One of my potted trees that I top pruned in December started to drip water(basically) from the cut about 2 weeks ago when is started to wake up. My first thought was to just leave it and let the sun and wind dry it up when I put it outside. We had some nice weather here and all my pots were outside day and night for almost a week and I didn't really notice it dripping. A turn in the weather came so I brought them in last night and noticed it is dripping still.
I have had grape vines do this in the past and some of them got fungal/mold infections at the sight of the drip. So I think I need to do something so the fig tree doesn't get a similar infection. I decided to try and cauterize it with a propane torch. I was able to avoid the shoot from the node below by aiming directionally and using a cup as a heat shield. I burned the cut to a black crisp and the son-of-a-gun is still dripping! My thought is to give it a few days and if it is still dripping then re-cut it like 1/4-1/2 inch lower and hopefully it will bleed latex which should seal the cut.

What do you think, what would you do? 

Dab dry, squirt with enamel paint.
Not organic I suppose, but it seals cuts.

Doug

Latex Paint is what I use.
Or you can put ashes on it. This will help too.

Never thought of using enamel paint. Is it petroleum base?

Well heck rafted, I don't know.
Just cheap fast dry enamel is what I use.

Doug

Also can use plain ole dirt.

Thanks for the input. I'll start with the most natural and work my way up.

fresh cut again and seal with Paraffin, melt some and use a brush to seal the cut, shish.... why use bad chemicals on something you are going to eat later.

Calvin, any luck getting your tree to stop seeping?  I have a similar problem as I posted in another thread:

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/pruning-and-training-figs-tree-or-bush-form-6388743?trail=100

I'm on my 3rd day of seeming so it's getting worrisome.  This morning I applied clay based dirt on a couple and ashes on another.  The clay looks like it might be slowing it down.  If that doesn't work I'll try the parrafin.  Let me know what works for you.

My grandparents used tar to seal a tree wound.
Petroleum based Im sure. Every fruit tree got the same treatment.
I can only hope I live as long as they did.
The enamel dries hard. It does not flow in the latex sap.
I just went out and tried it again, and again, and again.
These wont produce edible fruit for a few years.
Even then, its the least of my worries at this point.
Keeping the tree alive is my first priority.


Doug

Steve,
I work a really long day on Sundays and Mondays a regular day. So I haven't had a chance to address it yet. I did look when I got home last night and the tree was still wet at the cut. I was going to try ashes first, I have both clay and regular dirt I could try on it.  They are back in the garage because we had a spring storm yesterday-last night but tomorrow I'll be puttting them outside for the day. I am going to try recutting it when it is out in the sunlight, hoping the latex will take care of it. I am sort of wondering if I should sprinkle some ashes on the bleeding latex right after I cut it. I only have about 3/4-1" of trimmable internode left otherwise it would be no worries and if one fails trim a little more and try again. Worst case scenario I can keep cutting, but would have to remove a small shoot which has been planned as a future scaffold branch.

At the moment the tree is still perfectly healthy with no signs of distress, it's just that I know that drip is robbing growing shoots of some hydrostatic pressure and opening an opportunity for infection and bugs.

i pruned my VdB hard during christmas. everything was fine. then i started noticing clear water/liquid dripping on one of the cut. i didn't do anything to it. now it stopped. i think few days in the sun and fresh air should help.

Calvin during season when i prune ends for the figs i seal with dirt it always works .

During dormancy when i cut some for ebay i use nothing and anything clear eventually stops
but never really payed any attention as to how long it goes on for as i get back into warmth
of the house.

went out and took a look. looks like it has some mold/rot or what not. dark spots, but node below it has nice branch coming out. i've seen this before on others . it should dry out, the pith will rot away, and move on.