Is it possible to cut off the top of a ficus? How to trim a ficus to make it fluffy

Beneficial features

In addition to the fact that rubber is extracted from this plant, ficus is also considered the most useful flower, which can significantly improve the health of the air. This happens because air passes through the leaves like through a pipe. During this passage, it is significantly enriched with oxygen.

Another important advantage is the ficus’s ease of care.

When grown at home, it practically does not bloom, is not capricious and can adapt to absolutely any conditions. The only thing is that the plant needs to be kept away from direct sunlight, watered and bathed on time and in the right amount.

What are the benefits of ficus pruning?

In addition to adjusting the height of the tree, pruning is also important to prevent diseases that can begin due to the abundance of dry, damaged parts. In addition, with the help of proper pruning, we form the crown and contribute to the rejuvenation of the plant.

By the way, it is important from time to time to carry out sanitary and preventive pruning not only of the upper part of the plant. The roots also need it. I inspect them when transplanting a plant from a smaller pot to a larger one. I recently wrote about how to transplant a ficus.

How to properly pinch at home?

In order for the procedure to be successful, the owner of the ficus needs to know the following:

It is important to choose the right time for pinching. Otherwise, the plant can easily die.
Ficus juice is poisonous and can cause burns or allergic reactions. Therefore, all manipulations with the plant must be carried out with gloves.
It is better not to combine pruning with another procedure, for example, replanting.

Ficus can be easily pinched at home if you follow the established rules.

Timing for the procedure

Experienced gardeners know that the ideal time to pinch out ficus is spring. It is during this period that the plant becomes active, forming new shoots and buds. Therefore, the procedure will not be too stressful for the flower, and all “wounds” will heal quickly.

Important! Pinching in autumn or winter can lead to the death of the ficus.

Pinching Instructions

Before you start forming the crown, you need to decide on the choice of knife. It should be sharp enough to cut thick branches straight away. The knife must be disinfected with alcohol or peroxide. If the plant is young, then unnecessary shoots can simply be cut off.

But if the ficus is already several years old, then you need:

determine the point that will become the top;
the cut should be made at a distance of 6–8 cm from the sheet;
branches should be cut obliquely;

When pinching, it is necessary to rinse all cut areas with water. Since the sap of the plant will slow down the growth of new shoots. To form an ideal crown, pinching and pruning should be done annually.

Important Rules

The procedure for forming a crown largely depends on what the gardener wants to achieve. For example, to obtain the shape of a standard tree you need:

Choose a young, unformed ficus without lignification.
Then gradually remove the side shoots until 5 top branches remain.
When the ficus reaches the required height, the top shoot should be pinched and the side shoots removed.
For young stems without bark, you need to build a support. It will be needed until the ficus finally grows.

Such a standard can be multi-tiered. To do this, the crown is divided into 4–5 parts. The odd ones will be the crown tiers, and the rest will be the spaces between them. To form the latter, shoots are cut 5–7 cm shorter than in tiers.

In addition to the standard, there are several other ways to design a beautiful crown. This is a bush and an arc. To form the first type, it is important to ensure that the ficus does not grow upward, but produces lateral shoots. This is controlled by pinching the flower annually.

The arch is created very simply - the upper part of the plant is bent and fixed at the required height. The upper buds begin to produce new shoots, making the plant more voluminous. As soon as the side shoots reach the desired length, the fixation is removed. The branches of the ficus will remain in the same position, forming an interesting arc.

Further care

After the stress suffered due to the procedure, the ficus needs additional feeding. It is added immediately or wait 1-2 weeks until the plant adapts. If necessary, you can transplant the ficus into a new pot. This is true for plants that no longer fit in the old container.

How to make an old ficus grow new branches from below?

But besides this, there is another reason - the trunks below become bare over time due to natural reasons. The tree grows, the crown develops in the upper part, and at the bottom the trunk becomes bare. This happens to all trees in the wild.

