Fiddle figs have become very popular houseplants in recent years. Unfortunately, the plant often loses its leaves at the bottom and then appears quite bare. By branching the fiddle leaf fig, you can make the tree look bushier and more attractive overall.
How can I make my fiddle leaf fig branch?
To branch a fiddle leaf fig, cut off the tip of a shoot in early spring. This causes new shoots to develop and the crown to become bushier. Use sharp and clean knives for the cut and wear gloves because of the slightly poisonous latex.
How to Branch a Fiddle Fig
Branching a fiddle leaf fig is incredibly easy. All you have to do is cut off the tip of a shoot. Then approaches develop in the upper area from which new shoots grow. As a result, the crown of the tree appears much bushier over the course of the year.
The best time to branch a fiddle leaf fig is early spring. Then the growth phase begins and the fiddle leaf fig can put a lot of energy into the formation of new branches.
For cutting, use very sharp knives that you have previously cleaned. If the blades are blunt, the shoots tear and thus provide access for germs and bacteria. You can also transmit diseases and pests to the fiddle leaf fig through unclean knives.
Caution: the fiddle leaf fig is slightly poisonous
Once you have trimmed the fiddle leaf fig, discard the tops immediately and do not leave them lying around. The milky sap contained in shoots and leaves is slightly poisonous. This can pose a risk of poisoning for small children and very curious pets.
The shoot tips can also be used to grow new offshoots from the violin fig.
Wash your hands carefully after care or, better yet, wear gloves straight away.
Why does the fiddle leaf fig lose its lower leaves?
The fact that fiddle leaf figs lose their lower leaves is not just due to a lack of care or an unfavorable location. In most cases, it is difficult to prevent leaf drop if the fiddle leaf fig is grown indoors.
The lower leaves no longer grow back. Branching also rarely occurs at the bottom of the tree.
So that the fiddle leaf fig doesn't look so bare, simply plant one or two offshoots next to the trunk. Since fiddle figs don't grow as large overall, you don't even need a much larger container for them.
Tip
Violin figs prefer a very bright location where it is quite warm, especially near the ground. Rooms with underfloor heating are therefore ideal as long as the humidity is high enough.
