# I raised this tree from a pup-- help me not kill it **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 18, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-raised-this-tree-from-a-pup-help-me-not-kill-it/725532 "2015-07-18T17:00:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-raised-this-tree-from-a-pup-help-me-not-kill-it/725532/1 "2015-07-18T17:00:03Z")
A friend rooted a cutting from a fig tree in the neighborhood, I planted it in a pot, and miraculously, it grew. A couple of months ago, I planted it in the front yard. I am the world’s WORST when it comes to keeping plants alive, so I need advice. [This](http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab72/EveOz/FigTree_zpsynerdgh4.jpg)is what it looks like now. What does it need? Water, no water, food, a radio, cable TV? It’s in full sun, and it’s already in the low 90s here (South Texas) and will be through, probably, September. I planted another little fig tree in the back yard, in sun but not full, blazing sun, and it looks better. Right after I planted them, we had lots and lots of rain for a couple of weeks, but now it’s been dry for a couple more weeks. I usually kill a plant with too much water (but I have other methods in my arsenal, too). There are several from the parent plant in the neighborhood and they are gigantic! Well over six feet and lush. If I can get this one through its formative years, I believe it will thrive. Hard to tell from this picture, but it’s about four feet tall. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-raised-this-tree-from-a-pup-help-me-not-kill-it/725532/2 "2015-07-18T17:40:51Z")
Sorry, I have no advice for you as I kill everything I touch too. But I did want to say that I love the line about “raising a tree from a pup” and intend to use it. (With proper attribution of course. --What did you say your name was??:)) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-raised-this-tree-from-a-pup-help-me-not-kill-it/725532/3 "2015-07-18T17:51:18Z")
It’s [chlorotic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorosis). Try spraying it with a micro-nutrient solution, and working some _organic_ fertilizer into the soil around it. When I say organic, I mean well-composted organic matter. I would avoid dry fertilizer, because that runs the risk of “burning” it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-raised-this-tree-from-a-pup-help-me-not-kill-it/725532/4 "2015-07-18T18:11:23Z")
Yeah, I compost our horse manure and that’s what your tree looks like it needs. Making a manure tea (manure and water in a 5 gallon bucket, stirred and stirred and allowed to stand) and use it to water around the tree. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-raised-this-tree-from-a-pup-help-me-not-kill-it/725532/5 "2015-07-18T19:47:39Z")
Water it heavily at least once a week, more if it gets wilty at all. Just water the ground, not the leaves. Miracle Gro or Ra-Pid-Gro fertilizer (the kind you dissolve in water) will help the leaves green up quick. Again, apply it to the ground around the roots, according to instructions. You really can’t burn a plant with it if you use it according to instructions, but I would advise not getting any on the leaves until this tree is much better established. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-raised-this-tree-from-a-pup-help-me-not-kill-it/725532/6 "2015-07-18T20:50:15Z")
Thanks for the advice, all. > [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Sorry, I have no advice for you as I kill everything I touch too. But I did want to say that I love the line about “raising a tree from a pup” and intend to use it. (With proper attribution of course. --What did you say your name was??:)) Awww…I always wanted to be in someone’s citation. (Not the Chevy Citation, which was a car made out of tv dinner trays.) ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-raised-this-tree-from-a-pup-help-me-not-kill-it/725532/7 "2015-07-18T23:11:41Z")
A suuuuper easy fertilizer is Osmocote Plus. Its these little waxy granules that do time-release, and last about 3 months. You can get it at Home Depot or online or at many gardening stores. Just make sure its “plus” (pink jar) not “regular” (green jar). I gave my mom some for her fig tree and it just exploded in leaves. It is NOT a powdered fertilizer and it can’t cause burn. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-raised-this-tree-from-a-pup-help-me-not-kill-it/725532/8 "2015-07-19T15:46:39Z")
Try putting some worm castings around the base, and occasionally add some micro-nutrient containing organic fertilizers when watering. The castings provide slow-release nitrogen over a couple growing seasons. I avoid Miracle Gro and its ilk on food producing plants as I can taste a difference between the organic and chemical-based fertilizers, but that is just my opinion. Also, it is going to like a slightly acidic soil so you might need to adjust either way. I add agricultural limestone to keep the soil around neutral, and then let the added manures adjust it slightly to the acidic side. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-raised-this-tree-from-a-pup-help-me-not-kill-it/725532/9 "2015-07-19T15:57:38Z")
Well when I get a new plant at work, people say “is this your next victim?” so I’m no help but I wish you good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-raised-this-tree-from-a-pup-help-me-not-kill-it/725532/10 "2015-07-19T17:00:45Z")
The [RHS](https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=106) speaks. > [@RHS](#): > > Figs come from warm Mediterranean climates and in southern regions will thrive in a sunny and sheltered position with well-drained soil. > > Although figs can cope with dry conditions, drought can cause fruit to drop prematurely, especially if the developing fruit suffers from lack of water early in the growing season. Water plants regularly during the summer season, but do not give them too much or water them erratically while the fruit is ripening, as this may cause the fruit to split. Container grown plants are more vulnerable to lack of water. > > Feed in early spring by spreading 70g (2oz) of a balanced granular fertiliser (such as Growmore or fish, blood and bone) over the ground, and mulch with a 2.5-5cm (1-2in) of well-rotted manure. When fruits appear, feed weekly with a high-potassium liquid plant food (such as tomato fertiliser). ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-raised-this-tree-from-a-pup-help-me-not-kill-it/725532/11 "2015-07-19T20:37:49Z")
“Water plants regularly during the summer season, but do not give them too much…” _\_ If I translate this into Latin and set it to the Mozart _Requiem_, it could be the funeral dirge for many a plant that has had the misfortune to come into my home… ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-raised-this-tree-from-a-pup-help-me-not-kill-it/725532/12 "2015-07-20T01:48:06Z")
Well, you are in Texas. Can you actually water too much this time of year? 😛