Thuja Care: Proper Location, Watering And Fertilizing

Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:44 pm

The fresh evergreen juicy needles can form an ideal screen in your garden. But also in the pot Thuja Smaragd can grow super. The hardy and undemanding plant is suitable for everyone, whether with or without green thumb: You can do little wrong with the Thuja Smaragd care. As always, you can find more information and helpful tips in our article.

A little history of the Thuja Emerald

Thuja Emerald the name already sounds so enchanting that you want to bring it to your home for that reason alone. The plant, also called Thuja Occidentalis Emerald or Occidental Tree of Life, is a species of plant that belongs to the genus of trees of life (Thuja). It is not without reason that the name Thuja was chosen for the plant. It is derived from the Latin word Thuo = sacrifice. In the past, Thuja emerald was used in sacrificial rituals. For the reason that it gives off a pleasant fragrance. Even today, the leaves, twigs and bark of the plant are partly used in medicine to produce essential oils. If you want to know how to care for this wonderful tree of life at home, then you should read on. Because then you will learn how an optimal Thuja Emerald care looks like.

Appearance of the Thuja Emerald

Originally, the tree comes from North America and can reach a height of up to 20 meters. However, since these trees are clearly too large for our gardens, there are now also smaller varieties that reach two to three meters after about ten years. The narrow, conical and upward growth is characteristic for the tree. Its shiny green needles grow very close together, which makes the plant an ideal screen, for example, in the form of a hedge. The beauty of Thuja Emerald: the evergreen plant is very easy to care for.

Proper Thuja Emerald care: location, watering, fertilizing, etc.

If one characteristic describes the Thuja Emerald, then it is low maintenance. Even if you do not have a green thumb, then the care of the plant easily possible for you.

Thuja Smaragd location: Sunny to partial shade

The plant location is also important for the not very demanding Thuja Smaragd care. A sunny to semi-shaded outdoor spot that is well ventilated is best. If it is too shady in its location, it will not grow as densely and may then be less suitable as a privacy screen. If you still have colorful and flowering plants in your garden, then the Thuja Smaragd with its dark green needles forms a beautiful contrast to them. Especially behind roses or grass carnations, the tree of life comes into its own very well. A plus point with the plant: in winter you can leave it outside, because the frost in the rules can not harm it. Sometimes some parts of the plant may turn brown. But this should not worry you.

Tip: If you plant the Thuja Smaragd as a hedge, then you should keep a distance of about 40 to 50 centimeters when planting it in the ground.

Thuja Smaragd soil – The tolerant tree

You can’t really go wrong with your choice of soil, as the Thuja Smaragd will thrive in almost any substrate. In extreme cases, even some species of thuja can grow in swamp-like soil. When it comes to pH, the tree is very tolerant, as it can tolerate ranges from acidic to alkaline. If you can still maintain a pH between 6.0 and 8.0, that would be ideal.

Tip: If the location of your Thuja Smaragd is very wet, then pour a little soil in the form of a hill around the plant. This will allow the water to drain away better.

Watering Thuja Smaragd – The average water requirement of the plant

You should water the tree relatively often. Especially if your tree grows in a pot, it dries out faster and thus has a higher water requirement than plants that grow directly in the bed. Potted plants also need good water drainage in the form of holes. You can recognize a too dry soil by the fact that the needles turn slightly brownish. The watering water should not be too cold and should not be poured by you onto the leaves. The best time to water, as with many plants, is either in the morning or evening. You should avoid watering in the hot midday sun because of the high evaporation. As a rule, it is sufficient to water your Thuja Smaragd about twice a week, possibly a little more in the summer. In the winter months, a single watering per week is sufficient.

Fertilize Thuja Smaragd – Beware of overfertilization.

As already mentioned, the Thuja Smaragd care is very undemanding. Normally, you do not need to fertilize the tree at all. However, it is recommended to add additional nutrients in the beginning for small plants. Natural fertilizer, such as compost, manure or leaf mould, is best suited for this purpose. The organic material promotes root development and adds important nutrients to the soil. In addition, of course, commercial plant fertilizer, slow-release fertilizer or special fertilizer for Thuja plants is also suitable. When buying, however, always make sure that there is an optimal ratio of phosphate, potash and nitrogen. The best time to fertilize is spring and late summer.

Important: In winter, you should refrain from fertilizing altogether.

Thuja Smaragd pruning – The annual maintenance pruning

For a beautiful growth of the Thuja Smaragd, especially as a screen, an annual pruning or maintenance pruning helps. The best time for pruning is early April to about September. If you prune your tree even several times a year (1st pruning: beginning of April, 2nd pruning: end of June, 3rd pruning: end of August), it will grow back denser and bushier. In the cold winter months, some branches may die during the frost. You can then simply cut them off in March.

Tip: Freshly planted trees should not be cut back during the first two years, if possible. This will promote a better root development.

Repotting Thuja Smaragd: Large containers please

For potted plants, repotting during Thuja Smaragd care is also very important. The fast-rooting tree often fills the pot with its roots after only two or three years at the most. Then it is time for a larger container, so as to promote growth. If the roots are already very matted when you take out the plant, then it makes sense to loosen them carefully. After you have planted the tree in its new pot, press the soil firmly and water vigorously.

Tip: The width and height of the pot should be twice as large as the root ball of the Thuja Smaragd.

Propagating Thuja Smaragd – The cutting method

With the help of cuttings and a little patience you can propagate your Thuja Smaragd. To do this, you need to cut branches from a mother plant, but it should not be too old. For the propagation itself, however, the cracklings (small side branches) are used, as they form roots more easily. These you tear off carefully from top to bottom (so that still a little bark remains hanging) from the cut branch. You can now put the small cracklings into a growing tray with growing soil. Then you should water them with stale rainwater and place them in a shady and cool location outdoors.

Tip: Every three days, briefly remove the transparent cap. This way the small Thuja Smaragd plants are well ventilated.

Is the Thuja Smaragd poisonous?

As beautiful and easy to care for as the Thuja Smaragd is, in some cases the essential oils in the fresh green leaf tips but also in the wood are toxic and can have health consequences for animals and humans. Symptoms can range from stomach and intestinal cramps, to vomiting and paralysis. So always keep your pets, such as dogs or cats, but also babies and small children away from the tree or make sure that they do not consume the plant parts.

Tip: It is also best to wear gloves when handling the plant to avoid a possible rash due to allergy.

Tips for problems with Thuja Smaragd

The most common mistake in Thuja Smaragd care is overfertilization. Here, in the worst case, chlorosis can occur. A yellowish discoloration of the leaves is a clear indication of this. Therefore, it is recommended to fertilize the tree rather less or not at all (if it is in the bed).