Reproduction and cultivation of thuja at home. Thuja indoors: planting, care, propagation How to plant thuja at home in a pot
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Among the variety of coniferous trees, thuja is especially loved by summer residents and owners of private houses. This is not surprising - thuja is frost-resistant, unpretentious, and aesthetically attractive. Planting and care in open ground will not require significant works from a summer resident, but the presence of a thuja on the site will be positive from any point of view. It is great for forming hedges; it can be used to create unique green shapes for landscape design of a site or to design paths. We will consider the nuances of planting, caring for pine beauty thuja so that it takes root on your site.
This tree, just like its coniferous counterparts, exudes a wonderful aroma and enriches the air with beneficial phytoncides. Mass positive qualities carried by thuja.
Thuja differs from pine or spruce in that it does not have needles; its branches are covered with small green scales, soft and pleasant to the touch. She is secretly called " royal tree" - this is well deserved.
Thuja tree - selection of seedlings
If you do not plan to propagate thuja yourself, then you can purchase ready-made, grown seedlings.
They can be bought in nurseries that breed conifers, or in a specialized store. There, among the declared assortment, you will choose the desired variety and buy a healthy tree adapted to the local climate.
Small thuja seedlings from nurseries vary in size and age. If you have a small seedling, it will not be difficult to “grow” it yourself until it is planted on permanent place growth. You can also purchase a large copy, ready for decoration of a plot or local area.
When choosing, always pay attention to the conditions under which the plants are kept, the degree of soil moisture in the containers, and the strength of the coniferous scales on the branch. The branches of the seedlings should be elastic, the needles should not fall off, and there should be no spots or signs of disease on them. When you get home, hurry to transplant them into a shaded place and water them.
Planting thuja in open ground
When to plant thuja? Thuja will take root well on your site at any time of the year, except late autumn or winter. Gardeners with experience advise precisely spring period- April May. Planted in the spring, it will hurt less, grow faster, and adapt better to the environment.
But here in Kuban, I would still advise postponing the planting of thuja to the fall. Our summer is hot, and it will be difficult for a fragile tree to withstand the heat. And, planted in the fall, it will meet the summer stronger and well-rooted.
Where to plant thuja in the garden? The planting site should be slightly shaded; take this factor into account when planning the landscape design of the site. In direct sunlight, the tree will wither and subsequently be less able to withstand the winter cold. At all dark place The thuja will develop slowly, the branches will lose their splendor and brightness. The ideal territory for it would be a windless section of the site, with light shading, close location groundwater. How to plant thuja?
Thuja –, step-by-step actions:
- First we swarm quite deep hole– 80-100 cm deep, with similar diameter dimensions (if you, of course, have a large seedling, and not like the one in the photo above). The recess should be such that a tree with a lump of earth can fit in there freely. At the bottom we pour a little earth mixed with wood ash or other organic fertilizer.
- We place the thuja in a hole, and its root collar should be located at the same level with the soil surface.
- Mix the dug soil with sand and peat (1:1), fill the hole with the seedling with this mixture, and then trample it lightly.
The distance between thujas when planting should be determined according to the characteristics of the variety, since thujas can be very small and, conversely, very tall. Small trees can be planted a meter apart from each other, large ones - about 4-5 m. Some varieties of thuja reach 15-20 meters in height, and their crown grows in width up to 3-4 m (for example, thuja occidentalis Brabant). For full development, such a tree needs space, but when designing alleys, green corridors, and hedges, thujas are planted at a distance of 1 meter, regardless of the variety and type.
Tui Western Smaragd and spherical Danica How to care for thuja
Proper care of this conifer involves watering, fertilizing, loosening the tree trunk, and forming a crown. After the tree is planted in its permanent place of residence, primary feeding is carried out. For these purposes, growth stimulants of natural origin are often used (most gardeners choose Epin). The components of such fertilizers contribute to better rooting of the tree and improve disease resistance. In the spring, thuja can be fed with potassium-phosphorus supplements, it is better to do this twice, the break between fertilizers should be 10-15 days.
