Can a fig do well in an office space?

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thearabicstudent

Registered:1366758767
Posts: 118

Posted 1393252098	Reply with quote #1

Where I work there are fluorescent lights that stay on all day but go off at night. They're on from about 5am to 9pm. My desk is away from the windows so the plant wouldn't be getting any outside light. Has anyone taken a cutting to work with them before? Would it grow, even slowly? I'm thinking of taking a cutting that has 3 leaves to the office just for fun. Thanks. __________________ http://www.thearabicstudent.com Maryland, Zone 7a (half a mile from 6b)

Rewton

Registered:1291943117
Posts: 1,946

Posted 1393252788	Reply with quote #2

I grew some figs in my office last year and am growing a couple more this year. However, mine are on ledge beside an exterior window that gets sunlight for ~ 3 hours a day. Some are putting on growth while some are not - being in a SIP seems to help. In your case the danger would be that they get leggy if they were there for a long period of time. Maybe others can chime in. __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

DallasFigs

Registered:1358877623
Posts: 990

Posted 1393253831	Reply with quote #3

Yup, but the overhead florescent probably wouldn't be strong enough.. Can you set up a 2ft florescent on your desk? I tried putting a pot next to a north facing window, but without direct sunlight (and the windows are slightly tented), it became unhappy. This is a T12 single bulb fixture with a 40w 6500K tube. It's not the best, but it's good enough. The two bigger trees have been here since they first budded out. __________________ James - Irving, TX - Zone: 8a Follow me on EBay Wish List: 187-25 · Ice Crystal · Maltese Beauty · Maltese Falcon

thearabicstudent

Registered:1366758767
Posts: 118

Posted 1393255632	Reply with quote #4

There are 2 fluorescent lights at my desk (in addition to the ones on the ceiling). Not sure if they're strong enough though. I'll give it a go and see. What's one cutting lost? And if it starts to look like it's dying I'll take it back home. __________________ http://www.thearabicstudent.com Maryland, Zone 7a (half a mile from 6b)

greenfig

Registered:1359790036
Posts: 3,182

Posted 1393256548	Reply with quote #5

It also might be too dry if you run an AC all the time. I tried a few cuttings indoors and they grew a little but were not happy. You may need to mist them often. __________________ wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal

can_smokva

Registered:1376249606
Posts: 89

Posted 1393261424	Reply with quote #6

In my office single tube 36" long is 30" above the desk. humidity is only 20%RH, temoerature is 23C. With misting twice daily rooted cuttings in cups are taken nice dark green color and are growing decently. best of luck.

Rob

Registered:1320245426
Posts: 550

Posted 1393261995	Reply with quote #7

My opinion is that it will probably survive, but not flourish. Probably would grow slowly and not put on or ripen much fruit, if any. Just not that much light from standard fluorescent lights and distance to cutting. Still a good conversation starter for coworkers though. __________________ Rob Maryland Zone 7 http://rbfigs.webs.com/

FrozenJoe

Registered:1244509224
Posts: 1,115

Posted 1393262867	Reply with quote #8

I agree with Rob. It would probably survive. But it would not put out a low of growth. Don't expect any fruit. If a few figs do ripen they won't be worth eating. But figs do have attractive foliage. If you're willing to grow it as an ornamental then go for it. __________________ Joe Phoenix Area (Zone 9) I am MrFrozenJoe on YouTube. I am arizonafigs on eBay.

gorgi

Registered:1188888396
Posts: 2,864

Posted 1393263933	Reply with quote #9

Working and eating good ripe figs right off the tree growing in the same office! That would be classic - good luck... Note: Be aware that the F.carica leaves do produce a (tom) cat-pee odor, specially in a confined space... __________________ George, NJ_z7a.

timmy2green

Registered:1304271666
Posts: 196

Posted 1393265075	Reply with quote #10

I had a wandering Jew plant on a shelf w indirect fluorescent office lighting high above and I stuck a small cutting in the pot for fun, slightly buried. It grew, to my surprise but no vigor. Got to 3 small leaves on 2" stem and never budged from that pt even though I tried a little mg fert and other stuff. Recently put in my garage thinking maybe it needs to go dormant to build some energy for another flush. It earned the right to its own pot and outside sun this yr, couldn't keep it at work under those conditions anymore. If I get a setup w more light I'll try again. __________________ Saratoga, NY - Zone 5a Wish List: Sbayi, Poona, Panevino Dark, Lebanese Red, Sumaki, Raspberry Latte, Negretta, Italian 258, De La Reina MP.

mgginva

Registered:1320266925
Posts: 1,856

Posted 1393265583	Reply with quote #11

I gave my Doc some fig plants for his office but only the 2 Afghanistanicas are doing well (along with 2 coffee trees). The other figs need much more light. __________________ Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list: Perretta,

DallasFigs

Registered:1358877623
Posts: 990

Posted 1393270667	Reply with quote #12

Mine seem to grow quite fast in the office. I'll bring in a newly rooted and raise it up close to the light. Then once the leaves get near the light, i have to start lowering it every few days. Once it's sitting down on the desk and still too close to the light, I take it back home and bring a new one. I've noted 3"+ of growth over a long 4 day weekend. I came in one morning and the leaves were touching the light. Burned it a little. Now I make sure I lower them before leaving for the weekend. No, I don't expect them to fruit in the office, but they won't be here that long. Now that spring is here, I plan to rotate them out every couple of weeks, so I can watch some grow. When they are about 18" tall, they'll be happy to go outside. I don't know what the humidity level is in here. I'll try to remember to bring a hygrometer tomorrow and see. Those in my image above are from Left to Right are an unknown green/yellow (possibly LSU Gold), Conadria and an unknown family tree from when I was a kid. That last one is a very poor cutting that I've been babying since last August. I'm surprised it's still alive. __________________ James - Irving, TX - Zone: 8a Follow me on EBay Wish List: 187-25 · Ice Crystal · Maltese Beauty · Maltese Falcon

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1393279282	Reply with quote #13

Hi thearabicstudent, Are you planning on turning the ac cooler off ? Fig tree do better at 30°C - that can be a concept to live in an office at 30°C ... If you keep the trees at 19°/22°C they won't develop that much... __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

thearabicstudent

Registered:1366758767
Posts: 118

Posted 1393280618	Reply with quote #14

The temperature would have to stay room temperature even if that slows its growth. I'm not so concerned about it growing fast, just don't want it to die. I'll nip any fruit that starts to form too. The plant I'm going to bring to work is little more than a cutting. __________________ http://www.thearabicstudent.com Maryland, Zone 7a (half a mile from 6b)

thearabicstudent

Registered:1366758767
Posts: 118

Posted 1393802306	Reply with quote #15

It's been a week and the tiny cutting is doing ok so far. I make sure to splat any gnats I see before they get out of control lest my coworkers get annoyed. Time will tell if the office is too cold and dry and the light too dim. I'm enjoying have a little fig plant to look at while I'm working though and several people like to check on it to see if it's getting bigger. Up to 4 leaves now! __________________ http://www.thearabicstudent.com Maryland, Zone 7a (half a mile from 6b)

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