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Emerald Green Arborvitae

Reviewed by: Kiersten Rankel | Last Updated: 09/08/2022

4.0 out of 5 (3 experiences)

Browns easily

Also known as

American Arborvitae, Eastern White Cedar, Eastern Arborvitae and Thuja occidentalis.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Thuja occidentalis

Genus

Thuja

Family

Cupressaceae

Order

Pinales

How to care for Emerald Green Arborvitae

💦 Water

How often to water your Emerald Green Arborvitae

Emerald Green Arborvitae 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 Emerald Green Arborvitae in your home

Emerald Green Arborvitae love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Emerald Green Arborvitae does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Emerald Green Arborvitae in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Emerald Green Arborvitae

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Emerald Green Arborvitae: 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 Emerald Green Arborvitae after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #EmeraldGreenArborvitae

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Emerald Green Arborvitae is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

Benefits of Growing Emerald Green Arborvitae →

Common Emerald Green Arborvitae Problems →

💦 Water Needs

Emerald Green Arborvitae 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 →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Emerald Green Arborvitae 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 🏡.

Emerald Green Arborvitae Light Requirements →

Emerald Green Arborvitae Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Greg does not have confirmed data on this plant’s toxicity. If you, a family member, or a pet consumes plant material of unknown toxicity, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.

If you or someone else ingested this plant, call Poison Control at US (800) 222-1222. If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA at US (888) 426-4435.

🪴 Soil

Emerald Green Arborvitae 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 →

When and How to Successfully Repot Emerald Green Arborvitae →

💩 Fertilizer

Emerald Green Arborvitae 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

Emerald Green Arborvitae 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.

How and When to Prune Emerald Green Arborvitae →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Emerald Green Arborvitae can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 2a-7b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Emerald Green Arborvitae Temperature Tolerance →

🧐 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 Emerald Green Arborvitae

Emerald Green Arborvitae

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.

What other plant parents say

Browns easily 1

@Theresa

4 Plants

120 XP

Courtland, MS

06/26/2021

Water well

Browns easily

Emerald Green Arborvitae plant photo by Theresa named Your plant on Greg, the plant care app.

@@sarahsalith

279 Plants

233,209 XP

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.