Learning to properly care for a cypress in a pot
It is difficult to imagine the Black Sea or Crimean landscapes without a slender, handsome cypress. If on vacation you have been fascinated by this beautiful tree covered with myths and legends, try growing a cypress in a pot. Caring for it will require some knowledge and skills, but for this, a miniature southern Christmas tree will delight you with its soft fragrant needles all year round.
Description of the plant
Cypresses are inhabitants of subtropical and tropical climates. Frost-resistant species are grown in gardens and parks, and large-fruited cypress is popular for potted cultivation at home.
In Christian culture, cypress appears as a symbol of eternal life and is mentioned in the Bible as a tree growing in the Gardens of Eden.
In order to arrange a piece of the Garden of Eden on its windowsill, the cypress needs to create conditions close to its natural habitat.
Indoor cypress care
This southern heat-loving culture needs good lighting. But only adult trees can withstand the bright sun, and it is advisable to shade young sprouts at noon. The best location for him is the eastern or northern windowsills.
Caring for a cypress in a pot at home consists of regular watering, pruning, spraying and providing a period of winter dormancy.
In summer, the southern handsome man is kept at a temperature of at least 20 ° C and an abundance of fresh air. For this purpose, a cypress in a pot is taken out to the balcony, to the courtyard, to the summer cottage. In a hot time, the plant needs regular spraying, loves a shower very much, or at least being located next to wet moss or wet pebbles.
In early spring, the cypress is pruned to form the desired crown. Until the fall, it is watered abundantly, following the rule - the warmer it is in the room, the more often it is watered.
From May to August, cypress is fed every month with liquid mineral fertilizerintended for indoor plants.
The so-called cypress is very similar to cypress. They belong to the same genus, and you should take care of the cypress in a pot in the same way as for the cypress itself.
How to care for a cypress tree in a pot in winter
For intensive growth during the growing season, the cypress needs a winter rest. At this time, it is kept in a cool room at a temperature of 8–10 ° C. It is watered very sparingly, once every 7–10 days. The best place for wintering cypress will be an insulated balcony or loggia. To prevent the roots from freezing, the pot is wrapped with any insulation - foam, mineral wool, rags.
With the onset of spring, the cypress is pruned and two weeks later brought into a warm room. Watering is gradually increased and fertilized.
Cypress transplant
Young, fast-growing cypresses are replanted annually from April to May. Adult specimens do not need an annual transplant; this procedure is carried out with them as needed, when the cypress becomes cramped in the old pot.
They transplant cypress at home in a pot very carefully, as it does not tolerate even a violation of the integrity of the earthen coma. In fact, the plant is transferred into a larger container, gently shaking off the soil around the edges of the earthen coma.
A drainage several centimeters deep is poured at the bottom of the pot, a little sand and a soil mixture consisting of:
- 1 part sand
- 1 part peat,
- 1 part of turf land,
- 2 parts of leafy or regular garden soil.
New soil under the earthen lump is poured so that the root collar of the transplanted plant remains above the soil surface.
The cypress is placed in a new pot, trying not to showered the earth from it, and the space between the roots and the walls of the pot is carefully filled with soil. The soil is slightly compacted and watered.
Diseases and pests
Cypress diseases are usually associated with inadequate care. So, from waterlogging, his roots rot. In the event of root rot, the diseased specimen is transplanted into a new land, removing rotten roots and reducing the frequency of watering.
Due to the dry air in the room, cypress can suffer from an invasion. scale insects or spider mites. The disease is easily treated with "Fitoverm" or "Aktellik". To prevent the appearance of pests, it is necessary to maintain an optimal humidity in the room.
Subject to these simple rules for the care of a cypress in a pot, it can grow into a slender and graceful tree, which will become a real highlight of the interior.