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Fig Tree - burnt leaves

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Figbeginner (U14937968) on Thursday, 21st July 2011

  I have got a 2 meter Fig tree that is growing in a 60x80cms pot against a south facing wall. Most of the leaves are burnt around the edges and all the leaves hang. I gave the tree water daily, that did not change and reduced the water to once a week, but no difference.
  
  What am I doing wrong? Does any one know what plant food it needs?
  
  Thanks in advance for your help.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Friday, 22nd July 2011

  We have a black fig about the same size in a pot about the same size on our terrace. Figs in pots can be a bit of a challenge, particularly in summer. They like full sun but the roots shouldn't be allowed to overheat. I've arranged ours so that the pot itself is protected from afternoon sun because we regularly get summer temps in the high 30s, low 40s.
  
  When it's seriously hot, I water twice a day. The tree is loaded with fruit and, left too dry, the fruit will drop. With that sort of watering, which quickly leeches out nutrients, I feed the tree about once a fortnight with a fertiliser high in P - usually my tomato fertiliser.
  
  What was your watering regime before the leaves turned brown and how have your temps been? Your brown leaves could even be a result of warmth radiating off the south-facing wall.

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• Message 3

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  Posted by londonplantmad (U2392946) on Friday, 22nd July 2011

  I had a fig tree for a few years in a pot which did very little. I planted the pot into the ground and it started growing and fruiting. I never feed it or water it unless it is very dry weather. It has loads of fruit every year. It is in a very sunny spot. This year it is suffering from no long sunny days but it has plenty of figs. I am hoping for a very warm sunny August to get those figs ripe and juicy. Why not try planting yours in the ground the pot will restrict the roots so it will not grow too big. Another way if you do not have ground to plant it is to put your pot inside a much bigger pot or container fill that outer container with soil and that will contain it but also allow it to break out of the smaller pot. Your smaller pot should be plastic.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Figbeginner (U14937968) on Friday, 22nd July 2011

  I was feeding my fig tree once a day for a week and then once in 2 days and finally once a week. I will water it twice a day and see how things work. Thanks for the advise.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Friday, 22nd July 2011

  I have got a 2 meter Fig tree that is growing in a 60x80cms pot against a south facing wall. Most of the leaves are burnt around the edges and all the leaves hang. I gave the tree water daily, that did not change and reduced the water to once a week, but no difference.
  
  What am I doing wrong? Does any one know what plant food it needs?
  
  Thanks in advance for your help.  Hi Fibeginner,
  The first thing to understand about fig trees is infact a well known problem and its the answer to your question,
  
  Figs have a very fast and wide spread root system and its the roots you have to keep an eye on, ie spade prune offten,
  Now having explained this natural problem you'll understand this fruit is not really a plant pot plant if you want it to fruit,
  
  ref feeding, a normal natural ph soil is enough to keep the plant happy, but i spread general fertilizer around the base of mine and its in fruit for the second year (bought & planted it 3 years ago in a south facing bedding area)
  
  If i we're you i'd plant it out in well drained soil with a slow feed base food such as fish/blood&bone mix.to help the roots settle,
  
  Hope this little lot helps,
  Regards Punpun

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Saturday, 23rd July 2011

  Figbeginner, that's a lot of feeding. The brown and drooping leaves could even be from fertiliser overdose. Once a fortnight would be fine in the height of summer when you're watering every day.
  
  Figs are perfectly suited to growing in containers. You see any number of them here in Italy. The restricted roots guide the tree towards fruit production in lieu of spending energy on growing tall and wide. They just need particular care in summer.
  
  In fact it's common to plant figs in the ground in what amount to boxes - about a metre by a meter by a metre deep with some gravel in the bottom for drainage. I have one planted as such on our top terrace using large paving stones on their side to form the box. It's producing plenty of side branches in lieu of height and won't grow to more than about 10 or 12 feet. Meaning the fruit will always be accessible. It's loaded with fruit, as is the one in the container.

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