How To Prune Fiddle Leaf Fig

The fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is a beautiful and popular houseplant that people love for its big, shiny leaves. The tropical plant also grows quickly and can get as tall as 10 feet inside. Your fiddle-leaf fig tree needs to be pruned every so often to stay happy, healthy, and strong.

When to Prune Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig

The fiddle-leaf fig isn’t hard to take care of, but it needs to be pruned often to stay healthy. It will also grow thicker and bushier if you prune it.

Spring or summer are the best times to prune your fiddle-leaf fig plant because the plant is already making new leaves and shoots and there is lots of light to help it grow.

Tools for Pruning a Fiddle Leaf Fig

Getting the right tools is important before you prune your fiddle leaf fig so that the process goes smoothly. Here are some tools you’ll need:

• Shears that are very sharp for making clean cuts
• Wipe the cut areas with a clean towel or rag.
• Gloves (not required) to protect your hands from the milky white sap that is slightly poisonous
• Using rubbing alcohol to clean
• Keeping your tools clean and sharp keeps the plant from getting stressed out and stops diseases from spreading.

Instructions

Examine Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig

Take a step back and look at your fiddle-leaf fig plant before you get your pruning tools. For example, look for brown spots, leaves that are turning yellow, or leaves that are turning red. You should cut these off so the plant can put its energy into the healthy leaves.

Check to see how tall your fiddle-leaf fig is. There should be at least 8 to 10 inches of space between the plant’s top and the roof. If there isn’t, you’ll need to cut off some of the plant’s top.

Cut Away Damaged Leaves

Cut off the damaged leaves at the base of the linking stem with clean pruning shears. Be careful not to cut into the main stem.

Take off no more than 10 leaves at a time from your fiddle-leaf fig. The plant might go into shock, which would stop it from growing new leaves.

Choose an Upper Section Spot to Trim

Cutting off the top of the main stem will help your fiddle-leaf fig get larger. This will make new growth appear below the cut, which will help it grow bushier.

You need to find the internode, which is the space between nodes, once you know where you want to cut. A node is a spot from which stems, buds, or leaves grow.

Make Your Cut to the Main Stem

When you’re ready to cut, make a clean cut just above the top of the node with your clean, sharp trimming shears.

After cutting off a piece of the plant, you can use that piece to grow a new fiddle-leaf fig plant.

Apply water to new cuts.

The roots of your fiddle-leaf fig may start to drip a milky, white sap after you cut them. The sap from this tree is slightly poisonous and can hurt your skin if it gets on it. Watch out not to get the sap on your skin. (If you want to, you can wear gloves for this step.)

To help the plant heal, dab the cuts softly with a clean rag or towel that has been wet with water.

Nourish Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig

Put your fiddle-leaf fig somewhere it will get a lot of indirect sunshine once you are done pruning it. Always check the soil’s level of wetness to make sure it has enough nutrients for new growth.

A few weeks from now, you should see new shoots and leaves start to grow.

Benefits of Pruning a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

A big part of taking care of your fiddle leaf fig is pruning it. It is a process that changes things and has many rewards. You can keep the plant’s shape and promote strong growth and general health by cutting off any unwanted branches or leaves that are damaged. Some important benefits of trimming are:

• Promoting new growth: When you prune a plant, it redirects its energy to growing new shoots and leaves, which gives it a full, healthy look.
• Shaping the tree: If you prune the fiddle leaf fig regularly, you can shape it into a shape that looks good, which will make it look better in your home.
• Improving air flow: Pruning back crowded Ficus Lyrata makes it easier for air to flow, which lowers the risk of pests and diseases.
• Keeping the environment healthy and avoiding bug and disease problems: removing dead or diseased leaves helps keep the environment healthier and avoiding possible infestations.

Fiddle Leaf Fig: Care Tips After Pruning

When you prune your fiddle leaf fig, it’s important to give it the right care so it can heal and stay healthy. Here are some important care tips:

• Watering: After trimming, change how often you water the plant to meet its specific needs. If you want the fiddle leaf fig to heal, make sure the soil stays moist but not soaked.
• Feeding and fertilizing: Use a balanced fertilizer to help your fiddle leaf fig get better. This helps restore important nutrients and makes new growth possible.
• Keeping new cuts from getting sick: Use a small layer of wax or a plant-safe solution to protect the cuts. This keeps you from getting infections and speeds up the healing process.
• Light exposure: Make sure there is enough light. Even though your fiddle leaf fig might do better in indirect sunshine, keep it out of harsh direct sunlight right after you prune it to keep it from getting stressed.

Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Recover?

Fiddle leaf figs can get better with the right care, even though they are fickle and not very easy to handle plants. Enough watering, feeding, protecting new cuts, and keeping the plant in the right amount of light all help it heal and grow again. During this time, keep a close eye on your fiddle leaf fig and give it the care it needs as it gets stronger.

FAQ

Where is the best place to cut a fiddle-leaf fig?

When you prune your fiddle-leaf fig plant, the best place to cut is between two nodes, which are points on the stem or branch. A node is a spot from which stems, buds, or leaves grow.2

Can I cut the top off my fiddle-leaf fig?

You can remove the fiddle-leaf fig’s stem. In fact, doing so will promote strong new growth that will make the plant larger and bushier.

Where do you cut fiddle-leaf figs for new growth?

Cutting your fiddle-leaf fig plant at the top of the main stem is the best way to get it to grow bushier new branches.

Conclusion

A big part of taking care of a fiddle leaf fig is pruning, which gets rid of dead or broken leaves, makes the tree shapelier, and keeps it from getting too crowded. Plus, it helps a tall plant grow new leaves. To prune a fiddle leaf fig tree, you must use clean, sharp trimming shears and the right method to cut off any leaves that are dead, damaged, or turning brown.

Make sure to give your plant the right care afterward, and keep the fresh cuts safe so they can heal quickly. You’ll have a beautiful, healthy, and lively plant this way. To go with your fiddle leaf fig, you could get some snake plants, the lucky money tree plant, or the beautiful peace lily. These plants will work well together to make a peaceful indoor green place.