thuja orientalis

The leaves of the Thuja orientalis are evergreen

Image - Wikimedia / Luis Fernández García

La thuja orientalis it is one of the most cultivated conifers in the world; in fact, it can be seen both in gardens and in towns and cities. And it is that, although its growth rate is slow, it is one of those plant beings that decorate the place from a very young age.

As if that were not enough, it resists frost well, which makes it a very interesting plant. Let's know all its secrets 🙂.

Origin and characteristics

View of the Thuja orientalis 'Aurea nana'

Image - Flickr / FD Richards

Our protagonist is an evergreen conifer whose scientific name is Platycladus orientalis, although to this day its »old» name is still widely used: thuja orientalis. It is popularly called eastern thuja, tree of life, fan cypress, thuja, or Chinese tree of life. It is native to China, and to this day it has become naturalized in eastern Russia, Korea, Japan, India, and Iran.

Grows to a height of 20 to 30 meters, with a trunk diameter of 1m. When it is young, it has a narrow and conical crown, but as it grows it widens. The leaves are fleshy, opposite, somewhat curved inwards, green in color and with a resin-producing gland on the underside.

The female cones are bluish-greenish in color when ripe, and release about 6 reddish-brown or gray-brown seeds measuring 5-7 by 3-4mm. The males are globose or ovoid. Blooms in spring.

Cultivars

There are several, which are:

  • Golden Nana: it has a pyramidal shape, with yellowish tones.
  • Conspicuous: ditto.
  • Very elegant: ditto. Its leaves are golden in spring, and greenish-yellow in summer.
  • Golden Pyramidal: its conical shape is almost perfect, and its foliage is golden yellow that turns reddish in winter.
  • Rosedalis: has a spherical shape, and is metallic green.

What is the difference between Thuja occidentalis y thuja orientalis?

Both species are very similar, to the point that they are often confused. But it has subtle differences that make them unique:

  • Height: the T. occidentalis grows between 10 and 20m, rarely 30m; the T. orientalis it measures from 20 to 30m, and rarely 40m.
  • Color: the T. occidentalis is dark green in color, while the T. orientalis is clearer.
  • Cones / pineapples: the T. occidentalis produces them elongated, while those of the T. orientalis they are almost round, bluish in color.

What are their cares?

View of the Thuja orientalis 'Elegantissima'

Image - Wikimedia / GFDL

If you want to have a copy of thuja orientalis, we recommend that you provide the following care:

Location

It is a plant that must be abroad, either in full sun or in semi-shade. But it is important that it be planted at a distance of about 3-4 meters from pipes and others to avoid problems.

Earth

  • Flower pot: can be grown with universal growing substrate (for sale here) mixed with 20% perlite (you can get it in this link).
  • Garden: grows on all types of soils, even clayey ones if they are not very heavy (compact).

Irrigation

It has to be watered 2 or 3 times a week in summer, and every 5-7 days the rest. In any case, if in doubt, the humidity of the soil must be checked, as an excess of humidity would rot the roots. To do this, you can do any of these things:

  • Using a digital moisture meter: it is very easy to use, as you just have to introduce it into the ground so that it tells us instantly if it is dry or not. Of course, to be really effective you have to introduce it closer / further from the plant to have a global idea of ​​how it really is.
  • Insert a thin wooden stick: if when you take it out it comes out with a lot of adhering soil, it will not be watered.
  • Weigh the pot once it has been watered and again after a few days: wet soil weighs more than dry soil, so this difference in weight will help us to know when to water.

It is also important to say that, if it is to be grown in a pot, do not put a plate under it, unless we remember to remove the excess water 30 minutes after watering. To thuja orientalis he does not like having his "feet" wet, and in fact he can die if we do not prevent that from happening.

Multiplication

The leaves of the Thuja orientalis are light green

Image - Flickr / Salomé Bielsa

It multiplies by seeds in early winter and cuttings in late spring. Let's see how to proceed in each case:

Seeds

  1. First, you have to fill a tupperware with a lid with previously moistened vermiculite.
  2. Then, the seeds are placed and copper or sulfur is sprinkled to prevent the appearance of fungi.
  3. They are then covered with vermiculite, also moistened.
  4. The next step is to cover the tupperware and place it in the fridge, in the section for cold cuts, milk, etc. for three months.
  5. Once a week, it will be removed and the lid will be removed to allow the air to be renewed.
  6. After three months, they will be sown in a forest seedling tray, placing two seeds in each socket.

If all goes well, they will germinate in 1-2 months.

Cuttings

To multiply it by cuttings, you have to take branches of about 20cm long that are made of soft wood, impregnate the base with homemade rooting agents and plant them in pots with vermiculite.

They have a hard time rooting, but they usually do it in 1 month.

Pests

La thuja orientalis can be affected by:

  • Spider webs: as the Paratetranychus ununguis, which feed on the sap of the leaves, drying them. They are fought with acaricides.
  • Borers: As the Phloeosinus thuja y Phloeosinus bicolor. It does not affect healthy and strong specimens, but those that have suffered from cold or prolonged droughts it can cause death by making many small holes in the trunk, thus allowing the entry of spores of the Seridium fungus. The treatment is to cut and burn the dry parts, and treat with fungicides.
  • Mealybugs: they feed on the sap of leaves and branches. They are fought with anti-mealybugs.

Management

You may have the following:

  • Autumn fall of the leaves: When the plant has been damaged by pests, cold or droughts, it is normal for the leaves inside to fall in autumn. It is not serious.
  • Spring browning of leaves: when the ground is frozen but the temperature is relatively high, the leaves turn brown because the perspiration is higher than the water supply absorbed by the roots. It is not serious, and in fact does not require treatment.
  • seridium: it is a disease that produces cankers on leaves and branches, and small holes in the trunk. You have to cut the affected parts to about 20-25cm, and treat with fungicide.

Rusticity

Resists cold and frost up to -18ºC, and high temperatures of up to 40ºC.

What uses does it have?

The fruits of the Thuja orientalis are almost round

Image - Flickr / Daniel Fuchs

La thuja orientalis it is used as an isolated specimen or as a hedge. It is common in parks, gardens, and cemeteries.

What did you think of this plant?


6 comments, leave yours

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  1.   Juan Huaman Varas said

    Greetings:
    Well I am a fan of everything that is green, especially gardens and I would like to learn the types of compost to use for flowers, shrubs.
    Thank you.

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hi John.
      En this article we talk about fertilizers 🙂
      If you have any questions ask.
      A greeting.

  2.   Anna said

    Good night ! Beautiful article ... I have one of yours or oriental tree of life ... now I'm wondering if it is not western? Heh, I'd like to send an image of my little tree… but I don't know how to upload it here… thanks for the info in this article! I loved it ! Greetings Ines from Argentina

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello Anna.
      You can send us photos through our Facebook.
      Greetings.

  3.   franc said

    I understand that Eastern Tuya is slow growing, but how can I make it grow faster? Thanks

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello Franco.

      The best way is to plant it in the ground from when it is young, or change it pot every 2-3 years, and fertilize it from time to time with fast-effective organic fertilizers (such as guano), following the instructions on the container.

      You will not get it to grow very fast, but something will be noticed.

      Greetings.