I have had my ficus benjamina for about 3 years and I think it is in need of some TLC. When I recieved it as a gift originally, I never thought I could even keep it alive, but now, three years later it is thriving. It started out about 2.5 ft tall, and now is almost 5 ft tall.

The problem with it is that it has multiple stems/trunks (14 to be exact). This gives the plant more of the appearance of a large bush, not a tree which is what I would prefer. About 2 months ago, I cut back some of the undergrowth leaving bare stems for about a foot from the top of the soil. The plant really took off then, increasing growth in the canopy and filling out even more.

My question is, can I get rid of some of the stems without doing damage to the plant, or am I stuck with them? If I can remove them, where is a safe place to make the cuts? I wish I could attach a picture to better show what I am talking about, but just picture a big bush.

I am totally new to plant upkeep, so any help anyone can give is greatly appreciated. Thanks