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Fig tree loves acid or alkaline soil/

Does fig tree require more acid or alkaline soil ?
Mine is more alkaline, can I use coffee ground to make my soil more acid for my potted and in ground fig trees ?
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They are native to areas with alkaline soils. And many here recommend adding limestone to potting mixes to assure that the soil is mildly alkaline.
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  • ricky
  • · Edited

Fig trees like slightly acidic soils ( 6 to 6.5), but fig trees cannot tolerate low pH
Fig's nutrition indicated that it needs Calcium and Magnesium.
Limestone has both, it does PH balancing, It means that it will keep PH = 7 at neutral slowly, at the same time, It releases Calcium and Magnesium.
Rainfall is acidic.
Peat moss, pine needles, pine bark mulch/fine are acidic.
Of course, If your coffee ground is acidic, you can use it too.

The tricky part is that, how do you mix them up for best results.
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i remember years ago meeting a "fig guy" before i caught the bug and he told me he gives all his trees lemon or lime juice.  No clue if its true i dont give it to my trees.
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Originally Posted by fignutty
They are native to areas with alkaline soils. And many here recommend adding limestone to potting mixes to assure that the soil is mildly alkaline.


Thanks for the information. How often does people add limestone to assure that the soil is mildly alkaline. My soil PH is almost 8. Does it require to add limestone ?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ricky
Fig trees like slightly acidic soils ( 6 to 6.5), but fig trees cannot tolerate low pH
Fig's nutrition indicated that it needs Calcium and Magnesium.
Limestone has both, it does PH balancing, It means that it will keep PH = 7 at neutral slowly, at the same time, It releases Calcium and Magnesium.
Rainfall is acidic.
Peat moss, pine needles, pine bark mulch/fine are acidic.
Of course, If your coffee ground is acidic, you can use it too.

The tricky part is that, how do you mix them up for best results.



Thanks for your valuable informations. My soil PH is almost 8 meaning more alkaline. I applied coffee ground to my acid lover plants like camellia, Rodo, dogwood, magnolia etc in Spring with very good responds so far. Just not sure if fig tree is a kind of acid lover or not.

I actually applies tomato water solution to my fig tree 2 days ago and is waiting to see if any responds to produce figlet or not. 
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do not add limestone. a ph of 8 will stunt figs.
my soil is made up largely of limestone, figs would grow no more than 1''/month.
i started using amonium sulfate. this lowers ph n i got  several feet of growth.
amonium sulfate only has N, but you will see that yo ur figs will get a  balanced diet.
the AS will allow the tree to get all the nutrients it needs that are unavailable at high ph levels.
they are present, but locked up at high ph levels.
coffee grounds won't be enow.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by susieqz
do not add limestone. a ph of 8 will stunt figs.
my soil is made up largely of limestone, figs would grow no more than 1''/month.
i started using amonium sulfate. this lowers ph n i got  several feet of growth.
amonium sulfate only has N, but you will see that yo ur figs will get a  balanced diet.
the AS will allow the tree to get all the nutrients it needs that are unavailable at high ph levels.
they are present, but locked up at high ph levels.
coffee grounds won't be enow.


Susie:

I'm not wanting to discount your experience especially since we are nearly neighbors!! But are you sure your figs weren't just short on nitrogen?

AS makes most things grow like a weed because of the nitrogen. You might have gotten the same effect with another nitrogen source like urea that doesn't affect pH.
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Thanks to all !
What will you recommend me to use to loeer my soil ph to enable to get fast growing and more healthy with thanks
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Originally Posted by pacifica
Thanks to all ! What will you recommend me to use to loeer my soil ph to enable to get fast growing and more healthy with thanks


The best material to lower soil pH is sulfur. You can buy granular sulfur that's easy to spread. In alkaline soil there is little chance to lower pH too much. But still be careful about adding too much.

First you should try extra water and fertilizer. Miracle grow complete water soluable has always made mine grow.

If that doesn't work then consider sulfur.

You could do what Suzie does and try ammonium sulfate. That lowers pH but it takes massive quantities to have a real effect on soil with pH 8. You'll burn the plants to a crisp with AS if you apply too much.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fignutty


The best material to lower soil pH is sulfur. You can buy granular sulfur that's easy to spread. In alkaline soil there is little chance to lower pH too much. But still be careful about adding too much.

First you should try extra water and fertilizer. Miracle grow complete water soluable has always made mine grow.

If that doesn't work then consider sulfur.

You could do what Suzie does and try ammonium sulfate. That lowers pH but it takes massive quantities to have a real effect on soil with pH 8. You'll burn the plants to a crisp with AS if you apply too much.


fignutty : Thanks very much 
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