Thuja is a plant with numerous decorative qualities that have been appreciated by landscape designers and willingly use the plant to decorate alleys and parks. This evergreen member of the Cypress family is native to the countries of East Asia and North America. The rules for caring for thuja are simple, so many growers grow it on their plots.
Among the many types and varieties of thuja, the most popular is the “Spherical” thuja. This stunted species belongs to perennials and differs from others with a green crown in the form of a ball. Such an unusual shape attracts attention and stands out among other plants for its grace and beauty. Thuja with a spherical crown can be seen both as a separate plant and in group plantings. Evergreen shrubs, depending on the variety, are tall (about 1.5 m) and dwarf (slightly less than 40 cm).
Choosing a place for growing thuja
For planting thuja, it is necessary to choose not a shady area, but protected from direct rays of the sun and without drafts and sudden gusts of wind. With the right choice of place, the plant will not turn yellow from sunburn and cold wind, which means it will retain its decorative qualities for a long time.
The soil on the selected plot of land should be fertile and slightly moist. It is desirable that groundwater flows at great depths. It is recommended to pour a special soil mixture into the planting holes, consisting of peat, turf soil and coarse sand, and ideally, such soil should be on the entire area where thuja grow.
Growing thuja from seeds
This is a troublesome business and only patient and persistent gardeners can do it. With seed reproduction, a full-fledged plant can be seen only after 4-5 years. It takes a lot of effort and time, but the results are worth it. Practical advice on the selection of seeds, their preparation and cultivation can make the process easier for novice amateur gardeners.
When using freshly harvested seed material from plants that are grown at home, the varietal qualities of thuja are practically not preserved, only its external indicators remain.
Seeds can be harvested during the fruiting period of mature plants. Fruits - cones, together with seed shoots, must be separated from the mature shoot and left in a warm and dry place until fully ripe, spreading them on a flat surface at a short distance from each other. After 3-4 days, the cones will dry out and open - this is a signal to collect seeds.
Among the methods of planting seeds, there is the simplest one - it is sowing seeds in individual pots with fertile soil. True, the success rate of such cultivation is low. Seeds germinate with this method for a very long time.
It is more efficient to sow stratified seeds or plant in autumn (before winter).When planting before winter, it is recommended to use only freshly harvested seed material that has not been specially treated (soaked with a biological solution). It is immediately planted in moist fertile soil.
Autumn planting will bring the first shoots with the warming of the first spring sun. The appearance of thuja seedlings is similar to young dill greens. The first needles on the seedlings will appear in about a month, and the first shoot will appear only after six months. With strict adherence to all the rules of care and maintenance, the plant will reach 10 cm in height in a year.
To increase the germination of thuja seeds several times will help a special procedure - seed stratification. Freshly harvested seeds must be sorted - remove all small, weak and damaged specimens. The best seed should be mixed with damp sawdust or moistened sand, placed in a tightly closed plastic container and kept in a cool place for at least 90 days. It is recommended to inspect the seeds for mold once a week and to keep the mixture from drying out.
After stratification, the seeds must be planted in a prepared soil mixture, around the end of February. The seedling box is filled with coniferous substrate or any nutrient soil mixture. A drainage layer is pre-poured at the bottom of the box. Sea pebbles, fine coal or expanded clay are suitable. After the seedlings appear, you need to provide them with sufficient lighting (you can additionally use fluorescent lamps).
Do not forget about preventive measures. A pink solution of potassium permanganate will help to resist fungal and infectious diseases, with which the soil is abundantly moistened before planting seeds.
Seeds should be planted in moderately moist soil in a checkerboard pattern. The distance between the seeds is at least 2 cm. Each seed must be pressed a little into the soil and sprayed liberally from a sprayer.
Rules for caring for young thujas
The temperature, which will contribute to the rapid germination of seeds and the full development of seedlings, is 20-22 degrees Celsius. Before emergence, the planting box should be under a dense transparent cover in a dark place. After the emergence of seedlings, the container must be rearranged in a bright and warm room. Plants should remain under a glass cover for a month and a half, that is, until the seedlings grow up and get stronger.
When young shoots reach 2-3 cm in height, they must be carefully sprinkled with a thin layer of fine dry sand and sprayed with a spray bottle. Such moistening is carried out regularly in moderate amounts.
Every day, the container with seedlings must be ventilated, young crops must be irrigated, and weak or diseased plants must be removed.
In the first year of life, young plants need regular watering, sufficient lighting, and top dressing in the form of a nutritious soil mixture. The picking process at this stage is not recommended.
Wintering for young plants is dangerous, so it is advisable to rearrange the containers with seedlings for the winter in greenhouse conditions or keep them at home temperatures. It is possible to use a special plant cover as protection against frost.
The optimal time for the first transplant is in the third year of rearing. In early spring, a transplant should be carried out only by the method of transshipment of an earthen coma. This will ensure the preservation of the root part and the further health of the young thuja. When warm spring weather is established, containers with plants can be transferred to the open air, and it will be possible to transplant thuja to an open place already in early September.
Important rules for caring for adult thuja
Pruning
This procedure is carried out periodically (at least once a year) as the plant grows to form a lush and beautiful spherical crown, as well as to remove dried shoots and yellowed branches.It is recommended to trim the shoots to about one third of their length.
Fertilization
Regular feeding is the key to the full development of thuja. It can be complex mineral fertilizers or various organic fertilizers. They are essential at all stages of plant development. Fertilization methods can be different - from applying to the soil and digging to adding them to irrigation water. The last feeding is carried out at the end of August.
Preparing for winter
With the help of a non-woven material and a mulch layer, it is recommended to cover all thuja plantations for the winter, and especially young plants. As a mulch, you can take shredded tree bark, peat or any organic matter. The cover is removed after the snow has completely melted.
Thuja propagation by cuttings
Thuja's cuttings are the most common and most effective breeding method. It is necessary to choose the healthiest cuttings about fifty centimeters long, cut them off with a heel, hold for some time in the Kornevin solution and plant them in the soil mixture, deepening each cutting by about 4-5 centimeters.
The soil mixture can consist of turf and peat soil and fine sand in equal parts. Planting cuttings is recommended to be kept under a glass cover, periodically opening it for airing and spraying. The root portion will begin to form in about 20-30 days. Rooted cuttings can be transplanted to an open area only for the next season.
Thuja disease and pest control
The most common thuja diseases are fungal diseases. The main sign of the appearance of a fungal infection is yellowed and drying out shoots. The infection spreads very quickly, so action must be taken urgently and without delay. The plant must be processed completely. Processing is carried out in several stages with a solution of copper sulfate.
The main pests of thuja are false scale insects and aphids. The scale insect attacks most of the plant in a short time. She is able to destroy the entire aerial part of the bush. At the first signs of a pest, it is recommended to spray (in two stages) using an aerosol preparation "Karbofos" or a powder of the same name. The powder is dissolved in water strictly according to the instructions on the package. You can add 90-100 grams of the drug to 10 liters of water.
Aphids are a pest that settles on bush in huge families and feeds on plant sap. Very quickly, the shoots begin to change from green to yellow, then dry and crumble. You can fight this pest with the help of various insecticidal preparations (for example, "Korbofos", "Fitoverm").
With high-quality care and maintenance, evergreen thuja will retain its decorative effect and will delight for many years to come.
