If you want to know how fast do ficus trees grow, let us tell you that their growth is pretty quick, especially during summers.
However, they have varying growth rates depending on the species. So, we have gathered all the information you need to know about these trees. So, hop on the wagon to learn more about how long it takes for ficus trees to grow.
Contents
How Fast Do Ficus Trees Grow?
Most ficus trees or fig trees grow quickly, but the exact growth period may vary according to their species and the climate of the location it is harvested. But the average tree can grow about 12 to 36 inches (30 to 91 cm) in a year.
– Growth Facts
Also, the growth rate of a typical fig tree depends on how well you take care of the tree during its development phase. Depending on the condition, it can grow faster or take longer to reach a certain height.
- The trees can reach up to 7.6 m (25 feet) in just 10 years.
- The first 10 to 12 years of the lifespan of the trees are the most productive period.
- In the next 40 years, it may reach a height of about 21 m (70 feet).
- However, some species can grow much faster than others.
Tips to Make Ficus Plant Grow Faster
Your ficus plant can grow fast and healthy with proper care and adequate light, water, humidity, and warmth. However, for several reasons, the ficus can sometimes become finicky and have a decreased growth rate. You can quickly fix the situation by following some simple tricks. These will also answer the common doubt how fast does ficus elastica grow.
Many species can be challenging to identify; however, ficus species are often simple to spot. Many have aerial roots, a unique shape or habit, and their fruits set them apart from other plants. In the art of bonsai, the fig is a widely used species.
Now let’s check out some of the essential requirements to grow your trees faster and know how fast do ficus bonsai trees grow.
– Fiddle Leaf Loves Light
One of the essential requirements is light. They cannot do without it, and you must ensure they get plenty of light. However, if you are growing them indoors, ensure they are not kept in direct sunlight if they are not acclimated.
Ficus trees not adapted to direct sunlight can lose leaves; therefore, you should also take the utmost care of your trees during winter and ensure they get sufficient light.
– Avoid Overwatering
You must take utmost care while watering figs leafes to avoid leaf drops, as they don’t require too much water. You must keep the soil moist for the plants to grow correctly. So, consistently providing moderate water is enough to avoid dryness and root rot.
Remember not to water frequently during winter as well, as ficus trees lose their leaves during these months. However, misting during dry months can help keep the trees healthy, grow faster, and last longer.
– Ficus Trees Do Not Welcome Low Temperatures
For the healthy growth of your fiddle leaf fig, you must maintain a moderate temperature of around 60 to 70 Fahrenheit or above. They don’t do well in temperatures lower than this range and prefer to stay in a hot and humid environment.
Therefore, if you have air conditioning units indoors, it’s better to keep your ficus plants outside, where they get adequate light and warmth.
– Healthy and Well-drained Soil
A ficus or rubber plant requires nutrient-rich soil for healthy growth. You can provide slow-release pellets to make your indoor ficus proliferate.
The pellets can fertilize the soil regularly and keep your tree healthy. However, you should also maintain the pH of the soil and prevent it from getting too acidic.
Growth Rates
One of the most common ficus trees is the Ficus Benjamina, which is known as the weeping fig. People grow them on their property more commonly as they tend to have a fast growth rate and can become bushy in a short period.
So how fast does Ficus Benjamina grow? During the summer, when there is plenty of warmth and light, these weeping figs can grow up to two feet tall in a month. It can grow to about 25 feet in just 10 years with proper conditioning. However, the trees will slow down when it gets cold and grow only four to eight inches monthly.
By changing the soil type, you can either make your weeping tree grow faster or slower. Plant it in moist, fertile soil outdoors with plenty of sunshine if you want faster growth. For a slower growth rate, choose dry and sandy soil. You must remember that weeping figs must be planted away from buildings and sidewalks as they have aerial roots when grown in moist, well-drained soil.
Steps for Taking Care of Your Ficus Tree for Healthy Growth
How fast does ficus nitida grow is one of the most common worries. Well, all ficus trees are low maintenance and grow quite quickly.
However, they need special treatments to get them to your desired shape and size.
Follow these simple tips to make your tree grow healthier.
- Don’t move the trees too frequently, as they like to stay in a constant place.
- Give them ample space to breathe and grow.
- Avoid frigid temperatures as they are frost-sensitive and may not respond well to low temperatures.
- Fertilize once every month during the summer for healthy growth.
- Ensure regular watering but avoid water logging.
- Too much light, high temperatures, and extra water can stress the ficus tree. So, avoid them.
- Keep your tree in good shape with regular pruning. Avoid sap seep to prevent stress and leaf shedding.
- Pruning to remove dead, dying, or congested shoots can help avoid stressing it.
Ficus Tree Slow Growth Reasons
Inadequate care can slow the growth of ficus trees. It can even make them wilt and die eventually.
Some of the most common reasons for the tree showing retarded growth are as follows:
- Not watering correctly at regular intervals.
- It’s not getting sufficient light.
- There is not enough humidity for healthy growth.
- The tree is kept at low temperatures.
- Pests like aphids, mites, and whiteflies have attacked the tree.
- Watering ficus trees too much and too frequently.
FAQs
– Which Ficus Tree Species Grow the Fastest?
Moreton Bay Figs are one of the fastest-growing. These trees can grow about 20 to 30 feet in the first year and reach up to 60 meters (200 feet) in their entire lifespan. These trees are evergreen, with a vast trunk size reaching 2.4 m (7.9 feet).
– Do Ficus Trees Require a Lot of Water?
Ficus trees need moderate watering that must be administered consistently, and this is how to make ficus grow faster. You should ensure that the soil around the tree is moist and should not lead to waterlogging, so follow a watering schedule.
Overwatering can lead to bacterial and fungal growth, which can shorten lifespan. The trees do not require much water in the winter as they lose their leaves during that time.
– How Tall Will Ficus Trees Grow Indoors?
Ficus trees can grow around six to 10 feet tall indoors. It proliferates when kept indoors and is provided with the necessary conditions. However, constant re-potting can also make it grow faster and quickly become too big for your house. Hence, proper plant care is imperative for fast growth.
– How Long Do Ficus Trees Live?
The maximum a ficus or rubber tree can survive outdoors or indoors is 40 years. However, the lifespan can vary from 20 to 40 years, depending on its environment. If you are growing it indoors, it can live up to 25 years. Bonsais of ficus can live around 150 to 200 years under proper conditions.
– How Do You Make a Ficus Bushy?
Pruning can make your ficus tree grow fast and bushy. Pruning is the process of trimming your trees by removing branches and stems, where you drop leaves to make them grow faster and bear fruit more quickly.
In addition, you can make your tree bushy by cutting the edges around the nodes where they will sprout new growth. Pruning is also done as a grooming technique to make your ficus look bushier and more ornamental.
Conclusion
By now, you must have learned how fast ficus trees grow and the proper care they need for healthy growth. So, let’s recap everything we have discussed so far in this article to make it easier for you.
- Ficus trees grow quickly and can reach about one or two feet a month.
- On average, ficus trees grow 25 feet in 10 years.
- The trees love plenty of sunshine, warmth, and well-drained soil.
- Low temperatures and overwatering can hinder the growth rate and cause root rot.
- Pruning can promote the healthy growth of trees and make them look bushier and more beautiful.
Ficus trees are inexpensive, low maintenance, and fast-growing species that add to the beauty of your garden and home. In addition, these indoors trees are easy to grow and do not require frequent watering. So, with proper care, you can grow trees indoors fast and efficiently. Hence, you now know how fast do the trees grow indoors.
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