Is there a rule of thumb for sizing pots when moving up?   

Going from a 1 gallon to 3 gallon seems like a logical progression but, what after that?   5 gallon, 7 gallon, 10 gallon..!   Shallow pot or deep pots..?   Assuming a vigorous growing tree, any advantage or disadvantage to smaller or larger pot?    Some plants actually do better or prefer to be root bound, hence small pot.   Are figs the same?

I have a mess of 2013 class trees that are growing like weeds in full sun.  I fear they are probably getting root bound in existing 3 gallon pot.   Besides, if I move them up in the next month, I can re-use their pots for this year’s class before they bust out of 1 gallon pots.   I’m thinking that going to bigger pot will mean no move up or planting for a good year or more.   

BTW….  I would like to give these trees the room and time (a couple of seasons) to develop and sample fruit before planting.  The rest and duplicates would probably be adopted out, so maybe a smaller pot best for portability….. hummm?

Thanks to the experienced gurus for advice.

Hola Jack long time no see,  I would try not to up pot too big, this may throw you off and you may water too much or too little.  Also keep some good ones in small pots, so I can bring them home with me after the Fiesta....LOL     Looking at your Wish List...a White Madiera..???    Are you making things up...???  LOL   How about a Grey Madiera...LOL

my only consideration when up potting is how much potting soil I have to commit to it.  I generally go from cup to 2 gal nursery pot (1 gal if i'm selling it) or 2.5gal SIP.  From there to 5 gal bucket SIP.  Next would be a 17-20 gal tub (possible SIP) or in ground.  I haven't gotten to the point of needing to think about larger pots than that.

Some people do just fine with it, but the risk of taking too big of a jump is that the roots stay too wet for too long between watering. In the end it can really delay growth, I have had it happen a couple of times. From a 3, I would go to a 5ish, and chances are in a month you will up pot again. But, if you go from a 3 to say 10ish, it might work or the tree might just squat for a month or so before starting to grow. For me when this happens and they do finally start to grow, the growth is usually pretty slow at first also.
I think it all comes down to the ability to keep the moisture where the tree likes it, and in a big container outside where you can't control rain water. But like I said, some people have great luck making huge jumps, it just doesn't work in my yard.

I go from quart containers right to #5 (5 gal) containers. Then the keepers will be put in 15 or 20 gallon pots.

Pretty much all my figs will be in 15 gal pots top. I have some in 7 and 10 gals now up potted from 2 and 3 gals some time ago.

My observation is the following: the fig trees in smaller pots have way more figs on them than the ones I moved to the larger pots.
It seems more soil for the roots means more green branches above. While the roots are constrained, the survival mode kicks in and the figs pops out from every leaf node.

A big issue with a pot being root bound is getting water and nutrients to it. I have 2 in 5 gallons that started from cuttings this year as the 3 gallons needed water twice a day... with temps in the 80s.

I find it easy to go 1 to 3 to 5 gallon. I'm sure 7 gallons would work too. As others said the concern with going to big is moisture control.

Hi Bosco,
The question is more : What are you targeting ?
Last year I bought a figtree in an half gallon pot and the figtree went to an eighty liters / 20 gallons trashcan buried in the dirt ( with bottom removed).
The figtree is growing like crazy this year . I plan to keep that figtree, and let it stay at that place.
So :
Do you plan to keep the tree for you ? if so, what final size are you targeting ? Have you already a precise idea on that question ?
Do you plan to move the tree around ( for winter protection ) ?
Do you plan to give away/sell the tree ? Then in an half gallon is enough - unless you target "big money" and then a 4 gallon should be enough unless ...

As for the pots, nothing special - just the standard ones - as the ones used for selling trees at the nurseries. IMO, don't take a shallow Bonzaï pot - they are adapted to Bonzaï but not to a fruiting figtree.
As for the SIP option, this is up to you.

I went from a 1 gal nursery pots straight to 10 gal with 5-1-1 mix. It is my understanding that if it drains well, it wont get soggy feet. I usually do full waterings( until it drains out the bottom) every 3-4 days. If its really hot, ill give them a small amount in between to keep the top roots moist.

Armando……. What… no such a fig as “White Madeira”!    No pulling the wool over your eyes, eh.    Oh man, I am bummed out now!    So, that’s explains why no one is offering to share cuttings, ha, ha.    Actually I noticed this fig on Tam’s post #816 early in my fig conversion last year.  Guess I’ve been had and will remove from want list, sure looked like a nice fig. 

Everyone else…….. thanks for the super reply’s and comments.   It is so educational to see what everyone else is doing, what works and what doesn’t.  I can see where too much soil could certainly have it’s down side.  JD’s reminder of “target” makes a lot of sense and good reminder too.  No use potting up a fig that is a duplicate and probably going to be given away.   For keepers, I’m thinking of 10 gallon will be max and that should give me time and a few seasons to decide whether to plant in the ground.  Also, my climate zone makes the dreaded fig shuffle a non-issue, I can leave pots and trees out in my vegetable garden unprotect all year.

Thanks for sharing…

Jack,

I am going with the 7 and 10 gal pots too. I found that Osh sells a good selection of the plastic pots of different sizes that are of the same design. They look good, if you care about the looks, and the shape seems to be suitable for the figs.
http://www.osh.com/Osh-Categories/Outdoor/Lawn-%26-Garden/Planters/Plastic/14-In-Terra-Pot-Thyme-Green/p/6848113

The 14” is 7 gal, while the 16” is 10 gal. I got several green ones and they have been keeping their colors fine so far.