I'm guessing this is rust , but have never seen it in patterns before. Do you guys think it is or something else? 

not sure if they are rust. some of my figs change color on stem and leaf when the weather turns cool.

Pete, it's been there for a week or so and only had a cool overnight last night. It's really strange , pretty but weird.

It is artistic.  Not what you want to see on a young fig tree though.  Is it possible it got burned by fertilizer? 

http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/dce/phytophthora/module1-7s2.html

Sunburn?

well, i think it's very pretty.

 Sometimes as nutrients have been withheld and flushed out near the end of the year plants will start to do things such as this due to a deficiancy. Sometimes it can be due to fall approaching and the plant is withdrawing nutrients from the leaves.  Is this plant a variety different from the others? I'm assuming all your plants are in the same mix and being treated the same. Different varieties prepare for dormancy at differing intervals.
I have a 3 year old cherry tree in ground(obviously), and it has grown beautifully all summer; also there are perenials growing under and around it and they are healthy as can be. In the last couple weeks the tree has systematicly started doing the exact same thing as your fig leaves and withdrawing chlorophyll. Only difference is it is only a few at a time, not the whole tree. Point being, IMO your plant is fine and it is just preparing for dormancy. I would not add any more nutriens this time of year.

That's not what I thought rust looked like.   Ohhhh  Fall .   I was worried because many of my 2013's have yellow leaves on the bottom of plant.  Do they know something I dont know??   LOL  I'm sure they do!    I could't think of a common denominator that linked those plants together.  VOILA! it maybe something to do with Fall.  GADS I was dreading a late year malady to deal with. 
 I'm from So Cal where I grew avocados and citus.  Growing figs for fun in GA is a new thing for me. 

Pattee,
IMO its either some kind of chemical burn (foliar spray) or a nutrient deficiency, possibly magnesium, but its attractive ;)


Soni,
Yellowing lower leaves are also an indication of nutrient deficieny or watering issues. I have had several nights in the 40's including last night, and most of my plants have all their original leaves (first leaves that emerged in spring). Many plants absorb the nutrients from lower leaves to re-distribute them as needed due to a deficiency. The only fig trees in my yard that have yellowing lower leaves are a few that are root bound.

Another question to give us a better idea. Are the discolorations brown..or are they more purple dark reddish? Because if brown then I would lean more toward a burn of sorts, if purple reddish then  deficiency.

Calvin is correct looks like a nutrient deficiency especially if burgundy to purplish in color

Thanks everyone for your answers/opinions. I too think it's pretty Susie . I never saw anything like that . I was worried about the tree though.

Meghan , thanks for the link , it may be that . My last MG fertilizing was 3rd week in Aug. I used the same strength for all my trees , but maybe this one just didn't like it!

Calvin this is a JH Adriatic (I only have one) and yes they all get then same fertilizing / mix/ watering routine. I am hoping that it's getting ready for fall. I've noticed , no new growth on it but there a 3-4 small figs ( (little larger than a quarter). 
Think I should remove them to save the strength of the tree?
Also Calvin the discolorations are burgundy . So maybe it is a deficiency in Magnesium. 

Soni , I have a small amount of rust on a couple trees - very little , but nothing that looked like the patterns this tree exhibits!

Pete . I use no foliar sprays at all and only fertilize in the pots, not the leaves. Should I add something with magnesium now , do you think ?
I also second the yellow leaves /root bound observation as I have a couple big trees (with yellow leaves) that I still have to root prune and repot this fall. 

Barry thanks for your input also, seconding the deficiency. 

Should I do anything now before the fall or wait until spring to see how it comes back ?

Thanks so much everyone . I did think it was very attractive though but also knew somethings wrong here!

I wouldn't remove them, the tree will draw nutrients out of the leaves until they are desiccated and fall off. That is unless you suspect rust at some point, people around here say to remove them then; we don't tend to get rust in my part of the woods, dry air and all.

Thanks Calvin.

Not rust, nutrient/water borne something, me thinks

Pat, I had the same thing on one of my trees. The funny thing is it was also a JH Adriatic. I wouldn't worry.

Wow , thanks Art. Same variety - what are the odds!? 

Thanks Danny for your input also.

The tree in the pot on the left show some leaves and it does not show the pattern so the two pots might have been treated differently at some time.

I agree with the fertilizer burn or nutrient deficiency theories.  It may have had less water in the soil before or after the fertilizer application even if you put the same amount in.

Thanks guys . That makes a lot of sense Bob and Ottawan. 

A ph issue can cause that also if the ph is too far off, either too high or too low, that will prevent the tree from absorbing the soil nutrients. I wouldn't do anything at this point, too late in the season, but next year, yes, fresh soil, some fertilizer and perhaps a bit of lime. If you can check ph try that too

Thanks Barry for your advice. I have a ph meter so will get a reading next spring. I've written it all down in my book so I don't forget. ツ