Container guide
Growing arborvitae in a pot
Compost and drainage
Arborvitae needs sharp drainage, so this matters more in a pot than in the ground. Use a free-draining mix (add perlite, grit or bark to standard compost), always pick a container with drainage holes, and never let it stand in a saucer of water.
Watering arborvitae in a pot
Containers dry far faster than open ground, so arborvitae in a pot needs checking more often than the general guidance of "Deeply once or twice a week for the first 1-2 growing seasons, then mainly in droughts" — especially in summer, wind, or a heated room. Check the top few centimetres with a finger rather than watering on a fixed day.
Potting on
Pot on when roots show through the drainage holes or growth slows noticeably — usually every 1-2 years for a plant this size. Move up one pot size only; jumping several sizes leaves wet compost the roots cannot reach, and that is what rots them.
More arborvitae care
Growing arborvitae in containers — FAQ
Can you grow arborvitae in a pot?
Arborvitae is well suited to container growing — at about 60 m mature it is comfortably pot-sized. A container around 20-30 cm (8-12 in) across gives it room without leaving the compost sitting wet, which is the usual mistake when people over-pot a small plant.
What size pot does arborvitae need?
Aim for a container 20-30 cm (8-12 in) across. Pot on when roots show through the drainage holes or growth slows noticeably — usually every 1-2 years for a plant this size. Move up one pot size only; jumping several sizes leaves wet compost the roots cannot reach, and that is what rots them.
What compost and drainage does arborvitae need in a container?
Arborvitae needs sharp drainage, so this matters more in a pot than in the ground. Use a free-draining mix (add perlite, grit or bark to standard compost), always pick a container with drainage holes, and never let it stand in a saucer of water.
How often should I water arborvitae in a pot?
Containers dry far faster than open ground, so arborvitae in a pot needs checking more often than the general guidance of "Deeply once or twice a week for the first 1-2 growing seasons, then mainly in droughts" — especially in summer, wind, or a heated room. Check the top few centimetres with a finger rather than watering on a fixed day.