QuestionI purchased a seven foot brown turkey fig tree last fall that has one central stem (trunk) with about 14 leaves along it and 3 figs. It was heavily infested with mealy bugs but I thought I'd try to save it. I sprayed it heavily, hand-picked the mealy bugs I could see off it and changed the pot. However, throughout the fall, all the leaves turned yellow, one by one and fell off. Some mealy bugs obviously survived. I thought the stick tree might be dead but kept it over the winter in the basement. Recently I brought it back into the livingroom, watered it and now it has a leaf sprouting from the very top. Since it is already almost at the ceiling, I'm wondering if or how I could encourage it to grow more leaves down the stem (where they were previously growing). Or will it only continue to grow up? I'd really like to save it. Appreciate any advice. Thanks.
AnswerHi Brenda, let it be for now, there should be an emergence of more leaves lower on the stem eventually; when this happens, you can cut it back to stimulate the lower section into branching out, but make certain that the lower section has leaves on it before cutting. Nick
