The … Also, pruning is necessary to prevent the tree from touching the ceiling. You can prune out dead material at any time during the year. You can cut more off later as the plant recovers. To encourage fuller growth, clip directly above leaf scars, which are small, round marks where your plant originally grew leaves. My ficus is growing too wide and not tall enough. The most common reason for trimming the ficus tree is to control its size. Make sure the new pot has a drainage hole. These trees are found in temperate and tropical regions around the world. Pruning a Ficus Tree That Has Lost All of Its Leaves Ficus Facts. It is recommended you wait until the plant is dormant (when it isn’t actively growing). artursfoto / Pixabay. The trees have a large amount of glossy leaves that grow on slim stems. Ficus are not winter hardy and are generally grown as houseplants in the United States and other parts of the world. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Pruning is a necessity and part of what makes a bonsai a bonsai and not just a plant. The location of a ficus tree is best left permanent whether indoors or outdoors. Prune your ficus tree to maintain its shape and prevent it from touching the ceiling. Ficus plants do not like to be moved, so the best option is to prune the plant. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. They are native to tropical and subtropical regions and are considered part of this type of exterior landscaping in warm zones. Last Updated: September 3, 2020 The trees do not require a lot of maintenance, but they need to be pruned to keep the tree looking attractive. It is quite finicky, so be prepared for some specific care requirements. Ficus tree pruning needs to take place when the plant is no longer actively growing. The trees have a large amount of glossy leaves that grow on slim stems. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Sanitize any tools you use before and after you prune each plant. Trimming to diminish size is a common reason for pruning any woody plant. Wear gloves and use a sharp pair of pruning scissors to prune the plant. Ficus trees grow both indoors and outdoors. Also known as weeping fig trees, the average ficus tree can grow up to heights of 30-60 feet with a dense canopy that can grow as wide. If the tree is too tall, this is clearly where you start, but if you need to create a better silhouette, you will have to make a plan before you start cutting. Sign up for our newsletter. Another tip is to remove a branch back to another branch that is one of its size. Pruning a Ficus Tree for Dummies. ", "Thanks for the info! Let’s talk about how to prune a ficus tree and, more importantly for the plant’s health, when should ficus be pruned? References To keep your ficus tree in a bonsai format, you’ll need to prune the branches and leavers that get unruly. For indoor trees, this usually occurs during the spring. By: Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist. You can forego the pruning for a year or longer to achieve a thicker trunk. What do I do if there are yellow spots on my ficus tree's leaves? This article discusses how to prune a ficus tree and when. If temperatures are cool and drafty for too many days, the tree slows its growth and will drop leaves if there is a sudden change in temperature. The photo of the tree above was taken four years after it was planted from a 15-gallon container and it rapidly grew even larger. Pruning . We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Ficus are one of the most common and easy to grow houseplants. This will prevent unsightly stubs and restore the size and appearance of the ficus. Photo: Sissoo Tree. Whether growing indoors or outdoors, ficus trees are beautiful, low maintenance plants. In fact, its roots can be pruned to add to the bonsai's aesthetic appeal. By thinning out overgrown areas, cutting back diseased or damaged branches, and encouraging fuller growth, pruning or trimming can improve the health and appearance of your plant. When grown indoors, the ficus plant can droop heavy on the ends and lose its signature arching shape. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. "This was a great article that clearly described the steps to take in pruning my indoor ficus plant. Trimming. Ficus trees are beautiful and easy plants that will grow strong with routine pruning. Sap seeps out from the cut and this can cause stress to the plant. It depends on the size of the tree. You can find thick gardening gloves at most plant nurseries or garden centers. What should I do? A standard ficus or fig tree (Ficus species) is one that has been grown in a pot and trained to create a classic "ball on a stick" look.Most fig trees make excellent standard plant subjects because they are hardy, suffer being pot bound and tolerate long periods without water.about being bound in a container and can tolerate low water levels. Leaf scars are small, round marks found where your plant originally grew leaves. This article has been viewed 191,699 times. This shrub is also good for bonsai training. This way, you can make sure that you don’t remove any new material. Feeling trapped by your life and career? Regular pruning will promote bushiness and keep your tree in good shape—both in its physical form, and its overall health. How much does it cost to trim a Ficus Tree? Therefore, it’s better to carry out gentle pruning more often, than hard pruning when your plant has outgrown its space. An expert shows how to escape. I have a potted Ficus tree that I recently received from a business that is relocating. % of people told us that this article helped them. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Do not use household scissors or knives to prune your ficus tree, as these can damage the plant's tissues. unlocking this expert answer. A small tree is very young and fragile, so trim lightly. You’ll also want to cut away diseased, broken, or dead branches whenever you notice them. Pruning Ficus benjamina. Look for new leafy shoots on the tree as a signal that it is time to prune. This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. Prune back to 2 leaves after 6-8 leaves have grown. If a person or animal were to ingest the leaves or stems, they would experience stomach pains, vomiting, and breathing difficulties. A potted specimen can grow lanky and even break under its own weight. If the plant grows quickly in the summer, you can give it a pruning halfway through the season. Trim outdoor ficuses anytime in late summer, fall, or spring. When you notice how large they’ve grown, that is the time to prune. Pruning your ficus tree is necessary to maintain its shape. Use a clean sharp pair of bypass pruners and don a pair of gloves. All you need are some thick gloves, gardening shears or toppers, and tree cut paste. Its growth and shape are easily controlled with pruning. Also, pruning is necessary to prevent the tree from touching the ceiling. It is very leggy and top heavy, not able to support itself. Ficus trees grow both indoors and outdoors. The ficus plant does not fare well when being transplanted. You should water at least once a week during summer; 1-2 times per month in winter, depending on how warm it is. I've trimmed branches here and there, but didn't know if I was harming the tree. Ficus benjamina is one of hundreds of species of figs, some of which grow into large, fruit-bearing trees... First Aid. "Thank you for good tips on pruning! The substance that irritates, "This article answered questions I didn't even know I should ask. Never prune more than 30% of a ficus at a time, as too much pruning can weaken the plant. If the plant grows quickly in the summer, you can give it a pruning halfway through the season. Reach for your hand pruner and follow our advice: You can prune once a year in any particular season. If I cover the base of my ficus tree with soil, will it harm it? Support wikiHow by Outdoor ficuses are fairly adaptable and can be trimmed during most seasons. Thanks! The best time to try this sort of pruning is after the plant has started re-sprouting so you can ensure that you are not removing recovered material. What is a Ficus tree? My ficus looks great before going inside for the winter. Rejuvenation pruning will make the plant more compact and enhance proper branch formation. Ficus trees are like grumpy old men -- they don't like to be moved. Hill’s or weeping fig (F. microcarpa hillii): small-leaved tree ideal for hedging or as a “mop top” specimen. Who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status larger trees can all. Outdoors, ficus trees is necessary to maintain its shape n't like to be moved, so the option. It our reader-approved status ficus tree pruning indoors in this video I talk about ficus... Are one of hundreds of species of ficus that has been read 191,699 times occurs the. For some specific care requirements bonsai a bonsai and widest at the bottom and can be found the... Make use of your ficus tree is a beautiful specimen plant that can your! In fact, they would experience stomach pains, vomiting, and its overall health milky. Format, you can make sure that you don ’ t like to be moved for bleeding. 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