For “fiddle leaf fig leaves grow back” you must gently bend the bare trunk of your fiddle leaf fig to the desired angle, so that you the position the dormant buds on the bare part of the trunk towards the light source. After a while, the new leaves and even branches will appear on its bare trunk. Nice! Keep reading to learn more tips about doing it successfully.
Previously I told you some stresses can cause fiddle leaf fig leaves to turn down, brown and finally droop. Although I taught you how to fix it, in this situation, the trunk of your lovely plant became bare and ugly! Will fiddle leaf fig leaves grow back? Yes, However, most experts say No, but I know about a magic way which lets you force a Fiddle leaf fig to produce new leaves and even branches in its bare trunk without any head pruning. Let’s get going.
Hi, I’m a horticultural consultant and in this post, I want to tell you about the “Low Stress Training plants” (LST) technique, have you ever heard about it? It is a common horticultural practice used to manipulate plant growth to encourage lateral growth and create a bushier plant. Here, I will show you how to use it for fiddle leaf fig leaves to grow back.
In the following, I will tell you this technique step-by-step and finally will discuss more about the scientific reasons for this phenomenon. Are you ready to grow back the leaves of your Fiddle leaf fig? let’s start.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves Grow Back by the “Low Stress Training Plants” (LST) Technique
Fiddle Leaf Fig is one of the best large houseplants for living rooms. Here, I provided a step-by-step guide to encourage leaf growth on a bare Ficus trunk. This technique is not guaranteed to work for every plant. Factors such as plant health, age, and growing conditions can influence the outcome.
Materials:
- Ficus plant with bare lower trunk
- Soft aluminium wire (avoid copper or iron wire as they can damage the plant)
- Gardening gloves
Steps:
- Prepare the Plant: Ensure your Ficus plant (Fiddle leaf fig) is healthy and free from tiny bugs like mealybugs, mites or diseases such as root rot. This technique is most effective on a plant that is actively growing.
- Choose a Bending Direction: Decide which direction you want to bend the trunk. This will influence the placement of the dormant buds in light.
- Protect the Trunk: To prevent damage to the bark, wrap the trunk with a soft cloth or gardening tape before applying the wire.
- Apply the Wire: Carefully wrap the aluminium wire around the trunk, following the desired bending direction. Secure the wire at both ends to prevent slippage.
- Bend the Trunk: Gently bend the trunk to the desired angle. The goal is to position the dormant buds on the bare part of the trunk towards the light source. The top of the plant should be horizontal.
- Monitor and Adjust: Regularly check the plant for signs of stress. If the wire is digging into the bark, loosen it slightly. Adjust the wire as needed to maintain the desired bend.
- Patience: This process can take several months. Be patient and allow the dormant buds to awaken and produce new growth.
Additional Tips for Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves Grow Back:
- Light: Ensure the plant receives adequate indirect light.
- Watering: Maintain consistent watering, avoiding both overwatering and underwatering.
- Fertilization: Provide a balanced fertilizer during the growing season to support new growth.
- Support: If the bent trunk is heavy, provide additional support to prevent breakage.
A video about Ficus Leaves Grow Back
Here, I shared a video from YouTube which shows you how to get a Bushy Rubber plant (Ficus Elastica) without pruning with a very simple trick. I found out it is possible for Fiddle leaf figs too.
According to this video, a method to force a rubber plant to branch out without pruning is to bend the plant’s main stem downwards, essentially inverting its growing direction. This forces the plant to look for light and encourages it to produce side branches.
The video also mentions that this technique can be used any time of the year, but I think it will be faster during the growing season. Additionally, the video emphasizes the importance of proper lighting for rubber plants. So, you should ensure your plant receives adequate indirect light to promote healthy growth and branching.
The technique described in this video is very similar to “Low-Stress Training” (LST), a common horticultural practice used to manipulate plant growth. LST involves carefully bending or manipulating the plant’s branches and main stem to encourage lateral growth and create a bushier plant. It’s particularly popular in hydroponics and cannabis cultivation but can be applied to many other plants, including Ficus. Lets to watch it.
The Science Behind Bending a Fiddle Leaf Fig to Encourage Leaf Growth
The technique of bending a Ficus plant to stimulate leaf growth relies on several botanical principles:
- Auxin and Apical Dominance:
Auxin: This plant hormone is primarily responsible for growth and development. It is produced in the plant’s tip (apical meristem) and travels downward, inhibiting the growth of lateral buds.
Apical Dominance: This is the phenomenon where the main stem of a plant dominates growth over the lateral buds. When the main stem is bent, the concentration of auxin is disrupted, reducing its inhibitory effect on the lower buds.
- Phototropism:
Plants exhibit a natural tendency to grow towards light, a process known as phototropism. By bending the main stem, the lower dormant buds are positioned to receive more light, stimulating their growth.
- Stress Response:
Bending the plant can induce a mild stress response. In an attempt to adapt, the plant may prioritize growth of lateral buds to increase its leaf area for photosynthesis.
- Hormonal Balance:
The change in orientation can affect the balance of hormones within the plant, potentially triggering the development of dormant buds.
By combining these factors, bending the Ficus plant creates an environment more conducive to the growth of lateral buds, resulting in the development of new leaves on the previously bare trunk.
Other Methods to Encourage Leaf Growth in Ficus
While bending the trunk is an effective method, there are additional techniques you can employ to promote leaf growth in your Ficus:
Pruning:
- Purpose: To redirect energy towards new growth.
- Method: Carefully prune back the tips of branches to encourage lateral growth. This can help fill in bare spots.
Light and Temperature:
- Importance: Ficus plants thrive in bright, indirect light and consistent temperatures.
- Action: Ensure your ficus is placed in a location with adequate light and avoid extreme temperature fluctuations.
Proper Care:
- Watering: Maintain consistent moisture, avoiding both overwatering and underwatering.
- Fertilization: Provide a balanced fertilizer during the growing season to support new growth.
- Repotting: Repot your ficus into a slightly larger pot when it becomes rootbound to encourage new growth.
Patience:
- Key factor: Ficus plants can be slow growers. Be patient and allow sufficient time for new leaves to develop.
By combining these methods with the trunk-bending technique, you can significantly improve the appearance of your Ficus and encourage healthy, lush growth.
Low-Stress Training (LST) Principle for Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves Grow Back
LST involves gently bending a plant’s stems and branches to manipulate its growth pattern. The core principle is to:
- Disrupt apical dominance: By bending the main stem, the plant’s natural focus on upward growth is redirected.
- Encourage lateral growth: This disruption prompts the plant to develop more side branches.
- Maximize light exposure: A bushier plant with more branches can capture more light, leading to increased yield and healthier growth.
- Control plant height: By managing the plant’s shape, LST can help control its height, especially beneficial for indoor growing.
Essentially, LST is a technique to harness a plant’s natural growth mechanisms to create a desired shape and optimize its potential.
Conclusion to Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves Grow Back
Ok, now you learned a magic way to your bare Fiddle leaf Fig leaves to grow back. I told you that Low-Stress Training (LST) is possible for Ficus plants and your plant can reproduce leaves and branches on its bare trunk. However, due to semi-woody stems, you must be careful not to break the stems.
In addition, providing bright indirect sunlight is vital to raise your chances. Please tell me about your ideas and experiences below this page and ask me if you have any questions.
Elahe Rabiei
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.