Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara 'Feelin' Blue')
Also called Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar, Weeping Blue Himalayan Cedar, Blue Deodar Cedar.
More about feelin' blue deodar cedar
About Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar
Cedrus deodara 'Feelin' Blue' · also called Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar, Weeping Blue Himalayan Cedar · houseplant
A prostrate to low-spreading dwarf cultivar of the Deodar Cedar, native to the western Himalayas, selected for its striking steel-blue, pendulous foliage. Left unsupported it spreads as a ground-hugging mat; when staked it forms a small weeping standard with gracefully arching branches. Full sun and excellent drainage are non-negotiable — this cultivar is drought-tolerant once established but will not tolerate wet roots. True Cedrus deodara is not toxic to cats or dogs.
Preferred mix: Well-drained loam or sandy loam, neutral to slightly alkaline
Watch for — 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.
Why feelin' blue deodar cedar needs this mix
Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar is an easy-going houseplant — it just wants a free-draining general mix that holds some moisture but never stays soggy.
- Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
- A little perlite or bark stops ordinary compost compacting into an airless block over time, which is the slow, common cause of decline.
- It is not fussy about pH or special ingredients; getting the air-to-moisture balance right is what matters.
For the full picture on what makes up a good mix, see our guide to the main types of soil and potting media — it explains why each ingredient above behaves the way it does.
What goes wrong with the wrong mix
The wrong soil is one of the most common reasons feelin' blue deodar cedar struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates feelin' blue deodar cedar's roots.
- A pure peat mix that dries to a hard, water-repelling block is hard to re-wet and stresses the plant.
- No drainage hole turns even a good mix into a stagnant, root-rotting sump.
Reusing tired, compacted old compost or skipping the perlite. A free-draining mix in a pot with a hole solves most "why is it struggling" cases for feelin' blue deodar cedar.
pH — does it matter for feelin' blue deodar cedar?
Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
If you want to check or adjust it, the soil pH guide walks through testing and the safe ways to nudge a mix more acidic or more alkaline.
DIY mix vs a bagged one
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for feelin' blue deodar cedar as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Drainage and the pot
A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all feelin' blue deodar cedar needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Refresh feelin' blue deodar cedar's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. When the time comes, our repotting guide for feelin' blue deodar cedar covers the timing and technique step by step.
Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for feelin' blue deodar cedar?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part perlite : 1 part orchid bark or coco chips (optional). Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
Can I use normal potting soil for feelin' blue deodar cedar?
Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates feelin' blue deodar cedar's roots. A decent bagged houseplant compost works for feelin' blue deodar cedar as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Does feelin' blue deodar cedar need a special pH?
Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for feelin' blue deodar cedar?
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for feelin' blue deodar cedar as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
How often should I refresh the soil for feelin' blue deodar cedar?
Refresh feelin' blue deodar cedar's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all feelin' blue deodar cedar needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Keep reading
- Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water feelin' blue deodar cedar — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting feelin' blue deodar cedar — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
- Overwatered plant — signs and recovery
- Root rot — how the wrong soil starts it, and how to save the plant
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- All 10153 soil and potting-mix guides in the Growli library