So my ficus, having reached its maximum growth, as much as the room conditions and the size of the pot allowed it, exposed the trunks in the lower part. And the top of his head rested on the ceiling. It felt cramped on the windowsill, but you can’t even put it on the floor: it’s too dark, because I live in the Urals - we’ve had dark winters in recent years.

But I decided to try to improve the situation.

There are several ways to force a mature tree to grow young branches in the lower woody part of the trunk.

1. trimming the crown. 2. tilting the trunk to a horizontal position. 3. stimulation of dormant buds with an incision.

I didn’t have one trunk, but several plants growing in a pot at once. I took the simplest route. I cut off the top of the trunks.

But in order for young shoots to come from the lowest tier, they usually cut the tree low - almost a quarter, or even a third of the trunk. But since I didn’t want to shorten the ficus too much, I decided to use all three methods at once, but a little at a time.

That is, the tops of the heads were shortened by only 20 or 30 centimeters.

But I spread the trunks from the center to the sides using a simple device. Any “wheel” that is found in the house will do. You can use this support for flowers.

Care after pruning

There are a number of rules that must be followed in order for the flower formation process to be successful:

When cutting, stumps should not be left, as they become hotbeds for the development of fungal and bacterial diseases.
After pruning, a milky sap begins to ooze from the plant, which must be immediately wiped off and the cut area sprinkled with crushed charcoal or any fungicide.
You can fertilize the ficus after pruning once a month.

Ficus pruning process

In addition, after pruning, it is necessary to regularly wipe the leaves from dust in order to reduce the risk of infection of the plant.
A month after the procedure, when the cut sites have completely healed and the side parts begin to actively grow, the flower can be replanted, and the top layer of the substrate can be changed for mature plants. Experts recommend using the transshipment method in order to minimize the risk of injury to the root system during transplantation.

Creating unusual shapes

Standard tree

The trunk is created by freeing the trunk from young leaves and twigs to the required height. At the same time, the top is also shortened, and a spherical crown is created around the stem, the correct shape of which must be constantly maintained by removing shoots and pinching leaves in the upper internodes.

Fence

After the mature rubber ficus has been pruned, you can start creating an interesting display in the form of a hedge or fence. Shoots that have been cut off are suitable for this. They are rooted in a shallow but fairly spacious box in one row. As they grow, you can attract the trunks to each other, cutting off the bark at the point of contact and tightly fixing the “wounds” together with film and wire. The more light there is in the room, the faster the branches will grow together at the points of contact and you can start a new row.

Spiral

To obtain a spiral shape, the tree is tied to a strong base (post or stick) and gradually twisting the trunk, securing it with wire or cord. Side branches and leaves should be removed to expose the beautiful, spiral-shaped stem.

Scythe

A very popular type of ficus formation. To do this, 3 young sprouts are planted in a box, and as they develop, the trunks are intertwined in the form of a pigtail, fixing them at the point of contact with polyethylene and wire. At the place of fixation, the bark is removed with a sharp knife, and the milky juice that appears in the “wound” is wiped with a cloth. It is most convenient to start weaving when the plant reaches 15-18 cm in height. The next fixation is carried out as the trunk lengthens, and the lower leaves and shoots are removed.

Pruning is not always necessary to create a neat crown. Ficus provides ample opportunities for flower growers to express their imagination. By following the rules for caring for it, you can create interesting compositions, decorate it in the form of a tree or achieve increased bushiness, thereby decorating the space with an original indoor flower. At the same time, you will not injure the plant, for which cutting is always a powerful stress.

How to form a plant crown

Crown formation is a more creative process. If all the nuances of pruning are observed, if everything is done carefully and without harming the plant, then you can calmly focus on the aesthetic component. There are several types of crown formation:

standard;
round;
asymmetric;
at an angle.

