Scratching bark... and my head....

[TorontoJoe]

So despite the very cold May we had, many of the trees are growing well.



But then there's this.... and I have a few the same. This is my LSU Gold. I like this fig a lot and I've had it for a long time. Last year I decided it was just too tall so I decided to lob it off below the lowest scaffold branch. The idea being that I would grow out new ones to build some lower main scaffolds..... Problem is that as we approach the end of June, this is what it looks like.



It's not dead. No sign of it going bronze like it's in distress.... it's just sitting there, doing nothing.



It's in some sort of coma state. I'm trying to decide on the best way to stimulate this plant to do something....

I was thinking of hitting it with a does of ammonium sulphate fertilizer, but first thought I'd see what experience others have had with this sort of thing.

 

[RandyK]

I think you could just wait and it will pop out some shoots or else send up some root suckers. But isn't there some kind of plant hormone or substance you put on or below a bud to encourage bud growth? Something like this? (I know it says orchids, but I think figsters have tried it on figs?)

Amazon.com

 

[TorontoJoe]

I think you could just wait and it will pop out some shoots or else send up some root suckers. But isn't there some kind of plant hormone or substance you put on or below a bud to encourage bud growth? Something like this? (I know it says orchids, but I think figsters have tried it on figs?)

Amazon.com

I tried one of those hormones a while back to see if if they might be a good alternative to notching... didn't seem to do much. I don't know if notching would do anything here either given no apical buds

 

[superdave336]

I had planned on doing a bunch of my trees like this because I think they are to tall for my liking. Now I’m concerned.

 

[RandyK]

I tried one of those hormones a while back to see if if they might be a good alternative to notching... didn't seem to do much. I don't know if notching would do anything here either given no apical buds

Oh, yeah. Notching. I forgot about that. Sounds like you have already tried both in the past. I'm sure it is very frustrating...you usually can't stop figs from growing once they are established, so this is definitely strange. I've had some that sprouted and grew slowly, but never just not grow at all...I'll bet it will come through for you!

 

[Figgerlickinggood]

Did you take it out of the pot to see if maybe it's root bound?

 

[scott_va]

It’s waiting for an apology. I did all of mine like that last fall with no issues, but I did pull out the root balls and trim roots. I agree about pulling it out it out of the pot and looking at the roots and soil and if no issues repot and fertilize.

 

[Figless]

TJ I would recommend a few doses of synthetic fertilizer

 

[ktrain]

Throw it in the grave yard, that seem to wake mine up consistently. lol

On a more serious note, letting it dry out more may force a survival response.
Or spanking it...get your minds out of the gutter.
It's a known thing to do to trigger a response...get a bamboo stick and go to town.

 

[Figneer]

I did the exact same thing last year with lemon tree and now its 7feet tall, its crazy how trees react to change but your tree looks very healthy, it will come back. Definitely a head scratcher

 

[Vitooch1]

At least try and grafting a bunch on to it.

 

[ETXfigs]

You could try watering it with 90F degree water.

 

[Figgerlickinggood]

Throw it in the grave yard, that seem to wake mine up consistently. lol

On a more serious note, letting it dry out more may force a survival response.
Or spanking it...get your minds out of the gutter.
It's a known thing to do to trigger a response...get a bamboo stick and go to town.

I tried that with my trees this spring when they all sat there like that, I threatened them with death in the compost pile, even though I apologized they all died and ended up in the compost bin anyway.

 

[superdave336]

You’re scaring me now. Not sure I want to cut mine shorter. If I do I’ll wait until they are dormant so I can at least get the cuttings as backup.

 

[Moonlight]

So despite the very cold May we had, many of the trees are growing well.

View attachment 9343

But then there's this.... and I have a few the same. This is my LSU Gold. I like this fig a lot and I've had it for a long time. Last year I decided it was just too tall so I decided to lob it off below the lowest scaffold branch. The idea being that I would grow out new ones to build some lower main scaffolds..... Problem is that as we approach the end of June, this is what it looks like.

View attachment 9344

It's not dead. No sign of it going bronze like it's in distress.... it's just sitting there, doing nothing.

View attachment 9345

It's in some sort of coma state. I'm trying to decide on the best way to stimulate this plant to do something....

I was thinking of hitting it with a does of ammonium sulphate fertilizer, but first thought I'd see what experience others have had with this sort of thing.

I had same experience with heading California Brown Turkey. It was doing nothing, and it looked ugly so I hid it in between tall evergreens. If I remember correctly it took 3 month to start pushing buds. The next season it was fruiting but the figs shape looked very much like Cherry Cordial figs, with long neck. The third season it was back to its normal California Brown Turkey.

 

[TorontoJoe]

I had planned on doing a bunch of my trees like this because I think they are to tall for my liking. Now I’m concerned.

It really should be growing out. This is very odd and doesn’t make sense to me because it’s very much alive. I’ve done it before and never had a problem

 

[TorontoJoe]

I had same experience with heading California Brown Turkey. It was doing nothing, and it looked ugly so I hid it in between tall evergreens. If I remember correctly it took 3 month to start pushing buds. The next season it was fruiting but the figs shape looked very much like Cherry Cordial figs, with long neck. The third season it was back to its normal California Brown Turkey.

This is encouraging. Maybe I should just hide it so it’s not an eyesore and let nature do its thing

 

[TheMick27]

I had a similar one this year, but I had root pruned it also. I figured I just took a little too much off the roots. It eventually popped some buds.

 

[TorontoJoe]

Did you take it out of the pot to see if maybe it's root bound?

I have not taken it out of the pot. I did root prune it in 2023 but you're correct. I should have checked what's going on downstairs. I will tomorrow.

 

[2Bites]

So despite the very cold May we had, many of the trees are growing well.

View attachment 9343

But then there's this.... and I have a few the same. This is my LSU Gold. I like this fig a lot and I've had it for a long time. Last year I decided it was just too tall so I decided to lob it off below the lowest scaffold branch. The idea being that I would grow out new ones to build some lower main scaffolds..... Problem is that as we approach the end of June, this is what it looks like.

View attachment 9344

It's not dead. No sign of it going bronze like it's in distress.... it's just sitting there, doing nothing.

View attachment 9345

It's in some sort of coma state. I'm trying to decide on the best way to stimulate this plant to do something....

I was thinking of hitting it with a does of ammonium sulphate fertilizer, but first thought I'd see what experience others have had with this sort of thing.

Hit it with some triple 20 to stimulate it or just wait it out maybe by October it will be budding then next spring it will take off.