Did you know that a ficus elastica is capable of reaching about thirty meters in height in its natural habitat? Well, the truth is that yes and although in your home, whether you have it outside or in a pot inside the house, it will not generally exceed two meters in height, that does not mean that you should not prune elastic ficus of Occasionally.
But how to do it? If you have no idea and if a ficus elastica is the one that you need to give a bit of shape to, then here you will find a guide that can help you take the appropriate steps to improve the condition of your plant, strengthen it, and above all, to improve your health.
When is the best time to prune a ficus elastica: pruning calendar
The first thing you should know when pruning a ficus elastica is the right time to do it. There is no exact or clear answer to this question, but we are going to give you two key moments that you should keep in mind.
We could recommend the first of them for somewhat more drastic strong pruning on this tree. It takes place at the end of winter, just when the frost or intense cold begins to fade and just before the plant begins to generate new shoots, awakening it from its dormancy.
The second moment that we recommend to prune a ficus elastica takes place during spring and summer. However, does not mean that it can be pruned at that time. In reality, it is intended only to eliminate those branches that may hinder the oxygenation of the entire plant, branches that suddenly wither or that may be damaged by pests or diseases. Instead of keeping them and Due to the risk to the health of the entire plant, it is recommended to remove them as soon as possible even though it is a time of growth and development.
Keep in mind that when you prune at those two times of the year the plant loses more sap than normal and that is why it is not recommended when you have to cut too many branches.
How to prune a ficus elastica: a step-by-step guide to healthy growth
Now that you know exactly when you should prune a ficus elastica, it's time to do it. But if it is the first time in this plant or the first time in general, it is very possible that you have doubts about the steps you should take.
To do this, here we give you all the keys so that you do not have problems.
Tools needed to prune an elastic ficus effectively
Before you prune your ficus elastica, you need to have the necessary tools on hand to do so. These are not too different from the tools you need for any other tree or species of a similar size to the elastic ficus.
Among the tools that you will need, one of the most important is the pruning shears. Make sure it is sharp enough to cut effectively and without having to over-tighten or force that cut, as the plant itself is going to stress and you will also get more tired. Also, you must make sure that it is sterilized so that it does not catch diseases from other plants. These cutting scissors will be suitable for those branches that are less than one centimeter thick; but for thicker branches if you are going to need a hand saw or some electrical device that will help you remove them more effectively and quickly. Of course, remember that it must also be sterilized.
Another of the important tools in the case of pruning a ficus elastica are gloves and protective glasses. The reason is that the ficus, when cutting a stem, will release a white liquid called latex. which when in contact with the skin can be irritating. Therefore, it is best to protect yourself so that they do not have any problems.
How to shape a ficus elastica through proper pruning
You now have all the tools and you are ready to prune a ficus elastica. So, in general, the steps you should follow are the following:
- Start by removing all old or shabby-looking branches. Among them may be the branches that you see that do not have leaves, those that twist in a strange way, those that you notice are sick or have pests...
- When pruning you must take into account if you want that branch to be maintained in the future or, on the contrary, you prefer that it disappear. Yes that's how it is, instead of pruning at a certain distance, it is best to do it from the very base of growth. On the contrary, if you prefer to always leave it short after a point knot, there is no line when pruning the branches, you must make sure that the cut you make is never straight, but rather obliquely.
- If you make a straight cut, you can harm the plant much more and it will take time for it to sprout from that area. If it does, it does not give a line. Another point to take into account about the elastic ficus is that, when it is transplanted, the usual thing is to also do a root pruning. However, if you do not have much experience in this case, it can be counterproductive because you will deteriorate the health of the plant and it could die in a matter of months.
Pruning a ficus elastica to encourage bushier, more compact growth
When what you want in your elastic ficus is to have a more bushy and leafy shape, pruning must be done in a slightly more special way. For a start you have to cut the lateral stems to achieve a branching of these in such a way that the center of the plant is filled.
You always cut above the growth node from which you want the branch to emerge and usually between one and two new stems will appear. Over time, you can also trim back those stems, creating a thicker canopy for your plant.
How to rejuvenate a ficus elastica through correct pruning
There are occasions when the elastic ficuses are already a few years old and it shows in their foliage. They appear duller, with fewer branches and somewhat deteriorated.
If the plant is healthy one of the ways to rejuvenate it can be by cutting the upper part and using cuttings from those branches to plant them in the same pot and get the youngest plants to fill the lower part of the plant.
In this way you prevent the stem from running out of leaves, especially at the bottom, and at the same time you make the plant re-emerge. Of course everything will depend on the health of the plant itself.
As you see, pruning a ficus elastica is quite simple. If you do not feel prepared or think that you are not going to do it well, you can start by pruning just a few branches and adapt it to continuous pruning in order to avoid problems or your own plant getting sick from pruning too much or cutting what you shouldn't.