The last three are pure gardener’s imagination and a matter of his taste, and the first, which also happens to be the most popular, requires adherence to some rules. Standard pruning is most often used. It is based on the formation of several tiers of stems at once. There may be 2-3 of them, or maybe 5 or even more, if we are talking about real giants living on the floor and the top almost touching the ceiling. The size of the plant directly determines at what height to trim the ficus. At the same time, it is important to maintain a certain distance between the tiers so that the result is visually attractive.

There is another, very ornate, but noteworthy way of forming a crown, when several plants are planted in one pot and then compared, thus creating a spectacular mix of different varieties. Considering the many varieties of ficus, the following methods are used:

weave;
launching in an arc;
topping.

Any of these methods requires a lot of patience and attention to your pet. It should be remembered that the ficus grows as much as it can grow, and it is absurd to demand more from it.

Rules for the formation and selection of inventory

For trimming you need to use tools that are convenient and familiar. The main thing is that they are sharp and clean. You can take:

pruner;
scalpel;
garden knife.

To form a ficus you may need:

garter - ropes, wire, pieces of fabric;
removal of latex - gauze or cotton swabs, clean rags, napkins;
treatment of wound surfaces - garden pitch, crushed activated charcoal or charcoal;
support – pipe covered with coconut fiber;
stimulator – cytokinin paste;
to protect hands - gloves.

Pruning and shaping the crown requires following some rules:

Do not thicken the ficus too much. Leaves should grow freely without interfering with each other.
Branches should be cut at a right angle, 1-2 cm above the leaf. If the crown is going to be used for propagation, and the internode is too long, the lower part of the cutting is cut off additionally.
Forming or pruning a weakened, diseased plant cannot be carried out.
When transplanting, the trunk of the rubber-bearing ficus can be slightly deepened. Sometimes this is enough to increase the stability and decorativeness of the tree.
With a high probability, after pruning, a side shoot will appear from the nearest upper bud. This way you can control the direction of growth of the ficus.
It is often advised to remove the milky juice after shaping or trimming and not treat the wound surface with anything, but this is wrong - there is a risk of infection. In addition, activated carbon or garden pitch stops the leakage of latex, and Elastica consists of 15% of it. The top of the trunk will become dry, and the nearest bud and leaf may disappear. This is clearly visible in the photos and videos presented by flower growers who took 1-2 minutes to treat the wound surface.
Sometimes when pruning and shaping the rubber ficus, it is advised not to leave stumps. But some of the soft wood will still dry out, and if there is not a piece of the stem at least 1-2 cm above the leaf, it will definitely grab the nearest bud with a plate. You'll have to repeat the trimming. It is better to let the process take its course, and then, without affecting living tissue, carefully remove the dried area, leaving 1-2 mm.
It is recommended to work with gloves so that the rubber sap does not cause irritation when pruning.
Ficus formation is carried out simultaneously or after the start of feeding. The plant will need additional nutrients to support the growth and development of new branches.
The transplant is done a few weeks after pruning or shaping. Carrying out simultaneous operations is a lot of stress and greatly depletes the ficus.

How to grow ficus benjamina correctly?

Lush branches of the plant begin to form after the top shoot is removed. Ficus benjamina should be pinched when the plant is healthy and full of vigor. It is better to form a crown before reaching the age of three, while it is actively growing. After this time, it is more difficult to give the desired shape, and the restoration process will become a little more complicated. How to pinch ficus benjamina? To do this you need:

Prepare the plant for the procedure - wash it in the shower and water it.
Stock up on the necessary tools, water, a clean rag and activated carbon.
It is recommended to cut thin branches straight, thick branches - obliquely.
After trimming, the white juice is removed with a wet cloth and the cut is sprinkled with activated carbon.
When pruning, keep an eye on the shape of the plant so that it has a pleasant, natural appearance.
Branches that spoil the appearance, grow parallel to the main trunk, intertwine and greatly thicken the ficus must be removed.
The top and side shoots are shortened to give them the pre-planned shape.

Regular pruning is one of the components of ficus care and is necessary not only for the beauty, but also for the health of the tree.

