Air Layering a Leggy Fiddle Leaf Fig for Safe Height Reduction

Problem

12-foot-tall, 2-foot-wide Ficus lyrata is top-heavy. Previous pruning attempts caused dieback.

Root the top portion *before* cutting. This ensures the top survives and the lower trunk may also resprout.

Step-by-step guide with diagrams: Texas A&M Air Layering

In nature, these become 50-foot trees. A larger pot encourages side branching, but air layering is safest for height control.

House Plants: Fiddle Leaf Fig Red Spots and Crispy Edges: Root Stress; Philodendron Yellowing at Base: Adjustment or Overwatering?; Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaf Drop: Light & Water Fixes; Fiddle Leaf Fig: Repotting and Outdoor Care in Florida; Fiddle Leaf Fig Repotted in Winter: Damage Control; Reviving a Defoliated Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) After Neglect; Fiddle Leaf Fig Dropping Leaves After Repotting Root-Bound Plant? Wait for New Growth Before Fertilizing; Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) Care: Iconic Statement Plant; Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata): The Trendy, Large-Leaved Statement Tree; Ficus lyrata 'Fiddle Leaf Fig': Large Violin-Shaped Leaves for Bright Light

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