With reasonable pruning, Ficus Nitida excels as a captivating hedge offering your abode ease of privacy when planted in a compatible USDA zone.
If you want to learn the strategies to keep your Ficus Nitida as a tip-top hedge plant, this article is for you!
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How Fast Does A Ficus Nitida Grow?
Ficus Nitidia (or Ficus Microcarpa) is a tree from the plant family Moraceae with a fast growth rate.
The average annual growth rate of Ficus Nitida is 2 feet, with an overall mature height of 30-70 feet and a spread of 60-75 feet.
However, gardeners grow Ficus Nitida as a hedge plant maintaining an average height of 10-15 feet and space them about 2-3 feet apart.
Hence, to sustain the growth rate of a Ficus Nitida hedge, prune it annually during early spring by trimming no more than one-third of its leaves and branches.
Do You Know?
The aerial shoots of Ficus Nitida grow sprawly herbage annually, but its roots are equally invasive and extensive, invading sidewalks and streets when planted close to roads.
What Is The Suitable Ficus Nitida Hedge Zone?
The feasible surrounding temperature for the proper growth of Ficus Nitida hedge is around 65-75°F.
But a temperature below 60°F is harmful to the Ficus Nitida plant and can halt its growth rate.
Hence, the Ficus Nitida hedge grows effortlessly in a USDA zone of 9-13 with average annual temperature fluctuations between 20°F and 70°F.
Additionally, growing the plant in colder zones is possible, but it needs constant frost protection from late fall to early spring.
How To Grow Ficus Nitida Hedge?
You can plant Ficus Nitida outdoors straight in the soil or on pots.
Due to its tropical habit, the Ficus Nitidia hedge shows incredible growth in warmer zones. But in colder regions, it grows relatively slowly.
However, there are certain considerations to assess before planting.
- Choose porous soil with direct morning and evening sunlight and indirect afternoon light during spring and summer.
- While planting your Ficus Nitida hedge, dig a hole about 3 times the width of the plant’s rootball.
- Cover the base of the plant with 4-inch thick and 6-inch wide straw mulch to prevent weed growth.
- Irrigate the plant every 5-7 days during spring and summer.
Can Ficus Nitida Grow In Lower USDA Zones?
Although a tropical plant, Ficus Nitida, may survive in the colder USDA zones from 5-8, it needs proper mulching to keep its roots warm.
- Check the top 1-3 inches of soil for dryness before watering the plant in fall and winter.
- Use balanced fertilizer during growing seasons to encourage foliar growth.
- Prune your Ficus Nitida hedge plant annually to sidestep uncanny foliage.
- Use neem oil sprays or employ a strong force of hose water to deter pest and disease infestations.
From Editorial Team
Conclusion!
The best way to get a prospering Ficus Nitida hedge is to grow it in a warm climatic zone.
However, if you live in a cold climatic zone, you must always protect the plant from frost injury.
