Thread: Fruit, Nut, and Vine Grafting, Tree Propagation, Tree Care

I discovered some but not all of the fig trees I kept in pots over winter were suffering from root rot from the previous growing season. Growing mediums for potting flowers, vegetables, & herbs really is not the optimum medium for growing fig trees in long term around here. Too warm nights along with periods of daily rains promotes mold & rot. Today I re-potted a few fig trees trying a different approach to the drainage issue, the "root" cause of root rot pun intended.



I rolled down to Lowes and bought some irregular shaped drainage rocks. The trees I rooted last year had strong enough roots and trunks to simply lift them out of the pots. Afterwards I added a few inches of these rocks before adding a highly augmented-high drainage soil then returning the tree back into the pot.



The same soil mixture was used to fill in the gaps along the sides of the pots although the gaps may help with keeping the soil moist but not wet.



I had hoped to have 12 Fig trees on the concrete but two broke due to weak root systems. Those will survive but will be delayed a bit re-rooting before breaking dormancy. Drainage is super important with potted fig trees. I am planning to weld a T-Handle spike to press holes all the way thru the root balls to assist in the introduction of air to the roots and provide a path for excess water to drain to the bottom. Sitting these pots on the dirt seals up the bottom holes and the potting soil that has broke down to mud seals the side holes. The rocks will prevent both from happening.