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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > I moved my little figs to 3-gal containers
 
 


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Pami225

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Now, what do I do?  I think they stay shaded for a couple
weeks?  Is the north side of a structure safe enough, or
do they need to go indoors?  I bought them from an out-
door display and they haven't been indoors at all since I
bought them.  Thanks in advance for your help.  ♥
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Pami
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satellitehead

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
North side is fine. 

If they start going terribly limp in the next 48 hours, drop them in a sealed bin and introduce some water misting to increase humidity.  Open it every day to air it out. 

If they don't go limp in the 48 hours, go ahead and gradually introduce them to part sun.  Don't put them in full sun right away.  If you can't keep an eye on them every few hours, don't put them out in full sun.
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Pami225

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Thank you Jason.  I thought it might be OK outdoors on the north
side of the house.  We are supposed to get rain tomorrow and then
again on Monday, so I think humidity will be right where it needs to
be, to make the figs happy.  A couple nice days, then looking at rain
all next weekend (15th, 16th & 17th). 

I live in an old, old neighborhood from the Craftsman era.  The houses
are long and narrow, as are the properties.  The garages are all de-
tached.  There is always some place that will block at least part of 
the direct sunlight.  Long long driveway with various structures pro-
viding shade at different parts of the day.  Partial sun should be no
problem.

I can't wait to see these babies grow!!
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Pami225

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 

Well it hasn't been 48 hours yet, more like 43-44, but no signs
of going limp.  They are doing well, IMHO, but what do I know?
This is what they look like up against the north side of my house.
If they make it thru the rest of today looking good, I will move
them into partial sun for tomorrow.

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jpeg Figs_3_0410_resized.jpg (99.58 KB, 180 views)


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Pami
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Figluvah

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
I might add.....Do NOT rush them with sunlight....start off leaving them in sunlight for about 30 minutes(per day), then back in the shade for a week or so....In other words..err on the safe side, the plants look great to me........Good Job.
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Cecil (Z 8b?) in the sticks of E.Tx

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Pami225

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pami225
I will move them into partial sun for tomorrow.


LOL I just looked and we have t-storms forecast
for tomorrow, AM showers Tuesday, partly cloudy
Wednesday and Thursday then 3 days of rain for
the weekend (of course- I work Monday thru Friday). 
I don't think they have any choice but to slowly
acclimate to sunlight.

Thanks for your help, Cecil! 

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Figluvah

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Your welcome Pami,

Just so you know, when you go from something like a 20oz cup to a 3gl container be super careful with your watering it,(it is really easy to over water them) it would have been better for the little plant to go to one gl then wait until you see roots growing out the drain holes then go to 3 gl pots
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Pami225

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Figluvah
Your welcome Pami,

Just so you know, when you go from something like a 20oz cup to a 3gl container be super careful with your watering it,(it is really easy to over water them) it would have been better for the little plant to go to one gl then wait until you see roots growing out the drain holes then go to 3 gl pots


These were all potted up from one-gallon containers.
The roots on the little one weren't all the way to
the bottom of the container, but they were all the
way to the edges.  I knocked off the soil beneath
the root ball and there would have probably been a
good inch before the roots reached the drain holes.


Now I have another question:  If we are to get rain
and thunderstorms the next 2 days, should I bring the
pots indoors?  or to the garage?  I used Al's 5-1-1 mix
with lime and some other stuff, wet it till it was damp
and used that to pot the little plants.  Then it rained
yesterday.  No rain in forecast for today, but it might
be too much water if it rains Monday and Tuesday?

Thanks again Cecil for all your help!
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Pami
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Figluvah

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Pami,

Then that is great.......Wonder why I thought you had them in 20oz cups

Damn Brain Flatulence on my part.....(had to correct my spelting)

Do you have a moisture meter? if you do let in get down barely in the Red before you water them.........I'll leave you alone now
Good luck :-)) 
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Pami225

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 

Quote:
Originally Posted by tmc2009
Hi, I agree about being careful about the watering.  Since its still cool you won't have much evaporation either.  It looks like there is perlite but it also looks like a potting mix which I don't like because they have a lot of sphagnum peat moss which retails water.  Where did you get the wire for the tags?  The only thing they have at home depot was for the drop ceilings and it was too thick?
Thank,
Tom


Just went and asked DBF- he made the "bracelets" for the
tags; DS13 got a kick out of cutting up Pepsi cans, so he
made the actual tags.  He said he used Romex 14/3- and
just stripped away the plastic.

I used Al's (tapla from GW) soil-less potting mix.  It is 1/7th
peat and 1/7th perlite.  The rest is pine bark fines.  Added
lime and tested pH.  It is just ever so slightly acidic now.

Thanks for your help!
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Pami225

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Figluvah
Pami,

Then that is great.......Wonder why I thought you had them in 20oz cups

Damn Brain Flatulence on my part.....(had to correct my spelting)

Do you have a moisture meter? if you do let in get down barely in the Red before you water them.........I'll leave you alone now
Good luck :-)) 


LOL You're giving me too much credit!!  I only just discovered
that fig trees might grow in Ohio- I am not sure I could root one
from a stick!  Maybe when I feel a little more confident in what
I am doing- but not just yet!

I don't have a moisture meter- I do have pretty long fingers, tho!
Might have to stick 'em in the dirt, eh?

Thanks for helping a newbie, Cecil!
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Figluvah

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
HAHA

I guess long fingers would work......But that little meter in less than $8.00 at where else but Walmart....Lowes & Home Depot both have them.

Just remember 95% of the members here were newbies at one time.
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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Here is the moisture meter!

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jpeg Moisture_meter_(Small).JPG (64.58 KB, 39 views)


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Pami225

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Figluvah
Here is the moisture meter!

Ahh- thank you!  Now I know what I'm looking for.  ;)
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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
BTW

That was way to dry for that little plant to survive....IN other words it "passed away"
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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Figluvah
BTW

That was way to dry for that little plant to survive....IN other words it "passed away"

My condolences, Cecil.  Is it supposed to get water when the needle
is at the very edge of green- where it meets red?  I'm pretty sure the
plants in my picture are "wet" now, since it rained yesterday.  Pretty
long shower, too.  Off & on for about five hours.  Unfortunately I was
out with the kids during the heavier rain.  It did get pretty hot here
today, low- to mid-80's.  But was very humid, so I'm thinking it didn't
do much to evaporate any extra water.

Maybe I should put some plastic over the planters for the next few days?
and just let the plants see out above the plastic- to keep them from get-
ting any wetter.  Any thoughts on this? 

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Figluvah

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Pami,

I think your plants are doing real good with just what you have been doing, and with the rains coming humudity should be OK.

Until your plants really fill out I would water until the meter is about midway
after they leaf out you should water until the water runs out the drain holes, then give it about an hour and give it a shot of 1/2 strength MG...I use the 3-1-2 Ratio MG 
example 24-8-16

And then let the meter get down to the first of the dry readings before watering.

I'm no expert by no means.

I hope this helps ya 
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Pami225

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Figluvah
Pami,

I think your plants are doing real good with just what you have been doing, and with the rains coming humudity should be OK.

Until your plants really fill out I would water until the meter is about midway
after they leaf out you should water until the water runs out the drain holes, then give it about an hour and give it a shot of 1/2 strength MG...I use the 3-1-2 Ratio MG 
example 24-8-16

And then let the meter get down to the first of the dry readings before watering.

I'm no expert by no means.

I hope this helps ya 


Thanks Cecil.  You may not consider yourself an expert, but I do (!) and
I respect your opinions.  I appreciate your taking the time to help some-
one like myself who may have questions regarding very basic plant care
and common sense, and is just stressing too much over the little things.
I need to relax- this is supposed to be FUN!!
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Pami
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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
Thanks Pami

BEEN THERE,DONE THAT

If I can ever help ya just holler, if I cant help we will both try to find out what you want to know!

