The Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) naturally grows with a single, straight stem due to strong apical dominance. The topmost bud (apical meristem) produces the hormone auxin, which travels downward and suppresses the growth of lateral buds below it. To achieve a fuller, tree-like shape with multiple branches, this natural tendency must be countered through physical intervention and optimal growing conditions.
The Essential Pruning Technique
The most reliable method for inducing branching involves removing the apical meristem, commonly called topping or pruning. This immediately stops the flow of growth-suppressing auxin from the top, redirecting the plant’s energy to the dormant buds lower on the stem. Before making any cut, sterilize your pruning shears or knife thoroughly using rubbing alcohol or a bleach solution to prevent introducing disease. The cut should be made across the stem at the desired height, specifically just above a leaf node or a leaf scar.
Pruning above a node ensures the cut does not damage the dormant bud housed there, which is the site from which new growth will emerge. A milky white sap, known as latex, will likely ooze from the wound and should be wiped away, as it can be an irritant. Within several weeks to a month, the dormant buds nearest the cut will activate and begin to develop into new lateral branches.
Encouraging Branching Without Topping
An alternative technique, known as notching, stimulates branching along the trunk without sacrificing the plant’s height. Notching involves making a small, shallow cut into the stem just above a dormant node where a branch is desired. This physical cut creates a temporary interruption in the downward path of the growth-suppressing auxin hormone.
The incision must be made just above the node to block the hormone flow, signaling the dormant bud to wake up. The cut should penetrate about one-third of the way into the stem’s diameter. Notching is a precise tool for shaping, allowing the owner to choose exactly where new branches will emerge on the trunk.
Optimal Conditions for Successful New Growth
The intervention should be timed to coincide with the plant’s active growing season, typically late spring or early summer. Performing any cutting during this period ensures the plant has the energy reserves and optimal conditions to heal and produce new growth. The success of new branch development depends heavily on the light intensity the plant receives immediately following the intervention.
New branches require significant energy, so providing bright, indirect light is necessary to ensure the new growth develops strongly. If the light is insufficient, the new shoots may become weak and elongated (etiolation). Consistent watering is also required, allowing the topsoil to dry slightly between thorough waterings. Applying a balanced fertilizer monthly throughout the growing season provides the necessary nutrients to fuel the formation of multiple new branches.