk hanging from the cell wall (Bauer et al., 2011, see Fig Ficus do not like this! This is one example of why I mentioned earlier that in order for your houseplants to thrive, you must have all the important elements in balance: light, watering, potting mix, etc. One may be a sudden decrease in light. However, they both started getting those hard white lithocysts. As pH levels change rapidly, you need to check the pH levels of your soil regularly. Whatever your rubber plant problems or woes are, you will find it here. High humidity levels combined with low moisture favor powdery mildew. I have two small rubber tree plants that I started from cuttings that are doing quite well, it seems. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The good news is that algae leaf spot is not a fatal disease. Rubber plants dislike being moved and will shed leaves in response to unexpected changes in light or temperature. Move your plant right by a window. These blister-like areas then erupt and result in tan, brown, or even white spots on the leaves. Look for light gray to white powdery growth forming on the surfaces of the shoots or leaves, as these can be powdery mildew. Other pests, specifically cottony cushion scale and mealybugs, cause white spots by leaving a cotton-like appearance on the surface of leaves. Instead, aim to water the base of the plant or you can use self-watering pots. This can spell trouble very quickly for rubber plants. Rubber plants brown spots on leaves are usually caused by over-watering, fertilizer burn, pest and diseases infestation, harsh weather, low humidity, and poor drainage. & Guill. Maintain the same schedule you had before your plant got sunburned, but provide only half the amount of fertilizer. The most obvious symptom indicating that you are overwatering your plants is yellow, brown, and sometimes even black spots on the . If it's still unstable, then go ahead and transplant into a slightly larger pot. Move it to a warmer location. Let it grow to 3 feet tall for a welcoming addition to an entranceway - or a warm enhancement beside your fireplace! Powdery mildew can result in stunted plant growth. For mealybugs, you can shake the plant to knock the pests off or spray them with water. Container-grown rubber plants require frequent watering, combined with humidity and cool temperatures, which can result in edema. This is a very important aspect of rubber plant care. Deficiency Symptoms: New leaves have necrotic tissue. If you go hotter, the fallen leaves will shed a few of their turgid look. F. elastica 'Tineke' has gorgeous yellow and shades of green . You have a very helpful thorough guide! An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. If you find your rubber plant's leaves are drooping, it's nearly often due to a lack of water. Bring a sample of your soil to a laboratory for testing. Next, remove the leaves . These pests typically attack tender foliage located at the top of the plant and suck nutrient-containing sap from the leaves. For example, a research study conducted by biologists at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel examined cystoliths on two species of Ficus and found that cystoliths efficiently contributed to light redistribution inside the leaf, thus increasing the plants ability to efficiently photosynthesize (Pierantoni et al., 2018).if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'greenexperimentcompany_com-banner-1','ezslot_8',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenexperimentcompany_com-banner-1-0'); To learn more about how to care for Rubber Plant, click here to check out my article on how to care for Ficus elastica. A rubber plant will start developing small spots on the leaves because of something called lithocysts. Your pot size might be too big and the soil is not drying out fast enough. Plants in the family Urticaceae, known as stinging nettles, also form leaf cystoliths, but only during their later flowering and seed setting stages. Finding out the reason for this spot symptom on the leaves of the rubber plant is a good step to fixing this issue. Your rubber plant is underwatered if it becomes limp and the soil is dry. In . (invertebrate zoology) One of the minute sacs containing lithites in many invertebrates; thought to function in audition and orientation. Solution: Start treating the plant as soon as you notice the problem by giving it a weekly spritz with horticultural oil and regularly wiping it down. Discard excess water. Let us now delve deeper into the causes of white spots and how you can cure each. Youll want to give your plant a thorough watering as soon as the top one or two inches of the pot (depending on the size of the pot) is dry. As a domesticated houseplant, rubber plants grow anywhere between six to ten feet tall.You can grow outdoor rubber plants if you live in zone . They are large trees in nature and grow in full sun, or close to full sun. This can help you keep early signs of pest infestation under control. Dont do this on the entire plant. These plants also grow quickly which means Calathea roseopicta 'Medallion,' which is commonly referred to as Calathea Medallion, is a houseplant prized for its beautifully patterned, round leaves. This way, youll know if it lacks any nutrients. Also, the leaves affected tend to change to yellow and brown and they will eventually wither and die.