All For Gardening
Eastern Red Cedar - winter bronze color or dying?
In Bonsai

Eastern Red Cedar – winter bronze color or dying?


I dug this up in Virginia a year ago and it did well all summer. It’s been in my garage over the winter and I know that they turn a different color when it’s cold, but it’s starting to look worse than it did even a month ago.

I put it out when the weather started to warm up for a few days two weeks ago and then immediately put it back in the garage because we had more cold coming. The soil is damp but not drenched and I haven’t watered it since it was nice out two weeks ago. Should I do anything special for it? I really love this tree and hope it doesn’t die. It’s one of my favorites.

by Can_U_Share_A_Square

5 Comments

  1. seaderforge

    Has it gotten sunlight over the winter? I keep my cedar outdoors all year round, including temp down to around 10F. They can bronze, and you’ll need to remember that even “evergreen” conifers will lose leaves in spring. The oldest needles will brown and then shed through the year, mostly in the spring. That being said, I’ve lost red cedar randomly and apparently for no reason.

  2. cbobgo

    If the scales are dry and falling off when you touch them that’s dead, not winter coloration

  3. kayawva

    I have one of those, similar size. It is still bronze. On yours it does look like that part is a dead (it should be purple-reddish, not yellow), but they are extremely resilient, should be fine as long as you care for it normally.

    I would suggest to keep it outside year round (even in winter), they must get sunlight. Also try to not overwater. They do NOT like to stand in wet soil, let it dry out periodically. Especially while it is dormant.

  4. Allidapevets

    That look more than winter bronze, unfortunately.

Pin