u/ShoobyDooDoo

I got this little guy from Costco less than 2 years ago.

I'm in Los Angeles zone 10B. I water every couple days to make sure the soil is damp, not soaked. I fertilize it from time to time.

Right now the trunk is still thin and weak. Struggles to stand on its own, hence the stakes. Should I cut off the top where I marked a red line to encourage more growth in the trunk and lower sections?

Also, is there something I can do to encourage more branching where the big gap is?

Thanks for any advice!