WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Ficus microcarpa (Ficus retusa nitida), WUCOLS IV

How often to water Indian laurel fig in California

In July on the north-central coast, established Indian laurel fig in loam needs a deep watering about every 13 days: about 55 gallons each time under a 10 foot canopy, about 29 gallons a week. Indian laurel fig is a large evergreen tree with a dense, rounded crown of leathery, glossy green leaves, smooth gray bark and milky sap. Outdoors in a mild climate it can reach about 40 feet tall and as wide. Its roots and dangling aerial roots can lift paving, and root rot follows overwatering, so steady but not soggy soil suits it.

TreeRated for 4 of 6 zones

How often to water Indian laurel fig, 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 Indian laurel fig 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 3 to 4 inches down under the outer canopy in summer signals that a young laurel fig needs water
  • Leaves dropping in numbers from inside the crown during a hot, dry spell can indicate thirst
  • Yellowing leaves and thinning growth over soil that stays wet point to overwatering or root rot
  • Leaves speckled pale with fine webbing beneath suggest spider mites rather than thirst
  • Sticky leaves or white cottony clusters on twigs point to mealybugs or scale rather than a water problem

How to water it

  • Water under the drip line and beyond with drip lines or a slow soaker, not at the trunk
  • Soak a young tree's root zone deeply, then let the top few inches dry before the next soak
  • Plant well away from walks, drives and foundations, since roots can lift paving
  • Use well-drained soil and avoid low spots where water stands around the trunk
  • Move the watered ring outward as the canopy widens, and taper water as the tree matures

Through the seasons

Water a newly planted laurel fig deeply and regularly through its first summers while roots reach out into the soil. An established tree needs less help, but deep soaks in long dry spells keep the canopy full. It stays evergreen and grows most in warm weather. It is a tropical tree, so frost is a risk in cold inland spots. Winter rain covers the cool months on the coast. WUCOLS rates Indian laurel fig moderate water on the north-central coast, on the south coast, in South Inland and in the low desert. WUCOLS marks it as not suited to the Central Valley or the high desert.

In pots

Indian laurel fig is grown in large containers, as a patio tree, indoors and as bonsai. Check the mix a couple of inches down and water when it is dry, which can mean every few days in summer heat. Water until it runs from the holes, then empty the saucer, since soggy mix rots the roots. Look under the leaves for spider mites and scale. In winter, water less as growth slows and shelter the pot from frost.

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

WUCOLS lists Indian Laurel Fig as not suited to this region for the Central Valley zone, so no monthly figure is computed here.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Indian Laurel Fig: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.37–0.780.78–0.78
Feb0.53–0.810.87–0.93
Mar0.87–1.151.3–1.52
Apr1.18–1.41.61–1.95
May1.46–1.611.95–2.45
Jun1.61–1.742.29–2.79
Jul1.61–1.982.51–2.85
Aug1.49–1.862.33–2.6
Sep1.24–1.491.86–2.08
Oct0.87–1.151.33–1.49
Nov0.47–0.840.9–0.96
Dec0.31–0.650.68–0.68
Year12–15.518.41–21.08

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 Indian laurel fig. 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 Indian laurel fig, 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 Indian laurel fig in summer?

In July, established Indian laurel fig 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 Indian laurel fig need per day?

In July on the north-central coast, established Indian laurel fig needs about 4.1 gallons a day under a 10 foot canopy and about 16 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 Indian laurel fig change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates Indian laurel fig separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water 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 suited to this region in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, moderate water in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Will Indian laurel fig roots damage my sidewalk?

They can. Its surface roots and aerial roots can lift and crack paving if not managed. Plant it far from hardscape and water deeply so roots do not stay at the surface.

Why is my laurel fig dropping leaves?

Check the soil first, since both a dry root zone and soggy ground can cause leaf drop. Root rot follows overwatering. Also look under leaves for spider mites, mealybugs and scale.

Can Indian laurel fig spread into other areas?

Yes, it is considered invasive in many parts of the world. Birds and animals spread its tiny seeds, which can sprout in cracks in concrete or on other trees. Pull seedlings while they are small.

Can I grow Indian laurel fig indoors?

Yes, it is widely sold as a houseplant and as bonsai. Indoors the mix dries slowly, so feel it before each watering. Give it bright light and keep it out of cold drafts.

What are the hanging roots on my laurel fig?

They are aerial roots that hang from the branches, and humid air favors them. They are normal for this tree. Prune them if they reach paving or walkways.

More plant watering guides

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Sources