Hinoki (False)Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) are not very winter hardy here. It's not the cold so much as it is something else. And if growers could pinpoint that"something else," we'd all be happy. I would just sink the pot in the ground next to your house on the north side, and mulch it well after the ground freezes. covering the foliage over winter shouldn't be needed, but won't hurt if you want.

They can grow excruciatingly slow, and IMO would make a good replacement for arborvitae even if you did get it to survive. But they certainly are cute!

Rick

thanks Rick--

I just realized I also have another option if I just want to leave them in the pots and keep them as patio plants. We have a glass enclosed unheated porch so they'd get some temperature protection and still have light.

I'm confused by your last paragraph. Do you think they would or woudn't make a good replacement for arborvitae? Should I just go out and buy some more arborvitae instead and then keep these as patio plants? Thanks.

No wonder you're confused (sorry):
"They can grow excruciatingly slow, and IMO would NOT make a good replacement for arborvitae even if you did get it to survive. But they certainly are cute!"

Your enclosed unheated porch should be a good place for it, even if it freezes. Remember to water it, although more sparingly.

"Should I just go out and buy some more arborvitae instead and then keep these as patio plants?"
That's what I would do. Hinoki Cypress make great bonsai.

Rick

I have a Hinoki Cypress grafted or trained as a 3' standard which I planted last year. We sprayed WiltPruf on it heavily at the start of winter. In late winter/early spring it started to brown noticeably, about the same time that some of our large-leaf rhododendrons did. Careful review showed all the browning to be on the sunward (south) side, not the windward (north/northwest) side. This spring we transplanted it to the north side of our garage, where during winter, w/ the lower sun angle, it should be mostly shaded from direct sun. We did something similar w/ one of our large-leaf (English Roseum) rhododendrons. We'll see if that makes the difference. Both plants already liked the summer better where they're at now. So, my experience so far seems to indicate it's the late winter sunshine, while the ground is still frozen, that hurts these evergreens the most.

That is so true Randy. The sun is so intense in March especially. Whether or not the actual problem is desiccation from the sun while the soil is frozen, or disiccation from the sun and a cold damaged root system, I have not concluded. I suspect it might be both, and different with different evergreen species.

Rick