Pruning Ficus Trees: Ficus Benjamina Pruning Step by Step Guide

The ficus is an arboreal plant that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. One of the most popular is the ficus benjamina, a very ‘thankful’ plant that is great as an accent for a little garden, though you can also have your ficus benjamina in a pot to bring a touch of nature into any room. This species of ficus, unlike others in the same family, does not have big leaves. His are medium in size, lance-shaped, and come in a variety of colours ranging from dark green to yellowish. Pruning your ficus benjamina at the correct time and in the right way is critical to properly maintaining for it, whether you have one indoors or out. If you want to learn how to do it, read this post, in which we show you how to prune a ficus benjamina in detail, as well as some recommendations for keeping your plant looking great all year.

When to Prune a Ficus Benjamina

It’s crucial to understand when the optimal time is to prune a ficus benjamina because there are various elements to consider before making the decision.

As a first tip, ficus trimming should be done at least once a year to ensure that the plant develops healthy and strong, which will help it flower in the future. The ficus benjamina should be well pruned in autumn or at the end of winter, just before the coming of spring, in addition to providing basic care, such as moderate watering to avoid waterlogging, a suitable base with periodic fertilizer, and enough light for its development.

The weather conditions that your ficus is exposed to will determine whether you do it now or later. It’s best to do it in the fall if you’re doing it indoors. Also, if you have a garden but live in a region with a mild climate and no frost, autumn is the best season to plant. If your outdoor plant is exposed to temperatures below freezing, however, you should wait until the end of the winter to prune it. Of course, if your ficus benjamina’s leaves have been damaged or sick (dry, moldy, with brown or yellowish blotches, etc. ), do not delay in removing the affected branches.

What You Need to Prune a Ficus Benjamina

Pruning a ficus tree is straightforward and requires very little equipment. To prune a small or medium-sized ficus benjamina, all you need are good sharp pruning shears. Keep in mind that ficus, even the ‘youngest,’ can reach heights of more than 10 or 15 meters if planted in the ground and given enough room. If we’re talking about large trees, you’ll also need a manual saw to cut the heaviest branches, in addition to the scissors.

Remember to disinfect any garden instrument before and after use to avoid a parasite, fungus, or bacteria that has infected a plant from spreading to another section of the same or another plant, perhaps causing a plague among your plants. Similarly, if your scissors are rusted, it is critical that you clean them before using them on the plant to minimize potential injury.

How to Prune a Ficus Benjamina Step by Step

You can prune your ficus benjamina either because it is the optimal time to prune or because you want to give it a specific shape, such as growing tall and narrow. In any case, the procedures of proper pruning must be followed such that the pruned ficus suffers the least amount of damage and benefits in strength and beauty:

• Make a plan for your pruning. Examine the plant for details such as dried leaves, branches that are more inclined to the ground than the others, or branches that protrude excessively from the set… You are not permitted to begin utilizing the scissors in any way. Consider carefully what should be pruned.
• After planning the job, cut the branches one by one and in a specific order (from top to bottom, clockwise …). This will make things easier for you, and the end effect will be more harmonious and consistent. Separate the branch you’re intending to cut from the others by gently angling it towards the ground.
• Make the cut obliquely, never cutting entirely straight with the scissors.
• The distance between the trunk or main branch and the cutting point should be between 2 and 5 cm, depending on the size of your ficus benjamina and the shape you want it to have. Always cut the pruned branch a few centimetres away from the stem, respecting the node or bud that will sprout a new branch. Make the cut as near to the trunk as feasible if you want to remove it totally.
• Whether you’re going to transplant your ficus in addition to pruning it, possibly because it’s grown too big for its pot, utilize the chance to clip the tips of its roots as well. As a result, when the ficus benjamina is replanted, it will take root faster and grow stronger.
• If your ficus has a disease or insect and you need to undertake a harsh pruning, cut all of the afflicted branches at the height of the stem, keeping the knot that connects them in mind. Hopefully, those branches will emerge with force next spring, and you will be able to appreciate your ficus benjamina once more.