Since I grow fig cuttings indoor, watering the plant has been a problem. Wall, ceiling, and floor are not water resistant, so I have to keep the room dry. Once the cutting begin to leaf out and remove out of humid container, the soil can dry pretty fast, especially when the leaf grow bigger. Watering them becomes a daily job and difficult because some spots are densely covered by foliage. I lost a bunch of tree due to underwater. Then I decide to keep a shallow water at the bottom, so the soil will wick water. This works great initially, but some plants are killed due to overwater.
I learn hydroponics in school, water won't kill the plant, lack of oxygen will. I am also inspired by self water container.
I believe the real problem is the drainage hole touching the bottom of the container, so the water at the bottom can't move freely to bring in oxygen. My lab do DNA sequencing, so I have plenty PCR plates, which is a perfect material to keep the cup 1" from the bottom. Since I did this change, I just need to keep water level a little bit above the drainage hole.
Plants react very well to this arrangement, and many grow root into water. I only add water once a week.

Just want to share this trick.

Nice setup.  But you're going to need bigger containers real soon!

Mike

Nice. 

DNA huh? You could map the fig DNA strain and make the perfect fig!

Ha I wish, but it's not practical, nor economical. We are more interested in sequencing human. Based on the gene profile to predict disease and design the treatment. This is more scientific and accurate than fortune teller.

Mike, I already have hundreds of fig tree in the 1 qt pot, ready to build the fig fence.

Jimmy,
Nice setup! Have you thought to use an air stone for aeration (the ones used in fish tanks) ?
It would provide more than enough of oxygen.

This setup already provide enough oxygen. Air stone may evaporate water faster.

Do you also control the temperature?

I keep this sunroomabove 65F in winter. no cooling in summer though. Just keep the window open to vent.

This is my yard, full of fig trees. the last picture is how I fertilize the tree, just throw in household garbage as compost and cover with grass or mulch. Easy and simple, and will not burn the root. Once the compost is mature, I use it as potting soil.

That's pretty cool Jimmy!  You have the gift!  Keep up the good work!

Great set up Jimmy !!

That is an awesome setup!

Sir, I believe you have way too many figs.  : )

Jimmy,
In your compost bin, do you get the earthworms? What do you do with them before potting?

Yes, earthworms love the food. You can stack the pot on another. Stop watering the top one, worm will go to the bottom one.

Cool, have not thought of this method.
If the top pot is 5 gal, how long will it take to clear it? Also, I do not think that all the worms will be gone, are they a problem in a container later on when you pot the trees?

Worms are beneficial, they eat dead tissue. They will loose soil, so root get air and space to grow.  Doing this is to concentrate more worms in the lower pot to compost new materials faster.