Container guide
Growing degroot's spire arborvitae in a pot
Compost and drainage
Degroot's Spire 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 degroot's spire arborvitae in a pot
Containers dry far faster than open ground, so degroot's spire arborvitae in a pot needs checking more often than the general guidance of "Two to three times weekly while young; weekly once established" — 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 degroot's spire arborvitae care
- Growing arborvitae in a pot — the species this cultivar belongs to
- Full degroot's spire arborvitae care guide
- Best soil for degroot's spire arborvitae
- When to repot degroot's spire arborvitae
- How often to water degroot's spire arborvitae
- How to overwinter degroot's spire arborvitae
- Best app for indoor plants — reminders and light checks tested
Growing degroot's spire arborvitae in containers — FAQ
Can you grow degroot's spire arborvitae in a pot?
Degroot's Spire Arborvitae can be grown in a container while young, but it reaches about 4 m, so a pot is a medium-term home rather than a permanent one. Start it in a 40-60 cm (16-24 in) across planter, expect to pot on as it grows, and accept that container life will keep it smaller than it would be in open ground — which is often exactly what people want.
What size pot does degroot's spire arborvitae need?
Aim for a container 40-60 cm (16-24 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 degroot's spire arborvitae need in a container?
Degroot's Spire 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 degroot's spire arborvitae in a pot?
Containers dry far faster than open ground, so degroot's spire arborvitae in a pot needs checking more often than the general guidance of "Two to three times weekly while young; weekly once established" — especially in summer, wind, or a heated room. Check the top few centimetres with a finger rather than watering on a fixed day.