Hi
I have some really vigorous cuttings doing very nicely in 2 gallon pots outside. My question is since these are cuttings how do I get them to grow as a bush with multiple stems verses a single. Someone gave me a two foot fig tree which is also a single stem and I would prefer to grow that as a bush as well. These will all remaIn in pots. Someone mentioned cutting the top off or planting the cutting deeper in pot would result in multiple branches? Figure I better ask the experts. Thanks for the advice.

Barry
zone 7 Long Island

The same way as you make a whip to get side branches. Prune it very low and the lower nodes will sprout as side branches close to the ground to make it look bushy.

I usually plant my cuttings sideways and it almost always produces a bush form. Another way is to mound the soil up a little bit around the trunk and let is form some shoots out of that mount. Mine usually do it naturally because of the mulch.

Most figs will put up suckers from the roots.  I have a hard time getting one to grow with a single trunk!  The advice above is great!  I can't add to it! 

Good luck!

Suzi

Hi Barry,

It depends on what kind of bush you want to grow,a single trunk or multiple trunk.
Here's some example's.

Single trunk.Cut the central leader at the height you want to begin scaffolding.
Pinch out the growing tips of each of these primary scaffolds after 5-7 nodes.
Repeat as desired to keep balance.This one needs pruning,the larger V shaped branches
need to be reduced by a third to restore balance.

 
Multiple trunks.Bury deeply,same pruning as above.


   
Good Luck,

Paul

I think I will reshape my taller potted trees to a more compact bush form for easier handling .

In the bush form  you can easily tie up the limbs into a compact mass in the fall and make the pots much easier to manage.

good idea Gene