Growing Fig Trees in Containers for Indoor Winter Care

How to Grow Figs

Most fig tree varieties can be grown outside in USDA zones 7-10 (check your zone). When fully dormant (and with mulched roots) a fig tree can tolerate temperatures as low as 10º to 15ºF (-12º to -9ºC).

If you live where harsh winter temperatures get colder than that (hardiness zones 6 and below), you can grow fig trees in containers outside in the a sunny spot all summer. Then move the container to a warmer area like inside or in a garage before the really cold weather arrives. Once it gets warm enough outside it is safe to move your fig tree back outdoors. The Petit Negra is the best choice for growing fig trees indoors
The exception to the “no indoor figs” rule is the dwarf fig variety ‘Petite Negra’, which gets only 3-8 feet tall when grown in a container and usually keeps its leaves through the winter. Ficus carica Petite Negra produces normal sized figs, beginning when the tree is only a foot or two tall. It needs a south-facing window and at least 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Check out this videos of a tasting of the Petite Negra which is the best variety for growing figs in containers! The breba crop will bear fruit on the previous years growth.

Here are few tips for how to grow fig trees in containers:

Large, moveable containers like these are an excellent choice for growing in locations with colder winters where they can be moved somewhere warm during the cold months

• Plant your fig tree in a lightweight container that’s as large as you can manage. One on wheels will make it easier to move around. (You can start out with a smaller container, then pot-up as the tree gets bigger.)

• Use a soil-based potting mix and add bark chips or light-weight perlite to improve drainage. Maintain a nice layer of mulch to retain moisture and reduce the amount of watering you will have to do. Perfect Plants specially formulated Fruit Tree Planting Mix will work wonders as your potting soil!

• Don’t let the potting medium get too dry. We recommend watering a containerized tree for 15 minutes every morning with a drip irrigation tube controlled by an inexpensive battery powered timer, available at garden supply stores. A treegator is a great option!

Figs grown in containers are a great option for those without a yard or land to put them in the ground. They will still produce loads of yummy figs!

• Keep your potted fig tree in full sun during the summer.

• Prune as necessary to maintain a size and shape you can work with.

• Fig trees grown in containers need to be fertilized with a high nitrogen fertilizer every four weeks in the spring and early summer. An organic fertilizer such as compost and mulch will help retain moisture as well.

Figs are deciduous, meaning they lose their green leaves over the winter

• When the leaves begin to drop in autumn, bring the container inside to an unheated room, such as a basement, garage, shed, or storage building. Throughout the winter, water only when the potting medium becomes dry. A dormant tree doesn’t take in water, but can die if the roots dry out.  Don’t fertilize in winter.

• In early spring (if practical), allow your containerized fig to acclimate gradually to the warming weather by bringing it outside for a few hours each day, then move the tree indoors at night. When all danger of frost has passed, position the tree in full sun and get ready to harvest some fresh figs! Ripe fruit will appear in the summer growing season.

• Perfect Plants has several other varieties of figs for sale like the Celeste Fig, Black Mission Fig, Brown Turkey Fig, and Chicago Hardy Fig that can be container grown however they will have the best fruit production outdoors in the ground depending on the variety.

• Read more about How to Winterize a fig tree!