Hello;

I have this mallsai Ficus which I have plans for the future; meanwhile I clip, prune and let it grow it wishes.
Some of the "branches to be" are leggy. I keep pruning them to the last two leaves closest to the trunk, but there is no visible buds below that point.
I need these branches to get thick, but I also need ramification.
So the questions are:
1-) If I cut on the red lines will the branches backbud or die?
2-) If I let them grow free they will thicken, but will it be possible to shorten them later and still have backbuding close to the trunk?
I

Ficus does not backbud easily as long as there are leaves on a branch. So removing the leaves including the green growing tip, will cause them to backbud. I would however do this after a good strong growth of the plant. Plants will respond best when in optimal health. But continuously clipping back to two leaves, you are weakening the plant, and as a result you will get very weak butting if you defoliate now.

So n short: Let it grow, let it thicken and every so often, trim back. (That is what I am doing in any case)

leatherback wrote:

But continuously clipping back to two leaves, you are weakening the plant. Let it grow, let it thicken and every so often, trim back.

Thanks, sounds like good advice. It's already cold around here, so I guess I'll let it do its own thing until springtime.

Clicio wrote:

leatherback wrote:

But continuously clipping back to two leaves, you are weakening the plant. Let it grow, let it thicken and every so often, trim back.

Thanks, sounds like good advice. It's already cold around here, so I guess I'll let it do its own thing until springtime.

Cold? Ehr.. Suppose everyone has a different idea of cold

leatherback wrote:

Cold? Ehr.. Suppose everyone has a different idea of cold

10 degrees last night, going down to 5 tonight.