In spring, the frequency of watering is affected by the amount of rain; with the onset of summer, 2 times a week is enough, in spring – 1 time. If the rains are frequent, then there is no need to water, rain moisture will be enough. Thuja requires high-quality watering at all stages of life (seedling, adult tree), while the crown also loves irrigation. So that the branches are elastic, shiny, and delight you with the brightness of green shades, minimal amount water for the root area should be 10 liters per watering (once a week, if the summer is very dry, then up to 3 times). You can determine the lack of moisture by the condition of the top of the thuja - it begins to turn yellow. It is better to water trees early in the morning or in the evening.
Thuja is very fond of irrigating the crown; for these procedures, purchasing a special nozzle becomes relevant. This type of sprinkling washes away dust, provides a fresher appearance to the wood, and begins to give off a pleasant appearance. pine aroma. Don’t be afraid to overdo it with irrigation; 1-2 times a day will only bring benefits to the thuja.
Returning to fertilizers, it is worth noting that too frequent fertilizing is not required for thuja. Special mineral compounds for conifers (for example, “Fertika”) or compost, which has already become a classic additive, it is enough to use it twice a season - in spring and summer. Fertilizers are applied during loosening: spread out trunk circle, and during fluffing they mix with top layer soil. In summer, the additive can be diluted with water and used for watering.
The tree trunk area must be periodically cleared of weeds, loosened, and mulched. sawdust or compost. Decoratively painted sawdust (they are painted with natural ingredients) or nut shells look very attractive. Mulching creates some barrier for weeds, retains moisture, and improves the condition of the tree as a whole.
As for cutting or artistic pruning, it is better not to touch it for the first two years of the tree’s life; it should take root in its place. You can start caring for the crown from the third year from the moment of planting. Initially, dry, weak branches are removed and the degree of density is determined. Excessive thinning has a negative impact on decorative qualities wood, everything should be in moderation.
The main pruning is carried out in April, and then only the shape is corrected. To ensure high-quality air circulation and maintain the “vigorous” appearance of the thuja, gardeners recommend removing all branches of the annual growth.
If the artistic design requires the tree to grow in width, then only the upper part of the crown should be trimmed. From thujas you can create various geometric shapes, columns, figures of animals or fairy-tale characters. Beginner gardeners can quite easily give the crown of a tree the shape of a ball, a cascade, or a border. Haircut or pruning is best done in dry weather.
How fast does thuja grow? It depends on the variety. Dwarf varieties grow slowly. Vertical ones are faster, but annual growth also depends on the variety. For example, thuja Brabant gives up to 30-40 cm of growth per year, and Smaragd - up to 10 cm.
Thuja - preparation for winter
For colder regions of the country, frost-resistant varieties of thuja (western) should be chosen. Despite their unpretentiousness, they also require preparation for the cold season. In autumn, it is necessary to provide the trees with abundant watering, since even in winter the thuja continues to develop, albeit slowly.
How to care for thujas in winter? In the first years of life, young representatives must be insulated. Using dense polyethylene film, non-woven spunbond or other suitable covering material, a kind of cocoon is formed that will retain heat and let in the rays of the sun. You can even purchase special covers designed specifically for this purpose; they are sold in the garden departments of supermarkets or in online stores.
For the winter, the roots are covered with fallen leaves, which are removed with the onset of spring, as soon as the upper layer of the earth thaws. The overgrown crowns of adult thujas are carefully tied with a wide ribbon to prevent snow from accumulating on the branches.
In order for the thuja to be pleasing to the eye and healthy, planting and care in the open ground must be done competently and in a timely manner. This tree is quite unpretentious, but the result easy care is expressed not only by its external beauty and the decoration of the territory. A green thuja hedge will absorb noise from the street and neighboring areas, and also protect your site from prying eyes.
Thuja or Thuja(Thuja, Tree of Life, Northern Cypress) from the Cypress family (Cupressaceae) includes 4 species of evergreen gymnosperms coniferous shrubs and low-growing trees. In our country it is widely used as a hedge along fenced areas, and is also often used to form landscape design, to decorate alpine slides and rockeries. But some lovers indoor plants They grow thuja at home, caring for which does not require special knowledge and skills. Photo of indoor thuja in a pot and tips for home care behind the coniferous tree you will find later in this material.
