Potted fig plants in winter

grannyjo

my brother has asked me to care for 2 potted fig plants while he is away 4 months). In October and most of November they looked strong, green and sturdy. This week the leaves are turning yellow and look as if they will drop. Anyone know if this is normal. They are in a cold conservatory near a window with good light. I don't think they have been overwatered. Any hints out there.

tanith

Take a look here, it looks as though its actually what should happen..

http://awaytogarden.com/how-to-overwinter-a-potted-fig

realfood

Figs are deciduous, ie drop their leaves and go dormant during the cold winter and low levels of daylight. Here us some information from a British site http://www.growyourown.info/page141.html

grannyjo

thanks I've looked at both sites and it looks like they are doing what they are supposed to. Won't look very pretty in the conservatory though!

MrsAtobe

Stick some Christmas tree lights on them

DaftyDuck

Figs are darn tough too... however cold the conservatory gets, it won't harm them. It's just possible that some of the shoot tips might die back, but they'll shoot again just fine.

Bringing them into warmer parts of the house would be a bad, bad thing. Maximal light, like you are doing, is the best they can get. Not too much water over winter either, as they are effectively dormant when bare of leaves.

If bro is away for 4 months, you should see them spring (hah) to life in early... Spring!

Farway

And pick off any embryo figs that are larger than a pea or your thumb nail, they will not grow into real figs & will just sap the strength of the tree

rum1

had mine in the garden for 3 years now and have ever bought them in, still producing figs i even had a glut this year