When and how to prune ficus correctly

Depending on the thickness of the branches, you will need different types of tools. For example, it is unlikely that you will be able to trim thick branches with small scissors; you cannot do this without a pruner or a sharp knife. Be sure to treat the instrument with alcohol or any disinfectant.

You can’t bring beauty in winter, when the ficus is hibernating; it simply may not have the strength to grow the crown. Pruning in the fall will draw in juices and weaken the plant before wintering. Therefore, the best time is from March to July.

Important
If we have just transplanted a ficus, we cannot immediately form healthy branches, but we can remove dry and damaged ones.

Timing for the procedure

How to make a ficus branch and how complex is such a set of measures? The result will certainly satisfy you if you not only study the necessary principles of the procedure, but also determine what time of year it is best to carry it out. It is possible to get a branched crown from a ficus, but it is better to start pruning in the spring. With the onset of spring, the plant wakes up and all vital processes are activated. If you start pinching the flower at this favorable time, the pruning procedure will not be too stressful for the plant: all the “wounds” will heal instantly. In addition, it is in the spring that young buds form on the plant stem and side shoots develop.

That is why there is no more suitable time for the formation of a ficus crown than the spring period, or rather the end of winter - the beginning of spring. Remember, it is unforgivable to delay with this procedure. If you start pruning your home ficus in mid-spring, the result may not be of very good quality. The thing is that when sap flow is active, shortening the branches can awaken the flower and stimulate its growth as a whole, but the new side shoots will be too thin.

Pinching a ficus

In the life of many gardeners there is such a painstaking moment as pinching ficuses, which mostly concerns older plants, since young ones only grow upward and do not need any interventions to form the crown. In any case, the answer to the question of whether it is necessary to pinch the ficus is almost obvious. If there is a need for this, yes. What is meant? The plant began to develop incorrectly, branches unevenly or in the wrong direction, and does not please with the density that the owner wants to see. In this case, you can promote a beautiful, branched crown through pinching, which is very important to do competently and carefully.

First, determine the top point on the stem; this is done based on personal preference, but it is desirable that it be directly above the bud. After which a neat (preferably oblique) cut is made at approximately an 8-centimeter distance from the nearest sheet. As a rule, milk begins to appear. This is normal. A clean cloth or napkin is very important in this case, but reusing them for such purposes is excluded.

The stem must be wiped with a clean cloth. The wound can again be treated with a special composition, or you can limit yourself to plain water. If all processes went well, over time the side shoots will take on a different shape, and next spring pinching can be continued and thus provide an even greater stimulus for the growth and branching of your favorite ficus.

Features of the plant

Ficus rubber (how to form a crown will be described in this article) is a plant that belongs to the genus Ficus of the Mulberry family. The homeland of this representative is considered to be India, namely its northeastern part, as well as southern Indonesia and western Africa. As an ornamental plant, it is grown outside tropical areas. In addition to the decorative function, it can also perform an industrial function, since it is large trees that produce rubber.

When growing in its natural conditions, ficus can reach a size of 40 m in height, while forming so-called support roots. The main feature of the latter is that they descend to the ground and take root in it. If the rubber ficus is grown at home, the maximum growth, as a rule, does not exceed 10 m, if pruning is not carried out.

Why do you need to pinch ficus?

Before figuring out how to properly pinch a ficus, every gardener wants to make sure that such a procedure is necessary and find out what results it gives. At first, the house ficus grows only upward and does not require crown formation. However, the older the plant gets, the more important it is for you to learn the basic principles of pruning.

If nothing is done in advance, your young green specimen will bush randomly. You cannot delay this rejuvenating procedure. Otherwise, the ficus will grow incorrectly, branch in the wrong direction, or will not give quite the density that you expected. Making a branched crown of a ficus is quite possible; to do this, you just need to learn how to properly pinch your houseplant.

Reasons for pruning and how to do it

As we have already found out, pruning is carried out for three reasons:

protect against diseases;
rejuvenate the plant;
form a crown.

