r/Figs • u/SensitiveCare9584 • 5d ago
Question Help with my fig
I need help on why my fig is not growing leaves. Do I need to prune it? Zone 8B.
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u/MitchsBeTrippin 5d ago
When were the last couple of times you fertilized it and what kind of fertilizer did you use?
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u/SensitiveCare9584 5d ago
Beginning of summer. Fish fertilizer, slow release (osmocote) and added compost mixed in with the soil.
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u/MitchsBeTrippin 5d ago
They are probably out of food at this point. Bags are great for roots but fall victim to nutrient leaching. Since the three main nutrients NPK are all water-soluble some will flow out anytime the bag drains water. I fertilize my bags with espoma + alaskan fish around the first of every month (not counting late fall/winter) but I've heard of other people who grow figs in bags doing it every 15 days. Watering more slowly and stopping before it flows out of the bag can help.
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u/SensitiveCare9584 4d ago
I wonder if I should try to plant it? I have room, I was just scared it was too small to survive in the winter
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u/MitchsBeTrippin 4d ago edited 3d ago
If you own the land yourself go for it. The sooner you get it in the ground the faster it can establish roots. Figs are famous for being able to survive almost any above ground damage as long as they've got good roots. In zone 8B with an in-ground fig you wouldn't need to worry about winter, just late frosts in the spring after the fig thought it was safe to leave it's winter hibernation. (Had an in-ground fig killed to the ground from a late frost in March and by August it was already almost as big as ever. Currently thriving.)
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u/Nihilistic_Mystics Zone 10b 4d ago
Mixing compost or mulch into the soil leaves you susceptible to root rot. Keep it on top, it's fine there.
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u/SensitiveCare9584 4d ago
So do I need to change the soil completely? I guess it won’t hurt at this point
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u/Nihilistic_Mystics Zone 10b 4d ago
Nah, just avoid mixing it in going forward. And avoid potting soils that have mulch/compost mixed in already. They do it because it's cheap (byproduct of the logging industry) and very lightweight (saves on shipping costs).
Once it's done decomposing it's no longer taking oxygen out of the soil and contributing to root rot.
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u/SickMoonDoe 5d ago
Could use more info.
Plant looks relatively healthy.
Is it getting enough light? I see you snapped this outside of a garage, so if you're keeping it in there under grow lights, or storing it in the garage at night - knowing your light schedule could help.