Cutting the top of the fiddle leaf fig will keep it short and encourage side branches to grow, creating a more compact look. Pruning it heavily on one side helps give a balanced look if the fiddle leaf fig is lopsided.
Can you trim the top off a fiddle leaf fig?
Plants look best when their top leaves are at least 8 to 10 inches below the ceiling, so you will want to remove any growth above that height. By pruning your plant to keep it from getting too tall, you’ll create a stronger and more compact plant.
Can I cut the top off my fig tree?
Yes, you can over prune a fig tree but they are quite resilient so shouldn’t suffer too greatly from a more aggressive pruning so long as you do so in the dormant period. Avoid pruning more than 25 per cent of the over all tree in a single year to keep it healthy.
How much can I cut off my fiddle leaf fig?
Just take care not to prune more than 10 percent of the fiddle-leaf fig at any given time. To prune lateral branches, make a cut just above the branch collar. If you cut too close to the trunk, you risk wounding the tissue in the branch collar, and a wounded collar can allow disease pathogens to get into the trunk.
Can you top a fiddle leaf plant?
Plants like the Fiddle Leaf Fig can grow to be quite top-heavy, oftentimes growing unevenly (especially if you’re not regularly rotating it). If this is the case for your Fiddle, our Plant Doctors recommend staking the plant as a temporary solution to help it grow stronger roots and stand up straight.
What happens when you top a fig tree?
Crown reduction pruning allows you to remove the topmost branches from the tree without harming the remaining branch systems; this process will also prevent the fig tree from growing too tall into surrounding power lines and telephone wires.
How do fiddle leaf figs get big leaves?
7 Steps to Make Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Grow Bigger, Faster!
- STEP 1: OPTIMIZE THE POT SIZE.
- STEP 2: ENSURE EXCELLENT DRAINAGE.
- STEP 3: FULL, REGULAR WATERING.
- STEP 4: CHECK FOR GOOD SOIL AERATION.
- STEP 5: DO AN ANNUAL SOIL TREATMENT.
- STEP 6: FERTILIZE LESS, MORE OFTEN.
- STEP 7: GIVE IT LIGHT!
How often do fiddle leaf figs grow new leaves?
every four to six weeks
Healthy Fiddles usually grow new leaves every four to six weeks during spring and summer. Growth tends to be in spurts, and it’s possible to see your plant grow several new leaves in a matter of just a few days or weeks! In the winter, it’s normal not to have any new growth.
How often should you water fiddle leaf fig?
The number one way to kill a fiddle leaf fig is to overwater it or not allow for proper drainage. Water your plant about once a week or every 10 days. As we mentioned earlier, FLFs are native to a rainforest-like environment, which means they’re used to receiving a huge deluge of water with dry spells in between.
What happens when you pinch a fiddle leaf fig?
If you’re lucky, notching fiddle leaf fig tress will encourage the plant to direct energy and resources to the dormant leaf buds in that spot, which will result in the growth of a new branch about 30-50% of the time. (Yup, this isn’t a sure thing—but few things with gardening are!)
Why is my fiddle leaf fig tall and skinny?
If your fiddle leaf fig is too tall and skinny, it might be leaning over and become unstable. What is this? Finally, if the branch is bent at an angle (this plant grows towards the window) it could be touching the wall with no room to grow.
How do you thicken a fiddle leaf fig?
How do I make my fiddle leaf fig grow thicker?
- Prune your fiddle leaf fig regularly.
- Repot your fiddle leaf fig tree every few years.
- Give your fiddle leaf fig plenty of water.
- Fertilize your fiddle leaf fig tree regularly.
- Give your fiddle leaf fig tree enough sun.
- Occasionally dust or mist your fiddle leaf fig leaves.
Will fiddle leaf fig leaves grow back?
Fiddle Leaf Figs do not regrow lost leaves the way the Rubber Plants can. So keeping them healthy is super important because once the leaf is gone, it’s gone.
Should I shake my fiddle leaf fig?
“Fiddle Leaf Figs in particular, can grow quite weak and do not support themselves very well as the lack of wind indoors means that they do not strengthen over time. It is always a good idea to give them a good shake from time to time,” Richard said.
How do I make my fiddle leaf fig shiny?
Keep your tree away from vents, space heaters, and drafts, and provide a humidifier or pebble tray to provide some extra humidity, especially if you live in a dry climate. Give your tree a shower every once in a while and make sure to mist your new leaf buds so they can grow out healthy, green, and shiny!
What is notching in pruning?
Notching: The removal of a wedge-shaped bark piece from above the bud to make a notch is called notching. 6. Nicking: The removal of a wedge-shaped bark piece from below the bud to make a notch is called nicking.
Should I take the bottom leaves off my fiddle leaf fig?
Removing them denies you one of the plant’s early alert systems. Remember, those lower leaves are HELPING that tree to become a tree-shape and should be left until the very last step of the shaping process.
Can you propagate a fiddle leaf fig from a single leaf?
Another propagation method popular for fiddle leaf figs is putting a cutting or single leaf in water. Lots of people have great success with this method, and it’s fun because you can see the rooting progress instead of having to wait to see growth or tug on the cutting.
How do you prune a fig tree to make it smaller?
During dormancy, consider cutting back your mature tree’s fruiting branches to one-third or even one-fourth of their normal size. This will help keep the tree smaller and sturdier, preventing large branches from breaking off and making harvesting easier as well.
Why are my fiddle leaf fig leaves droopy?
When fiddle leaf figs droop, it’s usually indicative of a deficit of some sort, such as lack of water, sunlight, or humidity. Fiddle leaf figs may also turn limp if they’re overwatered, overfertilized, suffering from chemical burn, or distressed by a change in environment.
How long do fiddle leaf figs live?
25-50 years
The ficus lyrata, or fiddle leaf fig, is a tropical tree native to the West African lowland rainforests. It can live for up to 25-50 years (if cared for properly in non-tropical conditions).