With regular formative pruning you can change the appearance of the tree. Despite the fact that thuja is a coniferous plant, the crown is formed not by needles on the branches, but by crosswise opposite scale-like leaves, consisting of flat scales overlapping each other. The period of “blooming” (dusting) usually begins in autumn: a flower bud appears from the axils of the leaves at the tops of the side shoots, and then a “flower” blooms (a female kidney-shaped spikelet of a yellowish color appears in the upper part of the crown, and a male spikelet of a brownish color appears in the lower part of the crown) . Then, among the scale-like leaves, oval-shaped cones are formed, after the ripening of which seeds appear with narrow wings under the scales.
If you see a thuja in a pot on the floor or on the windowsill of a living room, then most likely it is the oriental thuja (Thuja orientalis, Platycladus, Flatweed, Biota). This is an evergreen shrub with spreading branches, flat scaly leaves of silver-variegated color and oblong cones, bent downwards. The usual shape of the oriental thuja is pyramidal, but with the help of pruning and pinching, you can give the crown the desired look. Some craftsmen form a tree from a thuja in a pot in the form of a topiary or bonsai. To do this, the trunk and branches must be bent and fixed almost to the point of breaking, so that, in combination with proper pruning and timely pinching of young shoots, a very beautiful bonsai will be obtained. Formed decorative tree from coniferous thuja It will look interesting in an ensemble with such flowering bonsai trees as indoor azalea, fuchsia, hibiscus Chinese rose.
Photo: thuja bonsai It must be stated right away that potted thuja, as specially bred by breeders indoor variety, does not exist. At home it takes root best oriental thuja or Flatweed, which we mentioned above. Caring for it unpretentious appearance coniferous plant is very simple and an elegant dwarf tree grows at home to miniature sizes. To decorate the interior, phytodesigners create very interesting compositions of flowering indoor plants against the background of evergreen thuja, choosing such decorative potted flowers as phalaenopsis orchid or dendrobium, tuberous begonia, Persian cyclamen, gerbera with bright daisy flowers, miniature hydrangea, New Guinea balsam, Thompson clerodendrum . And in gardening and for landscape design, the most suitable types of thuja are T. western, T. Korean, T. Japanese, T. folded.
Photo: thuja orientalis in a pot. Interestingly, Buddhist philosophy classifies thuja as a plant that promotes longevity and restoration. vital energy. And some designers use thuja in a pot for the symbolic organization of living space according to Feng Shui, along with such indoor plants as house violets Saintpaulia, zamioculcas dollar tree, Gloxinia with very bright flowers, Crassula Money tree. In addition, indoor thuja exudes a very delicate aroma, reminiscent of the pleasant smell of spruce resin, which will not leave anyone indifferent.
By the way, this coniferous plant has very effective healing properties. It is recommended to grow thuja at home for people suffering from various diseases respiratory tract. Along with such popular indoor plants as Dieffenbachia and house chrysanthemum, thuja grown in a pot enriches the room space with beneficial essential oils and volatile secretions - phytoncides. These substances cleanse the air of pathogenic microbes, dust and soothe nervous system. The coniferous scent of thuja helps restore emotional and physical fatigue after a hard day at work and effectively relieves stress.
Thuja extract is widely used in perfumery to create useful cosmetics, and is also used in traditional and folk medicine for preparing effective medicines. Products that contain thuja extract have various healing properties (today there are tonic, antimicrobial, antitumor, expectorant, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic drugs). Various decoctions and infusions are made from crushed thuja needles. There are many folk recipes for the preparation of medicinal antiseptics against age spots, warts, papillomas, acne on the skin. Medicines containing thuja extract treat adenoids in children and acute respiratory viral infections, as well as cervical erosion, cystitis, and trichomonas colpitis. Thuja can compete for the status of “best family doctor» with such well-known indoor medicinal plants as aloe vera or Agave, Kalanchoe officinale, Ficus Benjamin, geranium pelargonium, gardenia jasmine, myrtle tree, indoor spurge, primrose primrose.
