Fig: Encourage shoot from a bare branch

[Bonbon]

Have a fig which is always not very vigorous in growth. Defoliate it in Oct. Two lowest branches failed to reshoot while others regrow quite well.
Any idea how to encourage shoot from the bare branch?
Heard one can cut a very small slit wher you want the shoot, is it true?
Thanks

[Peter KB]

Hi Bonbon, I have found with my figs too small a pot will restrict vigour, I normally don't defoliate until December I am south of Sydney and have tried small cuts in the trunk to promote shooting with limited success, had better results from heavy pruning and defoliation hope this helps regards Peter

[KIRKY]

If you trim all the new growth and liquid feed you could force it to bud on lower branches.
Cheers
Kirky

[kcpoole]

also depends on what variety of ficus.
Most will readily shoot back on bare wood, but benjiminas are not very successful in doing so, many times they work but often not and rarely where you want them

Ken

[shibui]

Also depends how healthy the tree is. A weak tree will produce a few shoots. A well fed tree will explode with new buds. If the tree is not vigorous you need to look to your care - lots of water, plenty of fert and regular repotting will usually give a strong, healthy tree.
Shade will also influence how any tree buds. If you don't turn your trees regularly the back will be in shade and the branches are weaker. If the tree is shaded then lower branches will b even weaker and may not bud.

I find that pruning the vigorous top hard will help lower branches to shoot.

Heard one can cut a very small slit where you want the shoot, is it true?

This can work. It relies on cutting the supply of auxin from the branch tips ( auxins flow back down the trunk from the tips and inhibit new buds so that the tips can grow without competition. That's why pruning the top can suddenly stimulate new buds). New buds will only grow from places where there are dormant buds and they will only grow if the tree is healthy. The cut will heal in a few days and auxin flow resumes so the buds do need to start pretty quickly. Pruning is a more sure way to get budding in most species.

[treeman]

You probably made the mistake of defoliating and already very weak branch. This will weaken it further and it may have already have been close to death in which case it might now be beyond the point of return.
You should only defoliate trees which are young and in peak condition. You do this by heavy fertilization of a recently repotted tree (1 year ago) and then you must keep a lookout for any weak branches (one which have no new leaves developing at their tips)
Having said that, I would suggest just cutting off the branch and having another look at the design of your tree as a possibility..

[Bonbon]

Thanks