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the growers
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Cultural Information – Ficus
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our ficus department
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Light:
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Full sun (southern exposure).
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Temperature:
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As a potted plant, maintain indoor
temperatures above 30°
for edible figs, 45°
for foliage types and 60°
for F. aspera.
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Humidity:
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They will tolerate low levels with no harm.
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Watering:
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Bring soil to a state of visual dryness
between watering. When you
do water them, thoroughly saturate the soil.
During the winter when dormant, F. carica can be grown drier.
F. aspera has root disease
problems under cool temperatures and constant soil moisture.
F. pumila and its cultivars need even moisture.
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Fertilizer:
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They are moderate feeders so 1/2
tsp./gallon once a week is a general recommendation when in active
growth. In fall and winter,
discontinue feeding. Use a
balanced fertilizer, i.e. 15-15-15
or a blooming fertilizer like Pro Gro ‘Grow’ 7-9-5 or Electra
5-10-3.
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Pruning:
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For F. carica prune in the spring or
just before they start to grow again after their winter rest.
They can take a hard pruning which doesn’t disrupt the
fruiting. Other varieties
prune as needed.
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Insects and
Disease:
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F. carica and F. aspera have problems with spider
mite especially under dry conditions.
Root disease can affect both F. aspera and F. pumila and its
cultivars.
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Comments:
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Edible figs are easy to grow needing a
bright sunny exposure. They
go into a dormancy in late fall, becoming deciduous.
At this time it is important to keep them cool with night
temperatures down to freezing, so as not to break dormancy.
Once they start to grow it is important to give them plenty of
sunlight or the growth will be weak.
You can grow them as year-round potted plants as long as there is
enough light. The fruit
forms at the leaf axis along the new growth of spring ripening in late
summer. As fall approaches,
plants with unripe fruit need to be moved into a warm sunny spot or the
fruit will not mature.
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