It’s a good idea to spread out a few sheets of newspaper around your plant before you begin so that it will protect the flooring from any falling debris and the milky latex sap that will unavoidably leak out.
Keep the poisonous latex away from your skin and out of children’s and animals’ reach. It is advised that you wear long sleeves and gloves.
Additionally, it’s crucial to use a fresh, well-kept pair of pruners. Clean them with soap and hot water if you aren’t sure if you cleaned them after the last time you used them. Prior to usage, properly dry them.
Working with the main trunk or stem is how you prune a plant that has grown too tall. This branch can be the only one the tree has, depending on how your plant is shaped.
Find the area of the branch you wish to trim before making a cut. After that, lean in close to inspect the trunk. An internodal space, or a location on the trunk that is between two nodes, is what you’re looking for.
Nodes, which grow into leaves or branches, are merely slightly elevated rings in the bark of an F. lyrata tree.
Make a diagonal cut directly between the two nodes, and then use a damp cloth to clean away the sap. Expect to observe fresh lateral branches emerging from the node immediately beneath your cut within a few weeks.
It is well known that F. lyrata reaches for the light. If you want to prevent having a lopsided plant, be careful to rotate the planter every few days. Unfortunately, we occasionally forget to do this and our plants end up excessively leaning to one side.
Or perhaps you need to remove some lateral branches because the foliage is too dense.
You may encourage greater airflow between those lovely, gigantic leaves by cutting back on a few branches, which will help you prevent insect and disease problems.
Make sure, however, that you never remove more than 10% of the fiddle-leaf fig at one time.
Cutting too closely to the trunk increases the chance of injuring the branch collar’s tissue, which could then allow disease germs to enter the trunk.
If the branch is cut too close, it may remain attached and rot, possibly leading to the degradation of the branch collar and opening the door for infection.
Simply clip them off at the base with your pruners if you only need to remove a few sick or dead leaves from your plant here and there.
What part of the fiddle leaf fig do I cut?
Your fiddle leaf fig probably has no other branches that will allow it to transition from a fiddle leaf shrub to a fiddle leaf tree. In addition, bear the following in mind before proceeding:
The amount of regrowth that results from pruning depends on how severe it was. The reason for this is that the plant is trying to grow again in an effort to balance the root system below with the shoot system above, which is now designed to support the plant at its bigger size before trimming.
Usually, the most active shoot growth takes place 6 to 8 inches after the pruning cut.
Make the cut on your fiddle leaf fig
Make a decision regarding the size of the Ficus lyrata cut. Once more, the branching will be more noticeable the longer a part is clipped. (And the less the plant will grow in height, at least for that shoot.)
Your fiddle leaf fig won’t be encouraged to generate as many lateral branches off of the main trunk if you simply pinch out the fresh buds at the top with your fingers.
If you want to encourage a little lateral development to make your plant appear fuller near the top, pinching is more helpful.
On the other hand, you’ll see a lot more branching if you remove 12 of the top shoots.
Choose the node that you want to cut above. The spots on stems known as nodes are where leaves, buds, or branches can grow. However, not every node has leaves or branches; some nodes may only have a mark and a little thickening of the stem. Internodes are the parts of the stem that lie between the nodes.
3. Make use of a clean pair of pruners. Just above the top of your node, make the cut. Cut just above the node rather than into it, which would harm it.
Any plant in the fig family, including your fiddle leaf fig, will exude an oozing, milky, white sap when cut. Simply avoid eating it, getting it in your eyes, or letting it land on the carpet because it can be annoying.
4. As a final piece of advice, wait to remove leaves from the trunk of your fiddle leaf until the new branches have begun to grow. Your plant should be as robust as possible because those leaves aid in the development of the new lateral buds.
(Are you wondering what to do with the plant pieces you pruned? Why not cultivate a second fiddle leaf fig?
