The terrifying pictures of half-cut down coniferous forests make you think. Is it worth the two-week presence of a Christmas tree in the house of such victims? It’s even sadder to watch the picture after the New Year, when the former “green beauties” that have already been thrown out are flaunting everywhere. There is an alternative option to purchase a live Christmas tree. She will delight you with her look after the end of the winter holidays. No, this is not an artificial tree, but a decorative spruce in a pot. Caring for her is a little more difficult, but in the end you will get a real beauty in your garden.
Choose a Christmas tree
Spruce in a tub is a great way to slow down deforestation of coniferous forests. In addition, the felled tree ceases to be fragrant after a couple of days, and the crumbling needles continually dig into the heels. This can not be said about the planted spruce. Decorative species are striking in their diversity, even the most sophisticated gourmet can choose a plant to their liking.
If you decide to buy a tree and plant it yourself, pay attention to its root system. Her condition will be a harbinger of plant life . Conifers have a predominantly deep root system. If, due to its length, the tree does not fit in the pot, find a large container or plant it in open ground. In no case do not shorten the root of the plant, otherwise it will live no longer than a felled spruce. Decorative dwarf beauty has a more compact root system. Therefore, this species is great for growing in a pot.
When buying a tree that has already been planted, keep in mind that in a tight container, the roots of the plant are formed quite tightly. Having chosen a suitable tree, do not rush to pay. Ask the seller to remove it from the pot to demonstrate the root. There are unscrupulous merchants who cut off the interfering part and sell the plant. And what will happen to such a tree, we wrote above.
Decorative spruce in a pot. Care and its features
In anticipation of the New Year holidays, it's time to go for the symbol of the New Year. But what to do after a spruce is bought? The description of the tree will help you learn the features of growing and caring for this plant.
Conifers grow quite slowly, so they can be in the tub for several years. To do this, you need to properly keep the spruce in the pot. How to care for such a plant is described below.
Water the spruce in a pot at least 3 times a week, the best option is every other day. To do this, spend 2-3 liters of water. Carefully watch that the earth in the pot does not dry out, and this can be if the apartment has dry air.
Remember that a decorative spruce in a pot cannot be located for more than two weeks in a heated room. Caring for it in room conditions is simple: regular watering and high humidity. After the New Year holidays, send the winter beauty to the balcony or other cool, but well-lit place. A sharp temperature drop can harm the plant, so it must first be hardened. To do this, leave the tree for several nights in a room where about 7 degrees below zero. To prevent the root system from freezing, warm the pot. Use hay, straw and other materials.
To improve the growth of the tree and its condition, transplant the plant every 2-3 years. Choose a pot a few centimeters wider than the previous one.
Spruce, like all plants, requires regular watering, which ceases with the onset of real frost. In spring, it is recommended to fertilize the soil, and feed the tree with a complex mineral fertilizer, which is applied together with water.
We carry out the forming pruning
This question arises for everyone who asks to grow a spruce in a pot: "How to care for a plant so that it takes on a beautiful shape?" The answer is simpler than it seems. To get a lush tree of a symmetrical shape, it is necessary to regularly conduct forming pruning. This procedure is carried out in early spring in dry weather, when the plant has not yet entered the phase of active growth. When trimming, adhere to the natural shape of the crown and shorten only too long bare branches. Thus, branching will be stimulated, and you will get a beautiful lush tree. You need to trim the branch immediately after the joint, from which new branches will go.
Important! You can not prune a weak or diseased tree, because after the procedure it may not recover and will begin to dry. Shorten the branches only to green needles, since the stiffened part does not give new shoots.
We transplant the tree from the pot to the garden
After the tree successfully wintered, it can be transplanted into the garden. The best time for transplanting is spring. To do this, prepare a pit that will be slightly larger than the pot. Before planting, you need to fertilize the ground, so put compost to the bottom. Remove the tree from the pot and plant it in the pit. Then water abundantly.
For good growth, every spring it is recommended to feed the plant with special fertilizer. When choosing a place to plant, keep in mind that in a few years a small Christmas tree will turn into a large tree.
How can I replace a Christmas tree?
In addition to Christmas trees, other conifers are also grown in pots : pine, fir, holly, sciadopitis and others. These trees reach small sizes, and they grow very slowly, which is a good substitute if you are not comfortable with decorative spruce in a pot. Caring for a pine or fir is the same as for a Christmas tree. The only difference is that the pine can withstand quite large frosts if the wood is hardened first.
Types of decorative Christmas trees
The variety of decorative fir trees is amazing. Below are photos of the most common species.
Maxwellii. The height of such a plant does not exceed one meter. It has dense needles and tolerates frosts well.
Nidiformis. Plant height - no more than 1 m, width - 2 m. The crown has the shape of a nest. Frost-resistant, does not tolerate excess moisture.
Tompa. Height 1 m, width - 1.5 m. The crown has a cone-shaped shape. The tree grows very slowly, while it has dense and lush needles.
Glauca Globosa. Height does not exceed one and a half meters. The needles are bluish, frost-resistant and unpretentious.
Montgomery. The height of such a spruce is about two meters. It tolerates drought, frost and pruning. Spruce has an unusual color. Bluish needles at the ends of branches, greener - closer to the trunk.