Thought it would be interesting to see what everyone else is using, and the results.

I live in Missouri and this is my first summer with figs. My containers are black and are sitting on a concretes slab.

I've been using the 5:1:1 mix. 5 Parts pine bark fines, 1 Part perlite, and, 1 part promix hp instead of the s. moss. I also add lime to the mix and as needed.

I was using mg fertilizer and have switch to dyna-grow Foliage Pro 9-3-6 and dyna-grow Liquid Bloom 3-12-6. I am going to start fertilizing with every watering.

I have been having some problems with my leaves, but I'm not sure if the problem is the soil mix, rain, or heat. Time will tell. I'm looking forward to doing experiments on several mixes and fertilizers next summer.

Chad, I was using Happy Frog Organic and didn't like the results so I switched to EB Stone which had some better results but I am still
now satisfied. So today, I got some Espoma Garden Tone and will use it in conjunction with Foliage Pro 9-3-6 which I have been using
all spring. I have also toyed with Bat Guano, Kelp and fish fertilizer.

I use straight out of the bag Fertilome UPM. Great stuff.

Photos always help identify issues.  I've been using Vigoro 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer once a week.  I also lightly dosed my potting mix with a little 10-10-10 solid fertilizer, pellitized dolomitc lime and worm castings.  Being new at this I didn't want to add to much fertilizer or lime and kill my figlets.  I can always add more later or do the liquid fertilizer like I'm doing now.  The mix I'm using in my 3 gallon nursery pots is 3/4/7 coir/sifted coarse perlite/black humus.  Must be an acceptable mix since my figlets seem very happy.  Haven't had any issues except the sun has nearly offed a couple of my figlets but I was lucky and caught them before it was too late.

I'm totaly new to figs. I've been doing raised beds and container gardening for several years, I'm not an expert by any means. I just started with figs this year. My figs sit in a dark color pot /usually black, brown or green. I use the same mix in my standard containers: S.Moss, Perlite, vermiculite, sand, Azomite (rock dust), compost or worm castings. my proportions are 3:2:1:1 (azomite is 1 cup) and the compost is a good mixed heap into the mix. I'm looking into additional fertilizers for the figs, but have not done so yet.

modified 5:1:1. dolomite lime, and mg fertilizer. for larger containers, i'm trying out plant-tone. i have been topping them with slow release fertilizer in spring also to push early growth. reason for plant-tone is mainly due to all the rains of late.

@Steve, I will get some pictures posted of my leaves in a different thread. It is odd some leaves look good others look bad. I don't think the soil and fertilizer is the problem. I think it was to much rain over the past months and then it got really hot and dry. I had several nice rooted cutting I put into 1 gallon container over the winter and I lost all of them due to over watering. I believe that figuring out how much water and when to water is the biggest problem I have had.

@Pete, how do you modify your 5;1;1.

You are missing the lime to counteract all the acidity of the pine bark fines. I use a similar mix and fertilizer and I am happy with my results.

@Jason. I do have lime in my mix. I will edit that. I had to use pelletized so I've done soil testing to figure out how much and when I need it.

man look at all you chemist. The only thing I added was blood meal and bone meal. Now I feel like I'm not doing enough after reading all of this. :(

chad, i use something called nature's helper. it's 50/50 pine bark fine and compost. so it's more of 2.5:2.5:1:1.

I put my veggie leftovers with wood chips and grass clippings into a compost bin outside. Over a few months I am getting the best possible fertilizer. Then I mix it with pine bark fines , lime, azomite, and perlite and watch the figs grow like on steroids!

How i mix mine

You put your right foot in,
You put your right foot out,
You put your right foot in
And you shake it all about.

You put your left foot in,
You put your left foot out,
You put your left foot in,
And you shake it all about.


You put your right hand in,
You put your right hand out,
You put your right hand in
And you shake it all about.


You put your left hand in,
You put your left hand out,
You put your left hand in,
And you shake it all about.


You put your right shoulder in,
You put your right shoulder out,
You put your right shoulder in,
And you shake it all about.


You put your left shoulder in,
You put your left shoulder out,
You put your left shoulder in,
And you shake it all about.

You put your right hip in,
You put your right hip out,
You put your right hip in
And you shake it all about.
You put your left hip in,
You put your left hip out,
You put your left hip in,

You put your whole self in,
You put your whole self out,
You put your whole self in
And you shake it all about.



and after wards i sing to them - Thats Amore.

forum needs some fun  .  ; )

Lol thanks for a laugh :) seems like a lot of work but will give it a try

Chad, the beer! Don't forget the beer!

Chad,
I use a modified 5-1-1 mix. Its now a 5-1-1-1 mix It holds more water than the original without drowning the roots.

