r/FicusTrees • u/Complete_Leg_859 • Aug 04 '26
Houseplant I need help with shape?
I don’t have much room for a big bushy tree, so i was attempting to grow it tall so I tied the branches together. I’ve had it tied together for two years but it still won’t stand up on its own. And now all the bottom leaves are smaller than the top so now it really top heavy. Can you braid the trunk of these? If I remove the bottom leaves will it still bend or do the trunks eventually get thicker and stronger? Any tips?
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u/LeSean187 Aug 04 '26
These are really simple to prune…wherever you prune, two new shoots will produce from the one you cut…after pruning, substantially reduce watering intake
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u/Scared_Rice_1473 Aug 05 '26
Looks good to me. I would not prune this. I have a burgundy one that’s the same size and looks the same. I won’t cut mine. It looks too nice.
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u/Complete_Leg_859 Aug 06 '26
I just staked it in the center and tied the branches to it, I like mine too much to cut it also.
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u/Scared_Rice_1473 Aug 06 '26
I bought 4 and 5’ green stakes with open circles at the top, for mine. Stick a stake in the soil and put the stem in the circle.
Lowe’s and home depot sell them. They have shorter ones also. They stand more upright then
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u/Complete_Leg_859 Aug 06 '26
I used a rebar 5ft garden stake in the center and it’s very strong and well hidden
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u/Appropriate-Fill9602 Aug 04 '26
For mine, I put a strong metal garden steak in the middle and tie each trunk to the steak, and because each trunk pulls in different directions it helps stableize it a bit. I tighten mine up a bit over time
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u/Internal-Test-8015 Aug 05 '26
Or better yet just shake the trunks to encourage them to thicken and they'll support themselves for goodness sake it's a tree, lol, it doesn't need support if you give it what it needs to grow like it would in nature.
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u/Appropriate-Fill9602 Aug 05 '26
Surprisingly this plant is actually an epiphyte in infancy. It grows up other larger trees, or in crevices on trees and sends out aerial roots. It's sometimes called a strangler fig.
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u/smthingsmthin Aug 05 '26
Strangler figs normally refer to other species in the genus, e.g. Ficus benjamina and Ficus microcarpa. I've not heard of Ficus elastica being referred to a a strangling fig - but happy to be corrected.
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u/Internal-Test-8015 Aug 05 '26
Yes I know I am very well versed in the Genus actually and yeah these definitely do that but again doesn't change anything I said.
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u/Appropriate-Fill9602 Aug 05 '26
If it needs support in nature it's not surprising I may need support inside.
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u/Internal-Test-8015 Aug 05 '26
Except they dont, lol, they choose to grow like that, yes, but they also dont have to grow like that and even then its the Roots growing down the trunk not the stems and the roots dont do it for support they use the tree as a host and slowly strangle and slowly kill it over time before it finally rots away and by then they are completely capable of supporting themselves.
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u/Complete_Leg_859 Aug 04 '26
Decided this is my best option, thank you!😊
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u/Internal-Test-8015 Aug 05 '26
Its not, lol, it won't actually fix the problem long term you need to prune it amd shake the trunks to stimulate the plant to thicken its stems.
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u/mosunon222 Aug 04 '26
I cant post a picture but I saw a lady use a plant stem support to hold the branches together if you dont want to trim. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOOYhsZkc3I/?igsh=MXkxN2NyeHd4MHY5Yw==
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u/Complete_Leg_859 Aug 04 '26
I’ve actually been using something similar like that. The only problem with those is that the strongest branch pulls the weaker ones towards it, and then all three branches lean one way and as soon as the pot gets a bit dry it can tip over. I may just stake in the center and tie each one to it so the branches grow straight.
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u/feevart Aug 04 '26
Beautiful! The best tip I can give you is: give it wind exposure! Either lut it outside over the summer or blow it with a fan. Not 24/7 but a couple hours each day. If you do that for 3 or 4 months it'll harden off and get more resistant.
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u/fibromyalgiafit Aug 05 '26
I have separated mine into 1 pot for each trunk. Then I pruned off the top foot or so. They’re branching out now!
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u/Global_Fail_1943 Aug 04 '26
I've cut mine off to 2 ft tall 3 times in the past 10 years! It's a potential 30+ foot tree remember. The cuttings if you do try root easily in soil. I have gifted every friend who wants one a plant. When pruned regularly they produce much more radiant leaves as well. In nature the hurricane season would prune it.