WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Ficus religiosa, WUCOLS IV

How often to water bo-tree in California

In July on the south coast, established bo-tree in loam needs a deep watering about every 11 days: about 55 gallons each time under a 10 foot canopy, about 35 gallons a week. Bo-tree, also called sacred fig or peepul, is a warm-climate fig with large, heart-shaped leaves ending in a long drip tip. It grows well with moderate, regular moisture in frost-free gardens and sheds leaves readily under cold or prolonged dryness.

TreeRated for 2 of 6 zones

How often to water bo-tree, month by month

Your city
Canopy width
10 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for bo-tree and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area under the branches, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure canopy width

A tree with its canopy width marked across the widest branches and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the branches, from the tips of the outer leaves on one side to the tips on the other. A tape works, or pace it out.

Water the whole circle under the branches, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that circle.

A wider canopy means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While the tree is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Soil dry a few inches down beneath an established bo-tree signals it needs a deep soak
  • Leaves dropping heavily outside of a cold snap can indicate the root zone has gone dry
  • Dull, drooping leaves in hot afternoon sun can accompany a dry root ball on a younger tree
  • Yellowing leaves over soil that stays wet can indicate overwatering or poor drainage
  • Soft, dark bark near the base of the trunk over soggy soil warrants a drainage check before another soak

How to water it

  • Water the soil beneath the canopy and a short distance beyond it rather than at the trunk alone
  • Soak the root zone well, then let the top few inches dry before watering again
  • Use well-draining soil or a raised bed where heavy clay holds water around the roots
  • Keep mulch spread under the canopy, clear of the trunk, to slow moisture loss in heat
  • Widen the watered area as the canopy spreads outward with age

Through the seasons

Keep a newly planted or potted bo-tree evenly moist through its first summer while roots establish, then let the surface dry slightly between soakings as it matures. This tree holds its leaves through mild winters but drops them readily under cold or a long dry spell, so watch soil moisture and temperature together. Growth and water use peak in the warm months from spring through fall. WUCOLS rates bo-tree moderate water on the south coast and in South Inland. WUCOLS marks it as not suited to the north-central coast or the Central Valley, and has not evaluated it for the high desert or the low desert.

In pots

A potted bo-tree is a common way to grow this tree in much of California, since it reaches full size only in the mildest, frost-free gardens. Check the top inch of mix often during summer heat and water when it is dry there. Let water drain fully through the holes, then empty the saucer so roots are not left sitting wet. Give the pot bright light, and protect a young plant from frost. In winter, water less often and move a container plant under cover before frost.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
Not ratedWUCOLS does not rate Bo-Tree for the Central Valley zone
A year
no figure
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses

WUCOLS lists Bo-Tree as not suited to this region for the Central Valley zone, so no monthly figure is computed here.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Bo-Tree: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan––0.780.78––
Feb––0.810.87––
Mar––1.151.3––
Apr––1.41.61––
May––1.611.95––
Jun––1.742.29––
Jul––1.982.51––
Aug––1.862.33––
Sep––1.491.86––
Oct––1.151.33––
Nov––0.840.9––
Dec––0.650.68––
Year––15.518.41––

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated not suited to this region in the Central Valley, like bo-tree. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

Sugar MapleAcer saccharumnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingQueensland KauriAgathis robustanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingCherimoyaAnnona cherimolanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingPurple Orchid TreeBauhinia variegata (purpurea)not rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingToogBischofia javanicanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingClustered Fishtail PalmCaryota mitisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingWhite SapoteCasimiroa edulisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingFilbertCorylus maximanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingSpotted GumCorymbia maculata (Eucalyptus maculata)not rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingDove TreeDavidia involucratanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingRoyal PoincianaDelonix regianot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingTriangle PalmDypsis decaryinot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingMountain White GumEucalyptus dalrympleananot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingRainbow EucalyptusEucalyptus degluptanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingRoxburgh FigFicus auriculatanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingIndian BanyanFicus benghalensisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes bo-tree, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water bo-tree in summer?

In July, established bo-tree in loam needs a deep watering about every 11 days on the south coast and about every 9 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does bo-tree need per day?

In July on the south coast, established bo-tree needs about 5.0 gallons a day under a 10 foot canopy and about 20 gallons a day under a 20 foot canopy. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for bo-tree change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates bo-tree separately for each of the six California climate zones: not suited to this region in the North-Central Coastal zone, not suited to this region in the Central Valley zone, moderate water in the South Coastal zone, moderate water in the South Inland zone, not evaluated in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Can bo-tree survive outdoors in California winters?

Only in the mildest, nearly frost-free parts of the state. Cold weather can damage or kill an outdoor tree, so most California gardeners grow it in a container that can be moved. Established trees in warm coastal pockets handle brief cool spells better than young ones.

Why is my bo-tree dropping all its leaves at once?

A sudden cold snap or cold draft is a common cause, since this tree sheds leaves readily when stressed by temperature. A root ball that dried out completely can trigger the same reaction. Check both the recent weather and the soil before assuming disease.

Is bo-tree the same as the Bodhi tree?

Bo-tree, Bodhi tree and peepul are common names for the same species, Ficus religiosa. The tree under which the Buddha is said to have reached enlightenment is said to belong to this species. The name carries that significance across Buddhist and Hindu tradition.

Can bo-tree roots damage foundations or pipes?

Give any ground-planted bo-tree room away from foundations, pavement and pipes, since fig roots in general spread wide in search of moisture. A potted tree avoids this risk completely. Keep irrigation lines running away from structures rather than against them.

Why are my bo-tree leaves curling or looking dull?

Check the soil before anything else, since both a dry root ball and waterlogged roots can dull or curl the leaves. Low indoor light can also slow growth and change leaf appearance. Compare recent watering and light conditions rather than assuming a pest problem.

More plant watering guides

Rubber PlantFiddleleaf FigMoreton Bay FigIndian Laurel FigRusty Leaf FigFranklin TreeGolden Trumpet TreeKahili Ginger

Sources