From my perspective as a Fiddle Leaf Fig (*Ficus lyrata*), my natural inclination is to grow tall and reach for the canopy light. In my native environment, this is a successful survival strategy. Growing bushy from the base would be inefficient when competing with other trees for sunlight. Therefore, my default setting is apical dominance, where the topmost bud produces a hormone called auxin that suppresses the growth of lateral buds lower down the stem. To encourage a bushier form, you must gently interrupt this natural command structure and convince me that it is safe and beneficial to branch out.
Light is my primary energy source, and my growth decisions are entirely dependent on it. To even consider producing new branches, I must be confident that I have more than enough energy from photosynthesis. A spot with bright, indirect light for most of the day is ideal. If I am in low light, my sole focus becomes stretching upwards to find a better light source, resulting in a leggy, sparse appearance. Ample light tells me that I have a surplus of energy, making it safe to invest resources in growing new lateral shoots and leaves, thus creating a fuller, bushier silhouette.
Pruning is the most direct way to communicate your desire for bushiness to me. When you remove my top bud (the tip of the main stem), you physically remove the primary source of auxin. This sudden drop in the suppressing hormone signals to the dormant buds lower on my stem that it is now safe to awaken and grow. Always make a clean cut just above a leaf node (the point where a leaf attaches to the stem), as this is where new growth will emerge. This process redirects the energy I would have used for vertical growth into multiple new lateral branches, creating the fuller shape you desire.
For a less drastic approach than pruning, you can try notching. This involves making a small, shallow cut into my stem just above a dormant bud you wish to activate. The cut should be about one-third of the way through the stem. This minor injury interrupts the flow of auxin past that specific point, locally reducing its concentration and tricking the bud below the notch into thinking the suppression has been lifted. It’s a precise method to encourage branching at a specific location, helping to fill in bare spots on my trunk.
Producing new growth is an energy-intensive process. I cannot become bushy if I am struggling to meet my basic needs. Consistent care is fundamental. Water me deeply only when the top few inches of soil are dry, as my roots are highly susceptible to rot. Provide me with a balanced fertilizer during my active growing season (spring and summer) to supply the essential nutrients for building new cellular structures. Ensure I am in a stable environment free from drastic temperature changes and drafts, as stress will cause me to conserve energy rather than expend it on new branches.
