Can I keep Thuja Green Giants Inside In A Pot?

rickys

Hi Everyone,
New here and I have a question about the Thuja Green Giant. I've read great reviews about botanyshop and I'm going to go with them I think. I have a very large landscape poject planned next year in creating a nice bed roughly 175' x 40' with Green Giants, Spruces, Bushes, Flowers, walkways, etc.

I've estimated what I need and it comes out to a pretty penny. I want to get smaller cheaper Green Giants this year and hopefully by next spring they will be a little larger to plant to save on purchasing the larger ones next year.

Local companies are selling the Green Giants for about $10 each. Online shops are anywhere between $10-$15 for the larger ones. Botany Shop Sells a few different sizes and they do have Peat Pot sizes for $2.00 each. Since they are small enough, would it hurt if I planted each one in a separate container with potting mix? Then leave them inside (where the temp is around 65 degrees in the winter) in front of my sliding glass door so they get sunlight? They would need to live in the pot for about 5 months or so.

My main concern is that for some reason they might not make it or they might out grow the pot.

Thanks In Advance!

rickys

*crosses fingers* just placed the order. Wanted to place today so it would ship out next week. I want to get them potted before it gets to cold to do it outside.

Anyhow, still give me a little feedback to as if you think they will survive. I guess a lot of people bring outside plants indoors during the winter. I guesss my situation is a little different since these are trees lol.

Brent Ferris

You can, but most Thuja and Spruce need a winter dormancy (rest period) to grow thru the spring summer fall. Keeping them indoors thru the winter will rob them of the dormancy period. Additionally, the glass will filter out the UV light, so much of the foliage may fall off and new foliage grow, but when you take them outside in the spring the UV light will kill the foliage and the tree will have to regrow new foliage. You would be better to overwinter them in the containers - split the sides -- in the ground, or just in the ground outside, and then move them where you want them in the spring -- or plant them in the right spots now. Overwintering can be hard on newly planted trees. Insufficient snow cover, can lead to frozen roots; excess snow or ice can topple trees -- need to stake securely and remove heavy snow loads before damage occurs..I am not familiar with the variety Green Giant, but Thuja can withstand at least zone 2 - the likelihood of frozen roots is small, but can still have a problem of wind desiccation - wrapping each with burlap will enhance winter survival.

__________________
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If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
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rickys

Thanks for the reply... so I would be better off keeping them outside during winter? I live in Ohio and depending on the winter... sometimes we have a wet type winter where it is cold with hardly any snow, but like last winter we had 4 feet of snow on the ground in january-February.

Would it be ok to plant them in containers and leave them on the back porch? Perhaps put them inbetween my house and a bail of straw. Then if we are expecting a large amount of snow take them inside then back outside afterwords.

I'd hate to plant right now only because I don't have my landscape design completed. So I'm not exactly sure where each tree is going and what else I'm planting.

rickys

I have a lot to learn about plants... I just read that I can't leave them outside in pots above ground because it provides no winter protection or insulation that the ground does. So I now have 2 options... what do you think would be best?

Remember these are 10" plants in small peat pots...

1. Should I take them out of the peat pots and plant them directly into the ground

or

2. Should I plant them in quart size containers, split the sides a little, and then plant them in the ground?

I don't think it's wise to put the small peat pots directly into the ground, but I could be wrong. It's just the pots are so small that the roots won't be able to grow at all and if they do it could cause a lot of problems

Brent Ferris

Either way will work - in the pots, or plant directly. If there are some you don't expect to move, remove all the pots - they don't help tree root growth, just early lifting.
I wouldn't worry about digging them up and moving them in the spring - won't be that much root growth thru the winter. You do want to get them in the ground to help insulate the root systems, and possibly mulch them with leaves or straw to enhance insulation.
Depending what the mouse and rabbit populations are like (mice tunnel under snow and/or leaves/straw and chew bark, rabbits usually on top) a guard around the trunks might be worthwhile - if no rodents, no worries. Leaving them in the pots above the ground is a waste of money and trees - they'll die.

In the ground planting is essential to get some (maybe all) to over-winter. If possible, wrap them with burlap to minimize wind desiccation damage.

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)

rickys

Thanks guys... I planted them all in the ground beside the house with a mixture of native soil/bagged soil. Then I put a little mulch and spread a little straw around. In front I also put a few wind barrier items.

Another quick question... I noticed today (a week later) that a few of them have some yellow tips. Is this normal for this plant or?

Brent Ferris

yellow tips are prob ok - may be related to moisture stress, cold weather -- wait and see -- lengthy sections of brown foliage are bad.

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)