I'm noticing some of my smaller plants are looking a little lighter green. I assume there is some variation in colors between different varieties. But a few look rather light. Can that mean it needs something? Maybe lime?

Generally it means they want Nitrogen.  Here in Florida it happens if they are in a small pot in hot sun......same thing though the roots cook and don't take up the Nitrogen.  

ditto what Wills said, give them a shot of grass foo which I high in nitrogen, also use light colored pots if you can

Thanks to you both. Sorry Wills - schooling me is turning into a full-time job. I am going to re-pot them tomorrow. I hope upping the pot size and adding some fertilizer will solve the problem. Thanks

Glad to help.

Nitrogen deficiency is certainly the most important cause but iron deficiency comes next and then a variety of trace element deficiencies can also be involved.  Try to use a fertilizer that has trace elements in it.

Some varieties are just naturally lighter green in color.

A couple other things it could be.  First, stress due to lack of water or excess heat (mentioned previously).

But one thing that was mentioned that I have seen in my plants:  It can indicate that the tree needs up-potting and/or up-potting.  There comes a point when you can fertilize all you want but it just needs more mix to grow in so that there is enough root mass to support what it wants to do up top.  Or the roots could be circling around so much that they just aren't efficient enough to provide the needs of the tree.  This then exacerbated during a hot day when the outer edge of the pots, where a large percentage of these roots now reside, is heated and dried out. 

If I see persistent yellowing up top that doesn't go away after liquid fertilizing and/or increased watering, I know there's a good chance it's time to take that guy out, cut off those circling roots, and put it in a larger pot.  It's not ideal to do this in the summer, though.  Unless it's really bad it's best to wait for the spring.  Sometimes I do it in the summer anyway, but you have to baby the tree for awhile after that until it recovers.

I have some that are light green no matter what I do to them or for them. Usually, it is because the continuous heavy rain will dilute or wash away the fertilizer.

Tony, You might be better off waiting for next year to fertilize. Fall is coming soon.:(

You're probably right about the fertilizer. I'll just repot them without disturbing the roots and hope for the best. Honestly they aren't that bad. Color just seems a tiny bit off normal. Thanks

I have same fig in two pots, same mix, side by side with one lighter than the other. go figure. Maybe the dog favors one over the other when I let him out in the morning.

I was in a similar situation this spring with some of my newly propagated plants in soil-less potting mix. After a few applications of Miracle Grow using the hose end applicator and sometimes premixed put into the pot the plants greened up.
I will try a different fertilizer made specifically for soil-less mixes next year.

The distance between nodes will start shrinking and limbs will thin also when the roots get tight.

I up potted all my young trees. I didn't fertilizer because, like Art said, it's getting a little late in the season. So we'll see what happens. Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

Hi ajv73,
How was the dirt ? Was the bottom completely damp ? Sometimes light colored leaves are due to an excess of water as well. This month is really rainy, and I removed the plates under most of the pots.
The nutrients are getting washed from the pots ... but I'll replace them later or next year.
How are the trees ? Are they in the stagnant stage already or still actively growing ?
If they are still growing, although it is a bit late, I still would give a shot of fertilizer to get them quick to the stagnant stage.
The last choice is yours !

I don't think they were too wet. But I guess it could have been possible. I ended up adding a small amount of weakened fertilizer and put them I'm the greenhouse. I have the fan running so it won't get too hot. Most perked up already after 2 1/2 days. So I'm sure they'll be fine. I think it was mostly they needed up-potted.