The Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) is a sought-after indoor plant known for its large, violin-shaped leaves. Native to the rainforests of western Africa, this species is naturally programmed for rapid, upward growth. Indoors, this aggressive vertical habit often causes the plant to quickly outgrow its space, resulting in a tall, bare stem with leaves only at the top. Managing the fig’s height is necessary to encourage a bushier, healthier structure and promote the desirable, tree-like branching pattern.
Cutting Back the Main Stem
The most direct method for reducing excessive height is to “top” the main vertical stem by removing the apical meristem, or the terminal growth point. This technique immediately halts all upward growth from that trunk. It is best performed during the plant’s active growing season, typically spring or summer, using sharp, sterilized pruning shears to ensure a clean incision and prevent pathogens.
Identify the desired height and make the cut just above a leaf node—the raised ring where a leaf connects to the stem. The cut should be made in the internode space, leaving the node intact to activate the dormant buds located there. When performing a significant cut, leave at least one-third of the plant’s total foliage to support photosynthesis and recovery. Removing the terminal bud disrupts the downward flow of the growth-suppressing hormone auxin, which causes apical dominance. This hormonal change redirects energy to the dormant buds nearest the cut, often causing two new lateral branches to emerge.
Encouraging Lateral Branching Through Notching
Once the overall height is controlled, you can encourage new branches lower on the trunk to create a fuller, bushier appearance. This is achieved through notching, a technique that allows you to shape the plant without sacrificing height. Notching works by selectively disrupting the auxin flow to a dormant bud, forcing it to activate and grow into a side branch.
To notch, use a clean, sharp blade to make a shallow cut, approximately one-third of the way into the stem’s diameter, just above a visible leaf node. The cut creates a temporary roadblock, preventing the growth-inhibiting auxin from reaching the bud directly beneath the incision. This interruption signals the dormant bud to wake up and begin lateral growth. Notching is a precise, less traumatic method than pruning, utilized specifically to fill in bare spots along the trunk.
Utilizing the Pruned Sections for New Plants
The healthy stem sections removed during the topping process can be repurposed to create entirely new plants through propagation. This turns a reduction in size into an expansion of your collection. Prepare the cutting by ensuring it is six to eight inches long and contains at least two to three leaf nodes.
Remove all but the top two or three leaves from the cutting to reduce moisture loss and prevent the lower leaves from rotting when submerged. Propagation can be successful in either water or soil, but both methods require warm temperatures and bright, indirect light.
Water Rooting
For water rooting, place the cutting in a glass of clean water, ensuring at least one node is submerged. Change the water every few days to maintain oxygen levels. Once roots are one to two inches long, the cutting can be safely transplanted into soil.
Soil Rooting
For soil rooting, dip the cut end in rooting hormone and plant it in a well-draining mix. Cover the pot and cutting with a clear plastic bag to create the high-humidity environment necessary for root development.
Environmental Factors That Influence Vertical Growth
Understanding the factors that drive vertical growth is useful for maintaining your fig’s desired height and preventing the problem from recurring. The largest influence on a fig’s vertical stretch is light availability. When placed in a low-light environment, the plant engages in a process called etiolation, growing weak, elongated stems as it stretches to find a brighter light source.
Providing bright, filtered light throughout the day encourages a compact, stronger growth habit with larger, healthier leaves. The size of the container and the composition of the fertilizer also affect the growth rate. While root restriction from a smaller pot can help moderate overall size, fertilizer high in nitrogen promotes vigorous vegetative growth, resulting in taller stems and more foliage. Adjusting your feeding schedule to use a more balanced fertilizer during the growing season helps control the speed of vertical growth.