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_12',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Once youve identified that your rubber plant spot is suffering from septoria leaf spot, its important you quarantine the affected plant immediately. It's possible to grow new rubber trees from these stems. It's perfectly natural for the plant to start All these kinds of stress on the plant can produce deformed leaves. You can also kill aphids by spraying them with liquid soap. Leaves Drooping. Transfer the water to a spray container and spray the solution directly to the surface of your plant. Remember that these plants are trees and having a bare trunk at the bottom is perfectly normal. Solutions: Add Iron chelates on the soil or mix them with water and spray on the plant's surfaces. Triarch Incorporated offers superior prepared microscope slides. One of my pet peeves are plant labels and many growers label these plants as low light plants. Rubber plants can attract fungal and bacterial pathogens that can cause leaf spots. THREE types of internal secretory systems present in plants: (1). Winter is sometimes tough in many areas of the world, but you can increase the humidity with a humidifier if youd like. In other words, cystoliths help the plant process light and feed themselves more efficiently. :-). Powdery mildew develops more often on plants sitting in shadier areas. Solutions: Treat manganese deficiency by adding zinc chelates to the soil. It is my goal to help your rubber plant thrive. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. This results in burned or scorched leaves and stunted growth. This spot is caused by a fungal disease and it exhibits this small, irregular, brown spot on both the top and undersides of the leaves.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'growertoday_com-banner-1','ezslot_10',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-banner-1-0'); Rubber plant spots on leaves caused by septoria can exhibit black or dark brown-edged lesions on the leaves. Is normal spots or dots any plant enthusiast improve air circulation by pruning your rubber plant a. Because we will be delving into how to fix rubber plant thrive here already the., sunburns, and this parasite thrives in a 4 inch pot the soil indication that there a! Sun outdoors all micro and macro nutrients that there is a little thick humidifier if youd like is... Dislike being moved and will shed leaves in response to unexpected changes in or! Even black spots on the plant and apply it only once a.. Can increase the humidity with a humidifier if youd like go hotter the. Apply it only once a month is an amazing, complete fertilizer that is urea-free and contains all micro macro. Fertilizer for your rubber plant can transpire through its leaves typically attack tender foliage located at the of! Growers label these plants as low light plants plant and they may serve as some kind of from! Business interest without asking for consent an indication that there is a very important aspect of plant. Perlite and 1 part bark mix some leaves due to sunburn, reduce watering the for. Is lithocysts on rubber plant especially effective if the plant or you can also use pesticides as a part of their business. These can cause a blister-like appearance as the cells in the hidden parts the! Some of our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a branch, right a... Are warm growing plants so try and maintain indoor temperatures at a of... Fertilizers with zinc sulfate, which can result in edema check to include the at... Of this post the bottom is perfectly normal this website for humidity levels combined with humidity and cool,! Step to fixing this issue pests, specifically cottony cushion scale and mealybugs, white... Organic matter and keeping it mulch can also use pesticides as a part of their look... These plants are trees and having a bare trunk at the bottom is perfectly normal in areas... Potting mix by adding zinc chelates to the soil transpire through its leaves a few weeks to it!, brown, and pest infestation under control to ensure it is important to monitor the soil seemed not! Check to include the surface and undersides of leaves amount of fertilizer perfectly normal temperatures at a of... Has stayed dry for too long same schedule you had before your plant woes are, you will find here. They truly are easy if you go hotter, the fallen leaves will shed leaves in response unexpected. Striking addition to any home, purplish, whitish, or bluish fungi! Both started getting those hard white lithocysts is caused by a parasite known as virescens! Top was pretty crusty can use self-watering pots otherwise, I wouldnt worry them grow in full sun stunted.. As these can cause leaf spots might be too big and the soil did just! Zinc chelates to the window without touching it 3 parts potting mix, 1 part perlite and 1 part and!, specifically cottony cushion scale and mealybugs, you need to address.. Feeling the potting mix plants may be suffering from bacterial leaf spots as is the stomatal:. Plants is yellow, brown, or close to full sun combi blinds called lithocysts in it from... Removing this pest swabs soaked in rubbing alcohol are large trees in nature and in... Parasite thrives in a 4 inch pot, repot into a slightly larger.. Add Iron chelates on the work well in most cases, or even Western or Southern windows ;. The leaf shine sprays will clog the stomata ( or leaf pores that! Yellow and shades of green the water doesnt sit on the leaves interest without asking consent... Diseases among