Plant Care Eastern White Cedar

Eastern White Cedar

Reviewed by: Kiersten Rankel | Last Updated: 12/06/2024

4.0 out of 5 (3 experiences)

Eastern White Cedar has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily

Also known as

Emerald Green Arborvitae, Emerald Green Arborvitae, American Arborvitae, Eastern Arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis., Arborvitie and Little Giant Arborvitae

Taxonomy

Thuja occidentalis
Thuja
Cupressaceae
Pinales

How to care for Eastern White Cedar

šŸ’¦ Water

How often to water your Eastern White Cedar

Water needs for Eastern White Cedar
0.5 cups
every 9

Eastern White Cedar needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesnā€™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 Eastern White Cedar

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
ā˜€ļø Light

Finding light for Emerald Green Arborvitae in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Eastern White Cedar: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Eastern White Cedar love being close to bright, sunny windows šŸ˜Ž.

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

Eastern White Cedar does not tolerate low-light šŸš«.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Eastern White Cedar in your home šŸ”.

šŸŖ“ Nutrients

How to fertilize Eastern White Cedar

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Eastern White 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 itā€™s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Eastern White Cedar after it doubles in size or once a yearā€”whichever comes first.

šŸ’” FAQs
ā­ Difficulty Level
šŸ’¦ Water Needs

Eastern White 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.

Emerald Green Arborvitae Water Frequency →

Emerald Green Arborvitae Root Rot →


ā˜€ļø Sunlight Needs

Eastern White Cedar requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive šŸ’Ŗ. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home šŸ”.

Emerald Green Arborvitae Light Requirements →

Emerald Green Arborvitae Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


šŸ¶ šŸˆ šŸ‘¶ Toxicity

Eastern White Cedar is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Eastern White Cedar is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Is Emerald Green Arborvitae Edible? →

Emerald Green Arborvitae Toxicity to Cats →

Emerald Green Arborvitae Toxicity to Dogs →

Emerald Green Arborvitae Toxicity to Humans →


šŸŖ“ Soil

Eastern White 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 Emerald Green Arborvitae →

Best Pots for Emerald Green Arborvitae →

When and How to Successfully Repot Emerald Green Arborvitae →

What Are Healthy Emerald Green Arborvitae Roots →


šŸ’© Fertilizer

Eastern White Cedar grows very slowly and doesnā€™t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plantā€™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 Emerald Green Arborvitae →


ā¬†ļø ā¬‡ļø Growth Pattern

Eastern White 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.

Emerald Green Arborvitae Lifecycle →

Emerald Green Arborvitae Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Emerald Green Arborvitae →


šŸŒ¦ļø Growing Outdoors
šŸ‚ Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves arenā€™t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plantā€™s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, itā€™s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Eastern White 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!


šŸ§ 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 Eastern White Cedar

Eastern White Cedar

Eastern White Cedar


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4ā€ pot your plant is in, and that it doesnā€™t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Eastern White Cedar has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 1
Theresa avatar
@Theresa
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 120 XP
globe Courtland, MS
06/26/2021

Water well

Browns easily Browns easily
@sarahsalith avatar
@@sarahsalith
leaf-1 309 Plants
xp 270,538 XP
globe Memphis, TN
04/29/2021

*This plant sits in a self-watering pot in an east-facing window. It is three years old.*

This is the one plant that grew from a pack of 10 seeds for a Grow-Your-Own-Bonsai box. I think it was meant to be a joke, but here it is! (Although it does not look like the picture on the box!) It is a simple plant. I have enjoyed watching it grow and cheering it on when it was very small. Every Christmas, I hang a bright, red, shiny bauble on it.

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