In horticulture, Sterile Medium describes a growing medium treated to reduce living contaminants.. . Sterile Medium is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Sticky Trap means a sticky card or surface used to monitor insects in practical plant language. Related glossary ideas include integrated pest management.. . For Sticky Trap, pair the word with symptoms, timing, photos, and the affected plant part before deciding on treatment; several fig problems can look similar at first glance.

Stipule refers to a small appendage at the base of a leaf stalk.. . Stipule is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

In horticulture, Stomatal Closure describes closing of leaf pores to reduce water loss.. . Stomatal Closure is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Stomatal function refers to the opening and closing of stomata, the tiny pores on leaves that regulate gas exchange and water loss. Stomata allow carbon dioxide in for photosynthesis while releasing water vapor through transpiration.

In figs, stomatal behavior affects heat stress, drought response, and water use. When roots cannot supply enough water, stomata close, photosynthesis slows, and leaves may wilt or drop.

Stool Layering refers to producing shoots from a cut-back plant base for rooting.

Stool Layering is especially relevant to fig propagation. Growers use the term when judging whether plant material is forming healthy roots, joining properly, or staying vigorous enough to become a stable young tree.

Strain refers to a sourced form of a cultivar with a distinct provenance.. . Strain is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Stress Acclimation refers to adjustment that helps a plant tolerate stress.. . Stress Acclimation is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Sub-Irrigation Reservoir means a water reservoir supplying moisture from below in practical plant language. . For Sub-Irrigation Reservoir, the practical interpretation depends on the growing setup: container or in-ground tree, drainage, watering pattern, sunlight, season, and local weather.

Sucker removal is cutting or rubbing off shoots that emerge from the base, roots, trunk, or unwanted positions. It helps direct energy into the desired structure of the plant.

For figs, sucker removal depends on the training goal. A single-trunk tree may need regular sucker removal, while a multi-stem bush may intentionally keep selected basal shoots as renewal growth.

Suckers are shoots that arise from the base of a plant, roots, trunk, or below a graft union. They may be useful renewal growth or unwanted competition depending on where they originate.

On figs grown on their own roots, basal suckers may help rebuild a cold-damaged plant. On grafted plants, suckers from below the graft may belong to the rootstock and should usually be removed.

Sugar Spot means a sweet spot or syrupy mark on ripe fruit in practical plant language.. . When describing Sugar Spot, use fruit at a known ripeness stage and note whether it is breba or main crop, since weather, pollination, and harvest timing can change the observation.

In horticulture, Sulfuring describes using sulfur dioxide treatment in some dried-fruit processes.. . Sulfuring is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Summer Pruning is a term used for pruning during the active growing season.. . Summer Pruning is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Sun Exposure refers to the amount of direct sunlight a plant receives.. . Sun Exposure is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Sun-Drying refers to drying fruit using sun and air.. . Sun-Drying is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.