5 - parts Pine Bark Mulch   
1 - part Peat Moss       
1 - part Perlite           
1 - part Oil Absorbent        @ Tractor Supply   
Plus - 1 cup Dolemite Limestone and 1 cup Espoma Plant-Tone or Garden-tone per 5 gallon of mix.
(Pre-wet the mix and drain before adding the limestone and Espoma. Keep the potting mix  depth a maximum of 10 - 12 inches deep in the container and mulch the top 1-2 inched with Pine Bark)

Fertilizing Schedule: 1-2 year old fig trees:
Weekly... Miracle Grow General purpose @ 1 tablespoon / Gallon of water.
Monthly... Espoma Garden-tone or Plant-tone @ 1/2 cup and 1/2 cup Dolemite Limestone per 5 gallon container.
Miracle Grow is stopped at the end of July to allow for "hardening off" but depends on your location.

This fertilizer regimen is to push maximum healthy growth, at least 3-4 feet of growth last year.

IMO rain should not be a problem for potted plants if the mix drains properly, and has the proper nutrients. Here are a few plants exposed to full sun and record setting rain.


<edit>
Chad,... I just wanted to mention that in your 5-1-1 mix the Promix HP is a little redundant. Other than Mycorrhizae and peat moss, you are already adding the other ingredients. Espoma products with Mycorrhizae have 17 different Baccili and Fungi, and includes a balanced fertilizer and micro nutrients, Promix has 1 (one). Also, If you are not adding a reasonable amount of limestone , your mix may be a little acidic due to the pine bark mulch.

Pro mix Ingredients:
HP
Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss (65-75% by volume)
Perlite - horticultural grade
Dolomitic and Calcitic limestone  (pH adjuster)
Wetting Agent
Mycorrhizae – endomycorrhizal innoculum  (Glomus intraradices)

BX   
Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss (75-85% by volume)
Perlite - horticultural grade
Vermiculite-horticultural grade
Dolomitic and Calcitic limestone (pH adjuster)
Wetting Agent
Mycorrhizae – endomycorrhizal innoculum (Glomus intraradices)

Beware. Martin recipe works only on dark figs.

I think greenfig got it right.  Beer (that's the ticket).  Well, maybe beer and osmocote 10-10-10 (not sexy but it's slow release and works well, even when your schedule doesn't permit consistent attention).  I use a locally sold promix, with extra perlite added for the smaller trees.

Mike

Hi everyone,

I'm wondering about formulas for homemade potting soil. I'll be repotting several of last year's cuttings to bigger pots soon.

Here's what I have on hand:
Well rotted horse manure
Compost, almost decomposed to the point of being soil (but protected from rain all the while)
Peat moss
Perlite
Vermiculite
Garden soil

Any suggestions on these and also other ingredients, like lime or bone meal? I see pine bark mulch mentioned above; don't know that I need it and pretty sure I can't get it around here.
What proportions of each item?

TIA

Robert
Zone 8b, SW Washington

Chad I'm one state over in illinois. I like to go as organic as possible. So I use compost, bone meal, and blood meal. I also have rabbits that contribute to the compost mix.

Now for my potted figs I use a deluted miracle grow at one third strength.

When I root my cutting I do it quart size plant pots. I sell some on ebay. I simply use a miracle grow potting mix with extra perlite added.

I have some of the figs on your wish list, get ahold of me in winter.

My mix.

1 standard bag EKO organic potting soil
1 8qt blue bag Epsoma perlite screened
3 gallons screened pine bark
~ 1 cup dolomite lime
~ 1 cup kelp meal
~ 1 cup Azomite
~ 1 cup crab shell

The azomite and crab shell are recent additions but the plants seem to like it, definetly no aversion to it. I am hoping some of the additions will carry over trace nutrients to me as well.

I feed with 1 oz of Botanicare Pure blend hydro-organic in 2.5 gallons of water every 3rd watering.
(Edit) And then I shake it all about.

I'm completely new to figs and just followed the RHS's suggestion of using John Innes No. 3.

However, my gut feeling is that it doesn't drain well enough - after watering the water remains pooled in the pot for quite some while before soking in and through.

I use Fafard mix for container plants with extra perlite, pelletized lime, 10-10-10 and greensand.

Pete I was just wondering myself about leaving them out in the rain in containers. Do you wait until they're bigger to put them out in the rain? We've had rain and storms daily for about a week now but there not getting as much sunlight under an awning,

Thanks everyone this has turned into a very informative thread.

@Calvin your edit just about made me about fall out of my chair :)

@Dave thanks for the offer I will get ahold of you this winter.

indestructible87,... If the plant was out in full sunlight, its out in rain, regardless of the size of the container.

Travis,

Once the danger of frost had passed here in Houston I put my 1 gallon pots outside.  Didn't care if downpours were predicted.  My thought is the tree has to get used to the weather some time and I'm not going to baby it.  Didn't loose a figlet.

Martin,
You crack me up --thanks,
mgg