Chinese fir
Also known as
Cunninghamia and China-fir
Taxonomy
Cunninghamia lanceolata
Cunninghamia
Cupressaceae
Pinales
How to care for Chinese fir
Water
How often to water your Chinese fir
every 9
Chinese fir 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
Light
Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.
Select a city to check sunlight intensity
Finding light for Chinese fir in your home
a window
Chinese fir love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Chinese fir does not tolerate low-light 🚫.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Chinese fir in your home 🏡.
Nutrients
How to fertilize Chinese fir
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 Chinese fir after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
FAQs
Chinese fir 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!
Water Needs
Chinese fir 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.
Sunlight Needs
Chinese fir 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 🏡.
Soil
Chinese fir 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!
Fertilizer
Chinese fir 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!
Growth Pattern
Chinese fir 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.
Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Chinese fir can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 7a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
Care Summary for Chinese fir
Chinese fir
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.
