How to back bud on ficus

[Dr_Fud]

Hi all! Been a long time since my last post, glad to be back. I have a ficus I purchased 4 years ago, it was well taken care of for 1.5 years, then left with someone for 2 years who gave it minimal care. Was in bad shape. I’ve gotten in back 6 months ago, gave a repot, it’s stabilized and is happy. Problem is the branches are are only growing leaves on the tips. The tree looks hollow. How do I get more leaves closer to the trunk? I have attached pics. I am still new to the hobby, I apologize for the naiveness and thank you all in advance for your advice!

 

[0soyoung]

Thimann and Skoog showed that all you've got to do is to 'decapitate' (i.e., cut the end) off the branch.

Well, actually people knew this well before a century ago, but they showed that it worked because the auxin produced by the tip bud suppressed buds closer to the root from being released (to grow stems with new leaves).

 

[leatherback]

Key is however to get the tree growing strongly. Then clipping all growing tips. For good measure you could remove all the leaves. In fact, that is how I would tackle it. Get it growing strong. Then cut back the lanky growth and set the branches in position. Wait 2 hours for the buds to start growing

 

[erich_raudebaugh]

Yep, what these guys said. Fertilize, get it nice and strong, then cut back hard. You don't need to leave any leaves. I defoliate my ficus trees every couple years or so, depending on strength, then after they produce back buds I cut back to those buds. Hard cut backs seem to work too.

 

[Forsoothe!]

To make the tree more compact, cut each twig back to one or two sets of leaves. Any twigs that are still too long should be cut back to a length acceptable to you, or off entirely. Then, cut all the leaves off at the base of the leaf leaving the petiole in place to guard the bud in its axil. Place the plant in a sunny location and water every day it doesn't rain. After the new canopy is mature, maybe 6 weeks, repot reducing the large anchor roots by 50 or 60% in favor of keeping as many hairy feeder roots as possible. Begin to feed with any commercial liquid like Miracle Grow once a month at label strength. You can do this once a year in April or May to keep things compact, but growing.

 

[sorce]

That odd swelling in the branches kinda confirms my thought of something is wrong with it, especially for a ficus in Miami.

I don't think I'd do anything but move it away from everything else, figure out what it is, and maybe threaten it with a lighter.

Sorce

 

[Forsoothe!]

That "odd swelling" is the nebari you moron. It's a negari.

 

[Eckhoffw]

That "odd swelling" is the nebari you moron. It's a negari.

And this?

 

[Forsoothe!]

Didn't see that! I apologize to the all-seeing Maha @sorce !

 

[TN_Jim]

How many hours of direct sunlight does the tree get each day? A good way to get healthy vigorous growth could be to ease it out into as much sun as possible -at least 6 hrs direct or more.

 

[Dr_Fud]

It’s outdoors on an balcony. I actually just constructed a cover on my balcony this summer, because of too much sun. At least 8 hours of sunlight.

 

[Dr_Fud]

That odd swelling in the branches kinda confirms my thought of something is wrong with it, especially for a ficus in Miami.

I don't think I'd do anything but move it away from everything else, figure out what it is, and maybe threaten it with a lighter.

Sorce

Bad news sorce. Had it in the hot seat all night and it didn’t peep a damn word. Do you have any thoughts on what it could be?

 

[Dr_Fud]

To make the tree more compact, cut each twig back to one or two sets of leaves. Any twigs that are still too long should be cut back to a length acceptable to you, or off entirely. Then, cut all the leaves off at the base of the leaf leaving the petiole in place to guard the bud in its axil. Place the plant in a sunny location and water every day it doesn't rain. After the new canopy is mature, maybe 6 weeks, repot reducing the large anchor roots by 50 or 60% in favor of keeping as many hairy feeder roots as possible. Begin to feed with any commercial liquid like Miracle Grow once a month at label strength. You can do this once a year in April or May to keep things compact, but growing.

@erich_raudebaugh @Forsoothe! It does have anything close to the trunk. The branches are completely bare expect at the tip. Can I cut these main branches? Should I do the cutback over 2 seasons?

 

[sorce]

Bad news sorce. Had it in the hot seat all night and it didn’t peep a damn word. Do you have any thoughts on what it could be?

There is a bunch of things that can bore or lay eggs in a tree. Most die up here so I expect your invasive welcoming climate would demand a bit more research.

Keep it step one IMO.

I don't think you'll get the response you're looking for from pruning until it regains that health.

I doubt you're doing a hundred other things wrong, but I guess best case scenario could be you are, and switching that will bring you the health necessary to both get the new growth and remove everything swollen.

Sorce

 

[Dr_Fud]

Thanks man! Will definitely need some more advice in the coming weeks! Appreciate you and the community.

 

[Cadillactaste]

My take..lack of sufficient light permitted leggy growth to have lots of branching at the ends of the branch. Isn't that very common for reverse taper to be found.

 

[Forsoothe!]

In Miami, do the whole process right now. Prune hard, full sun, water every day it doesn't rain, start feeding with any commercial liquid like Miracle Grow year-around once a month when all the leaves are out (6 to 8 weeks).

 

[Dr_Fud]

In Miami, do the whole process right now. Prune hard, full sun, water every day it doesn't rain, start feeding with any commercial liquid like Miracle Grow year-around once a month when all the leaves are out (6 to 8 weeks).

Thanks will keep you posted with pics, tbh I’m really scared to do it. Tree has a lot of sentimental value and don’t want to loose it.

 

[leatherback]

If this ficus looks like this at the end of summer in florida I would be hesitant to do it. It does not look like it us very happy, not, subtropical happy.

 

[Dr_Fud]

If this ficus looks like this at the end of summer in florida I would be hesitant to do it. It does not look like it us very happy, not, subtropical happy.

Thoughts @Forsoothe! ??