Growing indoors.

[AmericanFigLover]

I have two small trees that I want to keep actively growing through the winter. If I do this do I still fertilize it as normal? Surely the dosage would be much smaller do to less light.

I would like to squeeze more out of my Galicia Negra and Preto if possible. Hopefully this will give them a head start next spring.

[Jamie0507]

Hey AmericanFiglover, first off I want to say a big thank you for your service & welcome back home!

As far as your question, I'm a noob myself but have done a bit of researching on this matter since I'm also going to try to grow a few through the winter. From what I've learned so far it seems that unless you have some sort of grow light set-up, you may want to go very easy on the fertilizer due to the dreaded shorter days of winter. Otherwise you may end up with more "leggy" plants.. I'm definitely no authority on the matter though lol, and I look forward to learning from other more experienced member's experiences too

[fitzski]

I know Scott (COGardener) grew some small figs over-winter last year and I think he had a good setup with lights and some heat. Maybe he'll chime in to describe his setup.

In general, plants need/use less fertilizer as the temperatures go down. So to me, the big question is are your figs going to be room temperature, in a garage or other cooler environment?

I overwintered a couple figs last year in my basement under 2 - 4 foot fluorescent lights which reaches the mid-50's in the dead of winter so they were not really actively growing but they really didn't go dormant either.

I agree with Jamie and that you don't want to let your figs get leggy which happens for, in my experience, a lack of adequate light.

Good Luck.

[COGardener]

I continued growing some TC plants in my in garage greenhouse last year. Since there is no sunlight at all, I used a combination of high intensity LED'S and metal halide lighting. I also use a heater to maintain the temp and an open pan of water to increase humidity. The fig trees grew well without becoming "leggy", then after a transitioning period back to full sun they continued to grow through summer season.

While in the greenhouse I used minimum fertalizer. So yes, it can be done but you need to provide a proper environment.

[tyro]

I'd let them go dormant and wake them up early if you can provide stable, proper conditions.The Preto likes it's sleep.

[BronxFigs]

Just a few thoughts:

Light...quality and quantity will be your main problems. Plants/leaves evolved to respond to certain colors within the spectrum. High Intensity lighting comes close, but cannot substitute for natural sunlight. Growth indoors, can be weak and etiolated when plants are not given the correct light intensity, color, length of exposure, and a drop in temperature during the night/darkness. Outdoor growing conditions must be duplicated, indoors, including a fresh exchange of air, etc. Scale insects, fungus gnats, and spider mites can also become a real PITA.

Hope this might help.


Frank

[AmericanFigLover]

Thank you for the advice. Sorry for the late replies. I will just let them sleep since they already drop the leaves anyways. I will make sure to keep the soil damp. They will be at room temp. The garage is unheated and too cold.