I bought this Petit Negra fig last fall. I over wintered it in my unheated garage and kept the soil slightly moist but not too damp so it wouldn't rot. I brought it outdoors a week ago since our weather has warmed up. I noticed it still has not looked any healthier and the top half of the trunk seems really dry. However, the bottom half of the trunk seems healthier and is green when the surface is scratched. I have absolutely no idea what to do with it now. Prune the dead? Fertilize? Junk it?   ANY advice would be wonderful!! Thanks!

If the top is truly dead, you could prune that and leave the rest.  Once it figures out that spring is here, it should put out new leaves.

Suzi

the picture does not help much, but it looks ok. 
i would wait it out. after that i would airlayer it because its getting a bit tall.
that way you can have a 2nd tree for free

The top branch looks reddish, indicating it's dead, but wait it out.  I can't tell for sure without looking closer at it, but I wouldn't cut it off just yet.  You can always do so after it's clear where the growth stops.

Not sure what zone you are in but around here it is still below freezing at night. 
If you want to wake the fig up as fast as possible you may want to move it into a greenhouse or sunroom where the nights stay above 60F.  If not it won't wake up until the nights warm up.

To me it sure looks like a really tall tree for that container.  You can try an air layer or if you have the heart to cut the top off you can try rooting the cuttings you get.  This will also show you where the dead part of the tree if any and the live green parts are.

If you do decide to cut it do it 1/2" above a noticeable plump bud and you should leave at least 3 or 4 plump buds so that you will be sure to get new branches. 

I also wouldn't do anything just yet - even after being put outside, it can take some time for a fig to start growing again. It can be difficult to tell where dead and alive zones are so don't prune. Be patient. Maybe put a bit of mix to cover the exposed roots, and then mulch it to keep moisture levels more even.

Wow! Thank you all for the fast and informative replies. I think I will take the advice and wait and see if anything changes. If not, I will be back to ask about airlayering or pruning :) Thanks all!!

Hi,
What is your plan shaping wise for that tree ?

I would cut now at 2' / 60 cm to force her to branch out.

You can try to root the cuttings or just trash them if they are of no use for you.
Shaping that tree would be my first priority. Unless this is a bifera tree and you're counting on a breba crop .
Then it is up to you to choose between shaping or some possible brebas .

You could as well wait and airlayer that tree in June ... but branching will occur later.

I would wait and see...you can always do a couple of air layers

Hi all,

Thanks to you all my little fig is alive and well after. Several months later and a good pruning my fig has some growth. I am getting ready to transplant it to a SE corner of my house before it gets too chilly here (zone 7b). Before I transplant ,however, I was hoping you experts could tell me if it needs to be pruned. If so, what parts should I trim or do I leave the little guy alone this season. 

Thanks,

Eilis


 

I also suggest waiting on transplanting till next spring. I don't think you need to do much pruning depending on what shape your looking to make. I would only pinch the top of the larger branch to direct more growth to the main steam and get a more "bush" silhouette. Glad your fig survived and is doing well.

If this was my tree I would prune away the whole top, right down to the first side branch, but I would do this pruning next spring, right before bud break....just as the buds start greening up and swelling.  After pruning and staking, the lower side branch will then become the new main-stem and will grow twice as fast because it will now be supported by an already established, root system.  Overwinter this tree in a cool shed or garage, and keep the root-ball well hydrated.  Try to prevent this tree from freezing temperatures.  Fertilize and pinch the hell out of this tree next season.    Grow it for structure, and branching.  The fig production will come later once the basic framework of the tree has been established. 

Don't know what your climate zone is but when a fig tree is grounded, just one bad winter can/will negate all your hard work.  Then you could start over with a new tree...just like most of us who are growing fig trees "untropically".  Seriously, growing in ground fig trees- in any climate that gets temps. lower than 40F - is taking a gamble.  Fig trees are semi-succulents, and when frozen the greenish, newer wood is usually severely damaged.  Freezing temps can kill off even older, established, trees.  If you are lucky, the roots will survive and send up new shoots, but then, you're back to square one.

Hope this helps, and good luck.

Frank