Thuja is not just a popular plant for hedges. The tree of life also looks good in a pot on a balcony or terrace. The care is a little more complex than if you grow Thuja outdoors. Which varieties are suitable and how do you properly care for Thuja in the pot?
Which Thuja varieties are suitable for the bucket and how do you care for them properly?
Small varieties such as Danica, Golden Globe, Little Giant, Tiny Tim and Golden Tuffet are suitable for thuja in the pot. What is important in care is sufficient watering, moderate fertilization, cutting if necessary and frost protection in winter. Waterlogging should be avoided.
Thuja in the pot – which varieties are suitable?
Varieties that don't get too big or only grow slowly are particularly suitable for the pot. Therefore, choose small-growing varieties such as:
- Danica
- Golden Globe
- Little Giant
- Tiny Tim
- Golden Tuffet
The right pot for the tree of life
The size of the bucket depends on the root ball. It should be twice as large as the roots of the thuja. Pots made of clay are well suited.
A drainage hole in the floor is absolutely necessary. To avoid waterlogging, create drainage made of sand and gravel in the bottom of the pot. If the bucket is in the garden, it is better not to place it in a saucer where rainwater could accumulate.
Fill the bucket with slightly nutritious, not too acidic soil. You can get special substrate for conifers from specialist retailers.
Water the root ball before planting
Before planting the tree of life, place it in a bucket of water for about 24 hours so that the roots can soak up moisture.
Properly care for thuja in the pot
Water regularly. Fertilize sparingly, because Thuja does not tolerate over-fertilization particularly well and reacts to it with yellow and brown needles.
With some varieties such as Golden Globe and Tiny Tim, you don't have to cut at all as they naturally grow in a spherical shape. Other varieties are cut in the same way as thuja in the open field. Special rules apply when cutting as a standard tree.
It is transplanted when the pot has become too small for the roots. The best time for transplanting is early spring.
Protect thuja in the bucket from frost
Thuja is not hardy in a pot and must therefore be overwintered in a frost-free place or on the balcony or terrace with appropriate winter protection.
Tip
Watering is particularly important for Thuja in a pot. As soon as the soil dries out, the needles turn brown. Therefore, water regularly all year round, but pay attention to waterlogging!
