Figs were grown as a home plant as early as the 16th century. They fell in love with it for its unpretentiousness, relatively small size, as well as double fruiting during the year.
Cultivation methods
There are 2 ways to grow a fig tree:
- seed reproduction;
- cuttings, root processes.
The substrate is prepared from ordinary garden soil, mixed with a small amount of river sand, leaf humus, a handful of ash or lime must be added. Crushed eggshells and peat will also be useful soil improvers.
Cuttings
With this method of cultivation, cuttings are cut from an already mature fruiting bush. The most viable ones are obtained from the lower ripe branches. They are cut in January-February even before the figs drop their foliage and the fry begin to grow. Need cuttings 10-15 cm long with 3-4 buds. The apex is left straight, and the lower edge is cut off at an angle and several longitudinal cuts are made for the early emergence of roots. Shoots are dipped in a heteroauxin solution for 10 hours.
How to germinate:
- Dropping it into a container of water.
- Having planted in a container with wet sand.
- Having planted in a pot of small diameter. Be sure to make drainage from expanded clay, then sterilized soil and sprinkle it with sand on top. The stalk is rinsed, planted in the ground and lightly pressed around the trunk with your fingers.
In any of the above methods, the seedling is covered with transparent protection to create a warm and humid microclimate. Leave in a lighted place at room temperature. In the 2nd and 3rd cases, the soil and sand are periodically watered with slightly warmed, but not hot water. The protection is periodically removed to dry and air the cuttings.
The roots form in about a month. This is a signal that the seedlings are ready to be transplanted into permanent pots with drainage holes and ready-made soil mixture. Expanded clay is pre-poured at the bottom, and after planting the figs, the surface of the soil is sprinkled with calcined sand. If the cuttings were rooted using the 3rd method, then they are transplanted with a lump of earth. Before this, the well is spilled with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate.
If you cannot find a fig tree, then you can try to find ready-made cuttings in the store. To make several of the 1st shoot, they are grown, and then divided into parts. A cuttings plant will give its first harvest a year after planting.
Planting by seeds
The seeds are taken from large and healthy fruits. They are washed under running water and left to dry for a day.
Sowing:
- In March, the seeds are sown to a depth of 3 cm into a moist substrate, sprinkled and watered a little more from above. Cover with foil and leave until seedlings appear.
- When the seeds begin to hatch, they remove the protection for 3 hours a day.
- When 2 true leaves appear, they are transplanted into pots.
Figs from seeds begin to bear fruit only at 4-5 years.
Care basics
The culture loves high humidity; to maintain it, the bush is sprinkled with warm water year-round. Water abundantly, but as needed. When the soil dries out, the fig is stressed and seeks to get rid of some of the foliage. Often a lack of water provokes the appearance of a spider mite. After the appearance of the fruits, watering is reduced so as not to spoil their taste with wateriness.
Figs have a dormant period from November to January when they shed their greens completely. The plant is transferred to a dimly lit room, where the temperature is not higher than +15 ° C, but it also does not drop to 0 and below. Watered rarely and with cool water.
When the kidneys appear, they are taken out into the light, fertilized with nitrogen, and watering is gradually increased. During the period of their swelling and opening, they are fertilized with a mineral complex with a high phosphorus content.
Figs up to the age of 7 years are transplanted into a new larger pot annually. Then enough transplants every 3 years.
The bush needs to form a crown, otherwise it will be too large. First of all, pinch the tops of the shoots. Pruning is done before the swelling of the buds, the middle is thinned out. Basically, the upper branches are shortened so that the bush grows more in breadth.
Indoors, figs bear fruit in July and September.
Conclusion
Figs are propagated by seeds and cuttings. The second method allows you to get fruits earlier. Care consists in observing the water regime, maintaining moisture, occasional dressing and a period of rest in a cool place. Forming is required to control the green mass and give a certain decorative appearance.
Do you grow figs?
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