I'm assuming this is a containerized tree - you didn't say ....

It's possible your wilting is a drought response, but perhaps not for the reason you think. When the canopy wilts & recovers later it usually indicates high root temperatures (shade the container or use a cache pot) or root rot issues from over-watering. Root function begins to become less efficient at 85-88* is almost non-existent by the time actual root temps reach 95*. The drought-response (wilting) could be a result of rotted roots being unable to move enough water to keep up with transpiration, causing the loss of turgidity.

Al

It's a 4yr old in ground tree in NJ. Very thick mulch of leaves. I pulled the leaves back and they are very moist. We got alot of rain last night and it's still doing it today. It's been happening for 3 days straight in the heat of the day. Will this wilting cause a problem with fruiting?

My trees displayed the same symptoms as you described, but I do not think that my problem is with rotting roots, but has more to do with hot roots growing in a black container, in full sun.

When the temp's were consistantly in the high 60*s and mid-70*s, my trees did not wilt at all, even though they were exposed to full sun for long periods. That's probably because the soil remained relatively cool. Now with these oven-like temp's hitting us, my trees must be baking, especially the roots.

Thanks to Al for some expert opinions, I'm going to shield the soil/containers with some aluminum foil reflectors to deflect the heat and help prevent the sun from cooking my roots.

Hope this will work

Thanks for the insight.

FDV

Will that cause fruit drop? My tree does that in the evening before I give it some water to cool the root bulb. It's a container tree. If this will cause fruti drop then I will most definately try to shade the container. What's the best way to do that? Would putting a tarp on it trap in heat?

a piece of lattice fence works good

Attached is a pic of my fig tree at noon time in the sun.

You can see the small leaf on the right with toasted tips which I think is from heat stress.
Do I need to shade the foliage or the roots?
The roots are already covered with a very thick mulch.
Should I remove the (pine bark/leaves) mulch?

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:784239}}

The toasted leaves are just that toasted,by the heat of the sun.
I have ,my Celeste,identical with yours and it does the same when over 95.
It looks like they do not enjoy sunny weather,with 100 F,now in the Spring when the leaves are very young and fragile.
All you can do is check under mulch ,making sure the soil is not dry,and Place a patio umbrella,stuck in the ground, while the hotest part of day.
Later in the Sommer when tree get used with heat,this will not Happend any more.
Best regards

Thanks Herman!

My fig doesn't "wilt" persay... but it looks like the leaves actually vurl upwards just a tad, adn feel a bit different. I took the soil temp yesterday and it definately reached 90. The fig definately wasn't wilty though. When my figs come in will cause them to drop or will they hang on in very short drought periods?

I'm thinking about taping a white sheet around the container to keep the sun off of the concrete and brown container.

I think there are a couple of factors involved here when it comes down to the wilting of figs.

1.) If the fig was recently planted/transplanted, it may take a bit before it is really rooted in.

2.) Many of grow our figs on the south sides of our homes and this is a very hot exposure (getting a lot of reflected heat off the building--especially brick).

I noticed that my Petite Negrone which I recently moved from
a large container into the ground (on the south side of the house), wilts daily now. Yes, there was a period of 95-100 but even in the upper 80's it is doing this. My two Brown Turkey figs which were in the ground but were also moved are
fine and don't wilt one bit well away from the house. The Brown Turkey figs border a fence and get mostly morning and midday sun (but not late afternoon sun).

I live in Phoenix and it's over 110 degrees today. I just planted my little fig tree about 8 or 9 days ago. It was doing great until it became an oven outside. It's wilting really badly. I'm going to buy some mulch tonight when it gets dark out- as it's so hot I'm not up for the journey to the store, but in the mean time I threw a somewhat sheer old curtain over the leaves to shade it, filled the little well with some water- though I watered it yesterday it looked all dried up, and I grabbed a bunch of dried up tall grass I whacked this morning and covered the base/well to try to keep it cool. I also whitewashed the trunk this morning.

Is the sheet thing a bad idea? It's 4 PM, it had full sun since this morning. Also, does anyone have any other suggestions. It's suppose to be 113 tomorrow. :(