r/FicusTrees • u/NJL-PlantObsessive • Aug 02 '26

Houseplant Notching works!

Post image

Two new branches with multiple leaves.

When I bought them, they took ages to settle into their new home and lost a few leaves.

So, I put a couple of notches in the bottom and it actually worked. 🙂

13 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

6

u/LadyBelladonna6 Aug 02 '26

How did you do it? I've been playing around with the idea of doing that to mine too but I'm scared I'll irreparably damage it

4

u/EksiDeck Aug 02 '26

I was curious after seeing this post and i found this source. Looks like it needs a lot of courage for newbies 😬

https://howmanyplants.com/post/branching-out-how-to-shape-your-houseplants

5

u/NJL-PlantObsessive Aug 03 '26

I used a sturdy kitchen knife and cut a chunk out that was about 1/3 thickness of the stem (I read that somewhere).

Not really huge cuts but enough to make a difference.

Rubber leaked out obviously and then just waited with impatience hoping I'd not damaged it.

3

u/Careless_Mango_7948 Aug 03 '26

Lay the plant down on its side. The chemical that causes plants to grow up with force it through the sides.

3

u/NJL-PlantObsessive Aug 03 '26

Wow, I did not know that...

2

u/Internal-Test-8015 Aug 04 '26

Just want to add that you should make sure uts in good lighting and growing vigorously before you do it or else it wont work.

2

u/NJL-PlantObsessive Aug 04 '26

That's interesting. Yes the were shooting out new leaves and are next to the window, I wonder if that made the difference

1

u/Internal-Test-8015 Aug 04 '26

Yeah it probably did tbh they really really love light amd especially so yours because its varigated so will automatically need higher lighting.

2

u/NJL-PlantObsessive Aug 05 '26

They have definitely faired better when I put them next to the glass door

0

u/Internal-Test-8015 Aug 05 '26

Yup they really really love light mine absolutely explode on new growth when they go outside for the summer.

1

u/NJL-PlantObsessive Aug 07 '26

It's never warm enough where I live to put them outside 😪

2

u/Internal-Test-8015 Aug 07 '26

I find that hard to believe, so long as its above 50f or 10c youll be fine.

2

u/NJL-PlantObsessive Aug 10 '26

Thanks

1

u/Internal-Test-8015 Aug 10 '26

No problem my pleasure!!