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Bastard Cedar

About Bastard Cedar

This conifer sports interesting exfoliating gray-brown bark and showy male and female cones. Its form is broadly conical with spreading branches. The male cones are yellow, the female cones are cylindrical and they ripen in late summer at lower elevations and a month later at higher elevations. It prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Calocedrus decurrens

Genus

Calocedrus

Family

Cupressaceae

Order

Pinales

Also known as

California incense-cedar and Incense cedar

How to care for Bastard Cedar

💦 Water

How often to water your Bastard Cedar

Bastard 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.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Bastard Cedar in your home

Bastard Cedar love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Bastard Cedar does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Bastard Cedar

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Bastard 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 Bastard Cedar after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Bastard Cedar is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Bastard Cedar →

Benefits of Growing Bastard Cedar →

Common Bastard Cedar Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Bastard Cedar →

💦 Water Needs

Bastard 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.

Bastard Cedar Water Frequency →

Bastard Cedar Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Bastard 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 🏡.

Bastard Cedar Light Requirements →

Bastard Cedar Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Bastard 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

Bastard 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 Bastard Cedar →

Best Pots for Bastard Cedar →

When and How to Successfully Repot Bastard Cedar →

What Are Healthy Bastard Cedar Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Bastard 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 Bastard Cedar →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Bastard Cedar grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

Bastard Cedar Lifecycle →

Bastard Cedar Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Bastard Cedar →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Bastard Cedar can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 5a-8b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Bastard Cedar Temperature Tolerance →

Bastard Cedar Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Bastard Cedar →

When to Plant Bastard Cedar →

How to Plant Bastard Cedar →

Where to Plant Bastard Cedar →

Winter Care for Bastard Cedar →

Best Companion Plants for Bastard Cedar →

Is Bastard Cedar a Weed? →

🍂 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 Bastard 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.