For landscaping of local territories and suburban areas, various varieties of thuja are planted. Coniferous ornamental plants have become popular due to their exterior features and high endurance during transplants. One such crop is eastern biota. The article will provide information on the rules for planting and caring for this plant, as well as photos and names of the most common varieties of evergreen shrubs.
Habitat
In nature, this plant can be seen in mountainous regions, where stony soils with a diverse and complex relief prevail. Biota can grow in groups or in a single copy, sometimes in mixed forests with poor soil. Initially, eastern biota was found mainly in China, then migrated to neighboring regions. Currently, it can be seen in the Crimea, Central Asia and the Caucasus. The plant feels good in a warm, temperate climate. Another scientific name for the conifer is the eastern flat conifer. In the wild, there are thuja in the form of shrubs and trees that grow up to 17 m in height.
Description
The plane-branching belongs to the cypress family, it is a sprawling, monoecious tree or a large shrub with upright, upright shoots. The main advantage of eastern biota is its openwork, highly aesthetic crown. Branches in their shape resembling plates are arranged tightly, stacking on top of each other. At the ends of scaly needles cones are formed, which are covered with a blue coating. Over time, they become red-brown in color and dry out. In October, the capsules open and release the seeds. In winter, the needles become brown.
Kinds
Of the evergreen representatives of the flora, the western and eastern planoids are better known. In some ways, they are similar to each other, but each of them has its own characteristic features. Eastern thuja differs from western thuja by the presence of resinous glands located on needles. Because of this feature, the plant is considered medicinal and extremely useful. Essential oil derived from aromatic resin is used in the development of homeopathic medicines.
There are many varieties of eastern biota. Ornamental trees and shrubs are used in the design of personal plots and urban landscapes, and some species are grown as greenhouse plants. You can grow thuja indoors. According to varietal characteristics, they are divided into spherical, golden and columnar. We offer the names of the most popular varieties:
- Compact Ungery. It has a spherical configuration, at the edges of the needles it is painted white.
- Siboyadi. A short plant with a spherical crown and bright green color of needles.
- Aureo-variengeta. Thuja is distinguished by its golden color, it looks quite variegated, the bush has the shape of a ball.
- Rosenthalis compact. It grows in the form of a bush, the crown is ovoid, the color of the needles casts with yellowness.
- Elegantus. Numerous shoots of a tree are located very densely, represent a magnificent pyramid. The plant is able to change color depending on the season - in spring it is more golden, and by the summer it is more dominated by a greenish tint.
- Nana. This variety is characterized by strong branching and small stature. His shoots noticeably diverge to the sides.
Climate Requirements
In the description of the eastern biota it was mentioned that it is a southern culture. Based on the nature of its origin, it is necessary to create similar conditions for it. When growing a thuja, its individual characteristics should be taken into account:
- The plant is characterized by slow growth.
- Drought tolerant.
- Negatively reacts to waterlogged soils.
- Feels great in the shade.
- It can grow in sunny areas.
- Not too demanding on the composition of the soil.
- In spring, the needles are affected by burns of the first sunlight
- Prefers soil with a good alkaline reaction, clay and drained.
- The temperature that thuja can tolerate in winter ranges from -17 to -23 ° C (the plant variety is of great importance here).
Gardeners who grow flat-flowers in regions with more severe climates should remember that this plant needs to be insulated in the winter months. Otherwise, twigs freeze at him, and the tree may die. On the Black Sea coast and other southern regions, the eastern biota does not need shelter, grows faster and looks more luxurious.
If you liked this plant, but you live in cold areas, plant dwarf thuja varieties in containers for seasonal maintenance. In summer, it will grow in the fresh air, and in winter it should be moved to the room.
Landing time
Coniferous perennials are planted outdoors in any season except winter. Experienced gardeners are advised to plant in late autumn, as this is fraught with many risks. For example, if you carry out this process in November, the plant may not take root. Therefore, we will talk about how to plant thuja in open ground in spring.
Ploskovetochnik needs to be placed in partial shade. You should think about this right away when you are breaking the infield into sections. If the plant is planted in the shade, this will negatively affect the color of the needles - it will be faded and not too lush. It is better that the designated area be protected from the wind.
