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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

If root-bound figs thrive, then I offer another idea. My second- 
nearest neighbor raises cattle. He buys supplement for them in these  
big, black tubs, perhaps thirty inches across. Very tough material. I  
use them for various purposes. When I was battling walnut roots I  
contemplated making buried root baskets by cutting the bottom out of  
one of them, using that as the top of the container at the soil  
surface and taping two original tops together with just slits in the  
bottom one for drainage. Sounds like maybe these figs would do well in  
just one of the tubs. Know any cattlemen around you?

On Feb 23, 2009, at 4:30 PM, Clansgian AT wmconnect.com wrote:
> > > And all ficus do great if they are in pots.  Root bound isn't a  
> > > bad thing
> > with ficus!
>
> Not only do great but hardly bear otherwise.  Even if you plant them  
> in the
> ground, it is better to confine the roots.
>
> Figs live a very long time and in their natural game plan they say to
> themselves, 'I'll get around to bearing ... oh ... when I'm 80 or  
> so."   If the tree,
> like any plant, senses that its expansion days are over, it  
> accelerates its
> biological clock and goes into the bearing phase.
>
> Most modern figs have been bred to fruit as early as possible, but  
> binding
> the roots is still a good idea.


Gene GeRue
www.RURALIZE.com