From my perspective as a Fiddle Leaf Fig, my natural instinct is to grow tall and reach for the canopy light. This is governed by a principle called apical dominance. The topmost bud, my apical bud, produces a hormone called auxin that suppresses the growth of the lateral buds further down my stem. This ensures my energy is focused on vertical growth, which is advantageous in my native habitat. When you want me to be bushier, you must interrupt this single-minded upward trajectory.
When you make a clean cut to remove my top bud or the tip of a stem (a process you call "topping" or "pinching"), you are physically removing the primary source of that suppressing auxin. This act is a clear signal to my system. With the apical dominance broken, the hormonal balance shifts dramatically. The auxin concentration drops, and the lower, dormant lateral buds are no longer inhibited. They perceive this change as an opportunity and a command to awaken and grow.
Your cut must be made strategically. Just above a node—the slightly bumpy ring on my stem where a leaf attaches—is the perfect location. Each node contains one or more of those dormant lateral buds. By pruning just 1/4 to 1/2 inch above a node, you encourage the buds at that specific node to burst into action. They will develop into new branches, creating the fuller, bushier appearance you desire. The height at which you make this cut will directly determine where my new, denser growth begins.
If your goal is to control my height while encouraging bushiness, you should prune the main central stem at your desired height point. Choose a node at the height you wish me to stop growing vertically from that central leader. I will then redirect my energy into the lateral branches below that cut, making them stronger and encouraging even more branching from their nodes. For a more tree-like shape with a clear trunk and a bushy top, you can also remove any lower leaves or small branches that are weak or leggy, further directing my energy upward.
Pruning is a stressful event for me, though a beneficial one. To respond effectively and produce vigorous new growth, I require ample resources. Please place me in a location with abundant, bright, indirect light. This is the primary energy source that will fuel the development of my new branches. Furthermore, hold off on fertilizing immediately after the cut, but once you see new growth emerging in a few weeks, provide a balanced fertilizer to supply the essential nutrients needed to build strong, healthy leaves and stems on my new, bushier form.
