So there it is. I was able to use a quarter for scale. Pretty pathetic, even <edit> if this was one of the cuttings I rooted 5 months ago, but it is not.  What is most pathetic is this tree is three years old. It is in a pot in pot situation because I have been too worried the root structure would not withstand bare-rooting. I suppose I should be grateful it is still alive. I've received cuttings twice from Jon (the tree in the pic is from UCD) since rooting this one, but they failed. In twenty years when this tree is finally large enough to produce, it better be the best freakin fig I've eaten or I will punt it across the yard. ~james

LOL James

James if you do punt it please take a video .
Sitting here picturing you kicking it and laughing to myself because I feel that way too sometimes .

John

3 years.wow.  James you have the patience of a saint.

Announce the date, and don't wait the 20 years.  I have a stuck-up, biatch, "Kathleen's Black" that needs to have her rump kicked also.  I'm getting sick of her antics.


Frank

Holy Mackerel! Three years old?
Get yourself another one, and gift that one to somebody
that lives in a small apartment, that's a dud that dudn't wanna!

James,

How is the cutting three years old but only rooted 5 months ago?

I would recommend moving it out of the double pot situation, potting it into a larger pot and feeding it. Use Promix HP or something comparable. I got one from Jon early last year and one from another member late last year, which was a bit larger than the one from Jon. Both have fruit on and should ripen some before the cold weather. Good luck!

Several years ago when I was just really getting into collecting figs I purchased a tree sold as Black Madeira and several others from a seller who is legendary for his misrepresented fig tree sales (myfigsforfun).  All but one took 4 years or more to fruit. I only kept one of those trees, the one sold as Black Madeira, which I am now calling my White Madeira, fruit is white with red interior. Obviously not a real BM, but the figs are good so I kept it. I also have 3 or 4 other trees from various sources that after 3 years still have not set fruit. There doesn't seem to be a logical explanation for this extra long wait, while others, including BM fruit so early for me

James, next year it will take off and grow faster. It needs to go thru dormancy. Come Spring, give it some weekly liquid poop and watch it grow.

Wow, James, I thought you were kidding when you said your 3 yr old Black Madeira was tiny.  I don't feel so bad about the one I traded to Meghan now...lol.  

Jules, I wish I were kidding

Chris, It was rooted three years ago. iit is residing with (and being dwarfed by) the other cuttings I rooted earlier this year.

Barry, The inner container is an Airpot so any roots which get long enough, they will grow through the holes and into the larger (2g) container. At this point, I'm not sure robust the root structure is. I have beem giving it Miracle Gro at 75% normal dose with every watering (about every three days) when I am here.

Dennis, It has been through two dormant cycles, I'm not sure how much a third one will help.

John/Frank, Perhaps we can implement a fig tree chunkin' event at some of the regional get togethers.

James,
  You should move to a location more conducive to fig growing.  Someplace like Texas maybe... ;-)
Jim

James, Yes, they are slow going. Eventually you will have to nuke it with fertilizer, albeit in smaller doses for a tree tat size. My 5 gallon size tree, after being in ground for about 4-5 years, and growing about 1-2" a year, got about 15-20 pounds of triple-15 fertilizer one season, and I got 4-6 of growth. The following season it grew about 8' and was a grower ever since. I figured I had nothing to lose. if it died, I wasn't out much since I wasn't getting much from it. Put yours on a miracle grow regimen and feed ti every week.

Even when I do air-layers, I put them in the greenhouse all winter to keep them alive, and the following spring they can take off and grow.

I had some weak growers, one that had even dropped leaves, and while I was gone for 12 days last month my dad failed to following my instructions (88 years old and quite an independent thinker! lol) and he watered everything heavily every day.  Instead of anything dying of root rot, the weak growers took off.  He has taken credit for bringing some back to life.  I wonder if some had weak root systems and weren't getting enough water but just being kept moist since our conditions are very warm and arid.  My dad was a farmer all his life and I can't convince him that plant roots need air as much as water but he won this argument.

It looks very healthy.  I vote for more miracle grow plus something with trace elements at a low strength.  Composted manure, kelp - that kind of thing.  Rather than punt it, send it to me and I'll overnight you some fruit in 2 years.

So make sure I feed mine to encourage growth.  Will do! 

Love that bit about moving it to Texas Jim... 

Wow James you must have some good patience, three years and just a few inches tall! Douse it with fertilizer and keep it growing this winter, maybe it will get it out of the non-growing rut that it's in. It surely ain't gonna hurt none.

Another thought is.......
I know there's not much room to work with but maybe if you could air layer it, the new roots might be more vigorous making a healthier plant.

James,

Got to applaud your patience. Three years and that much growth! Last season, I discarded my Black Ischia and Noire de Bellone. Both plants grew less than 12 inches for the whole summer. Could not wait a few years for them to pick up growing.

Navid.

Bass does bonsai, may you can sell it to him! ;)

If all else fails, it is football season!!!

All i use is mg soluble fertilzer full strength big end of green scoop which = 1 per gallon on a regular basis and fast drain potting mix they grow here in our yard.

Thanks, Harvey.  I had not considered myself to be a bonsai master before.

Tony, I have been considering seeking out another stick (there are a few varieties I have, which I would like to replace with a different tree) and using it to graft onto a more vigorous root stock.  I have a couple of in ground trees which seem to tolerate the Texas heat better than others. As it happens, one is 6-7 years old and hasn't fruited. I think it is a sign.

Martin, MG was not my first choice, but it was what I had.  Do you water your trees between feeding?  Or do you fertigate at full strength?

Navid, I think this is a case where I have room for it, and taking care of one more container doesn't add too much work to my load.  This might be an interesting idea for a new thread... how space (or lack there of) affects our interaction with our trees.

James full strength but if tree needs water in between it gets water then.

James,
The slow grower is perfect material for bonsai. If you decide to punt it, can you aim it to N NJ? I have a fig orphanage.