RECIPES: INDUCTIONS AND BOTTINGS FROM TUINA NEEDLES.
♦ WHAT IS IMPORTANT!Location and lighting. Direct Sun rays can cause burns on the delicate scaly foliage of the thuja. At home, under the bright rays of the sun, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. It is best to place a pot with a coniferous plant in partial shade, with indirect diffused lighting in daytime. You can place the pot on a floor stand next to the window on north side premises. If you shade the window glass in hot weather summer days, then the thuja will feel comfortable on a hill next to a western or eastern window.
Temperature conditions. In spring and summer, you can take home thuja to a balcony, loggia or garden in a shaded place. The optimal temperature is 18-24°C. In winter, it is necessary to keep the thuja pot away from heating devices, it is best to place the plant on glass loggia. It is advisable that in winter the temperature does not rise above 14-16°C.
Air humidity. Moderate or a little increased level humidity (40-60%). If the air in the room is too dry (summer heat, the heating system is running), be sure to spray the coniferous plant with warm soft water from a spray bottle.
Watering. Use warm, settled water for irrigation. It is recommended to maintain a moderate watering regime (several times a week). The soil should not be over-moistened, but drying out the soil is also detrimental to thuja.
Earth mixture and fertilizing. To plant a young plant, you can make an earthen mixture from coniferous land. leaf soil and coarse sand in a ratio of 2:4:1, and for an adult - turf soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 2:2:1.
For feeding you can use complex organic and mineral fertilizers for coniferous plants (at half dose). IN summer period Thuja most of all needs potassium fertilizers, and in the spring - nitrogen fertilizers (for adult plants you can add a little phosphorus fertilizers). It is necessary to feed no more than 2 times a month. In winter, fertilizers are not required.
Transfer. The roots of the coniferous plant are quite long. To plant thuja, choose a tall, but not very wide pot. Place a drainage layer on the bottom of the pot broken bricks or tiles. A young plant is replanted annually, and an adult plant once every two years. Planting is carried out by transshipment together with a lump of earth.
Reproduction. You can propagate thuja by cuttings, layering and seeds. At home, the plant is usually propagated by cuttings. Carefully separate a cutting 10-12 cm long with pruning shears or sharp knife from an adult plant. The cut area on the cutting should be treated with a root formation stimulator. Then you need to deepen the cutting a few centimeters into the ground and place the container in a warm place and ventilate the room often. Instead of watering, spray the cuttings with water from a spray bottle. When the cuttings take root, you can transplant them into a suitable pot.
♦ MINIATURE THOUSES FOR DECORATING A ROCKARY OR ROCKARY. PHOTOS OF VARIETIES:
♦ VIDEO. HOW TO CARE FOR Thuja AT HOME: Useful tips for caring for indoor thuja:
Growing western thuja Danika at home:
Thuja propagation:
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INTERESTING FOR WOMEN:
Many are accustomed to seeing thuja as an element of landscape design of a garden or yard. In fact, this amazing tree looks great in the house, on the balcony or loggia, on the veranda. Growing thuja at home is not so difficult, the main thing is to follow all the care rules.
Thuja is also commonly called the “tree of life”; the green beauty belongs to the cypress family. Includes 6 species, but only two types can be kept indoors:
- Eastern. Outwardly it resembles a bush. The needles are rich green.
- Western. A small tree in the shape of a cone. The needles are dark green, sometimes with a yellow tint. Quite popular, but takes a very long time to grow.
Thuja indoors
You will not find any needles on the tree; the branches are covered with scaly leaves that overlap each other. IN autumn period The thuja begins to bloom, after which small cones form.
Where to place thuja in the house, what temperature does it need?
The pot with the plant cannot be exposed to the sun; the rays can burn the needles. On the windowsill sunny side The thuya will also be uncomfortable, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and crumble. The optimal place for the plant is partial shade, diffused daylight.
You can place the thuja pot in a flower stand and place it near the window. Another option for protection from direct rays of the sun is shading the window glass. In this case, the thuja will grow beautiful and green.
During the warm season, thuja can be placed on a balcony or loggia. Also, the pot can be taken out into the garden, but placed in the shade.
