Thuja orientalis is a coniferous tree of the cupresaceae family and native to China. Widely used in gardening, we can find it planted in isolation as an ornamental tree, although it is more frequently used as a hedge or windbreak barrier, since its dense evergreen foliage makes it ideal for this purpose.
Its scientific name is Platycladus orientalis , although popularly it is also known as eastern thuja, tree of life, fan cypress, thuja or thuja. The eastern name thuja comes from the Chinese word thyou, which literally means “tree that produces resin.”
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MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF EASTERN THUJA OR THUJA ORIENTALIS
Eastern thuja is a slow-growing shrub. Its crown, more or less conical in shape and ungainly in appearance, is formed by flattened and vertically arranged branches. They are full of leaves of a showy light green color, which can vary in shades of brown during the coldest months of the year, they are fleshy and aromatic, and they are composed of small scales arranged in four pointed and narrow rows with the separated edges of the sprig.
On the underside they have small glands that produce resin, from them essential oils are extracted that are used in the pharmaceutical industry and in the manufacture of perfumes.
The trunk , which at its largest and only in very old specimens does not reach more than one meter in diameter, is straight and has a thin reddish-brown bark that is covered with small and fine cracks. As the tree ages these cracks enlarge and cause the bark to peel off the tree.
Towards the end of winter, early spring, the thuja orientalis begins its flowering season . Flowers of both genders are produced in the same specimen.
The male ones , which are shaped like tiny rounded cones and are made up of 4 to 12 scales that surround 2 to 4 yellowish pollen sacs, develop at the ends of some of their branches.
The female ones form on the lateral edges of the branches in dense groups, but in much less quantity than the male ones. They are composed of some flat and thick scales of a whitish color. In the center they have a small spur and open in a star shape, showing the ovaries, when they reach maturity.
Once the flowers are fertilized, their scales begin to thicken much more and form the fruit, a small and authentic pineapple that at first is bluish and very fleshy, but as it matures its appearance becomes woody and brown and that is when they open and release the seeds.
CARING FOR THE EASTERN THUJA ( PLATYCLADUS ORIENTALIS)
CLIMATOLOGY
Despite its Asian origin, thuja orientalis is a tree that adapts well almost anywhere, except in swampy or flooded areas. It is able to withstand frosts down to -18 ° C and high temperatures up to 40 ° C.
It is a shrub that needs to be outdoors and does very well in areas with full sun, although it can also be partially in the shade. If we plant it in a garden, to avoid problems, it is convenient to place it away from pipes about five meters, since the roots could break them.
SUBSTRATUM
It is not too demanding in terms of the type of soil if it is planted in the ground, it admits limestone and clayey soils as long as they are not too dense, although it prefers neutral soils or those that have a slightly acidic PH and that have good drainage that avoids ponding.
If we plant it in a pot we can use a universal growing substrate to which we will add 20% perlite or silica sand for proper oxygenation of the roots.
IRRIGATION
As it is a resistant plant and does not like waterlogged soils, it does not need too much watering , during winter it is enough to water it once a week and in summer every three or four days. However, it is convenient to check the state of the soil because excess moisture could rot the roots.
PASS
With an annual fertilization in addition to the initial one when planting it, based on some specific fertilizer for conifers, we will provide it with all the necessary nutrients for its optimal development.
PESTS AND DISEASES OF THUJA ORIENTALIS
There are several insects that can create problems for the Eastern Tuya, some of them are the following:
BORERS
The Phloeosinus thuja and Phloeosinus bicolor although not affect too young and healthy individuals, if that can damage the weakest because of small holes filled the trunk leaving it vulnerable. The best remedy is to cut and burn the branches that are most affected and treat the rest with a fungicide.
MEALYBUGS
They rob the plant of vigor as they feed on its sap. It is remedied with a specific insecticide for mealybugs or by applying a mixture of neem oil and potassium soap with a sprayer. You have more information about mealybugs .
SPIDER WEBS
In the hottest seasons , Paratetranychus ununguis feeds on the sap of the leaves and dries them. A good remedy, more natural than pesticides, is to spray the plant with a solution of 9 parts of water to one of alcohol.
Regarding diseases, the most common is fungal involvement, the most common are Seiridium , Coryneum cardinale, Cercospora thujina and Pestalozzia funerea. The best remedy is to apply some fungicide rich in copper.
ORIENTAL THUYA MULTIPLICATION GUIDE
Eastern thuja can be easily reproduced by untreated seeds by sowing them in late winter, although stratification can also be used to help improve germination. For this we will put the seeds in a container that has a lid wrapped in cotton, kitchen paper or vermiculite moistened in water.
We will keep them in the fridge at about 5 ° C for two months, opening the container from time to time to renew the air. After that time we will be able to sow them.
The other method is by cutting , although it takes a long time to root, selecting a thin branch of about 20 cm. that we will impregnate with some rooting agent in the area of the cut.