Pocket Botanist
_on_a_leaf,_Lisbon,_Portugal_(approx._GPS_location)_julesvernex2.jpg){kind=link}
Check these first
- Look for small, hanging bags made of needles and silk.
- Check for fine webbing between the branches.
- Inspect the foliage for chewed edges or missing sections.
Likely causes
Bagworms
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see small bags made of silk and bits of foliage hanging from the branches. The foliage near these bags will look chewed or missing.
What to do: Pick the bags off by hand and drop them into a bucket of soapy water. If the infestation is large, use a spray containing Bacillus thuringiensis in late spring.
Spider mites
PossibleHow to tell: The foliage looks stippled or dusty, and you might see fine webbing between the needles. This usually happens during hot, dry weather.
What to do: Spray the foliage with a strong stream of water to knock the mites off. If the problem persists, use an insecticidal soap or miticide.
Find out what's wrong with your hinoki cypress
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
A few bagworms are easy to manage, but a heavy infestation can kill a tree if left unchecked. Act as soon as you see the bags.
Stopping it coming back
Inspect your tree regularly in the spring and remove any bags before they hatch. Keeping the tree well watered helps it resist pest damage.
Hinoki cypress: pests? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your hinoki cypress and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- When is the best time to treat bagworms?
- Treat them in late spring when the larvae are small and actively feeding. Once they are inside their large, protective bags, sprays are less effective.
- Will the foliage grow back?
- Hinoki cypress does not grow new foliage from old, woody stems. The tree will eventually fill in the gaps, but it takes time.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Hinoki cypress
Back to the Hinoki cypress guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.