The air temperature that suits the plant is 18-25 degrees. In winter, it is recommended to keep the pot away from heating objects. The temperature in winter should not fall below 15 degrees Celsius. If the balcony is glazed, the thuja will be comfortable on it.
We water the thuja, what should the air humidity be?
Thuja can be classified as one of those plants that can tolerate drought without problems. Therefore, it does not need frequent watering. On hot and dry days, the plant needs to be watered several times a week. Over-watering will not do any good. But you can’t let the earthen clod dry out completely.
For watering, use warm, pre-settled water. It is prohibited to take from the tap.
During the growing season, and for a newly planted tree, watering changes slightly. It is carried out regularly, avoiding drying out. To avoid stagnation of water, good drainage is installed during transplantation.
The optimal air humidity for thuja is 40-60%. If the room is too stuffy or heating objects are on, the plant needs to be sprayed warm water. They do this as needed.
Feeding and soil for thuja
The choice of soil for thuja depends on its age. For the young, a mixture is prepared, which includes:
- Coniferous soil - 2 parts.
- Leaf soil - 4 parts.
- Coarse sand – 1 part.
For an adult plant, the following mixture is acceptable:
- Sod land - 2 parts.
- Peat – 2 parts.
- Sand – 1 part.
Feeding is carried out regularly throughout the warm period. There is no need to fertilize the plant for the winter. In summer, thuja needs potassium, and in spring – nitrogen. You can add a little phosphorus to an adult tree. Feeding should be carried out no more than 2 times every 30 days. You can use store-bought fertilizers for plants with needles, but use half as much.
Replanting
You need to plant thuja in a deep pot, but not too wide. This is because the root system of the plant is long. It is imperative to put drainage at the bottom of the slide. To do this, use broken bricks or tiles.
Replant the thuja carefully, without disturbing the earthen lump, and transfer it. A young plant should be replanted every year, an adult one every few years.
We reproduce
At home, thuja is propagated using:
- Cherenkov.
- Semyon.
Seeds are not often used for propagation. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that germination will be successful. Propagation by seeds is painstaking work and a long journey.
Step-by-step instructions for propagation by seeds:
- In an adult and healthy plant carefully cut off the cones.
- Place them in a warm (and cold) place.
- After a while, the cones will open and the seeds can be removed.
- The seeds are wrapped in a cloth, which is pre-moistened with water. They remain in this state for 24 hours. The fabric should be moistened as it dries.
- They take small pot, fill it with soil and water it. Then the seed is planted.
- There is no need to deepen the seeds, just sprinkle with soil and cover with wet sawdust.
- The first shoots can be observed after 1-1.5 months.
When growing thuja with seeds, the characteristics of the variety (for example, the color of the needles) may be lost.
Seeds that ripen in the fall can be germinated in the spring. To do this, stratification is carried out. That is, the seeds are mixed with moistened sand and they should be kept in a room with a low temperature (3-5 degrees) for about 90 days. Alternatively, put the box of seeds in the refrigerator or take it out to Not glass balcony. After which the seeds are sown in the soil, the temperature should be about 20-23 degrees. After 2 months, sprouts will appear.
When the seeds have sprouted, you should create favorable conditions and proper care for growth:
- Moderate soil moisture.
- Diffused lighting.
Grown seedlings can be transplanted into a pot in a permanent place; this is done very carefully so as not to damage the delicate root system. The thuja will be fully formed in 3 years, or even 5 years.
It is easier to propagate thuja from cuttings than from seeds. Step-by-step instructions for propagation by cuttings:
- The cuttings are carefully separated from the adult thuja. This is done with a sharp knife or pruning shears.
- The optimal cutting size is 10-12 centimeters.
- The resulting cutting is deepened into the soil 2-3 centimeters.
- The pot with cuttings should be kept in a warm house (apartment).
- Frequent ventilation is necessary.
- The shoot does not need watering; it can be replaced by spraying.
- When roots appear, the plant can be taken outside and replanted.
To ensure rooting occurs faster, it is recommended to treat the cuttings with a growth accelerating agent.
