Those container grown fig trees that are moved into a garage or unheated area to spend the winter don’t need much attention but they do require a degree of special fig tree care and an occasional watering even during their dormant rest periods.
Today I wanted to share a technique to water those containers that has been just too convenient with all the snow that we have received this winter. Rather than hauling water to the fig trees, you can simply pack a bit of snow onto the top of the planters wherever you are storing them for the winter.
Using Snow to Supply Moisture to Potted Fruit Trees
The snow will gradually melt and supply the fig tree containers with just the right amount of moisture at opportune times. It’s easier for the soil to slowly absorb the melted snow and you’ll have less water simply running through a frozen pot.
I learned this secret of fig tree care from a bonsai plant grower but it works great with my fig trees and other dormant fruit trees that are over wintered in unheated sheltered locations where they don’t receive any normal precipitation.
Just a Little Water Goes a Long Way with Dormant Plants
Be careful not to go overboard because these plants are dormant and don’t require routine watering, you just want to provide enough moisture to keep the soil from completely drying out. But don’t allow the soil to become the least bit water logged.
A light watering once every five or six weeks works out well for me with these dormant potted fruits and trees. They are low maintenance, have shed all their leaves, and are perfectly comfortable spending the entire winter cooped up in tight quarters with no light, no fertilizer, and very little water.
Other Plants are a Lot More Demanding during the Winter Months
Tropicals, herbs, and other patio plants that are still active and retain their leaves after being moved into a heated living area are a completely different matter and require much more attention and moisture to get them through the winter months.
But for those dormant plants a little snow may be all that you need to create the perfect self watering set up.
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Great idea and one I think I’ll borrow. Thanks.
Thanks, any time Ottawa!
When should this container with a fig tree be taken outside? How do I make it branch out, it is just a long stick now.
Thanks
Hi Helena, I watch closely to see when the fig trees show signs of breaking out of dormancy and begin pushing new growth before immediately moving them outside in the spring. It probably wouldn’t hurt to move them out sooner as long as the threat of ice and hard freezes has passed in your area. Cutting the fig tree back a bit can help to encourage more branching.
Hi Kenny,
My fig tree just started to leaf out on the very top. Nothing along the trunk.
I will be moving it outside this weekend.I am going to cut off the top a little for it to start branching out.
Thank you for the advice.
Helena
Hi Helena, I just moved my fig trees and bay laurel plants outside this past weekend, but set them out in an area that is somewhat sheltered. The fig trees were beginning to show signs of leaf growth and one of them even has a first crop of figs swelling along the branches. I also potted a couple of them up into larger containers. Let us know how your fig does with producing new side branches.
Hi Kenny,
I sure will let you know.
Helena
I have had my fig tree in a container for 5 years. It gives me plenty of figs but they never rippen. What can I do?
I live in Olympia Wa. The tree is in a sunny location. Please help – I would like to eat my figs.
Dear Ken,
I stumbled onto your website and love it! I don’t garden but would like to learn and your site has been a real eyeopener for me. Thank you for a lovely website.
I am trying to grow a fig tree and have a fig tree in a container I just took it out of the leaf pile for overwintering. There are three branches leafing out and a fourth bare. What should I do now with the plant – put in it direct sun, fertilize it, remove the bare branch….a previous post mentioned cutting the tops off, why? This is my first foray in fig plants and gardening so any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Hi Phyllis and thanks for dropping by! Yes, place the container in a sunny spot and fertilize lightly if you like. I would wait a bit before pruning the bare branch to make sure it is dead. The reason for cutting back the fig tree is to encourage branching and a nicer looking tree, rather than a single branch growing straight up. Sounds like you don’t have that problem and your fig tree is branching naturally.
I didn’t understand that my fig in a container over the winter inside needed to be dormant. I was watering it and it leafed out. Now it is June, just ready to go outside for the summer, but just dropped all its leaves! How do I get my poor tree back on cycle?
I planted a small fig tree last year in a pot. Its is now approximately 4 to 5 foot tall. it has branches on the top and on the bottom of the tree did not put out any figs this year. I know I have to prune it but how and where do I prune it?
Hi Keny,
As promised I am reporting my progress with the fig tree.
After I cut off the top, my tree branched out and leafed very nicely.
However it only has 3 branches from the top. The rest of the trunk does not have branches.
Helena