Don't understand the town tree growth!

[Ray-ACP]

Right, so i've read guides and this is what it says:

In order for your tree to grow, you need to play the game for a certain amount of days and hours. These are the times needed to allow your tree to reach the next stage:
- starting tree
- 5 days and 5 hours
- 20 days and 20 hours
- 50 days and 50 hours
- 100 days and 100 hours
- 180 days and 180 hours
- 300 days and 300 hours
- 500 days and 500 hours (fully grown)

My town was created November 2nd 2014 and it's now 2 months later, been over 60 days. My tree has only 3 clusters. According to this stage and this guide as well:

1 1 Appears as a small tree with a single cluster of leaves.
2 5 Appears as a small tree with two clusters of leaves.
3 20 Appears as a tree with three clusters of leaves from the front, similar to the non-cedar trees in town.
4 50 Appears as a tree with five clusters of leaves from the front. From this stage on, the player will be able to sit on the planter box under the tree to view the town's history.
5 100 Appears as a larger tree with ten clusters of leaves, with a vine creeping up from the base of the trunk.
6 180
7 300
8 500 Appears as a very large tree with approximately seventeen clusters of leaves. Additional vines also encircle the trunk. The trunk covers the entire planting pot.

My tree should be on 5 clusters at least. What's going on?

 

[LaBelleFleur]

I think you have to meet both criteria for your tree to grow, i.e. 50 days and 50 hours of gameplay. So you might've played for 60 days, but not 60 total hours.

 

[Ponyu]

Also, if your town is in winter, the town tree crown looks smaller because the leaves are gone. The "clusters" in the guide are referring to the tree in late spring/summer/early fall.

 

[pika62221]

I should note that gameplay hours only count when you're actually doing stuff, so playing the title screen, or chatting only won't get you the hours, despite what your system says.

 

[Maris82084]

I should note that gameplay hours only count when you're actually doing stuff, so playing the title screen, or chatting only won't get you the hours, despite what your system says.

But if you are in the ocean, the clock still counts. Because you are technically moving. Treading water. I used this to get my gold badge before I restarted.

 

[Ray-ACP]

OH i didn't realise it meant in game hours! I was wondering that XD Thanks guys!