Ficus Audrey, botanically known as Ficus benghalensis, has become a favored houseplant due to its striking appearance, featuring large, glossy, dark green leaves and a sturdy trunk. It is often considered a more forgiving alternative to its close relative, the Fiddle Leaf Fig. Regular pruning is a beneficial practice for this plant, as it helps maintain its health, guide its shape, and encourage a more robust and vibrant growth habit.
Why and When to Prune Ficus Audrey
Pruning promotes bushier growth and a fuller canopy by stimulating the development of new branches. This practice helps manage the plant’s size and shape, which is particularly useful as it can grow quite tall indoors, potentially reaching up to 10 feet. Removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches is also important, as this prevents the spread of potential problems and directs the plant’s energy towards healthy development. Thinning out dense areas of foliage improves air circulation, deterring common houseplant pests and fungal issues.
Significant pruning is best done during the plant’s active growth period, typically in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges, or extending into spring and early summer. This timing allows the Ficus Audrey to recover more quickly from the pruning cuts, as its metabolism is high. Minor maintenance, such as snipping off yellowing or dried leaves, can be performed throughout the year. Pruning becomes necessary if the plant exhibits leggy growth, has overcrowded branches, or starts losing its desired form.
Preparing for Pruning
Before you begin pruning your Ficus Audrey, you will need sharp bypass pruners or a sharp pair of scissors to make clean, precise cuts. Sterilizing your tools both before and after use is a necessary precaution to prevent the potential spread of plant diseases by wiping the blades with rubbing alcohol.
Take safety measures during the pruning process. Ficus Audrey produces a sticky, latex-like sap that can stain furniture and irritate skin. Wearing gloves can protect your hands from this sap. Spreading newspaper or a tarp around the plant will protect your flooring and surrounding surfaces from any dripping sap.
How to Prune Ficus Audrey Effectively
When pruning your Ficus Audrey, consistently make clean cuts with your sharp, sterilized tools to minimize stress on the plant. Position your cut just above a leaf node, which is the small bump on the stem where a leaf or branch originates, or where a branch joins a larger stem. A 45-degree angle cut is often recommended for optimal plant healing. Taking a moment to visualize and plan your cuts before making them can help you achieve the desired overall shape for your plant.
Begin by addressing the plant’s health, systematically identifying and removing any branches that appear dead, damaged, or diseased. These should be cut back to their point of origin or to a healthy section of the branch. This essential step redirects the plant’s energy towards supporting vigorous, healthy growth. For shaping and controlling the plant’s size, you can employ heading cuts by snipping the tips of branches. This technique encourages the development of new growth from the cut area, resulting in a denser and more bushy canopy.
If your aim is to create a more open or tree-like structure, thinning cuts are appropriate, involving the removal of entire branches back to the main stem or a larger branch. Additionally, trim any branches that are crossing over each other or growing inwards, as this improves internal air circulation and helps maintain an open, balanced form.
Addressing leggy growth, characterized by long, sparse stems, involves pruning these back to promote a more compact and full appearance. Cut these elongated stems to your preferred height, ensuring that a few leaves or nodes remain on the stem. This encourages new shoots to emerge from those nodes, effectively filling out the plant’s structure. Regularly rotating your Ficus Audrey also contributes to even growth and prevents it from becoming lopsided as it reaches for light, thereby reducing the tendency for leggy development.
Aftercare and Common Mistakes
Following pruning, your Ficus Audrey may undergo a brief period of adjustment, sometimes manifesting as temporary leaf drop. This is a normal and expected response to the stress of pruning. Continue with your regular watering routine, allowing the top 1 to 2 inches of soil to dry out completely before the next watering. Ensure the plant receives bright, indirect light during this recovery phase. It is advisable to delay applying fertilizer immediately after pruning; instead, wait until you observe clear signs of new growth emerging, as fertilizing a stressed plant can be counterproductive.
Several common mistakes can hinder your Ficus Audrey’s recovery or overall health:
Over-pruning, especially removing more than 10% to 30% of the plant’s foliage at once, can induce shock and significantly delay recovery.
Using dull tools can damage stems, leaving ragged cuts that are more vulnerable to disease.
Failing to sterilize your pruning equipment risks introducing pathogens to the plant.
Pruning heavily during the plant’s dormant period can also place undue stress on its system.
Neglecting to promptly clean up the sticky sap can result in damage to your household furnishings.