Fertilizer provides much of the raw material (nutrients) that allows plants to keep their systems in order, to manufacture their own food, and to grow. Without the essential nutrients present in the soil and available to the plant, plants will rob them from other tissues and exhibit symptoms of a nutrient shortage. In containers, you'll often see older leaves yellow & fall from a lack of nitrogen. The plant is actually extracting the mobile N from older leaves, sacrificing them in effect, to supply it to newly emerging leaves. Nutrients that are not mobile, will often manifest symptoms that indicate a shortage in new leaves. As long as a plant is actively growing, it will utilize the nutrients in fertilizer. As temperatures drop below 50* F, the plant slows growth & thus its use of N. When plants are not using N, it is better to keep its concentration lower. It can feed the bacteria that causes root rot and it also feeds the bacteria that breaks down the structure of the soil. For containerized trees & shrubs I usually alternate feedings about every 2 weeks with 5-1-1 fish emulsion then 20-20-20 MG, Peter's, or a similar product. As temperatures begin to cool (in Sep in my zone) I eliminate the N from my fertilizer program and change to a 0-10-10 blend of either fish emulsion or a chemical mix. Because I use an organic 5-1-1 in my summer program, there is ample residual N in the soil as winter approaches & the plants fare very well on the altered diet. I can see no difference between chemical fertilizers and organics. Both work well in containers. In spring, if you are looking for maximum growth, fertilize as leaf buds are opening or for conifers, as candles begin elongating. If you wish your plants to remain more compact, hold spring applications until leaves have formed & matured or candles have stopped elongating & are open. This will keep internodes short, leaves smaller, and provide nutrients when the tree is concentrating on cambial (girth) and root growth. I am seeing frequent advice to use grass clippings only, as fertilizer in containers. I'm sorry, but if it was an effective method of nutrient delivery, because the supply is unlimited and free, every greenhouse or nursery operation in the world would be stuffing their containers with grass. One of the main attributes of a sound fertilizer program is the growers control over delivery timing and quantity/type of nutrients. Obviously this is lacking in the grass clipping suggestion. There are additional issues that would be associated with the practice as well. Good luck. Al

OMG.. will you stop trying to love it to death ... it does not need to be fed.. nor thrived ... nor stimulated .. [though i have cussed out many a plant] read how to water at the link.. and follow it precisely ... proper water for up to 3 years at this size.. IS ALL IT NEEDS ... if you do not perfect moisture at root depth.. it will die ... and no other goo will stop such ... save your money on the other voodoo stuff .. ken Here is a link that might be useful: link

I've had figs come out of the garage in April and not break dormancy until July. Just this spring, late March, in fact, I forgot to bring about 20 one year old plants back in the garage and they froze, killing all the new growth they put on. Some of the varieties began pushing new buds from top growth within three weeks, a couple waited until last week to push new growth from the root, most were a combination of new growth from the roots and a few new buds on the trunks and two (both Atreano) have yet to show any growth at all. Figs are strange plants indeed in some of their growth habits, but they are also darned hard to kill. Keep nurturing it and see what happens.

Thisisme in my opinion is very correct in saying it depends on conatianer size, fertilizer used, tree size in container. Some of my larger ones are grown in i would say 30 gallon containers i come to realize, i say this because i was at Menards yesterday and saw what was advertised as 23 gallon containers for 5.98 in black and blue color almost bought a few , there the kind with the rope handles but im thinking of keeping my new plants in smaller ones for space in garage. Soory to vear off here. Anyhoot,when i kept count 2 years back i had 150 from el.sals hardy chiago was near 100 and my unknown was at 30 figs and 75% never ripened because its a late riper in my climate. Since then i stopped counting. This year bad year cause of bad weather. Martin