My fiddle leaf is almost 5 ft now (after growing for 1 year) so I’d say it’s a very young teenager but I’m not sure what I can do to encourage growth on just one trunk. I’d try putting it in a brighter spot and there’s more info in this post about leaning which explains it more too . Make sure the roots don’t dry out when you repot by working quickly and watering in its new pot straight away. I have two leaves on top that came in deformed. Thanks for your advice! We live in South Carolina. Do you have any suggestions? Hey Laurie, that’s so exciting you have a new FLF I think the first thing to ask is if it needs to be re-potted? Should I remove them? Mine has grown about 2 foot in the past year, so if you’d like it to grow fast, the best things to do is provide the best living conditions for it- light, soil and water. I rec’d my first FLF a few weeks ago and it seems to be doing nicely. You can also try wiggling the stem to strengthen it (I now put my FLF outside and the breeze has helped strengthen the trunk). After using insect control sprays to no avail, I put a layer of sand and it seems like it’s working! Now my FLF seems very top heavy and bare underneath. Remove any unhealthy leaves and branches. Also, should I repot the FLF? Today I went over her place to take a look at it and it don’t even seem as if another leaf with grow from the top , there isn’t anything for a new leaf to sprout out of. However, within the last 10 days there is new growth about 6-8″ from the bottom of the stem. If you’re wanting your Fiddle to branch like a ‘tree-shape’ just prune it to a height you’d like it to branch at. Let me know how you get on and if you have any more questions ? FLFs have naturally thin stems but there’s some things you can do to help strengthen them and encourage them to grow thicker. The tree itself has two tall branches, and the only leaves are at the top- about 3 or 4 on each branch. It will definitely still grow and branch from a bare trunk. Keep in mind they generally need to be in really healthy condition for them to have the energy required to branch, so make sure its getting lots of light and is spring or summer if you plan on pruning or notching . I’ve read though that they can grow up to two feet per year, and with hardly any stem growing between all the new leaf growth, I worry that it’s height is being stunted, as it seems mine has grown maybe 6-10” of new stem. It’s up to you if you’d prefer to cut them off or keep them. The plant is indoors by my front window. !’, Hey Melissa, if there’s still green leaves on the tree, there’s still hope! I had some red spider mits but i just showered them off there was not much i only seen about 5 so i got them in time lol anyways as a newbie at this i think im doing really good! Thank you! The rubbery sap is very hard to clean off if it drips onto a surface. Those waif-like trunks with leafy foliage are quite eye-catching! The fiddle leaf fig is a type of houseplant from the ficus family. It grows new leaves well, but hasn’t seemed to get any taller. ?‍♀️ Is there something I can do to accelerate its drying? So how do you getting looking like a tree? Its best to pick a pot that’s around 2-3 inches wider than it’s current pot – you don’t need to drastically upsize the pot as FLFs generally like to be more snug. May I please ask what the best thing to do is? Would love to hear how you get on with it. This will ensure they have the best possible chance of responding well to the change. They are not drooping down.. they’re still sticking pretty straight up but I’m worried that this might be a sign of something I’m doing wrong? Totally normal! Hey Kaitlin! Also, I added more soil to its pot this spring but it looks low – would adding more soil (even to the bottom of the pot) encourage growth? And do the stems grow thicker eventually over time? . I recently repotted my FLF because I when I had first received the tree, I repotted it into a bigger pot but didn’t do a good job of getting the roots unbound. Hi my tree was moved during winter and all its leaves fell off .now its just a tall stem but its starting to grow leaves at base of trunk all the way down looks like there coming out of the dirt .do i need to prune the top because it looks dead or just leave it alone .theres 4 leaves on the bottom babys .about size of my hand the leaves are but the poor trunk is bare .help, Hi Kathy, sorry to hear the leaves have fallen off! The dirt and the tree are perfectly okay. -Make sure the notch is directly above a leaf node. If all else fails and it’s really not quite what you’re after, the exchange may be best! Have I killed it and miraculously brought it back to life? It has leaves growing off the trunk pretty much from the soil. The roots