Minecraft: Here’s How To Grow Trees Underground

Every Minecraft player will need to make use of trees at some point, from crafting first-tier tools in the game to creating extravagant survival bases. As a result, many players have found the need to create lush and lively tree farms around their home, but it can be tricky when you’re trying to grow trees underground in Minecraft.

Can Trees Grow Underground in Minecraft?

Trees are quite common in terms of their spawn rates, occurring naturally in just about every biome through Minecraft’s seemingly endless world – apart from the Mushroom biome. Each tree is comprised of leaf blocks and wood log blocks, which are both classified as individual items in Minecraft.

At the time of writing, there are 8 main types of trees in Minecraft, namely Oak, Jungle, Acacia, Dark Oak, Spruce, Birch, Azalea, and Mangrove – all of which may differ in terms of their heights and widths. There are also a few other natural plant structures that can be loosely defined as trees as well, namely the Huge Fungus plant, Chorus Plant, and Huge Mushrooms.

It’s well-known that players should avoid leaving Minecraft trees floating, and that trees are literally the foundation of future craftables in the game. However, the concept of growing trees underground is still surrounded by debate among some Minecraft fans.

However, it is definitely possible to grow trees underground – in fact, trees may spawn underground naturally in the right conditions (although this is rare). Trees can be spawned when chunks are generated and can grow wherever there is dirt, space, and light. But, they can also be grown using saplings, and the same growth mechanics would apply to either scenario.

As with many things in Minecraft, creating an underground tree farm will require some simple math, effort, and tons of trial and error. You will also need to consider the amount of room your character will need to move around easily for harvesting.

How to Grow Trees Underground in Minecraft

Growing trees underground can be surprisingly simple with the right adjustments, primarily revolving around what each tree would need to grow in above-ground level conditions. So, if you’ve found an incredible cave or cavern that you’re set on, you may only need to make a few changes to make your underground tree farm happen!

Growth Space Requirements

The amount of space that each sapling is provided will have the most impact on its ability to grow, particularly when growing trees underground since underground areas are typically far more limited. Simply plant your sapling in any variant of the classic dirt block – such as a moss block or mud, although dirt paths will not work for growing trees.

When it comes to the amount of space each tree will need to grow, things may become difficult to gauge since it may differ between tree species. Many trees will need at least 6 or 7 blocks of space above them in order to grow, while other tree species may need up to 8 or 9 blocks just to be on the safe side.

As a result, many players prefer leaving between 10 and 12 blocks of space above each of their underground saplings. This will not only make sure that there is over enough vertical space for each tree but will also allow each tree to grow in wonderful formations – rather than the classic “short and stout” tree shapes.

There should be no blocks above the saplings whatsoever in ideal conditions, although some blocks may still allow the tree to grow in certain cases – although, not without possible issues. For example, dirt blocks and logs may not prevent the tree from growing in Minecraft Java Edition, but these blocks may somehow think they too need to transform into a tree in some instances.

Players can place a ceiling above the allowed space if they want each tree to be limited in terms of its maximum growth height. However, many players like the idea of having asymmetrical tree farms underground as it really adds to the “naturally occurring” aesthetic.

Lighting Requirements

All trees and plants need sunlight or artificial light in order to flourish and survive, and this is no different when playing Minecraft. Tree saplings typically need a light level of at least 8 within the sapling block in order to sprout and become a tree over time – unless the sapling has access to direct, unobstructed sunlight.

Players can choose to take the artificial lighting approach by using hanging lanterns, which provide some of the best light in the game, or by placing down plenty of classic torches nearby. Alternatively, players can choose to make use of natural light by creating some skylights (if the underground area isn’t too far down).

If there are only a few blocks barring your underground Minecraft home from the sky, you could mine these away and replace the ceiling with transparent blocks like glass for an “underground greenhouse” design. This is because, although most blocks in Minecraft will obstruct light, glass and other transparent materials will not block the light – allowing your budding trees to grow.

Why Won’t Trees Grow Underground in Minecraft?

Despite how simple the mechanics may seem, many players have found that it’s just impossible to grow trees underground in their case – regardless of how many torches the player places down. In most cases, insufficient space is the main influence that prevents trees from growing underground.

If you’ve found that growing trees underground is far more complex or challenging in your case, the best bet would be to try and ensure maximum space – around 10 blocks of free space (or more for huge trees) above your sapling, and 4 blocks of free space horizontally. In some cases, you may find that an odd block nearby could be ruining the growth space (this may be common for players who have mined out space underground).

This type of setup may result in huge trees that can be tricky to farm, but it may very well solve your problem. You could go back and revisit your build after you get the trees to grow – creating an incredible tree farm will undoubtedly take some trial and error.

That’s everything there is to know about growing trees underground in Minecraft, with images thanks to the Minecraft Wiki. It can be understandably frustrating to waste tons of bonemeal on forcing your Minecraft trees to grow to no avail, but there are many more simple approaches you could take to ensure your trees grow as you’d like. Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!