Fig cuttings must acclimate to outdoors
Question: I have several fig cuttings that are growing in a vermiculite and perlite mix inside the house. When is the best time to transplant them into the ground outside? Or do I have to go through an interim stage of a small pot with potting soil first?
I would move them outside into an area protected from late-afternoon sun and wind as soon as you see signs of new growth but leave them in the containers.
Transplants grown indoors should be acclimated to the outside environment before planting. This will improve the success of your transplanting.
You could put them in a cardboard box, for instance, but they need to be exposed to the outside gradually before they are planted in full sun and wind. Plant them in the ground with amended soil after two to three weeks of acclimating. Lightly fertilize them, and begin to deep water them with 1 to 2 gallons at each watering.
Bob Morris is a professor emeritus in horticulture with the University of Nevada and can be reached at extremehort@aol.com. Visit his blog at
xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com.