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Intro
Figgy, figgy! I live in zone 5 and have been trying to grow a fig tree for a few years. Every year, the tree survives the winter and starts to grow figs but I never have enough time for them to ripen. I have decided to plant one in a pot so that I can bring it indoors during the winter months- my hope is that by next summer I will have delicious fresh figs in my hands!
Fig trees are beautiful plants that can be grown in containers. Figs come from fig trees, and they make delicious fruit! Figs can be eaten fresh right off the tree or dried for later use. Growing your own fig tree will require some patience, but it is not too difficult to do with enough information on how to go about it. This blog post will give you all the information you need on how to grow your own fig tree in a container!
Figs need space to grow- a fig tree will typically take up about six square feet or so. In order for your fig tree to thrive, it is important that they have plenty of room in the container! When planting your fig-trees, make sure you plant them 18 inches away from any other plants. Figs are heavy feeders and will compete with nearby smaller plants for nutrients if planted too close together. If there are no nearby small plants then this rule does not apply!
Fig Trees need protection during winter months- Figs can be grown into containers but can not experience colder temperatures than their outdoor cousins so therefore you must protect them during these cold time periods. You should bring it inside where possible or construct a greenhouse.
Figs need to be brought inside during winter months or if the temperature will not stay above 28 degrees F for long periods of time. If you choose, they can also be grown in a greenhouse which is warmer than outdoors but make sure there are no openings for drafts and that it has adequate ventilation.
Delicate Figs need to be pruned every year in order for them to thrive and grow properly, so take care of this during the winter months when it's likely that your fig tree will go dormant.
The Best Soil for a Fig Tree in a Pot
Fig trees like soil that is heavy and rich in organic matter.
Remember when planting a fig tree whether indoors or outside; it likes lots of water but does not like wet feet! When repotting a fig keep these conditions in mind and choose pots accordingly – smallish containers are best for indoor plants while outdoor plants will need larger ones (at least 15 gallons).
I'm using compost mixed with sand in my Fig Tree Pot.
Sun Requirements for a Fig Tree
Fig trees like full sun exposure most of the day - morning or evening is just fine, so long as they don't stay out after sunset because they can get damaged by cold temperatures at night.
Water Requirements For a Fig Tree
in a Container
Freshly planted fig trees will need to be watered twice daily for the first few weeks. Figs are typically considered drought-resistant so it is safe to water less often, with at least one inch of water per week being sufficient in most cases.
Fig trees should never sit in standing water because this can cause root rot and other harmful diseases which may lead to plant death. In general, fig-trees prefer well-draining potting soils that still contain some moisture after watering but don't remain soggy or wet all day.
Nutrition and Health Benefits of Figs
Figs are a rich source of nutrients and health benefits. Figs contain dietary fiber, manganese, vitamin A, iron, potassium, and magnesium among other essential minerals. Figs also contain significant amounts of polyphenols such as quinic acid which is known to have properties that reduce blood pressure and prevent atherosclerosis. Figs also contain phytonutrients such as chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and coumaric acids that have antioxidant properties.
Figs are a rich source of nutrients and health benefits. Figs contain dietary fiber, manganese, vitamin A, iron, potassium, and magnesium among other essential minerals.
If you're lucky enough to live in a place where figs grow well but don't have space or time for an indoor tree, try starting your own from cuttings. Figs are actually surprisingly easy trees to propagate - all it takes is drying out some branches and sticking them into potting soil. They can take anywhere between one month and two years to start growing roots, so be patient! And remember that while almost any cutting will sprout new growth at first, not every branch is going to produce fruit-producing shoots when they finally do get established.
Here's what you'll need:
- Fig cutting (or other soft leafy material)
- Knife or scissors - Click here to grab your pair of pruners on Amazon
- Potting soil
- Rooting hormone - Click here to get the rooting hormone I use on Amazon
- Mulch(optional) - Click here to get an excellent straw mulch for your potted plants from Amazon
Step One: Strip the fig's leaves from their branches, until there are no more left. If your knife or scissors don't do a thorough enough job of cutting through them, try tearing the leafy material into smaller pieces with your hands before removing it. Once all that's done and you've got only bare stems remaining, cut off any excess stem so that each branch is about three inches long. You can use a sharp blade if possible to make sure they end up even lengthwise - but this isn't necessary.
Step Two: Fill the pot halfway with potting mix unless you've decided to save on costs by substituting in dried-out coffee grounds.
Step Three: Add rooting hormone to the bottom end of the stem
Step Four: Gently press down on top of your potted fig tree so that it sinks about halfway beneath the surface of the potting material.
Step Five: Figs can be a picky plant, but they'll do well if you keep them outside during hot months and bring them indoors when it gets cold.
Step Six: Keep it watered, but not too wet.
Delicate Figs need to be pruned every year in order for them to thrive and grow properly, so take care of this during the winter months when it's likely that your fig tree will go dormant.
Fig trees like full sun exposure most of the day - morning or evening is just fine, so long as you don't leave them stay out after sunset because they can get damaged by cold temperatures at night. They should also have protection from strong winds which might cause their branches to break off under pressure.
Step Nine: If you're noticing browning on some leaves, then put a thin layer of mulch around the base of your Figs to provide insulation and protection from winter weather.
How to Grow a Fig Tree Indoors
Growing fig trees indoors is a fun and creative way to bring the beauty of Ficus plants into your home. These plants are well known for their lush green leaves and sometimes sweet fruit that hangs from them. Figs do best in bright but diffused light which means they’ll need more sunlight than most other houseplants when grown inside. There are many ways to grow Ficus indoors so you can find what works best with your space and preferences!
Firstly, you will want to decide if you have room for one or two Figs on an indoor windowsill or tabletop. If there's not enough natural light, then it might be worth using artificial lighting as needed instead of just relying on sun rays coming through a window. Ficus plants are not too picky about their soil, so you can use any potting mix that is well-draining and suited to house plants.
If your Figs won't have enough room on the windowsill then it's time to get creative! You might try bending a branch of the Ficus in order to grow it against another object like an indoor trellis.
Ficus plants are very versatile and can be shaped to grow in many directions.
Ficus are also very strong plants so don't be scared to bend them in order to grow vertically.
When To Transplant Figs?
When transplanting your newly purchased containerized fig tree from its nursery box into its new home, you'll want to be sure not to damage the roots any more than necessary. Don't plant the tree deeper than it was than the current soil line.
If you want your Fig tree to produce fruits, then it's better to transplant during its flowering season which would be from about April through June when figs are pollinated and bear fruit later on in the year. You may choose not to move them if you just enjoy their foliage or if they're already producing well where they grow naturally outside of pots.
Once you see the roots protruding out of the drainage hole, it's a sign that they need more space. When you notice that it's time to transplant your Fig tree.
If you decide to repot then do so during dormancy which is late winter through early springtime when Ficus trees will go into their natural rest period outside anyways. That way they will have enough time to settle into the new pot before they start growing again.
I hope my post has given you some helpful insights into fig trees and how to care for them. If there's any other you questions you would like answered, please let me know in the comments below! I'm always happy to help out my readers!
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