I'm new to figs, i just bought a hardy chicago a couple months ago. I have it in a small pot in Hyponex potting soil (just some cheap brand we had laying around) but will probably repot once it goes dormant. Seems like most people use/recommend custom mixes; this is the only potted plant im growing so I'd rather not buy a bunch of turface and other things that I wont use for anything else. It's been growing very well in the potting soil so far, will it set fruit ok though or do I need to get something better for it?

If it's your only plant, and you're not into growing other things, keep it simple and use store bought potting soils.  Next year you can add fertilizer to it and it'll take off.  When it needs repotting to a larger pot, you can buy potting soil with fertilizer already mixed in.

It's too late this season to set fruit and ripen, unless you live at the equator.

I have coconut coir with manure added, once it gets too dry its hard to wet it back up but I do get very nice roots and strong growth without the soil staying too wet.  I think a lot of people like using compost mixed it, but this makes the pots very heavy, although it should be worth it.

I use potting mix. Note that there is a difference between potting SOIL and potting MIX.

yeah im not expecting fruit this year but i already used some 10-10-10 fertilizer from my kiwis, will probably try osmocote this year. are any brands of potting mix far better than others? cactus/citrus mix is supposed to be well draining would that be better than regular?

I have come to the realization that figs are so resilient that it basically takes too much cold, water, or fertilizer to kill a fig tree.

Use 10 10 10 with caution,it will burn the roots if too much.
It killed a few trees for me.

Two of my trees (in containers) are planted in 1/3 Cow manure compost, 1/3 Pine bark mulch and 1/3 Top Soil. They are doing just fine. On the other hand, pots are very heavy, so think twice before planting in such a heavy mix.


Navid.

About 12 years ago Ray Givan gave me a recommendation on a potting soil mix that has done very well for me. It is simple, affordable in large quantities, and the ingredients can be found just about anywhere. What I like about it is it is moisture retentive yet drains well.

2 parts pine bark mulch (I use small pellets)
1 part composted cow manure (I blend 1/2 ccm and 1/2 mushroom compost)
1 part perlite (I buy in bulk from a local supplier)

I add Osmocote Smart-Release fertilizer (19-6-12), Pink label- several shakes to a 15 gallon amount of soil mix.

I also add several fistfuls of pelletized lime to the same quantity of mix.