From my perspective, a leggy growth pattern is a direct response to my environment. I am a Ficus elastica, a creature of the dense, competitive understory of tropical forests. My instinct is to seek out light. When the light you provide is too dim or too far away, my survival programming kicks in. I will channel my energy into rapid vertical growth, stretching my stems and increasing the space between my leaves to reach a perceived light source. This results in the sparse, "leggy" appearance you wish to correct. It is not a disease but a strategic adaptation to suboptimal conditions.
To encourage the bushy, full growth you desire, you must satisfy my fundamental need for bright, indirect light. Place me near a north or east-facing window where I can bask in plenty of ambient sunlight without being scorched by the harsh, direct rays of a south or west sun, which can damage my leaves. If such a spot is unavailable, consider supplementing with a grow light. With consistent, abundant light, my need to stretch diminishes. I can instead focus my energy on producing larger, healthier leaves and, crucially, activating the growth nodes along my stem to create new branches, leading to a denser form.
Pruning is the most direct way you can communicate your shape preferences to me. Topping, or cutting off my main apical stem, is a powerful intervention. The tip of my stem produces a hormone called auxin that suppresses growth from the lower nodes, a phenomenon known as apical dominance. By carefully cutting just above a node (the small bump where a leaf meets the stem), you remove the primary source of this hormone. This signals to me to redirect my energy into developing two or more new branches from the nodes just below the cut. This process, repeated strategically, will transform my single, tall stem into a fuller, multi-branched structure.
If you are hesitant to make a major cut, a less invasive technique called notching can be employed. Using a clean, sharp knife, make a small, shallow cut into my stem just above a node you wish to stimulate. The cut should be about one-third of the stem's diameter. This minor injury partially interrupts the flow of auxin from the dominant stem tip past that node. The localized reduction in the suppressing hormone can be enough to encourage a new branch to sprout from that specific point without the need to remove the top of my main stem entirely.
Your efforts to shape me will only be successful if I am fundamentally healthy and nourished. During my active growing season (spring and summer), provide me with a balanced, diluted liquid fertilizer monthly. This gives me the essential nutrients to support the new growth you are prompting through pruning. Water me thoroughly only when the top inch of soil is dry, and ensure my pot has excellent drainage to prevent root rot. A healthy root system is the engine for all the lush, bushy top growth you want to see. Finally, periodically dust my large leaves. A layer of dust blocks sunlight, reducing my ability to photosynthesize and generate the energy needed for new, dense foliage.
