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I've built an underground forest chamber in my main fort as a convenient lumber supply. It has a dirt floor and plenty of torches, but the trees I planted there haven't sprouted yet. I have heard that wheat will grow under torchlight (I believe X's Adventures in Minecraft mentioned this). Do trees also share this property?

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Trees can definitely be grown underground with sufficient light. According to this thread on the Minecraft Forums, you need 7 blocks of space above the sapling. (Perhaps this condition isn't being satisfied.)

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  • Interesting. I only had four spaces, as specified in the wiki
    – sjohnston
    Oct 7, 2010 at 4:10
  • That is interesting. Maybe the wiki has incorrect / old information. Hopefully it will work with 7 blocks of headroom.
    – Kevin Yap
    Oct 7, 2010 at 4:15
  • If it does, you should update the Wiki. Or let me know so I can. :)
    – GnomeSlice
    Oct 7, 2010 at 13:26
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    Four spaces between saplings isn't necessary, but seven headroom is. I currently grow a tree farm of alternating rows of torches and saplings, and it started growing fine once I gave sufficient headroom. Standing on the ground and swinging your pick at the ceiling is sufficient to give your trees the height they require.
    – Joe Dovahkiin
    Oct 7, 2010 at 16:35
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    Trees can also grow in the Nether if these same conditions are met (and they have a dirt block to be placed on)
    – Raven Dreamer
    Nov 10, 2010 at 4:11
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7 blocks of height is required.

A neat trick is to put stone next to the saplings, so you don't have tons of leaves that you have to deal with.

from above, this is what I do:

XXXXXXXX
SXSXSXSX

XSXSXSXS
XXXXXXXX

S <- Sapling X <- Rock

Note, the Sapling has to be planted in dirt. Put torches on the rock pillars to light the saplings,and you are good to go!

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Any light will work for trees. However, you may need more space.

My underground (automatic >:D) tree farm is 200x200, for the trees at least, and I've found trees require at least 1 block on all sides, and at least 7 blocks up. I have it at 10 right now, but to get the bigger trees you'll have to expand it to around 20-30. To get large jungle trees, you need around 60 blocks space, and yes, I have done this before.

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I know this is somewhat old thread, but here goes...

Bring bone soup (just mash bones of skeletons) and throw it at the tree and it works as a super fertilizer. If it doesn't grow, your tree does not have enough space. Sometimes you need to use the fertilizer several times for the tree to grow. I wouldn't waste more than 5-6 to see if the tree "pops up".

Just my 2 cents.

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I have heard hat you need at least seven blocks of space above the trees. As the last person said, bigger trees require more space. So yes, trees can grow underground. BUT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE TORCHES!

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I know this is an old question but I had a few things that might help.

There are four things you must have to "grow" the tree: 1xdirt block, 1xsapling, 4xtorches, space.

The space is tricky. From what I have read it is probabilistic. When the sapling "grows" a randomly created, fully formed tree tries to pop into existence. If there is insufficient room for the new fully formed tree it will remain a sapling

I was successful with a birch tree, 8 torches on the walls, 8 high, 5 empty blocks in each direction

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