The apical bud of a fig tree is the growth tip responsible for producing new growth and elongating the plant. It is common practice to remove, cut, or pinch this bud to encourage earlier harvests and increased branching. While the apical bud is a type of terminal bud, not all terminal buds are apical buds.
When I root cuttings, I always prune the terminal bud. In the image below, I’m holding a cutting where the terminal bud has been pruned.
Why do I always remove the terminal bud? Because my goal is to root the cutting—I aim to establish roots first, then focus on growing leaves and branches. Some people also pinch branches to encourage an earlier fruit harvest and increased fruit production. According to www.biologyonline.com,
The apical bud produces auxins, a class of plant hormones, which inhibit the growth of neighboring axillary buds.
I am not a researcher or a biology scholar specializing in plant biology, but I strongly believe that removing the terminal bud from cuttings increases the chances of faster root development. Directing energy toward root growth is, in my opinion, more effective than diverting it to branch development. That said, don’t feel obligated to subscribe to my philosophy!
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