How to Prune Roots on Outdoor Potted Ficus Trees Monitor your fig tree for signs that it is root bound. Remove any branches crossing or rubbing against another branch. To keep your ficus from getting tall and lanky, give it medium to bright light and water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Decide on the best pruning time. Then, decide on the height of the tree and cut the main stem 1/4 inch above a leaf node or a swollen area where the leaves grow from the trunk. Trim crossed and broken branches. By fall, the plant slows its growth and in the winter it goes into dormancy. Method 1 Pruning for Maintenance 1. To whitewash, use a white latex paint diluted in half with water, or use a special tree wash available at local gardening stores; do not use an oil-based paint. That is why they are an excellent choice among other plants to grow indoors.. If you keep your soil healthy and maintain a proper climate, you can have an indoor ficus tree that will continue to grow for years to come. Use small, sharp scissors to prune bonsai. The optimum time to prune Ficus trees is in late winter, but if yours has dropped all of its leaves, emergency intervention may be necessary. Test the spray to make sure that the water sprays out in a very fine mist. First, look at the tree overall and decide what areas need to be minimized. Also, prune out weak-looking branches. Ficus trees grow both indoors and outdoors. Prune these back all the way to a main branch. In order to prevent the ficus benjamina from dropping its leaves, the plant owner must mist the plant. Remove any branches growing outside of the desired shape of the tree. I’m a big advocate of pruning a Ficus Tree frequently. Leave at least one node for new growth on that stem/branch. Ficus trees are a family tropical plants, vines, and shrubs that make adaptable potted plants both indoors and outdoors. Most can be pruned back to keep them bushy, but watch for drips of their milky sap when you snip. This step draws on your aesthetics. Unlike other houseplants, the ficus tree prefers to be root bound. How to Prune a Ficus Tree. Crossed branches rub on each other and leave wounds... 3. This is when it is much less susceptible to injury and other problems. Lay a tarp out near the pot before the plant leaves its winter dormant season. Ficus have a latex sap that may be irritating to skin. The cost of maintenance of these plants is comparatively low. Don't be afraid to cut, ficus are strong and in a few months you'll have new tree with clusters of new leaves. Branches that cross each other and/or are rubbing against each other. Prune rubber tree plant by making your cuts just above a node — where the leaf attaches to the stem or where another stem branches off. Remove one-third of the tree to cut it to your preferred shape. Read on when and how to prune your shrub: Step 1. Actually it is fairly simple to prune the ficus tree properly. Cut off only those limbs that are dead or criss-crossing. The ficus tree is a popular indoor tree.Ficus are easy to grow and require less care. Deal with the roots. 1. Use a clean sharp pair of bypass pruners and don a pair of gloves. Therefore, winter is the best time for trimming ficus trees. Renewal Pruning. Start pruning a Ficus Tree at the center of the tree. 2. Only trim the stems, not the leaves, of a ficus. Twist the nozzle to the "mist" setting. All you need is to learn a few tricks from the experienced gardeners. Prune the Ficus elastica into a tree shape by cutting all the main trunks except the strongest and most vertical trunk or trunks at the soil level.