Expert: nick mccann - 5/23/2011

Question
I have had an Italian Everbearing Fig tree in a container for 3 years. It has always been giving me large amounts of fruit every year. I re-potted it last year. This year, I took it out of the garage when the weather was above freezing (Mothers Day). It has some buds but no leaves. It is now 2 weeks later and still no leaves. Worried that it was dead, I cut a small piece of the branch off and there is green inside. We have had a lot of rainy weather but very little sun. Is that the problem? Should I keep fertilizing? Could it be a disease? All my other fig trees have leaves and look like they are doing well.
I would appreciate any help that you could give. Thank you so much.
Gloria

Answer
Be patient, as long as the cambium layer is still green and the branches are still rubbery then it is just taking a little longer to wake up; don't fertilize now, for it would just be wasted, the plant won't take up nutrients until it begins growth. Keep it properly irrigated though and morning sun until growth does appear.