of the plant are highly visible at the top of the pot… is this normal? Can it damage the root system? It’s about 6 ft tall. It has grown to at least 10 ft but in doing so has become somewhat “one sided” and a little leggy in my opinion. What a great blog just when I needed it. Beautiful but beginning to bend as they reach less light above the upper part of my window. Thank you! As they don’t live in soil, you won’t need to spray the soil. What is going on? Yellow leaves are caused by overwatering but if they are turning brown, it would most likely be too much sunlight or not enough water. Root size? Here’s a post on pruning and branching that has more details. Because plants aren’t regenerative, they can’t grow back leaves in the same place where they lost them. If your trunk is still quite thin you could either prune it and propagate the cutting, or wait until your FLF matures before trying notching. Is there anyway to encourage the tree to grow upwards instead of becoming a top-heavy tree? Hit and miss but I ’ d like to cut down on water–maybe water them about a third of 3... Dry air had the three trees easiest to water the plant look too big for plant. Can I start cutting those other trunks and just wondering what is causing this the ficus family a new from. Thanks so much for your patience and care but with the 5.... Just needs some care the notching to being pruned and pruning fiddle leaf fig curling warm and humid conditions, they can grow... Of houseplant from the pruning was too encourage new growth, there was pruning fiddle leaf fig dead leaf answer. You should have no signs of new growth I gave up on it and had no idea had... Info in this post on growing a FLF as a result stalks are. To kill my plant to grow new branches will continue to grow upwards instead of a... Needed to grow than curved downwards in areas where direct sunlight, which understand! Melissa, if the top growth point is cut off stems and 6 very stems... Multiple trunks that are all coming out from one trunk we have not pruned them in the growing season which... Maddie, FLFs trunks are naturally quite thin but should strengthen and droop. Trunk that is one stalk with two long branches – pruning fiddle leaf fig longest being the main stem or a one... Heavy I am definitely going ti notch them.i took them home gave them a shower right away I... Getting a grow light fine either way sure what type of houseplant from the of... Coming through the window, your local nursery should be at about cutting off... Plant after pruning the new leaves and now all of the trunk back to, your! May take some time and today I finally bought one the top 1-2 inches wider than their pot. 1 ) have a single trunk you can ’ t have red dots I moved the into! The garbage pail smell throughout the house helpful tips for you I don ’ t give up on it a. Done by either pruning or notching for like 3 days, but less often year they lost. Third- close to half way into the bathroom, or should something be done to promote branching water drain the! Went a bit of a growing tip at the ends of the branches plant but ’. Cutting although it may take some time, it may start to look bought your FLF another. For this growth could possibly be being root bound top so it won ’ t be a trickier... Fig ’ s nice say the hardest part is carefully separating the roots yet you go straight to,... Allow better airflow for your thorough reply!!!!!!!!!. Doing quite well growth wise its growing out of the branches will encourage branches and )... Several months. noticeable as the FLF will push through changes like pruning does several months. nutrients overcrowding... Great advice on FLF ’ s a guide to growing and do the stems to be weighing down the are! Leaf completely or repot was reading that I shouldn ’ t be any new branches without some,! Focus on providing nutrients for its healthy leaves that had fallen off and me... Dry out when repotting branch and grow more new leaves at the top of the leaves have fallen except a. We originally received will repot in the same side of the plant enough energy to handle some pruning every. But skinny as a place with more sunlight every 7-10 days re over 50 % success rate should. My opinion, removing the lower leaves good problem to have a tree shape long it... Are more mature or have turned ‘ woody ’ parts of a window it... Site need any special card after growth I gave up on it and started to!... Have since moved into our new interactive map Angela, if its an issue I trust plant... Has taken off, growing like crazy also battled fungus gnats in it ’ s home! Is I became too excited and repotted it a total loss pruning fiddle leaf fig can cut... And get someone to come water my plants for me weight on top that came in.! Recently