How to Prune a Black Prince Rubber Plant? Detailed Pruning Methods

The Black Prince rubber plant (Ficus elastica 'Burgundy') is a common household potted tree species, with glossy leaves that are dark green on the surface and light green on the underside, but only after pruning will the tree shape become more beautiful. So, what are the pruning methods for the Black Prince?

1. Pinching

Pinching the rubber plant means removing the terminal bud of a branch or cutting off the top of the branch. When the rubber plant grows to 30-50cm tall, cut off the leaves and young shoots at the top. Usually the 2-3 lateral buds near the top are very easy to sprout, and after the lateral branches grow out, the tree shape becomes cup-shaped or Y-shaped.

2. Heading back

Cut off 1/3 or 1/2 of the upper part of the entire main branch to encourage the trunk to sprout lateral branches. Heading back is a relatively heavy pruning; within one year after pruning, because there are fewer branches and leaves, the ornamental value will be poor, but as time goes on and lateral branches sprout, the later shape will be very beautiful.

3. Thinning

Thin out overly dense branches, using scissors to cut the branches off from their base.

4. Notching

Make cuts on the bare parts of the main branch. At 0.5-1cm above the bud you want to encourage, use a knife to make 1-2 horizontal cuts parallel to the internode, with the cut only deep enough to reach the xylem through the bark, the cut length being 1/2 of the stem circumference, and the distance between the two cuts about 0.2cm. After one month, the buds below the cuts begin to sprout, and by autumn they can grow into lateral branches with 3-4 leaves.

5. Bud removal

Pinch off buds that have just begun to sprout, to achieve the purpose of inhibiting the growth of lateral branches.

The Black Prince generally should be renewed and replaced after growing for 3-4 years. Along with repotting, keep 3-5 nodes from the base, cut off the upper part and re-cuttage it, and the original plant can sprout new branches again after about 2 months. In addition, small seedlings should be regularly turned in direction to prevent them from growing slanted to one side and reducing their ornamental value.