Growli
Let's go

Plant care

Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar (Weeping Blue Himalayan Cedar) care

Cedrus deodara 'Feelin' Blue'

Also called Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar, Weeping Blue Himalayan Cedar, Blue Deodar Cedar.

RHS H6USDA 6-9Pet-safeIndoor Typically 30–60 cm tall and 1.5–3 m wide as a groundcover

Watering rhythm

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Weekly when young; monthly once established

Jump to schedule→Get smart reminders in the app

Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Well-drained loam or sandy loam, neutral to slightly alkaline

Humidity

Low to moderate

Temp

-23 to 40°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

Typically 30–60 cm tall and 1.5–3 m wide as a groundcover

Care at a glance

Light

Most houseplants will scorch where feelin' blue deodar cedar thrives. Give it the windowsill you'd otherwise leave empty because everything else burned there. Requires a minimum of 6 hours of direct sun daily; foliage colour is most intense and habit most compact in full sun — shade causes weak, leggy growth and dulls the blue colour. A plant moved abruptly from low light to direct sun bleaches in 48 hours — always acclimatise over a week.

Watering

Aim for weekly when young; monthly once established for feelin' blue deodar cedar, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Once established it is notably drought-tolerant and adapts to occasional dry spells; water deeply but infrequently, allowing the top 5 cm of soil to dry between waterings.

Soil and pot

Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar grows best in well-drained loam or sandy loam, neutral to slightly alkaline. Tolerates a wide range of soil types including chalk, provided drainage is excellent; heavy clay causes root disease and should be amended with grit before planting. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar sits happiest at around Low to moderate humidity and -23 to 40°C (-10 to 104°F). Tolerant of hot, dry summers typical of Mediterranean and inland climates; no misting required and it dislikes persistently damp air around the foliage. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed feelin' blue deodar cedar sparingly. Apply a balanced granular slow-release fertiliser in early spring; established plants need little feeding as excess nitrogen promotes soft growth susceptible to disease. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on feelin' blue deodar cedar in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Cedar aphids (Cinara cedri) — Large, grey-brown aphids that congregate on new shoots in spring, excreting honeydew that leads to sooty mould; treat with a strong water jet or an approved insecticidal soap.
  • Root and collar rot (Phytophthora) — Poorly drained or overwatered soils invite Phytophthora root rot, causing yellowing needles and sudden dieback; improve drainage before planting and never allow water to pool around the stem base.

Propagation

Propagated from semi-ripe heel cuttings taken in late summer and rooted under mist with bottom heat; rooting can take 6–12 weeks. Grafting onto Cedrus deodara rootstock is used commercially to maintain true cultivar character. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar is pet-safe. True Cedrus species (including C. deodara) are not listed as toxic to cats or dogs by the ASPCA; the four true cedars are considered harmless to pets, unlike unrelated 'cedar' trees such as Melia azedarach (white cedar) which are highly toxic. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Cedrus deodara 'Feelin' Blue'?

Cedrus deodara 'Feelin' Blue' is most commonly called Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar, but it is also known as Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar, Weeping Blue Himalayan Cedar, Blue Deodar Cedar. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar apply identically to anything sold as Weeping Blue Himalayan Cedar.

How much light does feelin' blue deodar cedar need?

Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Requires a minimum of 6 hours of direct sun daily; foliage colour is most intense and habit most compact in full sun — shade causes weak, leggy growth and dulls the blue colour.

How often should I water feelin' blue deodar cedar?

Water feelin' blue deodar cedar weekly when young; monthly once established. Once established it is notably drought-tolerant and adapts to occasional dry spells; water deeply but infrequently, allowing the top 5 cm of soil to dry between waterings. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is feelin' blue deodar cedar toxic to cats and dogs?

Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar is pet-safe. True Cedrus species (including C. deodara) are not listed as toxic to cats or dogs by the ASPCA; the four true cedars are considered harmless to pets, unlike unrelated 'cedar' trees such as Melia azedarach (white cedar) which are highly toxic.

What USDA hardiness zone does feelin' blue deodar cedar grow in?

Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar is rated for USDA zone 6-9 and RHS hardiness H6. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar deep-dive guides

Every aspect of feelin' blue deodar cedar care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar qualifies for 9 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar is also known as Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar, Weeping Blue Himalayan Cedar, and Blue Deodar Cedar.