Interesting to know! Some gardeners recommend not pruning, but rather tearing off the cuttings. Pieces of mature wood are torn off, which promotes rapid rooting in the future.
Care in winter and summer
You need to care for thuja regardless of the time of year. At the same time, in different time and care is different. During the warm period, the plant feels great on the balcony. During the growing season it is required frequent watering. On hot days, you should spray thuja in the morning and evening. Take warm water.
Winter is the plant's dormant time; no special care is required. The temperature should fluctuate 6-12 degrees. If the balcony and loggia are glazed, you can keep the thuja there. At higher temperatures, the thuja will dry out, and watering will not help it. Water green beauty It is necessary rarely, and only with warm water.
In spring, the plant is replanted. Planting at home should be done carefully. Any damage to the root system can lead to the death of the plant. You cannot dig in too much of the root collar - this will also destroy the thuja. After planting, thorough watering is necessary.
Pests and diseases
Diseases and pests in thuja grown at home can only appear as a result of improper care. One of the most common problems is the yellowness of the leaves, there are several reasons for this:
- The planting rules have been violated, the root collar is exposed or is too deep into the soil.
- Direct sunlight falls.
Fungal diseases are also found in domestic thuja:
- Fusarium.
- Cytospora.
When infected, needles and shoots are damaged. Specialized drugs are used to treat thuja. The procedures begin in the spring and do not stop until the tree recovers.
With the onset of the dormant period, the thuja may change color - this is a natural process, and there is no need to look for diseases here.
There are also known pests that pose a danger to thuja at home (in an apartment):
- Bark beetle Holes appear in the bark of the tree.
- Shield. Harms the bark and cones, damaging them.
- Aphid. The first signs of damage are the needles turning yellow.
Pests can be controlled using insecticides.
Important! The sooner you detect a problem, the easier and faster it is to deal with it. Provide the plant with proper care, and diseases and pests will not be scary.
What is the benefit
Thuja is not just beautiful green plant, but also useful. It is recommended to grow it in the house, on the balcony, or veranda for people who have problems with the respiratory tract. Thuja highlights essential oils, which are very useful. They contribute to:
- Cleaning the air from dust.
- Purifying the air from viruses.
- Calms the nervous system.
When there is thuja in the house, depression, stress and insomnia are not scary. The smell of pine needles calms and pacifies. It's nice to sit on the balcony after a hard day at work and enjoy the magical aroma.
Thuja extract is used to make cosmetics and medicines. Thuja is actively used in folk medicine.
Healing qualities of thuja:
- Has a tonic effect.
- Used as an expectorant.
- Included in diuretic and antitumor drugs.
- Has hemostatic and antimicrobial properties.
Thuja needles are collected to prepare tinctures and decoctions. They help fight:
- With acne.
- Papillomas and warts.
- Pigmentation.
- Colds.
- Cystitis.
Thuja is included in medications for the treatment of cervical erosion.
We can talk for a long time about the benefits of thuja. Therefore, when planting it at home, you must understand that what is growing in the pot is not just a plant, but a kind of doctor.
Provide the thuja with proper care, and she will definitely thank you.
Many people think that thuja can only be grown on a personal plot. But it is not so.
There are also indoor varieties this plant. Usually, oriental thuja is grown indoors, which is distinguished by silver or golden leaves, a branching trunk, which is covered with light brown scales.
Its crown is dense and spreading, usually pyramidal in shape. It is great for growing indoors, is unpretentious and does not require special care.
Planting and propagation
Typically, indoor thuja is grown from seeds, which must first be soaked in water.
It grows quite quickly, usually the seed hatches within a day. After this, the shoot should be transplanted into a small pot, and after about a year, when the plant has grown, it is planted in a larger pot.
Many people make the mistake and use ordinary soil from the garden to plant indoor thuja. This should not be done.
This is due to the fact that it contains additives of peat and sand, which are necessary for the emergence of thuja and its subsequent growth. Remember one more important point, thuja should be replanted in the spring, around mid-April. Previously, this should not be done.
You can often hear the question - how to propagate thuja? This evergreen indoor plant is propagated using seeds, layering and cuttings.
