We’ve had weird summer like warm weather for several months and I decided a few weeks ago was a good time to correct a suspected potting problem.  Especially since my baby trees were waking up and starting to sprout leaves!  They have wintered out unprotected all winter in hopes new leaves will acclimate to direct spring sun upon opening.  Reason I wanted to repot was that I suspected, they were not draining fast enough and holding way too much water. Plants looked weak in late autumn and pots very heavy……hummm?   I ended up letting them go dormant in that condition…… my bad!

Looking back, the trouble started when I moved trees from one gallon size to three gallon last August.  My downfall was the cockamamie mix used.   Composition was about 50% MG, 20% composted horse manure, 15% coconut coir and 15% pine bark nuggets.   The coconut material was pre-used and salvaged freebee from local greenhouse flower grower.  I lined the bottom of pots with a few inches or pine nuggets.  It all sounded good at the time but, the autopsy in repotting proved these pine bark nuggets ended up blocking most drain holes contributing to a soggy mess at the bottom……urgh!.   Of course this excess water wicked further up in the mix making matters worse.  Also, I had mixed pine nugget in the mix, thinking a proxy for perlite………NOT

Anyway, I ended up stripping them down to almost bare root, even trimming some root.   I then replanted with an off the shelf mix right out of the bag.  No more of my whacky formulations!  Local grower recommended Sunshine Mix #4 Ag Plus Pro with Mycorrhizae.  Three cubic foot compressed bag was about $41.00.  Not that I am now paranoid about drainage but, I did add about 15% Perite #3 to mix and made sure drain holes remain unobstructed.   Final mix feels much like Jon’s mix and hope it’s the ticket to success.

Good news is, the figs have been in this over two weeks now and appear to be in heaven.  Little by little all buds a breaking out in new leaves.  I deliberately haven’t watered and kept them a little on the dry side because of pending rain.  And, thank god, the much need rain  arrived last night and will continue for two days.  Yeaaaa...!

Needless to say, 40 plus 3 gal pots later and I have a new appreciation for potting mixes.