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Fiddle leaf figs, also known as Ficus lyrata or FLFs, are a popular indoor plant due to their large and lush leaves that resemble the shape of a fiddle. However, like any other indoor plant, fiddle leaf figs require maintenance to keep them healthy and aesthetically pleasing. One essential task for maintaining an FLF is pruning.
Pruning involves removing unwanted parts of the plant such as dead leaves or branches to promote healthier growth. Pruning can also help prevent diseases from spreading throughout the plant. In this article, we will guide you through how to prune your fiddle leaf fig properly.
Tools needed
To start pruning your FLF effectively, you need specific tools such as sharp scissors or pruning shears. Ensure that they are clean and sterilized before use to avoid transmitting diseases from one plant to another.
Identify where it needs trimming
The first step in pruning an FLF is identifying which areas of the tree need trimming. You should look for yellowing leaves or brown spots since these signify damaged areas requiring removal during pruning sessions.
Also, consider cutting branches growing too close together since they may be competing for nutrients leading to stunted growth rates in both branches.
Cut above nodes
When cutting a branch for either aesthetic reasons or diseased removal purposes, ensure that you make incisions above nodes (where new shoots emerge) so that new growth occurs immediately after making cuts without leaving unsightly stubbles behind.
Trimming multiple times instead of once and then letting it grow out helps control its shape by producing many side shoots after each trim session encouraging branching out naturally at different points on top compared with just one central stem coming up from below ground level if left untrimmed long-term without any interventions applied along the way!
Remove lower leaves
Another critical part of proper prunning involves removing lower leaves near its base area periodically because not only do they become old & ugly but will also draw energy away from producing new young leaves on top, ultimately harming the fiddle leaf fig’s overall growth rate.
Trimming your FLF may seem like a daunting task at first but with these few steps, it should be easy to ensure that your plant remains healthy and aesthetically pleasing. Always remember to sterilize tools before use since prevention is better than cure in any case of transmitting diseases between plants during pruning sessions.
