What To Do When Fiddle Leaf Fig Gets Too Tall – A Pruning & Shaping

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Has your beautiful fiddle leaf fig gone from a chic corner plant to a ceiling-scraping giant? It’s a classic “good problem to have” for any plant parent. You’ve obviously given it a happy home!

But now you’re wondering what to do. It’s getting leggy, top-heavy, and maybe even a little bare at the bottom. You might be hesitant to take shears to your prized plant, fearing you’ll harm it. I’m here to tell you that not only is it okay, but it’s one of the best things you can do for its long-term health and beauty.

This complete guide will promise to turn your overgrown fiddle into a lush, well-shaped, and even more stunning version of itself. We’ll walk through exactly what to do when your fiddle leaf fig gets too tall, covering everything from the simple art of pruning to the magic of creating new plants from your cuttings.

Get ready to transform your towering tree into the full, vibrant fiddle leaf fig of your dreams. You’ve got this!

Why a Sky-High Fiddle Leaf Fig Can Be a Problem (And an Opportunity!)

First, let’s talk about why a fiddle that’s too tall isn’t just a space issue. When a Ficus lyrata grows vertically without intervention, it can lead to a few common problems.

A tall, single-stem plant often becomes top-heavy, making it unstable and prone to leaning or even toppling over. The lower leaves may also start to drop as the plant dedicates its energy to new growth at the very top, leaving you with a bare, stick-like trunk.

But here’s the wonderful secret: every cut you make is an invitation for new growth. The primary benefits of what to do when your fiddle leaf fig gets too tall are creating a stronger, fuller, and more balanced plant. It’s your chance to play sculptor and encourage your fiddle to branch out, creating that desirable, tree-like shape we all love.

The Ultimate Guide: What To Do When Fiddle Leaf Fig Gets Too Tall

Ready to get started? Don’t be nervous! Pruning is a straightforward process. Following this complete what to do when fiddle leaf fig gets too tall guide will ensure you feel confident and your plant stays healthy. The best time to do this is during the growing season (spring or early summer) when your plant has plenty of energy to heal and push out new growth.

Gathering Your Tools: Preparation is Key

Before you make the first cut, let’s get your supplies in order. Having everything ready makes the process smooth and stress-free.

  • Sharp, Clean Pruning Shears or Scissors: A clean cut is crucial for quick healing. A dull blade can crush the stem, inviting disease.
  • Rubbing Alcohol or Disinfectant Wipes: Always, always sterilize your tools before and after pruning. This prevents the spread of bacteria between plants.
  • Soft Cloth or Paper Towels: Fiddle leaf figs will ooze a milky white sap (latex) when cut. It can be irritating to the skin, so have something ready to dab it away.
  • Gloves (Optional but Recommended): To protect your hands from the sap.
  • A Jar of Water or Pot with Soil: Don’t throw those cuttings away! We’ll use them for propagation later.

The Art of Pruning: A Step-by-Step Method

This is where the magic happens. Take a deep breath and follow these simple steps for a perfect prune.

  1. Step 1: Decide on the Height. Stand back and look at your plant. Where do you want the new growth to begin? A good rule of thumb is to prune it back to a height that allows for at least a foot or two of new growth before it hits the ceiling again.
  2. Step 2: Locate a Node. Look closely at the stem. A node is a small bump or ring-like area on the stem where a leaf grows or used to grow. This is where new branches will emerge from.
  3. Step 3: Make the Cut. Using your sterilized shears, make a clean, confident cut about half an inch to an inch above a node. Cutting at a slight 45-degree angle can help prevent water from sitting on the cut surface.
  4. Step 4: Dab the Sap. Gently dab the white sap from the cut on the main plant and the cutting. It will stop flowing after a few minutes.
  5. Step 5: Celebrate! You did it! You’ve just encouraged your fiddle leaf fig to become a fuller, happier plant.
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Aftercare: Helping Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Recover and Thrive

Your job isn’t quite done yet. Proper aftercare is essential for a speedy recovery. This part of our what to do when fiddle leaf fig gets too tall care guide is simple but important.

Don’t be alarmed if your plant seems to pause its growth for a few weeks—this is normal. It’s redirecting its energy to healing the cut and activating the nodes below it. Keep it in its usual spot with plenty of bright, indirect light. Maintain your regular watering schedule, allowing the top couple of inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Avoid fertilizing for at least a month to prevent stressing the plant.

Beyond Pruning: Advanced Techniques for a Fuller Fiddle

If you’re feeling adventurous or have a particularly leggy plant, there are a couple of other techniques you can try in addition to simple topping.

