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Yellowing, dropping fig leaves! Help!!!

16 years ago

In early summer I purchased a fig sapling (about 2') from the grower at the Union Square Farmer's Market. I planted it in a deep pot (about 3' deep) in my yard, full sun, totally in Miracle Gro moisture control soil, complete with gravel drainage and a drainage hole on the bottom of the pot. For a couple of months the plant did really well--through terrible heat and cold snaps, dry spells and high humidity. The sapling shot up to 6' and looked amazing, with lots of new branches from bottom to top (no fruit, yet). Then, this week some large leaves starting yellowing. Today, more are yellow and a couple are on the ground. I read in this forum that it could be over or under watering and I've been consistent with daily waterings, not to drown, but to keep the soil from drying out. Should I change anything? Any suggestions?

Comments (3)

  • 16 years ago

    Im not saying "this is your problem and solution " only something to consider.

    If i read your post correct you have plant in container and its in a hole in the ground and you are giving it daily waterings?

    It may be possible that your overwatering it and keeping the plants roots wet to wet with daily waterings.

    If plants roots are to wet and staying to wet in (container) current green leaves will curl somewhat downwards then start to yellow. The leaves start this yellow coloring toward lower part of plant and work its way upwards. This process happens slower than under watering mention in next paragraph.

    Plant displaying leaves first yellowing from top part of plant and then working its way downwards is from underwatering and will soon drop. This can happen quickly in times of real heat and sun and defoliate plant in a container.

    Container plants can stress pretty fast in not good conditions.

    This is "IF" there is a watering problem at all.
    That has been my experience years past.
    There are other factors that can cause yellow of leaves, too much fertilizer when Not enough soil moisture amongst others.
    Martin

  • 16 years ago

    The Miracle Grow Moisture Control soil really holds a lot of water and holds it for a long time. I find that when I use it, the bottom part of the planter stays soggy.

    My suggestion is that you check for soil moisture a couple of inches below the surface and don't water if the soil is still damp. With that size pot and that type of soil, with daily waterings, I would bet that the bottom of that pot is as wet as a swamp.

  • 16 years ago

    Al helped me greatly when I was having so much trouble with my young fig trees this spring. I originally used regular garden soil (bagged) and there was no drainage, then, I repotted them in MG Moisture Control potting soil and that was even worse because the soil stayed sodden. Al suggested I put wicks in one of the holes in the bottoms of the pots, so I did and that even did no good, so I got some Fafard Professional Potting Mix and repotted them again and used the wicks while the plants were little, but pulled them from the pots when the root ball developed. The wicks are made from string mop refills and can be found at Wal-Mart and they are RAYON, not cotton. You need to read the package to make sure they are rayon. You cut one to a shorter length and can feed it up into the pot if the plant is already in the pot. I used a screwdriver and wet the wick and then folded a little of the top over for the screwdriver to grab onto and then stuck it up into the hole in the bottom of the pots. The rayon doesn't stay soggy, but provides a pathway for perched water to find its way out of the bottom of the pot and into the ground. Hope that's not confusing. Perched water is water that sits in the bottom of the pot and never drains out, which will end up killing the little roots and then the plant.

    Did I get that right, Al, if you see this? :)

    noss

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