Fig Defoliation

[Grant Bowie]

Who says you can only defoliate figs once night time temps are above a certain value?

Please give examples and justify.

Grant

[anttal63]

Once the night temps rise above 10-12 deg celcius is a rule of thumb taught to me by PUP. It has always worked for me well. I would think that once the temps rise, the sap is running and the tree becomes more vigerous, being a tropical. I also imagine that outside of this temp range, either 1) no new growth will happen, 2) any new growth could wither and die or 3) if growth occurs and survives, it elongates and becomes flimsy and leggy. Having said that; when night temps are above this range down here we would be assuming that the days are longer as well, in comparison to autumn - winter. So there are optimum windows of oppertunity. Mr bowie mr bowie mr bowie; is that an A+

[Jamie]

i have never had to worry bout night temps up here bout defoliation for figs, i have been able to defoliate at any time of the year pretty much. i see where ya getting at grant re the other post, i was just putting in what i had learnt bout it for people in colder climes wanting to grow tropical trees.

[dayne]

does it get that low wow feels like its been a while.

[Jamie]

does it get that low wow feels like its been a while.

????????? ya lost me mate ??????????

[Graeme]

Gosh am I in trouble, used to defoliate the figs in the depth of winter - up in Darwin. Can also remember visiting Mr Wilson at his Mona Vale house in around July or August one year, me standing there in Jacket and jeans cuddling up to the coffee he had just made, while he defoliated a heap of P.J.'s (or could have been M.B's, not sure now).
It's the same as folks will tell you to only defoliate the buggers once a year or they will die. My best effort was 8 times in one year, but that was once again up in Darwin. Probably wouldn't do it more than 7 times down here.

[Jamie]

Probably wouldn't do it more than 7 times down here.

i am on my second defoliation this year and i reckon there will be a few more for sure.

[Graeme]

Yes Jamie, I reckon as long as they have leaves you can safely defoliate them.

Although I try not to defoliate between 12 and 1pm........................ thats when I have my lunch. Between 6 and 7pm is also not a good time either.

[Jamie]

Yes Jamie, I reckon as long as they have leaves you can safely defoliate them.

Although I try not to defoliate between 12 and 1pm........................ thats when I have my lunch. Between 6 and 7pm is also not a good time either.

i should of seen that coming a mile away.

i generally wait until they talk to me and say take my leaves off, i want smaller leaves, its funny thats when i generally have nothing better to do aswell when i am lost at home

[anttal63]

You cracka's!!! Thats the trade off for the deciduous colours of autumn.

[Grant Bowie]

Once the night temps rise above 10-12 deg celcius is a rule of thumb taught to me by PUP. It has always worked for me well. I would think that once the temps rise, the sap is running and the tree becomes more vigerous, being a tropical. I also imagine that outside of this temp range, either 1) no new growth will happen, 2) any new growth could wither and die or 3) if growth occurs and survives, it elongates and becomes flimsy and leggy. Having said that; when night temps are above this range down here we would be assuming that the days are longer as well, in comparison to autumn - winter. So there are optimum windows of oppertunity. Mr bowie mr bowie mr bowie; is that an A+

Yep,

That sounds more realistic to me than some things I have often heard.

[bodhidharma]

I am in the middle of defoliating and repotting my figs without any problems as yet. Once they have been done i put them into a glass house and mist spray only twice a day. Once they bud out i introduce them back outside and fertilize and water as normal. The last week has been perfect for doing this, wet and humid. I will be interested to see what effect the cold change will have. I think i will be giving them some protection. I try and plan my repotting and defoliation regime on all my trees but having to do a lot of them and allowing for normal life interferences i do them when i can.

[john tapner]

My oldest tree is a PJF that was my first bonsai when I took up bonsai 35 years ago. It was three seedlings planted together and I purchased it from Len Webber at Silver Bell Nursery way back when. Len was a good fig man and I was told to repot in the spring when the night temperatures had reached 16degC. Defoliation at the same time and the last defoliation late February or early March. It worked for me and I had no reason to query the advise from Len,

John T

[Pup]

My first tree was also a ficus PJ still have it was never told what to do it survived 5 years of neglect on a window ledge in the kitchen never out side.

When I was told what I had to do 5 years later I did, not sure who told me but have stuck with it ever since. Except I can defoliate more as I have a fig house.

As an experiment 10 years a go I defoliated a varigated PJ ( dont like varigated tree's) and re potted. In the middle of winter.

Just put the tree under the eaves of the house so that if it did drop low the warmth from the bricks and the eaves would shelter it from the cold.

It not only survived it thrived, it was sold on for the price of the pot ( still dont like varigated tree's ) I am told it is still alive and well leaves are reduced, as well.

I start my defoliation in late October and continue while the nights are warm. I can because of the fig house go for longer but choose not to.

For the benefit of any one that wants to make a fig house it is very simple just a frame as big as you want it. Wrapped in shade cloth of 25% with poly carbonate sheets over the top and sides with an open end for summer. I have noticed this year that the temps get to over 50%, trees do not seem to mind it, and it does help with cuttings.
Temps in winter get no lower than 20% which is also a plus.

Cheers Pup

[Jamie]

its interesting that you bring up varigated leaves, i have a fig here at home that is variegated and absolutly hates back budding let along defoliation. i wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that is is varigated or not?

those temps sound pretty cosy for cuttings to pup, upto 50 degrees i could imagine what the humidity would be like in there. i presume there is measures in place to keep the humidity up?


jamie