I live on the gulf coast and my brown turkey fig loses its leaves in winter. If your tree has green buds, I wouldn't worry about it. It'll come back when it's ready.

In Port Saint Lucie my figs go dormant. They also tend to get fig rust real bad and lose their leaves several times throughout the year. It drives me crazy and I've about given up on them.

Susannah - My fig trees loose the leaves in winter, they did the same thing in Phoenix. Right now I have one in the ground, and two in pots. One in the pot has all the leaves, I guess it is in a spot more protected.

Silvia

Thanks all. It's hard to buy a plant, put it in the ground, and then watch it look like it's dying. I realize that plants do this up north and that's normal but so few things go dormant down here. I was willing to believe it was normal with the fig.
Thanks for confirmation!

I would think you would have to keep them watered whether they are dormant or not. Why don't you ask your local agricultural agent and let us know!!