I’m done now! Now, give your new lateral buds, which will eventually grow into branches, a few weeks. While the exact length of time varies on a number of variables, your chances of success are higher if you attempt this in the spring, when fiddle leaves are actively growing, as opposed to the winter, when they are largely dormant. In comparison to winter, when the plant will need more time to heal the cut and form new buds, springtime will see rapid new development.
Do I need to remove my fiddle leaf fig?
Fiddle-leaf figs are technically trees, as are many other varieties of trees.
F. lyrata plants can benefit from trimming and pruning to remain healthy.
You may maintain this notoriously picky houseplant by removing dead or damaged leaves and branches or cutting to improve airflow between the foliage.
It won’t be hostile toward you, your home, or the entire globe, at least. Fiddle-leaf figs may have a cute name, but I’d argue they’re some of the plants with the most strong opinions.
You may prevent your fig from outgrowing your house by pruning. Under optimal indoor growing conditions, F. lyrata can reach heights of 12 feet. Additionally, F. lyrata can reach heights of up to 50 feet in its native habitat, the lowland rainforests of western Africa!
It won’t do this in your house, but until it reaches its adult height, it can grow up to two feet per year. Pruning is a necessary if you don’t want your ficus to overshadow, well, everything.
If you don’t want to maintain a large tree within your home, you can alternatively cultivate a dwarf type of the plant. But nothing is more breathtaking than a tall, healthy F. lyrata adding to the decor of a chic residence.
Shape is another factor to take into account. Although fiddle-leaf figs are frequently sold as small, bushy or columnar houseplants with a single central stem, many gardeners like growing their own fiddle-leaf figs so that they take on the form of a tree.
We’ll get into all of that shortly. Let’s start by discussing when and how to prune your prized F. lyrata.
A fiddle leaf fig can I split in half?
Similar to sculpting a masterpiece, shaping your fiddle leaf fig requires that you start with an idea of what you want the finished product to look like.
To ensure that the remaining foliage looks balanced, I find it helpful to label all the branches you want to remove with colorful tape or a Post-it Note before you begin. To lessen the risk of shock, start out gently and never remove more than 10% of your plant at once.
Decide on Your Ideal Shape
Fiddle leaf fig plants often have one of two shapes: a bush or a tree.
Smaller plants are typically bushier, whereas larger plants are typically more fashioned like trees. You might want to start shaping your little plant into a tree as it grows. Choose whether you want to prune your plant to maintain its compact bush shape or to give it a correct tree shape.
Plan to Remove Damaged Leaves or Branches
So that you can arrange to eliminate the least healthy parts of your plant first, evaluate the general health of each branch and group of leaves. Mark any sections that need to be removed if there are any leaves with brown spots or branches with smaller leaf growth.
Remove Crossing Branches
To increase airflow and relieve crowding, you should eliminate some portions of densely populated branches. You should take care of any branches that touch each other as well as any leaves that are preventing one another’s leaves from growing.
Create Your Ideal Shape
Any growth that is 8 to 10 inches or less from the ceiling, the surrounding walls, or the furniture should be planned for removal. Next, cut off any growth that does not conform to your ideal shape.
Remove lower leaves and branches to reveal a good trunk if you want to create a tree-like shape. Remove gangly or ugly growth if your plant is out of balance to give it a more appealing overall form.
How to Make Your Cuts
Pruning should begin once you’ve marked the sections you want to cut out and made sure you like the way the tree looks in its finished form. When pruning your plant, make sure the cutting motion does not crush or harm the stem by using a sharp, clean tool.
Cut each one away from the trunk or any leaves by about a half-inch. With no chance of infection spreading to the main trunk or any surviving leaves, this enables your plant to heal properly. In order to prevent the spread of bacteria and diseases, pick up and dispose of any falling leaves or garbage.
New Growth After Pruning
If your plant is healthy, it will typically divide the branch where it was pruned, producing two branches where one once was.
