Figs are a great tree for beginners. They are very hardy, respond well to Bonsai techniques, grow well in pots and are very forgiving of less than perfect care.
Figs are one tree that will survive indoors for longer periods of time. Although they will grow a lot better outside in full sun and fresh air, they can be kept inside for a month or so at a time, especially in the winter months when their growth will slow down. A very bright room or window sill with good air movement will be ok for a time, but growth may be elongated and weak if the room is dark and pests may become a problem if the room isn’t airy enough. It may also be hard to water well as you need to be able to water it deeply regularly. A windowsill in the kitchen could be a good place as you can put it in the sink easily to water deeply and let it drain and also you will look at it everyday to se that it is in good health.
If you do decide to keep your Fig indoors, taking your tree outside for a spell should keep it in good health. Being able to water the tree from above to remove dust from the leaves and having good light and fresh air will help boost your trees health. Keep in mind though if it has been indoors, putting it out in full sun may burn any new leaves, so a spot with a little shade or dappled sunlight would be best.
Figs do best with regular watering. I keep mine outside and water every day during the warmer months unless its been raining or overcast. On hot windy days they could also do with a second watering in a day. They are one tree that will be able to withstand drying out more though, so don’t fret if you can’t water every day. If its been a while since you watered you may need to soak the pot for a time to make sure the potting mix is wet right through.
Figs come in all shapes and sizes. They can be large chunky trees, or small trees in tiny pots. They will continue to develop and need some regular maintenance to stay in good health. If left they will grow long branches and leaves will get quite large. Regular running by cutting elongating shoots back to 2 or 3 leaves will lead to them becoming more bushy and keep leaves smaller and in scale with a smaller tree. They can be wired easily for shape and respond well to regular repotting and fertilising. When repotting, most roots can be removed safely and they can be put back into a small pot with only a little room for the new roots to grow. This should be done when nights are consistently warm and they usually respond with plenty of new growth.
Keep an eye out on the website for further posts on repotting your fig, how to wire and some progressions on my own Fig trees. You can subscribe to be notified when more content is added to the site by visiting the Home page or in the footer below.