I'm planning on bringing some of my plants inside for the winter,
they would be potted in a mix similar to the gritty mix everyone is crazy about,

I wonder, while the plant is dormant it doesnt need much water,
but since the mix drains so well,
where will the moisture be stored to prevent drying of the roots?

or should I keep them in soil for this winter, and next spring repot them in gritty mix?

thank you all

not everyone. Either way, you still have to water dormant plants periodically. Good luck!

shootersm,  Although the gritty mix drains well, so the roots don't rot from wet soil, it retains moisture well.  Stays damp for a long time, plus it's got air which the roots need too.  You don't need to water as much, but now and then is fine.

Get yourself a little water meter or something called a soil sleuth.  I love my soil sleuth.  You just insert it deeply into the soil, give it a twist, and the soil catches in it's notches.  When you pull it out you can see exactly just how damp or dry the soil is.  If you are handy, you can just notch a dowel and do the same thing.

Suzi

I have, in past years, lost only a few figs in winter storage.   I was fairly certain that it was related to moisture.  The problem occurs because a pot gets buried and not noticed, therefore not getting any moisture.  I usually lightly water my figs at three or four week intervals.   I use a 2 gallon pump up sprayer (without the spray nozzle).  It makes it easy to reach the tight spots.   I also do check the soil moisture before watering.   

   On a related note, I have had at least three "dead" figs come back to life from their roots by mid summer.    The above ground stem was shriveled and dead looking.   Luckily, I continued to water them or in the first case of the resurrection, I did not.   There was apparently enough rain to keep it moist and then was delighted and surprised to see the emerging shoot in early July.

Ingevald

Thanks for the post.  I have a Kathleen Black that will spend the winter in the garage.  It's a new plant that I bought a few weeks ago and don't want to risk putting it in the ground.  I have a cheap moister meter that uses a copper shaft and a lead tip that I purchased on Amazon. I was advised to water every six weeks.  Hoping to get it right.

Still water every six weeks in winter garage?

Doug, are you letting the KB go dormant or going to keep it under HO lighting?

I am planning on running four metal halide lamps this winter since all my trees are still little sticks. 

I water every 4-5 weeks, 1/2 cup per gallon of media, I am not in gritty mix though.

Fine line.  Don't drown em, and don't dry em out!  Damp!  Keep em damp! 

Suzi

Just bought me a "Soil Sleuth"...I like gadgets, and it looks like a chopstick that knows somebody.  : )

My set of air-propagators worked like a charm.

Love to see a separate heading for: helpful hints, gadgets, gardening aids, fertilizer recommendations, soil amendments, potting tips, propagation methods, etc; etc. 

No fun searching when these things are buried in threads.  Just a thought.


Frank

Chris,
Going to let the KB go dormant.  I have some other fig cuttings that I am trying to root and will put them under HO T5 lighting for the winter if they take.

Doug,

The ones I have indoors are all to young to go into dormancy. 

Was looking over my oldest tree and that tree has new shoots coming out of the main trunk. 

I think you asked a great question. Myself, I'm not a fan of the gritty mix, not even a little bit. I have plants that have it and during hot weather, you have to water every day. So over wintering, wondering how often you need to water. I know when they are dormant, their not looking for water. But my guess is if you wait 4 to 5 weeks their going to be bone dry, putting great stress on a tree that is idle. Making you lose time to recoup in spring. The way I look at it, the old timers use to bury their trees completely and the ground here in the northeast during the winter monthes when it can be really wet and still come out fine.

luke