The 'slingshot look' could be a problem structurally, but only if you grow it outdoors every summer where it gets wind. It does/will represent a visual issue if you don't prune it, too. Both sides of the bifurcation (the 'Y') should be pruned. The thinner side should be pruned back so there are 2 or 3 leaves on the branch, and the end leaf should be facing away from the main trunk line. The other branch should have 3 or 4 leaves on it and the end leaf should be on the top of the pruned branch as it will become the new leader. As you look at the tree now, it confuses the eye because it has 2 heads. What I described will leave you with movement (curves) in the trunk and fix the confusion re where the top of the tree is. What I described will also force back-budding and several more new branches, probably 5-7.

Al

Thanks so much, Al. I’ve been so excited to get new leaves in the summer, that I’ve put off trying to figure out pruning. You’ve given me a blueprint to follow. Now I just have to steel myself to go out and cut 😳

You are truly AMAZING, Al! I did go ahead and prune as you suggested. The plant is looking strange now, but hopefully there’s enough pleasant growing weather left here in Iowa (zone 5) for new growth to sprout. Once I bring it into my 4 season sunroom, it always slows down a lot, but stays alive until it goes outside for the next summer season. I’ll post photos as new growth progresses.

I'll look forward to seeing the photos - I was going to ask you to provide them anyway. FYI, this tree was pruned on Father's Day:

and looked like this

by Aug 12, same year, when it was pruned and wired to look like:

Al

Photos taken today of the recently pruned fiddle leaf fig mentioned above. New growth is coming along! I plan to move it indoors shortly, since our temps will dip into the mid-40s the next few nights. I watered in systemic insect control granules this afternoon.