Below is a link where you might start reading about it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Plants of Hawai'i

Yep, there is... Look up the word Auxin and read a bit about it.

Weebus is right & I'd bet on smartypants. ;o) I grow some 9 or 10 species of Ficus (bonsai) and the assortment heavily favors benjamina. I probably have 7 or 8 different cultivars (of b.).

The growth regulators auxin and cytokinin keep a sort of antagonistic balance in Ficus b. Because the tree exhibits apical dominance, we can deduce that auxin is winning. ;o)

The main areas of auxin production in trees is in apical meristems (the growing tips of branches) and new leaves (but leaves are secondary, by far). As auxin is produced, it flows downward through phloem tissues. Along the way, it suppresses growth in axillary and dormant buds. If you eliminate as many apical meristems (on the entire tree) as possible, axillary and dormant buds will be stimulated to grow (you removed the suppressing influence - auxin). This will cause the tree to back-bud and cause it to become bushy.

You should be able to do this (prune) whenever the tree is actively growing. When pruning hard, it is wise to leave at least 2 leaves on each branch to avoid branch die-back. Since I'm in MI where it's dark all year compared to where you are, I might be being a little conservative in my 2 leaf rule. It's likely that trees growing in ground would withstand even more drastic pruning than the guideline I outlined. You judge.

Al

In Southern California, lo in the early 90s, we planted a 1 gallon ficus in the backyard. In 2001, we were pondering having it removed. It was HUGE, a couple of stories high. Eventually we sold the house and I wonder if it is still standing. They are almost a tree weed in warm climates.

Carol

Yes, we had one in the dining room and we put it out in the yard and by the time Hurrican Wilma tore it to smithereens it was simply massive. The trunk is probably 18 inches across. That's part of what made me suspicious about these others. I figured they must be some kind of miniature tree-type cultivar because I have trimmed the beejeezus out of them (and quite frankly, so did Hurricane Wilma) and they wouldn't do a thing. So we've started the Great Ficus Challenge. I let her loose on half my hedge. She cut them back to virtually nothing but the trunks. I'll let you know what happens.

I know what will happen, the stumps will generate many many sprouts and she will spend lots and lots of time pruning them to keep them low just to prove her point and keep from admitting she was wrong. Technically the others are right but I'm betting she doesn't know anything about this auxin.