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Where did the fiddle leaf originate?

Diva land, perhaps? The fiddle leaf fig, ficus lyrata or banjo fig, is a luscious plant known for it’s modern appeal but finicky attitude if it doesn’t get what it wants. According to the North Carolina Extension Gardening Plant Toolbox, the fiddle leaf fig originated in the tropical regions of West and Central Africa. Outdoors, they can grow up to 100 feet tall and will produce figs in its native habitat.

Why you should trim your fiddle leaf fig

This plant knows it’s good looking, so it’s going to make you work for it. Indoors, they can grow up to 10 feet tall, so you’ll want to learn how to trim a fiddle leaf fig for a few reasons:

So it doesn’t hit your ceiling and lean over
To encourage branching
To propagate - make a new plant or gift it
To encourage new growth

Tools for pruning fiddle leaf fig

To do a job well, you have to use proper tools. Especially when it comes to trimming fiddle leaf fig plants. You’ll want sharp shears, a clean cloth, and all the will power you can muster for a chop off your beautiful tree.

Shears

To make a clean cut, it’s best to use newer shears rather than dull, rusty ones. Rust or dirt on the shears can cause a transfer of bacteria on the open cut of the fiddle leaf. This could cause a myriad of issues to follow, so either use new shears or sterilize your current ones before cutting. In the video below on how to prune a fiddle leaf fig, I use these Vivosun shears, which are one of my go-to’s, so feel free to try these out as well (best for smaller or single stem cuts).

Fiber Cloth

I use fiber cloths for all my dab, dust, and dutiful plant needs. You’ll want a cloth for pruning fiddle leaf fig plants to soak the milky sap that seeps from the cut. You don’t want to get this sap on your skin as it can cause irritation. It’s also messy when it gets on your clothes or furniture so these cloths come in handy! You can also use a wet paper towel for this step, but it’s nice to buy a bundle because you’ll use them for wiping, dusting, and water spills in the future.

Gloves

Want to keep your business clean? Gardening gloves are perfect for avoiding skin irritation from plants or plant products, and keeping your fingernails dirt-free! Personally, I don’t use gloves often because if the job is meticulous, I want my nimble fingers to work on it. Nevertheless, it’s important to have a pair for your plant or gardening needs because you will use them for something like repots!

You can also grab these tools on the Resources Page.

Step by step

Gather supplies:
1. clean shears
2. dampened cloth
3. gloves
4. any propagation materials for after
Find the top 4-5 leaves of your fiddle leaf. Now put your finger directly below those top leaves on the main stem. Locate a spot in between the nodes.
Use your shears to cut at a 45-degree angle in between the nodes. Try to make one smooth cut while holding the top of the fiddle leaf so it doesn’t fall.
Use the dampened cloth to gently dab the wounds of the open cut on the main and newly trimmed fiddle leaf.
Propagate trimming in water or soil if interested.
Clean tools, and voila!