Dave I believe what you're seeing is time release fertilizer that was also in the potting mix you used. At least let's hope thats what it is.

"gene"

Gene,
You are correct. It is Osmocote or Osmocote type slow release fertilzer that came pre-mixed with your potting soil. Have no fear.

I buy that stuff by the bottle to feed my roses.

Rafed

I have the same thing happening to some of my container figs. My son first noticed it and I simply thought it was insect eggs. Thank you for putting my fears to rest. I read most all of the posts in this forum and find it very informative, Thank you all for keeping us the rest so well informed. Thank you again, Catherine

I called the company in Ohio and talked to a rep. She confirmed what you two (rafed and genecolin) posted above.

Guess I could have done that first. I was getting pretty worried. This is my first fig project and I had visions of scooping large divots out of my yard (where I've used what I thought might be contaminated compost), and hauling the entire project to the landfill.

Thanks guys....

Dave

additonally....I'm going have lots of extra trees. I don't want to ship, but if anyone is in my neck of the woods (western AZ) and wants one, I'll be giving them away.

This is what an RKN infection looks like. This is from a bareroot plant I bought a few months ago. RKN will show as actual nodules on the roots themselves.

Thanks for the pics. Now I know better what to look for.

I just received a violette du bordeaux fig in a 4" pot this afternoon. It appears dormant. Do you just wash the soil off the roots to check them? It's awful small....smaller than some of my new cuttings....

Thanks again.....Dave

Satelliteguy,
That's a screaming endorsement for KT Nursery.
mrhappy

Dave, use chopsticks to work the growing mix loose from the roots. When the mix is removed, put the roots in a bucket of water and agitate gently.

So.....do you guys check out all your new container plants this way?

Should I wash all the soil away from the roots on my new purchase to check it? Won't that kill it?

Hey thanks bjs496. We posted at the same time. You answered my earlier question just as I was re asking it.

And thanks again to all of you who share your knowledge and put up with dumb questions from us newbs here. I have managed to kill lots of perfectly healthy plants and trees in my gardening "career."

I just hate it when I do that.

Dave

Dave,

There have been a lot of posts on the forum walls about not disturbing the roots during transplants (especially when newly rooted). I have not had very many problems bare-rooting young trees during repots.

Part of the issue with rooting cuttings (based on my limited understanding) is the cutting must expend some energy converting the shoot apical meristem cells to root apical meristem cells. Since your tree already has a root zone, not much energy will be needed to replace any roots that are lost while bare-rooting the tree.

~james

As others have already pointed out here:
Very-bad fig RKN produces gals only-as-part-the-root.
Osmocote, does-tend-to-look like some insect's eggs;
e.g., that of a snail/slug!
As always, prevention is the best-MOST-cure.
Do examine any rooted-figs from anybody, usually
no need for a wash-down to see it.
wabikeguy, I think that you can sleep soundly (no-rkn).

Just to re-iterate what has already been said. Examine the roots of any fig tree that you receive from ANYBODY.......even those from well known reputable nurseries or individuals.....even those that come with a Phytosanitary or Snail Certificate.

Dan

Thanks Dan.

I planted my new little guy out in the yard this afternoon. Before I did I washed all the soil out of the roots and checked it out real well. Suprisingly enough, I was able to unravel some of them out as far as 18". And it came in a 4" pot. A deep pot for sure, but still only 4" across.

Amazing.....

Dave

Here is one scary (eye-opening) hair-raising pic of a bare-root RKN
infected fig that I bought ~ 2-3 years ago from an up-north retailer.
Only God knows where it originally came from.

gorgi, that's some scary stuff.

i had a neighbor complaining to our neighborhood email list that her Brown Turkey fig was not producing, it just wasn't growing, she couldn't figure out why, but she wanted to get rid of it, and would give it to anyone. a fellow neighbor claimed he wanted it - and would go over to dig it up.

i shot him a message to explain what RKN is, linked him to this thread to show him pictures of what to look out for - turns out, he dug up the fig and it sounds like it had RKN galls all over the roots. he left it at the curb of the house he dug it up at.

he's looking at pot culture, i think i'm going to give him a spare Negronne.

That is really ugly.

Will cuttings from an infected plant be infected? Or does this stay in the roots?

They're just in the roots, they enter through the tip of the roots and climb up, find a home, lay eggs, and create the gall. Chopping off the entire root system and starting a new plant from the resulting cutting(s) is sufficient - I'd cut about an inch about ground level, though just to be safe.

You need to bag up and tie tightly the entire root bundle and throw it away, DO NOT let the soil contact anything, nor drop in your yard. Discard (ok, recycle) the pots, or if you intend to reuse anythin that came in contact with the soil, soak in a bleach solution to kill off any residuals.

Personally, I just send back or take back the infected plant, sort of like "quality control", to make sure the grower is aware that they're helping to spread something really nasty around and need to be more careful.

Wabikeguy
its good that RKN was brought up for folks to get somewhat familar in what to look for when receiveing plants especially newer members.
It would be a shame to introduce them into ones property that does not have them.
Best Health
Martin

When and if one does find RKN in a potted plant (can develop after purchase from contamination), the top portion can be easily air layered. The layered portion will be free of RKN and will do just fine in new uncontaminated soil.

Dan