The Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) is a popular houseplant known for its large leaves and tree-like structure. Many owners find their plant grows exclusively upward, resulting in a tall, single-stemmed specimen. To encourage lateral growth and transform the trunk into a bushier, fuller canopy, intervention is required to redirect the plant’s energy and force the development of new shoots.
Understanding Apical Dominance
The Fiddle Leaf Fig’s tendency to grow straight up is due to apical dominance. The growing tip, known as the apical meristem, produces the hormone auxin. This hormone travels downward, actively suppressing the growth of undeveloped side buds located at the nodes along the trunk. These dormant buds are held in check by this growth-inhibiting signal. Because the plant prioritizes vertical growth to compete for sunlight, a physical disruption of this hormonal pathway is necessary to stimulate branching.
Method 1: Topping the Main Stem
The most reliable method for creating a bushier plant is topping, which involves completely removing the main growth tip. This technique immediately eliminates the primary source of the growth-suppressing auxin hormone. First, sterilize your cutting tool, such as sharp pruning shears or a knife, to prevent introducing pathogens. The cut should be made across the main stem in the internodal space just above a leaf node where new branches are desired.
Removing the top section forces the plant to redistribute energy to the suppressed buds lower down the stem. The interruption of auxin signals the dormant buds closest to the new cut to activate and begin growing. While this procedure sacrifices the plant’s current height, it guarantees a high success rate for developing multiple new branches directly below the cut site. The removed section can often be propagated to start a new plant.
Method 2: Notching to Activate Dormant Buds
Notching is an alternative, less invasive method that allows for targeted branching without reducing the plant’s height. It involves making a small, precise cut into the trunk just above a node where a new branch is desired. This procedure creates a physical barrier that interrupts the downward flow of auxin at that localized point. This disruption prevents the hormone from suppressing the dormant bud immediately below the incision, encouraging it to sprout.
Using a sharp, sterile blade, make a shallow cut approximately one-quarter to one-third of the way through the stem’s diameter. The incision can be a simple horizontal line or a small, angled wedge. Milky sap emerging indicates the cut has successfully penetrated the vascular system, which is necessary to block the hormone’s path. This technique is most successful when performed on a mature, woody section of the stem.
Essential Care for Successful Branch Development
Following intervention, the plant needs optimal environmental conditions to fuel new branch growth. The activation of dormant buds requires significantly more energy than routine maintenance. The plant should be moved to the brightest location possible, ideally receiving several hours of bright, indirect light daily. High light exposure maximizes photosynthesis, generating the necessary energy for a growth spurt.
Consistent access to nutrients is important to support the rapid formation of new stems and leaves. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every two to four weeks during the active growing season. Maintaining a steady watering routine is necessary to prevent stress that could stall new growth. Allow the soil to dry out in the top two to three inches between waterings, avoiding both drought and prolonged sogginess.