Thujen don't always have to be planted in the form of a hedge. You can also keep thujas as container plants. You don't even have to pay much attention to planting and care.
Even if thujas are primarily planted in gardens and parks and impress there as solitary or hedge plants, you should know that they can also be kept in pots. Young plants in particular can be kept relatively easily in a bucket and used to beautify the balcony or terrace.
Anyone who knows thujas as particularly robust and easy-care plants will have to accept some limitations when keeping them in pots, because potted plants require more care than plants outdoors.
Which thuja varieties are suitable for keeping in buckets?
| Thuja variety | Description |
|---|---|
| Thuja Danica | The small ball of this thuja is ideal for keeping in a bucket. This pretty and closed spherical shape is an eye-catcher, especially in small gardens. In winter, Danica has attractive blue-green to bronze foliage. |
| Thuja Golden Globe | You don't have to cut this tree of life to get a spherical shape. The honey-yellow foliage color forms a pretty contrast and persists through winter. |
| Thuja Little Giant | Little Giant is small and hardy to - 35 degrees. The bronze foliage is impressive in the winter months. |
| Thuja Tiny Tim | Tiny Tim grows slowly and forms a wide spherical shape. The spherical shape is maintained even without a topiary. A growth height of 50 centimeters is only reached after about ten years. |
| Thuja Golden Tuffet | This pretty Thuja species grows in a pillow-like manner and is particularly compact. The foliage is an eye-catcher all year round with a bright golden orange. |
Which planter should you use?
You can use a variety of planters. However, you should always pay attention to an appropriate size, because the roots need enough space.The plant pots should be at least twice the size of the root ball. The following rule has become established for planting in tubs:
1 meter tree height=40 centimeters pot diameter
Clay planters are particularly popular. However, a planter made of unglazed clay has the disadvantage that the liquid evaporates particularly quickly. These planters dry out the soil very quickly and should be watered accordingly. If you cover the container with a plastic foil, you can counteract this problem. Plastic wrap should also be used if you choose a metal bucket, as the substrate should not come into contact with metal. This would impede nutrient absorption.
Since thujas are sensitive to waterlogging, there should also be sufficient drainage. This is not always guaranteed with commercially available planters. If in doubt, drill some extra holes into the bottom of the planter.
How to properly plant thuja in a bucket
- Select the right planter.
- Water the root ball until no more air bubbles are visible.
- Clay or gravel drainage.
- Pour some potting soil into the bucket.
- Place plant. The base of the root should be covered about two inches.
- Fill the pot with potting soil.
- Shake the plant gently so that there are no gaps.
- Press the soil firmly.
- Water the plant well.
When should thuja be transplanted in pots?
This also depends on which planter you have chosen. If the roots have enough space to spread there, no transplanting is necessary in the first few years. If the plant pot appears penetrated by the roots of the thuja or if the thuja is not growing and gets yellow or brown leaves, you should replace the soil and plant the plant in a new pot. Because if the plant pot is completely filled with the roots of the thuja, the plant will no longer be able to grow and will gradually dry out, even if it is watered every day.
Young thujas are generally easier to transplant than older specimens. The trees of life should always have a new planter after three years at the latest. This should be big enough. Before the plant gets a new container, you should carefully loosen the root system and possibly also shorten the roots.
Important: Pour thuja properly in the bucket
Thujen imOutdoors cope quite well with dry phases. This does not apply to potted plants, because the rather small planters dry out comparatively quickly. If you don't pay attention to this, the trees of life can no longer grow and will die over time. The soil in the pot should therefore always be moist. But be careful not to get waterlogged. This is not tolerated by thujas. Therefore, the water drainage in the form of holes in the bottom of the planter must be guaranteed. A drainage made of gravel or potsherds is also very beneficial. In general, the following information should be observed when casting:
- Do not water the leaves of the tree of life.
- Make sure the water isn't too cold.
- It is best to water in the morning and/or evening. Never in the blazing midday sun!
But that's not the only thing you have to consider when watering thujas. The plants also have completely different water requirements depending on the season. Below is a brief overview.
Water potted plants correctly depending on the season
❍ Spring:
Keep the soil moist at all times. However, it must not appear too wet. It is best to water twice a week. If it has rained for a long time, simply check the ground and reduce the amount of water if necessary.
❍ Summer:
Even in summer you have to make sure that the ground is moist but not too wet. Water daily, or several times a day if it is dry or very hot. An automatic watering system helps to dose the water supply and to adapt it to the needs of the plant.
❍ Autumn:
In the fall you should gradually reduce watering. Now only water twice a week, or once a week if it rains continuously.
❍ Winter:
You should also check the water balance of the plants in winter. If there are severe frosts, do not water. Smaller waterings can then be carried out on frost-free days. However, only water once a week at most.
You can find more tips on caring for trees of life in our article Planting and caring for thuja - this is how it's done.