Cypress

Cypress is a very attractive evergreen. It is unique for its centuries-old existence and unknown origin. Its needles contain healing aromatic oils, which have been used by folk healers for many centuries. Craftsmen built ships and various pieces of furniture from the strong wood of this plant.

Some peoples consider cypress a symbol of sorrow and grief and plant it in cemeteries near graves. Others, on the contrary, argue that the cypress symbolizes eternal life. Even in the Bible, this evergreen shrub is mentioned as a representative of the Garden of Eden.

Cypress prefers tropical and subtropical climates. Under favorable natural conditions, its height reaches thirty meters. The crown of this plant can be spreading or have the shape of a pyramid. The needles of the cypress have a deep dark green color. Its fruits are cones with a scaly surface and seeds inside.

With proper care, cypress can also be grown at home. Many professional flower growers already consider it a houseplant. This evergreen plant pleases the inhabitants of the house throughout the year and fills the room with a pleasant lemon scent.

Types of indoor cypress

For home cultivation, both ordinary wild-growing varieties (there are about twenty) and new, bred ones are suitable. Before choosing one variety or cultivar, you need to get acquainted with the details of its cultivation and care.

Cypress Goldcrest Wilma is popular among houseplants. Its individual feature is the almost yellow color of the needles. This "golden" pyramidal mini tree was bred by UK breeders specifically for home keeping. Taking into account the peculiarities of care, at home you can grow Large-fruited cypress, Evergreen cypress, as well as reduced new species - Pea and Fruit cypress.

Cypress - growing and care at home

Temperature regime

Cypress is a plant native to the subtropics. In the room, he needs to find a place where it is always warm, light, there is no direct sunlight and a lot of free space.

In the summer, the plant is well suited to room temperature. The main thing for him is timely hydration. But in winter, it will be necessary to change the usual conditions and move the cypress to a room where there will be no heating devices and direct heating. At the same time, the standard room temperature in winter is not desirable for the plant. Ideally, you need a temperature in the range of 5-10 degrees Celsius. Watering in winter is reduced, but the soil must not be overdried.

Considering all temperature preferences for cypress, place it on a north or east-facing window in the summer.Well, it is better for the plant to winter in the southern part of the apartment or on the glazed loggia.

Location and lighting

Since the plant is light-loving, there should be a sufficient amount of light in the room. Just no direct sunlight. This will harm the plant. In winter, natural light will not be enough, so artificial lighting will be required. The lack of lighting will immediately affect the external state of the cypress - its crown and branches will acquire an elongated shape.

Place cypress in the southern part of the house in winter, and in the north in summer. The growing area can be a window sill, floor or flower stand.

Watering rules

Watering is needed regular and abundant. It is necessary to find a middle ground, since excessive watering and drying out of the soil are equally destructive.

Spraying is carried out twice - in the morning and in the evening. Use only settled water at room temperature. This procedure should be done daily, especially on hot and dry days.

In winter, the watering and humidification schedule changes. Spraying is canceled until spring, and watering is carried out once a week.

Air humidity

In the wild, cypresses grow near lakes and bodies of water, because they prefer high air humidity. In the conditions of an apartment, the required level of humidity can be maintained only by watering or spraying.

Soil for planting

The soil for planting cypress must be loose. You can buy potting mix for conifers or make your own. This will require coarse river sand, sod land and peat in equal parts and two parts of leaf land.

The flower pot must have holes for water drainage. A quarter of the height of the container should be occupied by the lower drainage layer. These can be pieces of foam or broken bricks, pebbles or expanded clay. A soil mixture is poured onto the drainage.

Top dressing and fertilizers

Cypress is an exotic plant and ordinary fertilizers or complex dressings for indoor plants will not work for him. For example, humus can even harm. Therefore, it is not recommended to experiment in this case.

The most suitable for cypress will be a liquid mineral fertilizer intended for conifers. It must be brought in once every month - May, June, July, August. High nitrogen content is not allowed in the top dressing, but magnesium is required.

Transfer

The soil mixture after about two years loses its useful qualities and the plant lacks nutrients. In this case, transplanting the plant into a new soil can help. The most favorable time for this is spring. Since cypress has very sensitive roots, it is better to transplant it by transshipment.

You need to start with thorough watering of the soil. It is easier to extract the plant from moist soil. The cypress is carefully removed from the pot along with a lump of earth. Soil, which is easily detached from the roots, must be carefully removed and the condition of the roots carefully examined.

If a young shoot is found, it is necessary to carefully separate it from the main trunk along with part of the root system. The place where the cuttings are separated must be lubricated with garden varnish. Then each plant is transplanted into a separate pot: an adult - into a larger one, and a shoot - into a small container. The young cypress is covered with a glass jar for better rooting.

Be sure to pour a drainage layer on the bottom of the pots in front of the soil layer.

Cypress propagation

Cypress is propagated by seed and cuttings.

Seed method

The seed method is used only in spring. Freshly harvested seeds, which can be taken from the opened cypress fruits (from green cones), are planted in a separate container in damp ground. Seed germination is low, about 25 percent.

The box with the planted seeds should be located where direct sunlight does not fall (during the first 15-20 days after planting).As soon as the first shoots appear, take the box out to a sunny place. After light drying of the soil, moderate watering will be required.

After a month, each cypress sprout will be ready for transplanting into an individual container.

Cutting method

Cutting propagation is used in early spring or early autumn. To do this, choose an already stiff stalk.

Diseases and pests

This evergreen plant is able to resist pests and is resistant to various diseases. Its unique aroma keeps out any harmful insects. They do not tolerate the smell of needles.

Cypress wood contains chemicals that destroy various fungal diseases and harmful bacteria, as well as prevent their development.

If the plant is sick, then the reason can only be in improper care:

Lack of moisture in the soil and in the air

Characteristic features are spider webs on needles, the appearance of a spider mite.

The solution is treatment with a special chemical, restoration of proper watering and maintaining high humidity.

Incorrectly selected soil or its poor quality

Typical signs - the development and growth of the plant stops, the needles change in color, a small bloom appears on the shoots and needles, as well as small insects.

Solution - treatment with soapy water of the affected areas, spraying with insecticidal preparations, airing.

Cypress care tips from experienced florists

• Cypress needs good lighting, but not direct sunlight, but diffused light.
• The earth ball in the plant pot should always remain moist.
• The plant needs daily spraying and regular watering.
• In case of drying out of parts of the plant (due to sunlight or extreme heat), it is necessary to prune the damaged branches to a living bud.
• The plant is easy to prune and quickly recovers, it can be given any shape.

The secret to the popularity of cypress trees

Cypresses are very popular plants in our time. They are quite common in garden plots, but they are also widespread as indoor plants. What is the secret of their popularity?

This majestic and noble-looking plant seems to require some kind of unusual attention and care. But in fact, it is absolutely unpretentious and not capricious. The rules for caring for the plant are quite simple. The main thing is their exact observance.

This evergreen tree will thank you for the good attitude towards it and the energy spent with its beauty. Cypress can be a decoration of the yard, flower garden, garden, any room.

A cypress flower pot can be the main decor of a veranda or porch, a closed gazebo and any room in the house. A mature coniferous tree can replace a Christmas tree, and several plants can become a hedge. Landscape designers and sculptors can turn cypress into a masterpiece.

Decorative qualities plus the unique aroma of pine needles - this is the secret of the popularity of cypress. We wish you success in growing cypress at home.