AusBonsai

Qitianlong wrote:I have a few figs looking the same, really lanky long branches... are you saying just hack them back to the desired length, leaving no leaves at all??

I just googled Kellyville to see where you are Qitianlong, and around Sydney I would imagine you would be fine to cut back now to get back shoots. I would prune the branches a little shorter than you actually want them to allow for the length of the regrowth. As mentioned Benjamina doesn't do it so well, so you are best to cut them back to the lowest leaves, and when they do, let them grow for a bit then prune back harder again.

shibui wrote: Daviet, pruning lower branches hard and leaving upper ones will usually result in lower branches dying on most trees. Trees have apical dominance. They are trying to grow into big trees so the upper parts are stronger. When there is a crisis (like pruning) priority goes to upper areas or intact tips that will be able to grow. We normally prune the top part and leave lower parts to force energy and strength into lower branches. When you pruned lower branches and left intact tips at top of the tree all energy is diverted to the top and lower branches weaken even further and may even die.

Well written Shibui. Good description and very true.

daiviet_nguyen wrote: Maybe that's what happened but in reverse?! I cannot answer that. But my observations have been that the new leaves come out tend to be smaller than the previous crops, and slowly they just get bigger again.

Yes Daiviet, the first few leaves come out much smaller and closer together. They will stay that size, but newer ones after that go back to normal size the longer the branch is let grow. If you take the tip of the shoot off when there is only 3 or 4 leaves on it, those small leaves will stay that small, and develop more back shoots. You do this when the branch structure is good and they fill out beautifully.

Tony