If you intend to grow thuja from seeds, then prepare and warm the sand in advance. Air humidity and temperature should be high.
When replanting, it is necessary to make high-quality drainage in advance. In order for a young seedling to take root, you will need a special mixture, which consists of coniferous and deciduous soil, as well as sand.
If the plant is already mature, then the composition of the soil will need a different composition, which will consist of sand, peat and turf land.
Necessary care
But keep in mind that in winter this plant needs coolness and a temperature of no more than 12 degrees is desirable. But often, this is not so easy to achieve. Although you can take it out onto the balcony, but only on the condition that it is glazed and it is not cold on it.
In addition, indoor oriental thuja loves wet soil. It should be watered regularly, but moderately, and the soil in the pot should be loosened from time to time.
Remember, the soil should not be allowed to dry out in the pot or there should be excess moisture. Indoor thuja grows quite slowly.
Attention should also be paid to proper lighting.
Gardening advice: thuja doesn't like bright sun. It is advisable to place it on window sills facing north. In summer and spring, thuja needs to be protected from direct rays of light.
Of course, in order for the plant to grow well and be beautiful and healthy, it will need to be fertilized. This should be done about twice a month. It is recommended to fertilize indoor thuja from May to September.
Air humidity also plays a big role. In winter, when the room is hot, thuja should be sprayed with water from time to time. But not cold, but warm. This will help to better tolerate the heat from heating and preserve this plant in winter.
With the onset of spring, move the pot with indoor thuja to a cool place, and in the summer, it is best to put it on Fresh air. But make sure that it is not exposed to direct sunlight.
The indoor plant has excellent resistance to all kinds of thuja diseases. But still, to be on the safe side, it is recommended that recently purchased and already planted plants be quarantined for about 10 days.
If you see that during this time no negative changes occur to it, then you can safely place it next to other indoor plants, including thuja.
Beneficial features
Planting thuja will make the air in the room fresh and with a great aroma.
This is due to the fact that volatile substances called phytoncides are released from its leaves and have a positive and healing effect on respiratory system person.
In addition, thuja is very useful and has numerous healing properties.
They can effectively replace the following medications:
- expectorants;
- anti-inflammatory;
- antibacterial;
- wound healing;
- diuretics.
As you can see from what is written above, planting and caring for this beautiful indoor plant does not require much effort and a lot of time.
After all, thuja is completely unpretentious and does not require special conditions. The main thing is to adhere to the basic rules. At proper care, this evergreen plant will bring uniqueness and beauty to any room, and make the air clean and fragrant.
How to grow homemade cypress or thuja, see the following video:
Cypress family. Homeland North America.
Western thuja Thuja occidentalis is an evergreen coniferous plant with a pyramidal crown; in good conditions it lives for a very long time, reaching an average height of 10-15 m with a trunk thickness of about 40 cm. The bark of young plants is smooth, reddish-brown, furrowed with age, exfoliates stripes. The needles are scaly, dense, small (scales about 3-4 mm), rich green in color, becoming brown in winter. Every 2-3 years, the thuja renews its foliage, throwing in branches and growing new needles. Thuja has small 10-15 mm egg-shaped cones with delicate scales, similar to dried buds. There are more than 300 varieties of thuja.
The original species, Thuja occidentalis, is a garden plant, but is sometimes grown as a pre-bonsai. However, there are various varieties of western thuja of Polish breeding available for sale. These include compact plants that grow well in pots. For example, miniature variety Miky Thuja occidentalis ‘Miky’ - distinguished by fine foliage structure that remains rich green throughout the growing season. The crown is very dense, dense, and in an adult plant it has a wide conical shape. In winter it can take on a copper tint. The shoots are slightly twisted, which gives the variety additional charm. Thuja grows quite slowly: in 8-10 years it will grow approximately 70-80 cm in height and about 50 cm in girth. This variety practically does not require pruning of shoots.
Thuja planting and care
At home, thuja is a wonderful decoration for a balcony or terrace - it loves fresh air and does not tolerate being kept in the kitchen or in a smoky room. It also looks attractive in the garden: in rock gardens, rocky gardens, and goes well with other coniferous plants.
