Potted evergreens are frequently used outdoors but can be brought inside the house during most of the year. With the main requirements of nutrients, water and sunlight properly met -- as well as keeping indoor pests at bay -- an evergreen can live many years, bringing classic beauty to a room.
Choose a light-colored or white pot with several drainage holes and a water-catching tray at the bottom; the light color keeps evergreen roots from getting overheated in warm rooms, and the drainage holes keep the roots from sitting in water. The pot needs to be 6 to 10 inches deep (for seedlings), or 10 to 16 inches deep for larger trees, to provide adequate growing space. It must be large enough to contain the root ball but provide room for the roots to expand, so the diameter will depend on the size of the tree being planted.
Cover the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot with a clean rag. This allows excess water to escape without dragging dirt out of the pot.
Add water to the bag of potting soil and knead it with gloved hands to thoroughly moisten the soil before planting the evergreen; however, do not oversaturate the bag. If that happens accidentally, poke several holes in the bag and allow it to drain.
Fill the container half-full of potting soil and fluff it with a gloved hand to keep it from compacting at the bottom of the pot.
Place the evergreen's root ball into the container. Hold the plant upright as you fill the rest of the container with potting soil, within 1 to 2 inches of the top rim. Push the soil down gently but firmly, making sure the evergreen is not wobbling or loose in the container.
Place the pot in a room where the evergreen will get plenty of light but is not in direct sunlight; this also avoids overheating the plant.
Allow the soil to dry out between water applications, and then water thoroughly. Occasionally add evergreen fertilizer to the water to provide nutrients for the tree. This should be diluted down from the manufacturer's recommendations for planted evergreens, however; evergreens can easily be overfertilized and killed. Instead of adding the recommended dose to 1 gallon of water, add it to 5 gallons to protect the evergreen.
Look the tree over periodically for leaves or needles that brown, dry or curling; this could be a sign of indoor pests or disease attacking the evergreen.
Things You Will Need
- Potting soil
- Garden gloves
- Evergreen fertilizer
- For colder climates, using the largest pot possible for your evergreen provides extra insulation and warmth to the tree's roots during the winter months.
- Choose dwarf evergreens or slow-growing varieties for best results in containers.
- Most evergreens should be placed outside during winter months to spur growth; however, avoid setting them in direct sunlight. Instead, place them on the north side of the house and allow them to experience some snowfall or chilly temperatures before bringing them back inside.
- Do not use garden soil to fill the container; most are too heavy and retain too much water, drowning plant roots.
- Depending on the size of the container and the tree, you may wish to pot the evergreen where it will rest to avoid moving it; or use a dolly to relocate it.
- Deborah Silver: Dirt Simple -- Growing Evergreens in Pots
- Bella Online: Choosing an Ornamental Tree for Your Container Garden
- Chalet Nursery: Evergreens in Containers
- Swansons Nursery: Evergreen Plants for Containers
- Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Diagnosing Problems on Indoor Plants
- Plant Care: Norfolk Pine Care
- Planet Natural: Houseplant Pests
- Ryan McVay/Lifesize/Getty Images