That ehow info seems okay, they are guidelines, of what to expect.
I use Perlite, but it does not bother my plants, in good quatities added to the soil it does help prevent compaction.
All the suggestions given to you on the Dracaena are sound and applicable..so my original suggestion stands, wait a little more as Spring continues to set in.
The plants we love do test our patience eh
Oh I think those in the Tropicals forum will have more input regarding rubber plants. I have seen rubber plant trees in the Philippines and they love the high humidity and rainfall a lot. And our rainfalls there are quite heavy moonsoon rains. I remember too, my mother- in- law had one in a container at the patio area, its root system is aggressive, was able to escape from the top of its container and found its way through the drainage. No wonder it was growing happily
Growing happily it also grows tall quite fast.
