Fig Defoliation

[Pup]

its interesting that you bring up varigated leaves, i have a fig here at home that is variegated and absolutly hates back budding let along defoliation. i wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that is is varigated or not?

those temps sound pretty cosy for cuttings to pup, upto 50 degrees i could imagine what the humidity would be like in there. i presume there is measures in place to keep the humidity up?


jamie

Yes me and the hose pipe at least twice a day mulch on the floor nice and sweaty.
Never had a problem with back budding, just don't like varigated. I will ask next time I see him how it is going, my comment about it thriving was from 2 years ago.

Cheers Pup

[Jamie]

cool mate cheers for that


i am not a big fan of the varigated forms either myself, i have actually decided to graft tiger bark foliage into the trunks with the varigated leaf form, i have been having some success, about 80% have worked, which i am pretty happy with as it was my first go at grafting


jamie

[Grant Bowie]

Years ago, just about the same time as Lenny Webber, we were repotting Figs once it got warm; as we found this the best time.

Pretty soon people starting saying you can't pot Figs in Winter. Obviously you can its just not the best or optimal time.

So Max and I did the same thing as Pup. We repotted a fig or 3 in Winter just to prove it can be done. It may not be the optimal time but it can be done.

Same with the night temps. If I wait till it is regularly 12, or 13 or 16 degrees whatever; I will never get my figs defoliated in Canberra.

So late spring off come the leaves and then again as often as the tree can take it; wherever you are in Australia; or Tasmania.

I just hate blanket statements like" you can't fertilize Natives", "You can't take off more than x% of roots" etc.

Sorry, I over reacted yesterday.

Grant

[dennismc]

Hi Grant

Interesting question and one that is sure to lead to a spirited conversation anytime.

Figs are from the Moracae family that includes deciduous material such as the Mulberries. Thus they are potentially deciduous themselves. In fact, there are some figs that are deciduous even in the Sydney climate, especially if we have a cold winter. This means that they can readily produce new growth.

Most of the figs can be defoliated at any time of the year but recovery is several times faster in the warmer seasons. Of course in very cold areas it may be judicious to not prune them in the winter. However both the sandpaper and cultivated figs are an exception in that they are not as tough as the others and perhaps should not be defoliated more than once a year and then in the warmer months only.

regards
DennisMc

[Jamie]

Sorry, I over reacted yesterday.

no need to be sorry mate, it led to this discussion, it is just another thing that needs to be brought out, i was going on info given for colder clime, i havent had to worry bout it so in that it was what spurred ya, so i apologise.

its interesting to see how people can under estimate figs and there ability to regenerate, i havent seen one dead yet even with a massive amount of neglect.
or being over keen to look after them, they are a ver resilient species and that is why i love them.


dennis, i have no experience with the sandpaper fig or the likes, but i have heard of them being deciduous, but never seen one drop its leaves due to the cold.
im sure someone has experience with it though.

jamie

[NBPCA]

Hi Grant

Interesting question and one that is sure to lead to a spirited conversation anytime.

Figs are from the Moracae family that includes deciduous material such as the Mulberries. Thus they are potentially deciduous themselves. In fact, there are some figs that are deciduous even in the Sydney climate, especially if we have a cold winter. This means that they can readily produce new growth.

Most of the figs can be defoliated at any time of the year but recovery is several times faster in the warmer seasons. Of course in very cold areas it may be judicious to not prune them in the winter. However both the sandpaper and cultivated figs are an exception in that they are not as tough as the others and perhaps should not be defoliated more than once a year and then in the warmer months only.

regards
DennisMc

Thanks Dennis,

Whatever we choose to grow and where we live certainly colours our perceptions of what will and won't etc.

But that keeps it interesting.

Now about that tree I would like to borrow.....

Grant