I inherited a Fiddle Leaf Fig from a friend who said it was too hard to take care of about 5 months ago. It only had two leaves on the back side, several leaves are damaged from being placed in front of a fan, there are brown spots on some leaves from too much water, and the stake made a whole in one leaf, which I have since removed. The stake not the leaf. It has acclimated nicely and given me four new leaves in the last month! (My friend is slightly jealous.)

So here’s my question. When I turn it around to the back, which I put towards the front in hopes it will grow new leaves, there are two anemic looking branches, and one looks like it is starting to come in higher up the trunk. These leaves have not grown at all since I’ve had the plant. Spring is coming, and I had hoped to introduce new branches in the a month or two. I see people notch their Fiddle Leaf Figs and get healthy looking branches in return. Are these naturally occurring? Should I cut/rub them off and notch where I really want new branches? Should I let them be? Please help!

The Fiddle Leaf Fig is roughly 6 feet tall.