Hi Geoff,

I'm so sorry this has happened to your trees.

Have you moved them to the shade/filtered sunlight? If not, you need to.

I would remove the figs to help the trees recover. Don't fertilize them yet. Make sure they are mulched well. I would pinch off any new fruits so the trees can put the energy into recovering. They should start to put out new leaves.

Good luck with them,

noss

Your trees are in shock, and need time to recuperate from the stress. Excessive heat can cook the roots, and lack of water when the trees needed, not when your relative gave it, sent them into a downward spiral

Do NOT fertilize!

Get them in a cool, shady area, and keep them moist, but not wet. Better yet, dig a hole and bury the containers until they recover. This will insure that the root-zone will keep cool and moist. In the fall you can lift the trees for storage. This is only a temporary nursery.

Pinch off all figs.

Pray!

It is late in the season for encouraging new, lush growth...which will surely be burnt back by freezing temps. in the coming months.

Some of the realities that you must face are that your potted fig trees, have now become your "pets", and require the same attention. There's no such thing as going on vacation...unless you can arrange for watering, or, fig-sitting. Can you rely on a neighbor to water your trees? Can you bring your trees to a neighbor so that they can water your trees along with their plants?

You must plan ahead, or your trees WILL suffer again if they don't get what they need, when they need it. Period!

I hope your trees will make it.

Frank

Sorry noss...

All I did was repeat your good advice... my brain is still sleeping.

**************************************************************

Geoffs....Always have a "plan-B" to fall back on.

Good luck with the figs.

Frank

your trees sound like they are doing ok. they are fairly drought tolerant.

i have a small fig cutting that was rooted last summer by my aunt. this spring it had a few leaves and a few small fruit. it is in a 5 gal pot. it sits in the middle of the backyard in full direct sun from sunrise till about 6pm.

as you know it gets very hot down here in Houston. we had a very dry period between April- June. i hadn't watered my fig for almost a week and all (100%) of its leaves yellowed and were falling off. i watered till the pot filled up with water to saturate the potting medium. then i added some mulch to help. a few days later it send out new leaves.

its doing very well. i had left the little fruits on and when they matured they were very dry. so i would suggest removing all the fruit off your trees. the new crop of fruits have been very sweet and moist.

When young fig trees drop all their leaves for lack of water, heat stress, or, whatever....all of the energy reserves for NEXT year's growth, will be used to push out new leaves THIS season. Fig trees can be drought tolerant when planted in-ground and, after they have a far reaching, well established root system. Potted plants will be stressed to death.

Containerized figs must have everything that they need to grow and thrive, supplied by us. A fig tree planted in a 5 gallon bucket is not the same as growing in the nice, cool earth.

Frank

I appreciate the recommendations.

I have been gardening since I was a kid and recognise that it's a commitment. I know that the post was probably well meaning, but I wasn't looking for a lecture about pets or to be chastised about not having a Plan B. I tried to make it clear in my post that there were challenging circumstances in order to minimize that kind if reply. Apologies if I'm being too sensitive.

I've removed most figs from the tree this morning. It has been bouncing back, but I'll have to see what next year holds. It's a large tree with about 50+ fruits, many branches, and thick foliage, I have confidence that it'll do okay.

I'll post later with status update.

Thanks,
Geoff

I appreciate the recommendations.

I have been gardening since I was a kid and recognise that it's a commitment. I know that the post was probably well meaning, but I wasn't looking for a lecture about pets or to be chastised about not having a Plan B. I tried to make it clear in my post that there were challenging circumstances in order to minimize that kind if reply. Apologies if I'm being too sensitive.

I've removed most figs from the tree this morning. It has been bouncing back, but I'll have to see what next year holds. It's a large tree with about 50+ fruits, many branches, and thick foliage, I have confidence that it'll do okay.

I'll post later with status update.

Thanks,
Geoff

Sorry about double post. G

no need to over react, i'm not saying to neglect his trees.

just saying figs are drought tolerant and resilient, and that his trees will be ok.

Geoffs....

Your rather intemperate comments were directed at what I thought would be taken as friendly advice, since that was what you ask for in your first posting. They were never intended to chastise, nor, were they meant as a lecture.

Good luck with your trees

Frank