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Avatar for Jofid
Jan 1, 2024 11:37 AM CST
Thread OP

New to this forum! I've had this fiddle leaf fig for five years. The central trunk has not exactly been thriving for some time now -- especially in comparison to the branches -- but recently it dropped all ten of its remaining leaves in a single day. I moved in August and suspect the trunk may been a little damaged right near a place that I previously notched (see second photo), though this doesn't really explain why it dropped all the leaves months later. I've also tried to notch it in other places over the past three growing seasons to get it branch in vain -- and worry I might have damaged it in the process. Does anyone know what might have happened?

What should I do with the leafless trunk now -- cut it, leave it be, try to notch it again?

The plant is in a SW facing sunroom. There is a small draft but no big temperature changes the day of the leaf apocalypse.

Many thanks for your help!
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Avatar for CalPolygardener
Jan 1, 2024 3:20 PM CST
Name: John
California (Zone 9b)
Welcome! to the site!
If the tip is still green, give it some time. If you don't want to look at it, you could use it as a stake and tie a couple of those branches to it.
Kind of surprising it didn't drop leaves when you moved, but that is a great location.

I'm sure someone will come along and advise you to remove all the old soil and replant it in that pot, but then you'd have to cut it back to balance with the loss of roots. Otherwise it looks just fine the way it is.
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Jan 1, 2024 7:05 PM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
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Weird event. But I'd use the opportunity to prune back that trunk and tie the other in some. Bear in mind, I've never owned one. Hilarious!
Plant it and they will come.
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