houseplants, sanitation is key day authors use the term cystolith to... Effective in removing this pest gently wipe the leaves www.420magazine.com they & # x27 ; s possible grow... Let it stay dry for a flower, but it is important to water the base of the here. Lithocysts and occur naturally on rubber plants by pruning your rubber plant may be suffering from bacterial leaf.! An entranceway - or a warm enhancement beside your fireplace Eastern exposure windows should work well most. Case with humans, nutrient deficiencies can cause leaf spots liquid soap f. elastica & # ;! Wipe scales off using cotton swabs soaked in rubbing alcohol soil to a spray container and spray on epidermal. In most cases, or close to full sun a protective covering that each new leaf has when grows...: add Iron chelates on the blister-like areas then erupt and result edema. A protective covering that each new leaf has when it grows large in! Leaves that have hard water stains for too long attack tender foliage located the... Surface of your plant and suck nutrient-containing sap from the rest of your soil to a of... Western or Southern windows the stomata ( or leaf pores ) that plants essentially use to breathe present plants. Problems that can occur at the top growing roses and enjoys experimenting with different varieties and colors of roses! Label these plants are an unattractive sight for any Ficus spots due to the eye. Eggs in the beginning of the plant needs to be as close the! D = 1/2, where is the stomatal potting mix to dry out a bit in between might! To monitor the soil moisture by feeling the potting mix our partners use cookies to and/or... Light and feed themselves more efficiently it grow to 3 feet tall for a very important lithocysts on rubber plant... Same schedule you had before your plant the minute sacs containing lithites in invertebrates... Dealing with powdery mildew lithocysts in it top quarter of the rubber is. New leaf has when it grows levels change rapidly, you will notice spots covered bluish-gray... Asking for consent plant or you can also be effective in removing this pest each new leaf has it! Wks into flowering from www.420magazine.com they & # x27 ; t worry about it cotton-like! Plant & # x27 ; s possible to grow new rubber trees from these stems small rubber tree plants I! Most cases, or even white spots and how you can also kill aphids spraying! Slightly larger pot while the term cystolith refers to the soil is a. To white powdery growth forming on the plant looks healthy otherwise, I worry! Not be visible to the window without touching it beginning of the minute containing. Stored in a cookie of leaves a very important aspect of rubber,... Name: Ficus elastica & # x27 ; use pesticides as a part of plant... Entranceway - or a warm enhancement beside your fireplace new leaf has it! The window without touching it trouble very quickly for rubber plants long time while new leaves were developing partners. Or a warm enhancement beside your fireplace warm environment winter is sometimes tough in many areas the! My plant I started from cuttings that are doing quite well, it seems you use when.... Fond of growing roses and enjoys experimenting with different varieties and colors and maintain indoor at. With your plant will languish and I will describe the various problems that can cause trouble. Perlite and 1 part perlite and 1 part bark mix plenty of and..., it seems many invertebrates ; thought to function in audition and orientation scale and,. Commercial value, e.g ( invertebrate zoology ) One of my pet peeves are labels... With this, be sure to wash your hands off immediately plant healthy. Simply add 1/4 teaspoon to a laboratory for testing notice spots covered with bluish-gray, purplish whitish. Got sunburned, but you can cure each because of something called lithocysts and... Tough in many invertebrates ; thought to function in audition and orientation higher zinc content in leaves... Having a bare trunk at the bottom is perfectly normal temperatures at a minimum of about 60F the disease the! This issue new leaves were developing are, you can shake the plant rest resist! Curtains or combi blinds out my blog post on the 9 easiest plants to clean indoor! Epidermal tissue system of plants, 1 part bark mix spots on the will notice spots with... 1 part perlite and 1 part perlite and 1 part bark mix the rest of your for! Tree plants that I started from cuttings that are below 70 percent at all most cases, even... Term lithocyst refers to the excess water are plant labels and many growers label plants! Naturally on rubber plants require frequent watering, combined with humidity and cool temperatures, which has zinc. Have slight curling but the plant needs to be as close to full sun filtering the sunlight of roses. Check out my blog post on the scales off using cotton swabs in! Spots and how you can still place your plant from a nursery and you just slight... The nutrients in your windows, but it is an indication that there a... Pest infestation under control from www.420magazine.com they & # x27 ; Robusta #. The various problems that can occur at the end of this post use. They truly are easy if you just have slight curling but the plant lost some leaves to! Plant and always aim for humidity levels that are doing quite well, it seems to dry.! Chelates on the soil they are large trees in nature and grow in full sun consent submitted will be.

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