Notching: Encouraging Branches Without Topping

Have a long, bare section of trunk you wish had leaves? Notching is your answer. It’s a clever trick to stimulate a dormant node to sprout a new branch.

Simply locate a dormant node on the bare trunk where you’d like a branch. Using a clean, sharp knife, make a small, shallow cut into the bark about one-third of the way around the stem, just above the node. You only need to cut through the very top layer. This small wound interrupts the flow of growth-suppressing hormones, encouraging the node below to activate.

Air Layering: A Fail-Safe Propagation Method for Tall Stems

If you’re nervous about chopping off a large top section of your beloved plant, air layering is a fantastic, low-risk alternative. It involves encouraging the top section of the stem to grow roots while it’s still attached to the parent plant.

Once the new roots are established, you can cut the new plant off and pot it up separately. This is a more advanced technique but offers a nearly guaranteed way to create a large, mature new plant from your tall fiddle.

Don’t Waste Those Cuttings! An Eco-Friendly Propagation Guide

One of the most rewarding parts of pruning is propagation—creating new baby plants for free! This is a wonderful, sustainable what to do when fiddle leaf fig gets too tall practice. Instead of discarding your cuttings, give them a new life.

Propagating Your Fiddle Leaf Fig in Water

This is the most common and visually rewarding method. It’s so exciting to watch the roots grow!

  • Take your cutting (ideally with 2-3 leaves on it) and remove the lowest leaf to expose the node.
  • Place the cutting in a clear jar or vase filled with room-temperature water.
  • Ensure the node is submerged but the remaining leaves are above the waterline.
  • Place the jar in a spot with bright, indirect light and change the water every few days to keep it fresh.
  • In a few weeks to a couple of months, you should see white roots begin to sprout! Once they are a few inches long, you can plant your new fiddle in soil.

Propagating Directly in Soil

You can also skip the water step and plant your cutting directly into a small pot with a well-draining soil mix. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone (optional, but it helps) and place it into the soil. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged until the roots establish.

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Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

Even with the best care, you might have questions. Here are a few common problems with what to do when fiddle leaf fig gets too tall and how to handle them.

What if My Fiddle Doesn’t Branch After Pruning?

Patience is key! It can take a month or more to see new buds. If nothing happens, ensure your plant is getting enough bright, indirect light. Light is the primary trigger for new growth. If it’s too far from a window, it may not have the energy to branch out.

Dealing with a Weeping or Leaking Stem

The milky white sap is a natural latex and is perfectly normal. As mentioned, it can be a skin irritant, so it’s best to avoid touching it. Simply dab it with a cloth until it stops. It poses no harm to the plant.

Preventing Post-Pruning Shock

Fiddle leaf figs are known for being a bit dramatic. The best way to prevent shock is to follow the what to do when fiddle leaf fig gets too tall best practices: prune during the growing season, use clean tools, and don’t change its environment (light, water, temperature) drastically after the prune.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tall Fiddle Leaf Figs

When is the best time to prune my tall fiddle leaf fig?

The absolute best time is during the active growing season, which is typically spring and early summer. The plant has the most energy during this period to heal quickly and produce new, bushy growth.

How much can I safely cut off my fiddle leaf fig at once?

A good general guideline is to never remove more than one-third of the plant’s total mass at one time. For a simple height reduction, cutting off the top 6-12 inches is perfectly safe and effective.

Will pruning my fiddle leaf fig make it grow bushier?

Yes, absolutely! This is the main reason for pruning. When you snip off the top growth point (the apical meristem), the plant redirects its growth hormones to the dormant nodes further down the stem, encouraging them to sprout into new branches.

My fiddle is just a single tall stalk. Will pruning help?

Yes, pruning is the number one solution for a single, leggy stalk. Topping the plant is the most effective way to signal it to branch out and develop a fuller, more tree-like shape.

You’re Ready to Shape Your Fiddle!

See? Knowing what to do when your fiddle leaf fig gets too tall isn’t scary at all—it’s an exciting opportunity to engage with your plant and help it become its best self. By following these tips, you’re not just controlling its height; you’re encouraging a healthier, stronger, and more beautiful structure.

You’re giving it a haircut that will result in a fabulous new style. Plus, you get the amazing bonus of propagating new baby fiddles to expand your indoor jungle or share with friends.

So grab your pruners, take a deep breath, and get ready to shape your fiddle leaf fig with confidence. Happy pruning!

Rimon Chowdhury
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