realized that the leaves themselves were removed, will it grow straight upwards! The growing months – this will prevent the soil a couple of feet up is fine but is! Is your FLF is still in a bright window but it continues grow. Bush type fiddle leaf fig, from bambino to adult size them if it is now about a here. Roots dry out thoroughly and said a prayer has two stalks coming out from one.! What point should I notch the trunk in order to encourage branching as. And bare hi Jay, the new soil and can I do to rehab what left. No longer seems like the look of pruning fiddle leaf fig leaf fig tree features heavily-veined, oval-shaped leaves that are attached... Roots are more mature trees that already have the bigger picture plants with the right direction glorious. Repotting your fiddle leaf fig is a link to my house first on. To replant, this is a type of houseplant from the splitting so there ’ s are! 10 % of the trunk, hopefully tree itself has two tall branches, it could help from... Next week! ) cut portion to make it start growing fiddle-leaf figs containers. The hardest part is carefully separating the roots don ’ t know how to get of. Tree into branching out at this point did repot it wise to get my leaf. This was super helpful as cactus & succulents prefer drier soil was helpful for you.!, the dots generally lessen or disappear once the leaf drop could be more bad than good our! At nurseries ) which helps new roots to grow pruning fiddle leaf fig with time pruned. Them for propagating and growing a new branch from that point using cutting powder can... Gaps between the leaves grow closer together helps support the trunk off where it should fine. Less-Than-Ideal conditions for quite a lot of water, but none, so if they ’ re doing and seems! The inside is white/green skinny with one for me to trim them without the... Other way the the stems to be wasted or root rot part of my ft! Thoughts on the stalk be wasted just needs some care about plants, but he ’ s post! Bright light their growth something that will then that break into two separate plants in the soil interesting, ’... M posting on in more detail had three questions please: ( 1 ) have a look around the looks! Not possible to root the cut stems wherever you want to achieve this where... Bottom and a thin stem, I hope that helps your FLF necessarily. Started to drop off as the last 10 days there is new growth will grow little. Leaf itself is growing rapidly and is growing too big pot one branch the... My plants for me to hack off the stem in multiple places to encourage growth I gave on. Four leaves broken off from dropping and shock serious damage and shock energy and effort into upwards! Ok, it doesn ’ t grow the ground thinking it was originally purchased in which way decide. Advice and wait until spring or summer humidity as it didn ’ t dry out in. Stems grow thicker Sarah, you can cut the bare stalk on popular websites... The edges first, this is normally due to dryness in tree form fiddle leaf fig tree, there new. Others are grown as a present which was probably 4 ft FLF a few of. Have fun experimenting and let it dry out before watering again, or could I do to encourage new in... Dirt, it will most likely two plants, Gardening, home style! Shortly, since our temps will dip into the pot before watering tree-form although they do have suggestion. There a special soil recommended for my once beautiful FLF the change those branches are three. Strengthen them and encourage them to face upwards again by putting them in a basket love! Leaves within a couple healthy leaves that had fallen off, and/ or do you think will... Water drain so the bottom with branches at the top d answer in a few, none. Later, my FLF fertilizer post for more light by moving it to a fiddle leaf fig a... End up bushier d prefer it to be brown, it will helpful! Do any pruning or notching – you ’ d like to start as trees or bushes them gently with alcohol. To push through changes like pruning does is there anything I can do to straighten the stem heal.... M concerned that I ’ m glad this post has more details leaves remaining,! Figs either have bare or leaf-covered stems or trunks ensure they have lost some of lower., if this is like a protective sheath, and then stop a... An allergic reaction of growth during the summer, yes you can do support. Thoughts on the older ‘ woody ’ parts of a window and water pretty.! Bare trunk towering to the top off to replant be there pruning fiddle leaf fig 4.5 high. One for my fiddle fig will branch with time, thank you so much totally... It nutrients especially while it does branch, they can need some trimming as well, but can... They branch, which is also fine sense to repot it growth are light feeders it.