Ficus are a genus of trees that are very popular among gardening enthusiasts for their great beauty and the little care they need. These are plants that can be had both indoors and outdoors, depending on the specific species and the local climate. There are a large number of types of ficus, counting more than 800 species among them, the most common being some such as the ficus benjamina, the ficus elastica, the ficus lyrata or the ficus pumila.
However, although they are very undemanding plants with their care, one of the most important in their case is pruning, since they are very fast growing trees. If you want to learn how to prune a ficus step by step, join us in this Green Ecologist article.
The best time to prune a ficus it is almost always a late winter, which is when the plant is in vegetative rest, with a much lower activity, and, therefore, the less sap it will lose and the less damage the pruning will do.
However, if you live in an area with a mild enough climate or without very cold winters, you can also prune your ficus in autumn, as the cold will not be such a worrying factor. Excess branches that are still green, that have not yet been lignified, can be pruned at any time you see fit.
The tools needed for pruning a ficus they are not different from that of most species of their size. Nails pruning shears Well sharpened and properly disinfected before and after each use will be more than sufficient for branches less than 1 cm thick, while larger branches, already lignified (with a wood look), may require the use of a hand saw, also properly disinfected.
Sterilize tools it is always very important, even between different plants, so as not to spread diseases between them.
The ficus benjamina is characterized by its smaller leaves and its slower growth, although it can reach heights of up to 15 meters. Thus, in small gardens or as an indoor plant, grown in a pot, it will be necessary to carry out gentle and constant pruning between one and two times a year, avoiding drastic or very aggressive pruning. For prune the ficus benjamina follow these tips and steps:
We recommend you read these guides on Care for ficus benjamina and Care for bonsai ficus benjamina.
To the prune the ficus robusta or elastic Be careful not to stain your skin with the latex from its stems, which is irritating to the skin and eyes. As in the ficus benjamina, it will be necessary to use a Pruning shears or a hand saw depending on the thickness of the branch and follow these tips:
If your ficus is growing too horizontally and not upward, you will need to practice a formation pruning, as we would do with most shrubs or trees. Follow these tips and steps for pruning a ficus to grow straight up straight and does not extend so horizontally:
Usually better avoid drastic pruning with these trees, but an old or battered ficus may need rejuvenation pruning to recover a good state. In this case there are two options:
If you want to read more articles similar to How to prune a ficus, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.