Too much rain lately for the potted kids. Looking at ways to protect from rain. Some regional varieties love it, others seem a little tired of the past few weeks' thunderstorms.

Bill Muzychko's covers on his SIPS look great (linked from http://figs4fun.com/bills_figs.html): 

 Any thoughts on the subject and what your methods are would be appreciated. I'd also like to say that I worry that covering a wet pot in hot weather might create a pressure cooker (or rot fest) for potted plants. Thought on this as well?

Thanks!

Its going to get very hot, you will have to use something to bounce the sunlight off, black will hold the heat.  Spray paint the pot white..???  Wrap in Aluminum Foil..???......I like the Little Guard Dog...LOL

     Been using those pots from Bill's Figs for three years now with great results...the water reservoir at the bottom of those pot trains the roots to go downward to get to the moisture, and the black plastic on top prevents rain water from wetting the top portion of the soil, leaving the root system no alternative but to go down deep for water...I will be picking up several more of those self watering systems from Bill before the season is over.

bill's covers are black and so are mine, figs have no problem with heat, just suck up a lot of water....I use black plastic bags or a roll for the garden rows. its gets pretty hot here in west nj!

Hi recomer20,
Do you have an overflow on the pot?
If you have an overflow, the mix will drain naturally and the excess of water should be out in one day.
With no drain, you should do the covering when the dirt is on the dry side and then water from the bottom ...

The tops can take the heat so long as the roots do not.

Given what I've seen in the past (and as recently as yesterday) while repotting several trees, the reason Bill and Vince's trees do not absolutely bake in black containers is 2 fold.  First, they are growing in more temperate climate.  Even on days with intense heat, it does not last all day.  Also, the night temps get relatively cool.  Second, is the size of the container.  With the short duration of intense heat/sun, the growing mix does not get hot all the way through.  The same container without shade in the south will absolutely bake and stunt (even stop) the growth of the tree.  Also a smaller container would get too hot throughout the container yielding the same results.

Thanks for feedback. Might test white garbage bag plastic (like the heavy compactor bags) across top and see what happens.  JD: Most are in 3 gallon standard nursery pots (not SIPS) with 1-inch holes around the base. 

Rick,

You may want to apply the black bag first, then cover with the white bag.  The white bag will reflect some/most of the light.  The black bag will block any light which passes through.  For those using white, 5 gallon buckets, painting the inside of the bucket black will also accomplish the same thing.

I have several 5 gallon SIPs and use the black plastic as a cover.  BUT, I add about a 2" layer of mulch at the top of the soil, and then cover.  No signs of mold and the trees are exploding with growth.  I have a 2nd year tree that has 10 figs emerging right now.

Although many of you have stated black plastic is not a problem, there is always room for improvement. It seems to me that a sheet of Tyvek would keep the water out but still allow vapors to transpire. Also, being white, it would stay cooler and reflect more light. 

Unless the light colored cover is completely opaque, even small amount of light will allow for algae growth.