Hi guys,
I read somewhere that you could "dwarf" a regular fig tree if you put it in a smaller container than what it wants. Is that true? My problem is that I have a small patio and no garden, and I want different types of fig trees. I purchased one dwarf fig tree (4 feet high) and can't find other dwarfs that are that small.

Can I just grow a regular fig tree and just keep it in a 12 inch pot to constrict the roots, therefore not letting it get gigantic? Will it still be healthy and produce good figs?

Thanks!
Jen

If I was you, I will use the regular size fig plant of my choice, use a good size pot and use pruning to keep it in smaller (dwarf) size. You can do this by training regular size plants into the desired size and it will produce good crop (if the regular size was productive). You don't sacrifice anything but the size and that is what you want.

Excellent advice, Ottawan you sure have a way with words it would take me half a page to say what you said.
Yes i think most if not all of us that grow in pots simply keep them trimmed to our desired size.

In general, with any plant, restricting the rootball will trend to make the plant smaller. But often health and productivity are also affected. Size control can be accomplished with pruning.

Thanks all! This is great news since now I can select from any fig variety I want now, instead of just dwarfs.

If you choose a really vigorously growing variety, such as Black Mission, it will be more of a challenge.