Potted fig - plant in ground - some questions

13 years ago

Hello all,

I have 2 figs which routinely become pot bound by mid-summer. I have read some information on putting the fig -pot and all - in the ground and the roots will grow out the drain holes and the plant will be happy. A few questions:

What prep does the ground require?

How large should I make the drain holes? (dime size?? larger)

Does this work?

Is it difficult to remove the pot from the ground in the fall?

I overwinter my figs inside and would want to remove them from the ground each fall. Sounds like quite a bit of work but I am willing to try.

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Comments (11)

dieseler
13 years ago
Hi Dancinglemons,
on the other forum Bass posted some pictures of what you posted here.
Its another nice forum with good information about figs, check it out and maybe consider joining that one as well.:)
Martin

Here is a link that might be useful: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=4728896
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
13 years ago
Well, here is my experience with that idea! Not a fig, but a Scheflera plant in a pot. We sat it's pot on the dirt in the planter next to the front door. After a couple years, it got so huge, it was blocking the door!! Finally we decided to move the pot. NO WAY!! The thing had grown out the drain holes deep into the ground. JD had to use a shovel, muscle, and a saw to get that thing out of there, so beware!
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
13 years ago
The only ground prep required is digging a shallow hole (1/4-1/3 the ht of the container) to accommodate the plant and back-filling with the soil from the hole.

Dime to quarter size drain holes are fine. Those located on the side so the lowest part of the hole is at the container bottom make it easier to sever roots when you need to. It's not a difficult task if you have a sharp spade or loppers.

Yes, it works well, and it's less work in the end because you needn't be so diligent about keeping on top of the watering.

Al
dancinglemons
Original Author
13 years ago
dieseler,
Thanks for that link. Just the information I needed.

desertdance,
Wow! That must have been a really huge plant!! In my zone I will be required to remove the pot each fall so hopefully will not require too much effort :-))

Al,
Thanks, Now I know which drill bit to use for the holes.

DL
thisisme
13 years ago
I'm seriously thinking abut doing this with my roughly 80 tree home orchard. My only problem is the trees are already in 15-25 gallon pots with holes in the bottom.

I can pull the trees out of their pots once they are dormant in the Fall and cover the holes.

The only question I have is what do I cover the holes with?

I was thinking about using some of those peal-and-stick vinyl tiles but I don't know if they would harm my trees.

If I could find some cheap peal-and-stick PVC sheeting that would do the trick too but I can't find it cheap. I also don't know if that would hurt my trees either.

Anybody have an answer?
dancinglemons
Original Author
13 years ago
I was wondering about the holes in the bottom of my pots also and have decided to put a styrofoam peanut in the hole and then duct tape over the holes. After that I will drill some holes in the sides of the pots. The roots may still escape but changing pots now might not work because my trees have baby figs.

DL
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
13 years ago
You would be fine if the root mass will remain intact and you only pot up. That is, remove the plant from its pot and place it in a larger pot and fill in around the roots with soil. If you repotted or recently potted up, then set an old plate (or similar) a little smaller than the pot diam in the hole and half-bury the pot directly on top of it. The plate will force the roots to grow horizontally so they can easily be cut with a sharp shovel in the Fall.

Al
thisisme
13 years ago
My pots will be going into the ground for 1-3 years until we either move or decide we are going to live here permanently.

I purchased a demolition hammer for digging the holes.

I think I will be using this material to cover the holes with.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280361233092&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I plan on pulling the older trees and doing some root pruning. On the trees I planted this year I may pull them and add a few inches of soil to the bottom and sides of the pots as the soil has compacted a little. Either way I will be able to cover the bottom hole from the inside of the pot.

I may drill 3-6 larger side holes in the 15-25 gallon pots to encourage more rooting outside the pot.

Al, I plan on putting the pots about 6" into the ground with a 4" wide 6" deep perimeter filled with garden soil. Our soil here is very poor and alkaline though fast draining. Do you think there would be any advantage to putting a few holes in the pots above ground level or would that just be over kill?
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
13 years ago
No advantage to making more holes above grade, it will just expose the soil to the drying effects of the air.

Al
dancinglemons
Original Author
13 years ago
Al,

DH really likes the plate and 1/2 bury technique. Will make it so much easier for him to extract the figs in November/December. Thanks!!

DL
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
13 years ago
None necessary. Take care. ;o)

Al