Received this rescue fiddle fig yesterday from someone who is no longer willing to care for it and hope I can get some ideas how best to manage it. Has 3 stems, 2 very tall (about 6-7 feet) and a shorter one at the base. The 2 taller stems are mostly bare with the leaves at the top. I would like to chop and prop the 2 taller stems and repot in the same container to make a shorter fuller plant if possible. If so, how much can I cut back the long leafless stems? Any advice appreciated. Here are some pics.








I need to do this in short order as my season for doing anything outside could end very quickly and I would like to get the cleanup done before bringing it inside as a more manageable size. Thanks for any thoughts!

Cut them at any height you like, but only use the leafy parts for cuttings. Remove the middle parts that don't have any leaves.

@drdawg

@DebbieC, you've got multiple issues and solutions here, Debbie. A significant issue is your lack of time for outside growing. I've grown and propagated Fiddle Leaf Ficus by the 100's and I was never successful in rooting cuttings this time of year. I found that the best way to propagate these leggy limbs was by air-layering them. That resulted in almost 100% success. But air-layering will take at least a month (and possibly twice that because of your Canadian location). If you want to have multiple plants from this awkwardly growing tree, you'll need to air-layer every limb, cutting the tree back to that lower growing stem when you've air-layered all that you want.

If you don't care about propagation, you can simply cut that bare, leggy stem back and grow the lower leafed-out stem. You can try to root those cuttings or just trash them.
It appears to me that this tree got too much sun on those lower leaves. Fiddle Leaf needs bright light to do well, but if there is sun, only allow early morning or very late afternoon sun on this tree. Fiddle Leaf Ficus can be acclimated to full sun, but that's a slow process and unnecessary where you live.

Here is a group of air-layered plants that I've just potted up.

Thank you both for your advice!
Yes, I wondered about my chances of success at trying to propagate cuttings at this time of year and I don't think air-layering is in the cards right now. I think the best plan for me would be to just cut back those long stems and grow out that lower one. I may try to root one of the top cuts as an experiment. Beautiful healthy looking plants @drdawg! Thanks again!

I would suggest that you bag-root any cuttings that you want to try to root, Debbie. Good luck with this Fiddle Leaf.

drdawg said: @DebbieC, you've got multiple issues and solutions here, Debbie. A significant issue is your lack of time for outside growing. I've grown and propagated Fiddle Leaf Ficus by the 100's and I was never successful in rooting cuttings this time of year. I found that the best way to propagate these leggy limbs was by air-layering them. That resulted in almost 100% success. But air-layering will take at least a month (and possibly twice that because of your Canadian location). If you want to have multiple plants from this awkwardly growing tree, you'll need to air-layer every limb, cutting the tree back to that lower growing stem when you've air-layered all that you want.

If you don't care about propagation, you can simply cut that bare, leggy stem back and grow the lower leafed-out stem. You can try to root those cuttings or just trash them.
It appears to me that this tree got too much sun on those lower leaves. Fiddle Leaf needs bright light to do well, but if there is sun, only allow early morning or very late afternoon sun on this tree. Fiddle Leaf Ficus can be acclimated to full sun, but that's a slow process and unnecessary where you live.

Here is a group of air-layered plants that I've just potted up.

Yep, great post.

Big fan of air-layering myself but does take time.

Thanks, @Humboldt

drdawg said: I would suggest that you bag-root any cuttings that you want to try to root, Debbie. Good luck with this Fiddle Leaf.

Not familiar with bag-rooting.
I assume it's basically what it sounds like though?

Well, people differ in what media will be in the bag, everything from potting soil, coir, perlite, and other media are used. I personally prefer sterile coarse or super coarse perlite. The main two things that bagging does for you is it controls moisture long term and it also is pretty much bag, seal, and forget it. Because you can't bag root in the "toasty" temperatures that we can here in SE Florida, I would suggest that you purchase a nice, large heating pad to place those bags on.

drdawg said: Well, people differ in what media will be in the bag, everything from potting soil, coir, perlite, and other media are used. I personally prefer sterile coarse or super coarse perlite. The main two things that bagging does for you is it controls moisture long term and it also is pretty much bag, seal, and forget it. Because you can't bag root in the "toasty" temperatures that we can here in SE Florida, I would suggest that you purchase a nice, large heating pad to place those bags on.

Thank you drdawg:)

I wasn't familiar with what bag rooting is. Looked that up and your replies are very helpful:)

drdawg said: Because you can't bag root in the "toasty" temperatures that we can here in SE Florida, I would suggest that you purchase a nice, large heating pad to place those bags on.

Yep, we sell those and use them for our critters and plants.