This JH Adriatic has been rooting/growing since 12/22. This and others are growing very well under fluorescent lights on 16 hrs a day. Is it time to take a pinch on the longer stems or is it too soon. If so how far back? This is my first winter of growing cuttings and having great luck. just want to keep it that way.  

Thanks

I'm fairly new to figs, not new to plants. I started rooting some this winter and I had to head a few as they are getting too tall. It helped a lot to slow growth down, yet remain healthy. It worked well. I would just cut a little off. To just above the first single leaf. Let's see what more experienced users say. As I said I did this as I had to, and they are perfectly fine. i did it maybe 3 weeks ago too. Now they have new growing points. I need to hold them off for another month yet! Although I may be able to let them visit outside from time to time.

I always count 5 or 6 leaves then pinch. I started doing this last year and have been very impressed with results. Not only will pinching induce fruiting, but it also keeps the tree more compact, thus easier to pick. And if the branching becomes too dense,  you can always thin it out.

My suggestion is to google "fig pruning" images and spend time studying the different ways people train their figs. It will help you find a form that fits your climate and yard situation.

Thanks for the input. Huge help. I have seen many pictures on ebay, etc of tall spindly fig trees Starting the shaping early makes sense. There are many good graphics of fog pruning out there.

Are you going for more of a true tree type look or a multi-trunk/stem bush? It sounds like you are probably in a colder climate (7 or below perhaps?)? So if that's the case you may want to go with a bushier more compacted version instead of the single trunk tree. Also it appears you already have multiple shoots going (I see at least 2 in the pic). I would say to just pinch just below the upper most leaf on each shoot, . That way you will stimulate side branching.. Side branching usually equates to MORE FIGS., YAY! Lol! But I am a newbie just like you.. This will only be my 2nd season growing figs. A good guy to consult over on the other forum is AscPete.. He's very helpful with pruning advice and will often use your pic to draw in suggestions of where he would prune.. There are also many experienced members here that will most definitely be along to help & make great suggestions Im sure :) Good luck to you!

I started pinching late last year and wished I had started earlier...my vote is to pinch early now.  I agree with Gene.

Hi chrisb,

I hate to mess up the plans of my trees especially in their young age.

What is the risk : the cut end may start to rot because of inside house air being too ... dry or humid or ...

So question one : is that your only JH Adriatic ? IF yes, I wouldn't try to upset it and would let it grow - just stake the longer stem . You can stake it to the upward direction or to a flat position to slow it a bit. Or you can stake it to a 45° angle (fan espalier style), which has my preference . Later, at summer time, when the tree is outside, you can cut back at 6 or 8 leaves and use the cutting to root it. During that time, the tree will use the additional leaves to build more energy reserves, and the stem will be stronger .

If you have several JHA, I would think a bit more and may perhaps, who knows, try and pinch just the tip and let the smaller leaves develop, and try to get more branching.
Some have a saying that goes : "Are you trying to fetch the egg from the chicken ?... before it lays it" ... So I wouldn't rush on the pinching... But that's just me .

Thanks for the ideas. All 7 of the cuttings that I got rooted nicely so I can afford to experiment.

Looks like a nice fig tree!

For me pinching is only a tool to manage the plant fig production and ripening and not intended to train the tree.  Also I only use pinching on in ground trees.  Never had to pinch my container figs to get them to produce or ripen.

There are lots of postings on this forum on training fig trees and it really depends on what your plans are for the tree. 
Will you be planting in ground or keeping in containers?  Since you are zone 5 and Adriatic JH is a late ripener I don't think it will ripen in ground for you. 

Myself I don't like to prune my fig tree when it is actively growing. 
I let the winter do most of my pruning and then if necessary I prune when fig tree is dormant. 
I do trim new green growth during the summer as necessary to maintain air circulation and sunlight penetration but I don't cut major or lignified stems. 
. 

When i seen the thread i said what the heck. Im going to go pinch ! Well this works. Pinched about 15 in ground trees. And there is tiny figs on the branchs i pinched. These trees were planted last march 2015 and some never fruited, some did and some did but way to late to ripen. Very impressed
Richie
Louisiana

Nice, Richie!  It works very well for me.

Thought I would try this as well over last few weeks and it worked well for me too. Great tip!

In Feb I decided to pinch many of my in pot trees as they were slowing down and they are all turning into beautiful shrubs this season with all kinds of new shoots and leaves. I am hoping to see more figs too. l would be much more selective when pinching in ground trees. My priority in this case would be to allow the tree to get established first before attempting to do anything.

Here's an example showing as of today the result of pinching a Ronde De Bordeaux in Feb 2016. I could easily count four new fast growing green branches, and we are still in early May.