Fertigation and early fertilization of cuttings will result in faster growth, healthier and more productive fig trees.
There has been much published about figs needing minimal fertilization. Its been my observation that this comment has been perpetuated and leads to lack of fertilization of newly rooted cuttings and young fig trees. The reduced fertilizer requirement actually applies to fruiting trees not young fig trees or cuttings. Fruiting fig trees need to produce less vegetation and more figs, therefore reduced Nitrogen levels are advisable.
Rooted Cuttings and young trees on the other hand need as much vegetative growth as possible and should be provided with a fertilization schedule with balanced fertilizer (Macro and Micro nutrients). I've fertilized rooted cuttings with a dilute water soluble fertilizer (Miracle-Gro All purpose), starting with 1/2 teaspoon / gallon of water for newly rooted cuttings and progressing to 1 teaspoon / gallon of water with 1/4 teaspoon of Epsom salt as they grow and are potted into 1 gallon containers. In this early stage of growth, the cuttings are fertigated / watered only with this dilute fertilizer solution.
Comparing the node spacing at the base of the young tree (the new growth from the cutting), its easy to see which plants have had good initial growth and which plants have struggled to grow. Close nodal spacing (measured in fractions of an inch) will result in slower growing trees, while longer nodal spacing will result in faster growing more productive trees.
Whether you use a dilute Organic Fertilizer or a dilute Mineral Fertilizer the newly rooted cuttings and young plants should be provided all the balanced nutrients that they need for early and healthy vegetative growth.
The attaches photos are of cuttings in 2 liter SIPs ready to be up potted to 1 gallon containers and 1 gallon plants ready to be up potted to 5 gallon buckets.


Please share your experiences and procedures, thanks.
There has been much published about figs needing minimal fertilization. Its been my observation that this comment has been perpetuated and leads to lack of fertilization of newly rooted cuttings and young fig trees. The reduced fertilizer requirement actually applies to fruiting trees not young fig trees or cuttings. Fruiting fig trees need to produce less vegetation and more figs, therefore reduced Nitrogen levels are advisable.
Rooted Cuttings and young trees on the other hand need as much vegetative growth as possible and should be provided with a fertilization schedule with balanced fertilizer (Macro and Micro nutrients). I've fertilized rooted cuttings with a dilute water soluble fertilizer (Miracle-Gro All purpose), starting with 1/2 teaspoon / gallon of water for newly rooted cuttings and progressing to 1 teaspoon / gallon of water with 1/4 teaspoon of Epsom salt as they grow and are potted into 1 gallon containers. In this early stage of growth, the cuttings are fertigated / watered only with this dilute fertilizer solution.
Comparing the node spacing at the base of the young tree (the new growth from the cutting), its easy to see which plants have had good initial growth and which plants have struggled to grow. Close nodal spacing (measured in fractions of an inch) will result in slower growing trees, while longer nodal spacing will result in faster growing more productive trees.
Whether you use a dilute Organic Fertilizer or a dilute Mineral Fertilizer the newly rooted cuttings and young plants should be provided all the balanced nutrients that they need for early and healthy vegetative growth.
The attaches photos are of cuttings in 2 liter SIPs ready to be up potted to 1 gallon containers and 1 gallon plants ready to be up potted to 5 gallon buckets.
Please share your experiences and procedures, thanks.
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