Good luck
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Figluvah

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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
Hey Pami,

Do you remember when I said 95% of everyone on this forum was a "newbie at one time"??

Here is a newbie being held by his Dad.......Look at that little Guy looking "taking it all in"

Now do you know who the little newbie is??
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Pami225

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Figluvah
Hey Pami,

Do you remember when I said 95% of everyone on this forum was a "newbie at one time"??

Here is a newbie being held by his Dad.......Look at that little Guy looking "taking it all in"

Now do you know who the little newbie is??

Hi Cecil!  I just got home- had to work today, grabbed a bite to
eat, then Bible study this evening.

Is that YOU???  What a handsome little guy that is!  He looks
like he's scouting out a sunny spot for a future fig garden ;)

I pushed my planters up as close to the house as I could, and
the eaves sheltered them from a LOT the of rain.  I would say
about 3/4 of the pot was kept relatively dry.  Still a little water
getting in- but maybe not enough to hurt.  30% chance of rain
tomorrow, then 0% Wednesday, 10% Thursday and back up to
70% for Friday.  They are saying lows in the upper 30's this
weekend- I can fit 3 of the planters in the cold frame, but the
Hardy Chicago is too gangly to fit in there.  Any thoughts?

Have a great day tomorrow- I'm anxious to see how my little trees
will look after work.  It's too dark to see them now.
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Pami
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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
Shaaa, li'l heart, Cecil.  :)

noss
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noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.
Figluvah

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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Well Pami & Noss

I hate to tell you that ain't me!!!

And thanks Guys & Gals for not giving who it is away!

Now to Noss, I intend to answer your "where is fig paradise? right now.

That would be most of California!

That little mighty Handsome youngster being held by his Dad is none other than Jon Verdick/Owner/Moderator of this very great Forum(in San Diego)

He wasn't a newbie very long huh!
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Cecil (Z 8b?) in the sticks of E.Tx

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Figluvah

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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
Pami,

I have only tried to use Al's gritty mix once so I guess I should let someone that knows more about it answer your question about your soil being water soaked!

But from what I hear that stuff is supposed to not be able to get flooded very easy. 
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Figluvah

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Posted Reply with quote  #25 
Here Jon is recently !!


Jon, what happened???HEHE....Joking of course
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Pami225

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Posted Reply with quote  #26 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Figluvah
Pami,

I have only tried to use Al's gritty mix once so I guess I should let someone that knows more about it answer your question about your soil being water soaked!

But from what I hear that stuff is supposed to not be able to get flooded very easy. 

I'm not using the gritty mix (equal parts bark, turface and crushed
granite); I'm using the 5-1-1 mix (5 parts bark, 1 part perlite and
1 part sphagnum moss).  My understanding is that the 5-1-1 mix
is supposed to retain moisture a bit longer than the gritty mix?  I
have had containers before that wanted water twice (or more) per
day in the summer- and it doesn't even get dry here.  Our summers
are hot & humid.  Not sure how that water evaporated- but in any
case, that is why I chose the 5-1-1 mix- solely on the claim that it
should retain a little moisture.  I hope I didn't make a mistake!
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Pami
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Pami225

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Posted Reply with quote  #27 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Figluvah
Well Pami & Noss

I hate to tell you that ain't me!!!

And thanks Guys & Gals for not giving who it is away!

Now to Noss, I intend to answer your "where is fig paradise? right now.

That would be most of California!

That little mighty Handsome youngster being held by his Dad is none other than Jon Verdick/Owner/Moderator of this very great Forum(in San Diego)

He wasn't a newbie very long huh!


Of course it's Jon!!  I could tell the little guy
was scouting out a spot to plant some figs. 
Thank you Jon for providing this very inform-
ative (and fun!) forum for all of us!  ♥
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Pami
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Posted Reply with quote  #28 
Pami,

Ck your PM
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