Hi all.

I have had my share of dropping figs the last years probably from over-watering and i am trying to tweek my irrigation system. I didn't find any topics on this yet on the forum so..

Potted fig trees like consistent soil moisture as they cant go hunt for water as in ground trees.

In my zone in Israel It can get very hot even early spring somtimes and summer irrigation schedule is needed. 

The problem is in the spring when I am irrigating once a day for 15 minutes lets say and than a bit colder days come by and i am starting to loose fig embryos- It happens more with young fig trees but even the older ones show fig stressed from overwatering (white dots).

My pots have side drainage hols and they drain excess water - Maybe less than optimal and maybe drain holes should better be in the bottom but than my balcony gets dirty...

Right now for 8-10 gallon pots i am using 4liter per hours irrigation  drippers (1GPH) and my irrigation timings now is divided to two times a day 4 minutes each and I think I am starting to get that for my pot size its better to increase frequency than increase the watering time.

Also for note I mulch my trees also.


Maybe other members can share their irrigation experiences.

Please only members with about the same zone and pot culture respond.

Full sun, 30 liter pots.
30% loam and rest is pot soil mixed with some compost. Maybe the mix is heavy Abit.

I don't live in your zone, but I grow my potted figs in a greenhouse. Temperatures can go as high as 42C, it happened today actually, off course that's in the full sun. A part of my greenhouse is artificially shaded, today's temp was around 30C in that part. That's wahere i keep my peaches.
My col de dame is in full sunshine all day long and it consumes about 10 ltrs of water per day now! The plant is about 1,5 m high. last year I had over a hundred ripe figs on that plant, from early sep till mid november.
I have an automatic watering system from Gardena installed and I set it to water twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
To my knowledge, it is also important NOT to water figs from above, so directly on the soil but instead you need a kind of scale, a recipient where you put the pot in and then water in this scale. The fig will have its water supply only from the bottom this way.
I know it is still far from the natural circumstances, but it is way better like this.
I have also learned that figs, when they start ripening require less water, but still in a steady way. Avoid not watering them for a while and then overdosing as to say by giving them a bucket full.

Twice a day, but how many minutes?
What drippers?
More technicals...

Eli, i am in zone 10 in los angeles, very similar conditions to what you describe. i almost started a similar post a while back, so i am glad you started this

I have 20 to 25 gallon pots, 100% potting mix similar to pro-mix called proven winners (drains very well), 5 drain holes at bottom, plastic brown resin pots, and full south facing sun

I water once a week, yes only once a week, and all my figs are thriving.

I saw that the former belleclare folks watered twice a day! and I was worried i might be under-watering. But so far, no signs of stress, lots of lush green leaves, and plenty of figlets all at one good watering a week.

Since I water in the scale, I set the system to a constant flow, not dripping. It works with small valves which are adjustable, roughly from dripping to spraying or sprinkling.
If you need more water, you can just add more sprinklers. I use two sprinklers and have them on for about ten minutes, giving about 5 lLtrs of water.Pic from the website:
 

Stormy 5 liters per day (1.5 gallons)?  whats your pot size? sounds alot.

This spring for my 30 liter pots i am using :

4 liter-hour  drippers
 8 minutes a day- so each plant is using 500 ml a day.
In the summer i guess it will double.

BTW your drippers sound good.

Hi Elin,
In the summer, here, they can take 1 or 2 watering cans ( 11L each wc ) every other day.
The trees can survive without watering except for those in the 80 liters (20 gal) buried bottomless trashcans.
Those after 10/14 days in the 35°C , without rain, will start to drop leaves and fruits.

In the summer here, I like to (have to) give 1 or 2 wc every 3 days.

8AM - 5 minutes
11AM - 10 minutes
1PM - 10 minutes
4PM - 5 minutes

Helike an other members please specify :

pots size.

drainage used?

dripper size - liter per hours.

size of pots.

soil type.