Potted Fig Tree Growing Methods, Reasons for Not Fruiting, and Prevention and Control Measures

Besides being planted in fields, figs are also highly suitable for pot cultivation or for planting as low shrubs in courtyards and gardens for ornamental purposes, because their internodes are very short and their tree shape is elegant. A balcony is also a good choice; not only do they grow lush branches and leaves, but they also bear many sweet, large fruits. The flowers of the fig bloom inside the fruit and cannot be seen from the outside, which is why it is also called the fig. So what are the methods for growing potted fig trees? What are the reasons why potted fig trees do not bear fruit and the prevention and control methods?

I. Methods for Growing Figs at Home

1. Get a branch from a gardening friend, friend, or relative. Lignified branches from one to three years old can all be used, as long as they have not sprouted. The branch should be about 1 cm in diameter; cut it into 30 cm long cuttings. Cuttings can be taken in both spring and autumn.

2. Prepare a flower pot with holes, fill it with ordinary soil containing one-half sand, and insert two-thirds of the branch diagonally into the soil, with one section exposed above the soil surface. Then press the soil firm and water it, always keeping the soil moist.

Figs are not at all troublesome to care for in normal times. Use a relatively large flower pot, reaching 30 cm in diameter, and apply sufficient base fertilizer; well-rotted chicken manure, pigeon manure, or cake fertilizer can be used. For potted figs, 1 kg of fertilizer can be applied.

Because fig trees are relatively easy to grow, they can grow very well as long as conditions are suitable. Therefore, if they are not pruned regularly, they are prone to leggy growth, resulting in fruits that are not plump. It is recommended to keep the height of the fig tree at about 1.5 m. After all, this plant remembers more fruit when it grows “wide” than when it grows “tall.”

II. Reasons Why Potted Fig Trees Do Not Bear Fruit and Prevention and Control Methods

1. Pollination

If the flowers are not pollinated, potted fig trees will fail to bear fruit. Sometimes figs do bloom, but people simply do not notice and cannot see it, so they think there were no flowers. Generally, you should check whether the fig has a pistil; if there is nothing abnormal, then it will usually bear fruit.

2. Light

In fig cultivation, light plays a very large role. If figs are kept in insufficient light for a long time, it is very difficult for them to bear fruit. Therefore, generally pinch off the growing tip once when each branch has 7-9 leaves, pinch off the growing tip again in mid-August, and remove young fruits set in late August and afterward, to improve ventilation and light penetration and leave fewer branches.

3. Pruning

Pruning is very important in potted fig cultivation. If reasonable shaping and pruning are not carried out on figs, figs will only grow leaves and not bear fruit. This is because, without timely pruning, the vegetative organs of the fig grow too vigorously and consume too many nutrients, ultimately inhibiting the development of the reproductive organs, resulting in failure to bear fruit. Therefore, you must promptly pinch off the growing tips of vigorously growing branches, as this can promote the formation of fruiting branches.

4. Nitrogen Fertilizer Application

With potted figs, be sure not to apply too much nitrogen fertilizer, because too much nitrogen fertilizer will make figs “stay green” and grow wildly without blooming or bearing fruit. During the growing period, nitrogen fertilizer can be applied, but after fruit set and before the rapid fruit growth period, some phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be applied, as this can better promote the growth of figs.

Having read this, you must now understand the reasons why potted figs do not bear fruit and the prevention and control methods. I hope the summary by the editor can help everyone grow figs better.