Plant Care Western Red Cedar

Western Red Cedar

About Western Red Cedar

Cedar is a large evergreen in the Cupressaceae family native to the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It is the largest tree in the cypress family and can grow 100-200 feet in the wild with girths of 23 feet. Cedar wood is used as commercial timber for fences, boats, decks, outdoor furniture, telephone poles, and more.

Taxonomy

Thuja plicata
Thuja
Cupressaceae
Pinales

Also known as

Canoe Cedar, Giant Arbor-vitae, Giant Cedar and Pacific Red-cedar

How to care for Western Red Cedar

💦 Water

How often to water your Western Red Cedar

Water needs for Western Red Cedar
0.5 cups
every 9

Western Red Cedar needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Western Red Cedar

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Western Red Cedar in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Western Red Cedar: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Western Red Cedar love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Western Red Cedar does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Western Red Cedar in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Western Red Cedar

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Western Red Cedar: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Western Red Cedar after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Western Red Cedar is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Western Red Cedar →

Benefits of Growing Western Red Cedar →

Common Western Red Cedar Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Western Red Cedar →


💦 Water Needs

Western Red Cedar prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Western Red Cedar Water Frequency →

Western Red Cedar Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Western Red Cedar requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Western Red Cedar Light Requirements →

Western Red Cedar Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Western Red Cedar is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.


🪴 Soil

Western Red Cedar does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Western Red Cedar →

Best Pots for Western Red Cedar →

When and How to Successfully Repot Western Red Cedar →

What Are Healthy Western Red Cedar Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Western Red Cedar grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Western Red Cedar →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Western Red Cedar will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

Western Red Cedar Lifecycle →

Western Red Cedar Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Western Red Cedar →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Western Red Cedar can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

How to Propagate Western Red Cedar →


🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Western Red Cedar, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Western Red Cedar

Western Red Cedar

Western Red Cedar


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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