Notching my fiddle leaf fig

[richardnp]

Hi everyone!

I would like to encourage branching on a new fiddle leaf fig plant I bought. It's about five feet tall and has been doing well since I brought it home a couple weeks ago. There is only bark so far up to about 3' up the trunk. Is it too early to notch the trunk if the area I notch is still green? Should I wait for bark to grow?

Also, will the portion of the plant above the notch survive?