Fig tree - I want to encourage root growth

[DiMart]

I just air layered a fig tree. It’s now in a five gallon bucket. It lost a lot of leaves after I cut it from the host but it’s growing new ones now. I’m probably going to plant it in the ground this fall. I want to encourage root growth. How do I do that?

I am in zone 8 South Carolina.

I’m new at this and would appreciate your advice.

 

[Chuck]

I just air layered a fig tree. It’s now in a five gallon bucket. It lost a lot of leaves after I cut it from the host but it’s growing new ones now. I’m probably going to plant it in the ground this fall. I want to encourage root growth. How do I do that?

I am in zone 8 South Carolina.

I’m new at this and would appreciate your advice.

Phosphorus and potassium are the macro-nutrients needed for root growth. Another thing you can do is supplement your NPK fertilizer with a product called Super Thrive which also encourages root development.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

New leaves coming sounds like it is doing allright. Sharp sand is usually a good encouragement to root growth, maybe you can incorporate some when you plant it out. If you get it from a builder's merchant it is worth washing it through in case it was mined somewhere with brackish water, but it is a lot cheaper than horticultural sources. Wood ash is a good source for those macro ingredients. I would make up a nice mix, say 4 parts compost, one part sand, one part ash, one part rotted manure and dig it into the hole when you plant it out.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Just wait for early spring as it will be going dormant and you do not want that as you plant.