The fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is a good looking and fashionable houseplant that individuals love for its large, shiny leaves. The tropical plant additionally grows rapidly and might get as tall as 10 ft inside. Your fiddle-leaf fig tree must be pruned sometimes to remain blissful, wholesome, and robust.
When to Prune Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig
The fiddle-leaf fig isn’t exhausting to handle, however it must be pruned typically to remain wholesome. It’s going to additionally develop thicker and bushier should you prune it.
Spring or summer time are the very best occasions to prune your fiddle-leaf fig plant as a result of the plant is already making new leaves and shoots and there’s plenty of gentle to assist it develop.
Instruments for Pruning a Fiddle Leaf Fig
Getting the proper instruments is vital earlier than you prune your fiddle leaf fig in order that the method goes easily. Listed below are some instruments you’ll want:
Shears which might be very sharp for making clear cutsWipe the reduce areas with a clear towel or rag.Gloves (not required) to guard your fingers from the milky white sap that’s barely poisonousUsing rubbing alcohol to cleanKeeping your instruments clear and sharp retains the plant from getting stressed and stops illnesses from spreading.
Directions
Study Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig
Take a step again and have a look at your fiddle-leaf fig plant earlier than you get your pruning instruments. For instance, search for brown spots, leaves which might be turning yellow, or leaves which might be turning crimson. You need to reduce these off so the plant can put its power into the wholesome leaves.
Test to see how tall your fiddle-leaf fig is. There needs to be no less than 8 to 10 inches of house between the plant’s high and the roof. If there isn’t, you’ll want to chop off a few of the plant’s high.
Lower Away Broken Leaves
Lower off the broken leaves on the base of the linking stem with clear pruning shears. Watch out to not reduce into the primary stem.
Take off not more than 10 leaves at a time out of your fiddle-leaf fig. The plant would possibly go into shock, which might cease it from rising new leaves.
Select an Higher Part Spot to Trim
Reducing off the highest of the primary stem will assist your fiddle-leaf fig get bigger. This may make new progress seem beneath the reduce, which is able to assist it develop bushier.
You want to discover the internode, which is the house between nodes, as soon as you understand the place you wish to reduce. A node is a spot from which stems, buds, or leaves develop.
Make Your Lower to the Major Stem
While you’re prepared to chop, make a clear reduce simply above the highest of the node along with your clear, sharp trimming shears.
After slicing off a bit of the plant, you need to use that piece to develop a brand new fiddle-leaf fig plant.
Apply water to new cuts.
The roots of your fiddle-leaf fig might begin to drip a milky, white sap after you chop them. The sap from this tree is barely toxic and might harm your pores and skin if it will get on it. Be careful to not get the sap in your pores and skin. (If you wish to, you’ll be able to put on gloves for this step.)
To assist the plant heal, dab the cuts softly with a clear rag or towel that has been moist with water.
Nourish Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig
Put your fiddle-leaf fig someplace it is going to get a number of oblique sunshine as soon as you might be accomplished pruning it. At all times verify the soil’s degree of wetness to verify it has sufficient vitamins for brand spanking new progress.
A number of weeks from now, it is best to see new shoots and leaves begin to develop.
Advantages of Pruning a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
A giant a part of caring for your fiddle leaf fig is pruning it. It’s a course of that modifications issues and has many rewards. You possibly can maintain the plant’s form and promote sturdy progress and normal well being by slicing off any undesirable branches or leaves which might be broken. Some vital advantages of trimming are:
Selling new progress: While you prune a plant, it redirects its power to rising new shoots and leaves, which provides it a full, wholesome look.Shaping the tree: For those who prune the fiddle leaf fig often, you’ll be able to form it right into a form that appears good, which is able to make it look higher in your house.Enhancing air circulation: Pruning again crowded Ficus Lyrata makes it simpler for air to circulation, which lowers the danger of pests and illnesses.Preserving the setting wholesome and avoiding bug and illness issues: eradicating useless or diseased leaves helps maintain the setting more healthy and avoiding attainable infestations.
Fiddle Leaf Fig: Care Suggestions After Pruning
While you prune your fiddle leaf fig, it’s vital to present it the proper care so it might heal and keep wholesome. Listed below are some vital care ideas:
Watering: After trimming, change how typically you water the plant to satisfy its particular wants. In order for you the fiddle leaf fig to heal, be sure that the soil stays moist however not soaked.Feeding and fertilizing: Use a balanced fertilizer to assist your fiddle leaf fig get higher. This helps restore vital vitamins and makes new progress attainable.Preserving new cuts from getting sick: Use a small layer of wax or a plant-safe answer to guard the cuts. This retains you from getting infections and hastens the therapeutic course of.Mild publicity: Make sure that there’s sufficient gentle. Though your fiddle leaf fig would possibly do higher in oblique sunshine, maintain it out of harsh direct daylight proper after you prune it to maintain it from getting burdened.
Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Recuperate?
Fiddle leaf figs can get higher with the proper care, despite the fact that they’re fickle and never very simple to deal with crops. Sufficient watering, feeding, defending new cuts, and retaining the plant in the correct quantity of sunshine all assist it heal and develop once more. Throughout this time, maintain a detailed eye in your fiddle leaf fig and provides it the care it wants because it will get stronger.
FAQ
The place is the very best place to chop a fiddle-leaf fig?
While you prune your fiddle-leaf fig plant, the very best place to chop is between two nodes, that are factors on the stem or department. A node is a spot from which stems, buds, or leaves develop.2
Can I reduce the highest off my fiddle-leaf fig?
You possibly can take away the fiddle-leaf fig’s stem. Actually, doing so will promote sturdy new progress that may make the plant bigger and bushier.
The place do you chop fiddle-leaf figs for brand spanking new progress?
Reducing your fiddle-leaf fig plant on the high of the primary stem is the easiest way to get it to develop bushier new branches.
Conclusion
A giant a part of caring for a fiddle leaf fig is pruning, which removes useless or damaged leaves, makes the tree shapelier, and retains it from getting too crowded. Plus, it helps a tall plant develop new leaves. To prune a fiddle leaf fig tree, you should use clear, sharp trimming shears and the proper technique to chop off any leaves which might be useless, broken, or turning brown.
Make sure that to present your plant the proper care afterward, and maintain the recent cuts protected to allow them to heal rapidly. You’ll have a good looking, wholesome, and vigorous plant this fashion. To go along with your fiddle leaf fig, you might get some snake crops, the fortunate cash tree plant, or the gorgeous peace lily. These crops will work properly collectively to make a peaceable indoor inexperienced place.