Eventually, this creates the impression of a fuller, healthier plant. Your plant might only continue to develop one branch where it was clipped if it is in pain or isn’t getting enough light. After pruning, allow access to lots of light to promote more development.
Fertilize After Pruning
Fertilize your plant frequently after pruning to promote new growth and aid in the plant’s recovery from the shock of pruning. (Are you unsure of the ideal fertilizer for your fiddle leaf fig? Test out our plant food! Within a few weeks to a month after pruning your plant, you ought to notice new growth.
Can I chop my fig tree’s top off?
Yes, you can overprune a fig tree, but since they are extremely hardy, as long as you do it during the dormant season, they shouldn’t suffer too much. To maintain the tree healthy, don’t prune more than 25% of the tree overall in a single year.
A tree will produce fewer figs the following year if too much of this year’s growth is removed since figs develop on this year’s growth.
How are figs cut?
Though summer is slowly drawing to an end, on the plus side, the juiciest, sweetest figs are available in late summer. Today I’ll share with you some advice on how to peel and cook fresh figs as well as some mouthwatering, nutritious recipes that the whole family will enjoy.
Three fig trees can be found in the large garden of my in-laws’ home in Sardinia, Italy. Every morning when he wakes up, my kid goes with nonno to the fig trees to select the ripest fruit. He has literally become an expert on figs over night, explaining in great detail how to distinguish between figs that are fully ripe, those that are approaching ripeness, and those that are not suitable for picking, not to mention providing clear instructions on how to pick them directly from the tree.
Despite their diminutive size, figs are a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, calcium, manganese, iron, and potassium. They are also really adaptable; they create highly original savory appetizers, such as prosciutto-wrapped breadsticks or cheese board additions, or they offer a vibrant touch to desserts like tarts and muffins.
Growing your own fig trees has the benefit that you can consume them skin and all straight from the tree. Fresh figs can be consumed with the skin on, but some recipes, like those for jam, call for peeling them to create a smoother texture. While fresh figs can occasionally be hard to acquire and can get rather expensive when out of season, dried figs are widely available in grocery shops. Since the skins can still contain pesticides when I buy them in Canada, I prefer to peel them. Even though I adore using fresh figs in dishes, eating them straight off the tree is still my preferred method of consumption. For texture, we occasionally sprinkle them with raw, local honey or top them with chopped almonds or pistachios.
Avoid buying unripe figs since they do not ripen after being plucked. On the other hand, fresh figs are difficult to peel when they are fully ripe because they become extremely soft and exude a nectar that resembles honey from the blossom side. Always select figs with unbroken skins that are plump, supple, and vividly colored. They need to smell pleasant and yield only little when you press firmly with your fingers.
Figs have a relatively short shelf life, so store them properly. They can only be stored after harvest for a few days at most. For a maximum of three days, keep them in the refrigerator in a shallow Tupperware container with a paper towel-lined bottom and a loosely-wrapped plastic top.
Peeling advice: Cut or twist off the stem, then cut (make a “X”) the top of the fig with a sharp knife (approximately 1/3 of the way up).
Disperse the four halves. Each piece should have its skin and pulp separated by a sharp knife. Cut through each piece at a depth of about 3/4 inch.
Use your hands or a sharp knife to peel the skin until you reach the bottom side of the fig (from top to bottom). Take off and throw away the skin.
Remove all of the fig’s remaining bottom-side skin, leaving only the pulp.
Figs blend nicely and provide natural sweetness to smoothies, making them a fantastic addition. A simple and wholesome dish, this Turmeric-Spiced Fig & Banana Smoothie is great for babies and children of all ages.
How should a fig tree be pruned?
Pruning a Fig Tree: A Guide
- When your fig tree is young, prune it.
- During the first winter after planting, prune your tree once more.
- Keep pruning your tree every year after that.
- Choose a few branches to use as fruiting branches.
- Pruning shears should be clean.
- Trim the lateral branches.
- Cut off the losers.