Hi Fellows :
I have been thinking for years why ,cultivars,from Ca Collection,do not want to grow here,but grow just fine in California.
First it is because,they have FM virus,but this is one problem and not the only one!.
The other problem is the kind of soil we have here on the east coast(acidic).
In California the soil is alkaline.
In fact the 2 different kind of soil separates,at the Rocky Mountain north, south , range.
Fig trees love Neutral to alkaline soil.
Even if they have Fig mosaic virus,they grow just fine in California because the soil composition is ideal for fig trees,+ they have mild winters,so they do not need to spend a lot of energy fighting cold.
Now when a fig tree,with fig mosaic virus,is given a sudden,heavy fertilization,as John Verdick Recommends, -two totally different scenarios results,on the west,and east coast!.
On the west coast,after heavy fertilization,the tree jumps out and start growing stronger,because the heavy fertilization, changed the soil from Alkaline to Neutral,which is the perfect soil for fig trees.
On the east coast,a sudden heavy fertilization, Changes the soil from slightly acidic to very acidic,the tree can't feed itself and usually collapses and dies totally.
So My conclusion: On the east coast heavy fertilization,on the Fig mosaic virus-ed, trees, should not be done, and will not help the tree,to start growing.
What is to be done?--
:A lot of limestone powder,should be mixed,in around the roots,or in the pot,(for potted trees),and worked into soil,in the Hope to transform the acidic soil into neutral.
Once the soil is neutral,the plant will be able to feed itself much better and will start growing.
There are usually a lot of nutrients in the soil,but when the soil is acidic the fig tree can't extract those nutrients easy.
It also has a harder time feeding itself due to Fig mosaic virus.
Happy Gardening