Sunburnt all leaves on my Chicago Hardy (fig newbie alert)
I am a newbie fig tree owner and badly sun burnt all of my leaves.
I have a Chicago Hardy that I moved outside in full sun at the beginning of this spring after it came out of dormancy inside my apartment. It was very healthy inside and sprouted some very big leaves, but after I moved it outside and all of the leaves got badly sunburnt (white, then brown, now the edges are brown and flaking off) because I did not know you have to ease the plant into the sun slowly.
I cut off the worst sunburnt leaves and left 3 of the "best" ones, but those are still awful looking and look like they should be taken off immediately. The photos make the leaves look greener than they are but they are truly white/faded from the sunburn.
Do these damaged leaves still absorb sunlight and give the plant energy? Or should all sunburnt leaves be cut off given they will never heal?
If I cut these last 3 leaves off then it will just be a long leafless stem with a single new green leaf bud forming at the very top.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated 🙏
Comments (9)
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
last yearlast modified: last yearIf your tree was reasonably healthy when it took the sunburn hit, some of the inactive buds located above each scar where a leaf was attached will be activated. In the event the plant is badly rootbound, you might see a half-hearted back-budding response, but the terminal bud (at the growing tip of the branch/ stem) will continue to extend and produce new leaves along its length. Removing the terminal bud will force new branching from nodes immediately behind the pruning cut. This Ficus cutting shows what occurs when the growing tip of a branch/ stem is removed:
The new growth in the axils (crotches) of the leaves are actually new branches.Your tree would be much better served if you could find a cold place where it can over-winter, w/o getting too cold). I'm not sure where you live, so there isn't much sense in going into detail.
Your tree has chemical messengers that keep 'plant central' apprised of whether or not a leaf is pulling its weight. If it isn't, the plant will begin the shedding process, the first step of which is resorption, during which the plant will salvage mobile nutrients and other biocompounds for use elsewhere in the plant. So as noted above, it's best to allow the plant to make the decision. There is no upside removing a leaf that's still able to produce food (photosynthate/ sugar) unless you just can't stand the thought of looking at the spoiled foliage.
Al
D. Quaid thanked tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)Related Discussions
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Comments (1)Welcome to the forum, Peter. We look forward to your adventures in growing and marketing figs. A piece of advise I would share is that you grow your fig plants out in a 5-gal pot for a few seasons so that they will be hardy enough to survive your Winters without complete die-back. Good luck!...See Morefigs on my tree indoors ? ? ?
Comments (23)Hi Ottawan, I brought the figs in when they were dormant(no more leaves) & pinched all fruits. It was never my intention to have such an early start. Besides last year was the first time I had some fig trees so basically I am an enthusiatic newbie stumbling along & learning. I brought in the trees I guess sometime after mid November as it was getting cold like 1 or 2 degrees centigrade plus very wet. So came about 3rd week Dec '07 I noticed figs & green buds & now some of the figs are already the size of a loonie(Cdn $1 coin). Anyway I guess theres nothing to loose for now I know the next time around I would let them sleep longer in my unheated garage if I find the taste is bland for the lack of sun. Would definitely post feedback on how the figs tasted. One thing I have to share & that is my wife think I am blessed with green fingers. When she is happy the food taste better too otherwise its hooot curries & beans. Oh yes she have her share of laughters at some of the threads here too. paul...See MoreMr. James Robin's 2011 fig Inventory
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last yearlast modified: last year
dieseler
last yearD. Quaid
last yearUPDATE:
Hi everyone, thank you all again for your helpful posts. After trimming the tree in half about 3 weeks ago, the inactive nodes right underneath the cut area have spurred growth and flourished incredibly quickly. Lots of new baby leaves growing at a very fast face, looking healthy. A new beginning to a plant I thought I ruined.
Thanks again.
dieseler
last year
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK