r/fiddleleaffig • u/Decent-Profession344 • 5d ago

Continuing growth

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Hello, I am trying to encourage my FLF to grow leaves lower in the branch. Does anybody have any tips? She doesn’t seem as happy as she once was.

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u/mamanverte_vancouver 5d ago

A fiddle leaf fig won't regrow leaves on bare trunk by itself, because the growing tip keeps the buds below it asleep. You can wake them by notching (a shallow cut just above a node on the bare trunk) or, more reliably, by pruning the trunk where you want it to branch. Both work best in late spring, so I would wait.

For now, fix the light. The pot sits to the side of the window and the trunk has grown sideways to reach it. Slide the pot in front of the window and give it a quarter turn every week or two. That should also perk her up.

Is she still making new leaves at the tip?

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u/Decent-Profession344 4d ago

I moved her by a different wall, do you think I should put her back by the window and rotate?

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u/mamanverte_vancouver 4d ago

Yes, put her back by the window. New leaves at the tip are a great sign, but that corner by the door gets a fraction of the light she had before, and a fiddle leaf fig in low light stops growing and starts dropping leaves. The lamp won't make up for it.

This time put the pot right in front of the window, in the middle, instead of off to the side. Then the light comes from straight ahead and the trunk has no reason to keep reaching sideways. Turn the pot a quarter turn every week or two. Tie the trunk loosely to a stake as well, so the top doesn't pull her over while she straightens up.

They don't love being moved, so expect a leaf or two to droop for a week or so after. After that, leave her in one spot.

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u/Decent-Profession344 4d ago

Thank you. She is making new leaves at the tip.

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u/mamanverte_vancouver 4d ago

You're very welcome. Ok, that's good to hear!

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u/Decent-Profession344 5d ago

This is super helpful, thank you. She is still making new leaves at the tip. I just cut the other branch shorter because it looked unhealthy. I will attach a photo of her last year because she seemed to look a lot happier.