Removing the top will force branching immediately behind the pruning cut.

This is a rooted ficus (microcarpa) cutting. Note the stub which illustrates the apex/ apical meristem (where growth occurs that makes the branch/stem grow longer) has been pruned off . The apex of the branch is the primary source of a chemical (auxin) that inhibits lateral growth (branching) along the branch or stem. Once the primary source of the chemical is removed by pruning or pinching, you can rely on branching to occur immediately proximal to (just below) the cut - just as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow.

Here, you can see the beginnings of new branches growing in leaf axils (crotch formed by the leaf stem/petiole and the branch.

It's your tree, but I would suggest you shorten the tree by 1/2 - 2/3. That will provide the room you need for the canopy to fill out. If you shorten it slightly, you'll end up with a ridiculously tall trunk with a few short branches bumping against the ceiling as the canopy.

Not to be taken as criticism - only pointing out that: Had you pruned the top off (pinching) when the tree was about 4-5 ft tall, you would already have a pretty good start on developing a canopy. Example: The growth habit of these Coleus is to be long and trailing, yet:

they are very compact and full. You can achieve the same results by judiciously pinching your Ficus elastic "variegata". Leave the little branch for now. It might or might not be useful to an end composition like a mother/daughter 2 trunk design.

Also, you have some root problems going on that would significantly benefit the tree if they were to be addressed.

If you want to make a plan that takes into account the ebb/flow of the tree's energy during the growth cycle, I'd be pleased to help you with that. I have about 45 Ficus tropicals, several of which are 25-35 years old. I've been practicing bonsai for about 40 years, so I'm pretty comfortable and confident re how to bend trees to the grower's will.

What are you doing re nutritional supplementation?

Did I see that your tree is staked?

Al

as you have no more ceiling height.. then cut it just above the new low shoot ..

and then propagate what you cut off ..

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Ficus+propagation&t=ffcm&iax=videos&ia=videos

ficus can be trees.. and trees dont really stop growing at some magical height.. so be happy its shown you the way ... and make more of them ...

ken

Thank you both for all the great info. I wish I had know this sooner. I had no idea that I needed to prune it and no idea it would get so tall! So, if I remove a leaf in the middle of the plant, will it grow more leaves in that area? Can I just pinch off random leaves where I need growth? I will also try propagating one of the leaves and see how that goes. And, yes, the plant is staked. In the spring, it started leaning again, and I tried adjusting the stake many times, but I just couldn't get it to stand up straight, so I tied it to my curtain rod. To answer your other question, I don't give it any nutritional supplements.

So, if I remove a leaf in the middle of the plant, will it grow more leaves in that area? No. Once the first leaf on a stem grows, another leaf will never never occupy the same spatial position. See the Ficus benghalensis below. You can see at least 3 buds. Below each bud is a scar (though you can only see the scar that faces you, about 1/4 of the way up from the bottom of the image. When the original leaf is shed, those buds turn into branches. You can see one of the branches near the bottom of the image growing to the right. That branch started as a bud, and there is a row of buds immediately above each leaf or leaf scar. The only way to be sure any particular bud is activated is to prune the stem/branch immediately above that bud. In many cases, and especially with Ficus elastica (rubber tree), pruning the top off will force activation of (for sure) the bud closest to the pruning cut. Elastica is, however, a prolific back-budder, so you can expect activation of several buds (which produce new branches) immediately proximal to (below) the pruning cut.

Can I just pinch off random leaves where I need growth? No. In fact, that would be counter-productive as the leaves are the plant's source of its only true food, the simple sugar (glucose) the plant synthesizes during photosynthesis from CO2 and the sun's light energy. I will also try propagating one of the leaves and see how that goes. You'll get a leaf with roots, but no stem (called a blind cutting). It's essential to have at least 1 node not inserted into a rooting medium; and while not requisite, there should be at least 1 or more nodesburied in the grow medium. The nodes contain meristematic tissues (think 'stem' cells) which are capable of dedifferentiation and redifferentiation to form any of the plants organs. If you decide tp propagate, you can increase your podds of success by asking for help. To answer your other question, I don't give it any nutritional supplements. The grow medium alone cannot be depended upon to supply enough nutrition to ensure normal growth. Foliage-Pro 9-3-6, for a number of reasons, is very likely the best 'go to' choice for containerized plants.

Al