How your green pet will develop in the future, largely depends on the state of the selected seedling. If the scales on the shoots are not firmly held, then you do not need to buy it. The substrate in which the young seedling is located should be sufficiently moist. The appearance of the shoots is also important. They need to be checked for elasticity and the presence of unwanted spots.
Saplings with an open root system are planted in the spring, purchased in containers can be moved to the ground in the summer.
Landing rules
Before placing in the ground, you should carefully examine the roots of the thuja. Eastern biota will grow better if they are not dry, so for a short time the seedling is lowered into the water. Already in the first season, the plant can become an adornment of your estate. For this to happen, several phased steps should be implemented:
- The hole for landing should be deep - 1 m and about the same diameter. For dwarf plants, the size of the pit is reduced.
- The thuja is set in a recess so that an earthen lump with roots fits freely. If he does not have enough space, you should slightly expand the landing pit.
- The root neck is placed at the same level with the surface soil layer.
- The earth extracted from the hole is mixed in equal proportions with peat and filled with its voids around the earthen coma.
- Soil should be poured tightly.
The distance between the tree varieties is about 5 meters, between the bushes - 1 meter. The design idea also plays a role here, for example, on the alleys, the plane-semiconductors are planted more densely.
Care
It cannot be said that after planting an evergreen perennial, the work of the gardener was completed. There are eastern biota and features in the care. The plant needs regular watering, top dressing, pruning and timely loosening of the soil.
In the spring, thuja does not need much moisture, it is enough to water it once a week. The optimal volume of water for each plant is 10 liters. With the onset of hot weather, moisture is doubled.
Openwork crohn also needs irrigation. By abundant spraying of needles, it is possible to significantly increase the decorative qualities of plants, which will always be fresh, and their shoots are more elastic.
Spring dressing is carried out with special complexes with the addition of a growth stimulator. Adult plants are fertilized with phosphorus and potassium every 12-15 days. Organic and mineral supplements are also suitable for them. A good remedy in this regard is the drug Fertika. Twice a year, rotted compost can be brought into the trunk area of the thuja.
To reduce the number of loosening, the soil around the trunk can be mulched. For this purpose, straw, sawdust, and nutshell are used.
Pruning
It is produced mainly for sanitary purposes. Dry, diseased or damaged shoots are removed. Main pruning is done in spring, in dry weather. Also, biota is suitable for topiary. Adult thuja correct throughout the warm period. Pruning is a creative and very interesting process. What experienced designers do not come up with, giving plants certain configurations. After such manipulations, you can observe square, curly, step and other forms of plants. To biota less sick, when trimming, you need to leave room for air circulation.
Breeding
Thuja is propagated in three ways: seed, by grafting and grafting. The latter is used extremely rarely. The cultivation of eastern biota from seeds is the best method of reproduction, which is most often practiced by amateur decorators. Using cuttings, it is better to breed young crops with needle-shaped needles.
Perennial seeds can be purchased at a specialized store or obtained from cones. This is done in the fall.
- Torn cones are placed in a well-lit, ventilated room and wait for them to open.
- Before sowing, the seeds are kept in a moist tissue for swelling.
- Then they are evenly scattered on the surface of a pre-prepared mixture of humus with peat (1: 1), located in a regular pot.
- Top planting material sprinkled with earth, it is not worth deepening it.
- You need to hold a pot of seeds in diffuse lighting, regularly moistening the soil in it.
Scope of application
The longevity of conifers has always attracted connoisseurs of plant design. Most of them tolerate heat, drought, and are resistant to disease. This can be said about the eastern biota. A tree-shaped flat cone is great for single planting or group compositions. It is also used as hedges. It looks especially beautiful when its tops are trimmed.
Dwarf varieties are quite widely used in landscape compositions. With them make rock gardens, rockeries and mixborders. Lawns originally look on which low varieties of conifers grow.
Conclusion
Having figured out how to plant the thuja in the open ground in the spring, you can engage in its cultivation. It is advisable to follow the rules given in the article. In this case, the plant will be less exposed to external factors and hurt. During the summer, you will be able to observe how a young seedling will behave, adjusting its development.