Interesting article basically states that the roots send some sort of signal to plants .
Draw your own conclusions.  ; )



http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18612661

I like this statement

Kinda like auqarium fish who sorta grow in proportion to tank size, at least to some degree. I've grown plants as bonsai for a few years in very restrictive pots and then at a later point decided on a couple of them that I would just grow them on in standard pots. They adjusted very quickly. Those figs or other trees that I've put in ground also adjusted very quickly so I don't think there is much permanent stunting.  

Interesting.  I got the impression that the author expected me to feel guilty for keeping my figs in pots, but that’s not going to happen any time soon.  Even if I don’t give my plants a chance for an optimum growth experience, they're getting better than they would if I left them to their own devices in my yard.  My husband is known to weed-whack pretty indiscriminantly... :)

I thought Japanese people figured this out centuries ago... Also, my trees in 10 gal pots are more than big enough and I don't really want them to reach any further genetic potentials that they have.

Good find Martin.

Makes sense to partially buried 1 gal pots to give them a robust root system before going to 2 gal pots.