Reasons For Pruning
Pruning when done correctly can extend the useful life of indoor plants. It helps:
- Control or maintain shape and size
- Promote growth
- Allow more light and air to the plant
- Remove dead, diseased or pest infested foliage
Let’s assume your Ficus has out grown the space and you need to reshape it.
Start by removing all the dead twigs on the tree. Ficus are lovers of light. As some of the smaller inner branches are shaded out they just die – this is natural. These twigs will generally be very small about the size of a #2 pencil lead.
Remember – Ficus are lovers of light. It’s important to get light on the foliage where the stronger branches are. Remove any weak growth in the center of the plant.
Now it’s time to start pruning the outer growth. Remove about one-third of the canopy all the way around the tree. What you will be doing is reducing the size of the canopy and promoting new growth and a fuller tree.
Sometimes you’ll get a “wild” branch that heads for the light and just changes the shape of the tree. Selectively prune this branch or branches back toward the center of the tree. This will force new growth back into the center.
Pruning Basics - Always cut back to a healthy branch, leaving as small a wound as possible.
- Always make complete, smooth cuts; never rip or tear a branch. This leaves the plant open disease or infection.
- Never cut too far above a bud; this results in a dead stub. It looks bad and can rot back (Phomopsis) into and or past the new growth.
- Remember the tips (terminal bud) of a branch or stem grow much stronger and faster than lower buds on the branch (lateral bud). When you remove the terminal bud the strongest lateral bud takes its place.