Protective is produced at any time of the year. As soon as we notice that the ficus has dried or damaged leaves, we immediately begin manipulation. You cannot hesitate, because the disease can spread to the healthy part and attract viruses.

It should be shortened even further than to the point where the damage ends. But you shouldn’t get carried away either. The main thing is to leave the stem with at least five leaves and at least 20-30 centimeters of the main stem.

New or axillary shoots always grow from the upper or lateral buds. They are easy to notice above the place from which the leaf grows. If we remove the top buds, the side branches will begin to grow and the plant will begin to grow in breadth.

Also, if we pinch the top, we should not cut off the side branches and leaves. When the young shoot stretches upward, the stalk will remain naked, which will make the plant look unsightly.

On thin stems we cut straight, and on thick stems – at an angle of 45 degrees. Dry the cut site with a cloth until the wound stops oozing. After this, sprinkle the cut with crushed activated carbon.

Below is a visual pruning diagram.

If you pay attention to the diagram, you will notice that the best way is to cut the branches above the second bud, which is directed towards us. Also, we do not leave all the branches that grow inside the bush, they will make the crown thick.

To form a voluminous, compact bush, it is best to prune while it is young. As soon as the branches reach 10-15 centimeters, we remove them. When the young branches reach 8-10 cm, cut off only the tips.

Important

Ficus juice is poisonous. Therefore, we cut with gloves. We hide cats and dogs in another room.

If we need to form a standard bush, that is, an even trunk with a rounded dense crown, we do this:

We cut off all side shoots.
We leave five apical buds.
Shorten the central trunk to the desired height.
We make a support that is removed as it grows.
When the shoots from the five remaining buds grow to a height of 5 buds, pinch them again.
From time to time we pinch the length of the branches to make the crown thicker.

The branched ficus can be shaped into almost any geometric shape: spherical, cone-shaped, cylindrical, pyramidal, and even in the form of steps.

Watch the eight golden rules of pruning in the video:

Pinching Instructions

How to pinch a ficus and how to learn to do it correctly? In order for the rubber ficus to produce lateral branches, begin the grafting procedure when the flower grows a little. Preparatory steps are also of great importance. For example, be sure to disinfect the knife you are going to use to trim branches. If desired, use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. The sharper the knife, the easier it is to cut the branches, and indoor ficus branches tend to be thick. Whatever pruning method you prefer, you first need to pay attention to the condition of the plant.

Let's say you like the height of your ficus, but its top shoot has grown too thin. In this case, take a knife and make a straight cut, simply removing the fragile shoot. But the first method is effective if we are dealing with a young indoor plant. When a similar procedure needs to be carried out with a mature home flower, it is worth resorting to a slightly different technique. Follow all the necessary steps step by step, and the result will be more than satisfactory. What exactly does the process of crown formation in an adult ficus consist of:

First, determine for yourself which point on the stem, in your opinion, should be the top. After this, make a cut at a distance of 8 cm from the sheet. It is desirable that it be oblique, and its upper point is located directly above the kidney;
To properly pinch a ficus plant, you need to take a small cloth, moisten it in water and gently wipe the trunk from the milk that spreads along the stems after pruning. Under no circumstances should you wring it out or use it again - the material should definitely be thrown away. Some gardeners believe that it is recommended to lubricate the cut areas with prepared compounds, but ordinary water will actually be sufficient. With its help, you will stop the further secretion of plant juice, and the wounds of the ficus will soon heal;
What should I do to ensure that the ficus is pinched and the side shoots take on a new shape? It is very important to ensure proper care of the plant after the procedure is completed. If you complete all the steps correctly, you can continue pinching with the onset of next spring. This time you will encourage the side shoots to grow.

Every gardener can force a ficus to branch. Pinching will give the plant an incentive to actively grow and form new shoots. Over time, the flower will begin to bush if everything is done correctly and at the right time.