Temperature
The plant's frost resistance is zone 5b if you plan to grow thuja in a greenhouse or garden. At home in the summer we have the temperature that is dictated by the weather, but cypress trees do not tolerate heat - for optimal growth they need 22-24°C. In winter, it is necessary to keep it cool, +8-10°C is enough, minimum +2°C. At the same time, the soil in the pot is almost completely dry. At the lower limit of temperature, the plant needs to be insulated. You can put the pot in a box with sawdust, wrap it in foam rubber, place it in a large pot and fill it with dry soil between the walls. Coolness must be ensured with the onset heating season until the beginning of February.
Lighting
Thuja is light-loving, prefers a certain amount of sunlight, preferably before lunch - the eastern or south-eastern side, or in the evening - north-west. In the period from February to May, from 12 to 15 hours, openwork shading is desirable - at this time the sun is the most active and can cause burns (browning of needles). By summer, the thuja gets used to the sun well and does not need shading if it has enough fresh air.
- Attention: at temperatures above 26-27°C, thuja cannot tolerate direct sun. Therefore, if the pot is standing on open balcony or at open window(not micro ventilation, but a well-open window), shading is not required. If you close the windows, it is better to move the pot to a more shady, but not hot, window sill. Young plants especially need shading. In nature, thuja seedlings (from self-seeding) grow for decades in the shade of taller trees.
You may have heard that thuja is shade-tolerant - this statement applies only to garden conifers; at home, the lighting is always one-sided, and growing on the north side can lead to the formation of uneven foliage of the crown. Therefore, if you have a north side, gradually rotate the pot on the window.
Watering
During the period of growth, especially in hot weather, watering quite abundantly, with drying the top layer of soil. Do not leave water in the tray after watering. Thuja does not tolerate drying out - as soon as the soil dries out, it sadly drops its branches, but after moistening it immediately restores turgor. If it is too dry, especially in the heat, it is irreversible. When the rainy season begins in the fall and there is a sharp cooling, make sure that watering is infrequent and the soil has time to dry almost completely within 3 days.
- Important: the correctness of watering is regulated not only by its frequency and volume of water, but also by the composition and structure of the soil.
- For reference: in nature, thuja grows in humid forests, especially abundantly in coniferous swamps, but at the same time the root is superficial, not completely immersed in water, but on a well-drained substrate. But the most famous long-lived thujas, up to 1000 years old, have been preserved on cliffs and rocky terrain. For thuja, air humidity is more important than soil moisture - avoid both overmoistening and overdrying.
Fertilizer: Thuja requires fertilizing two months after transplantation if the soil is too poor. You can purchase a special fertilizer for coniferous plants or use a universal non-alkaline and chlorine-free fertilizer for ordinary indoor plants.
Air humidity: Thuja loves very humid air, optimally 60-80%, humidity below 40% requires moisture - spraying 2-3 times a day or placing the pot on a wide tray with water (water should not come into contact with the roots). At the beginning of the heating season, move the plant to a cool room.
- If there is no possibility of a cool winter, you have two options: fence off the edge of the window sill from the battery with plexiglass or greenhouse film, install a humidifier and add artificial lighting. Or, if the size of the bush exceeds the size of the window sill, do not torture the plant - grow it in the garden.
Thuja transplant
Potted thuja is replanted annually or once every two years, very carefully, preserving the root ball as carefully as possible. When planting, it is important not to compact the soil too tightly and not to deepen the root collar (the soil level is at the same level, without hilling). Healthy roots are brick brown and springy in appearance. Soil: 1 part clay-turf soil, 1 part leaf (or peat), 1 part baking powder (zeolite granules or acadama, vermiculite or agroperlite, coarse river sand- sifted to 2-4 mm). The pot should not be too large - slightly larger than the root system. Make many holes at the bottom for water drainage, drainage if desired (in a tall pot it is necessary). If the soil acidity is closer to neutral, add a couple of spoons to the pot pine needles or bark.
Thuja grows well in slightly acidic soils, does not tolerate alkalization and highly acidic soil - optimal pH 5.5-6.5. If the substrate has caked and compacted, you need to carefully loosen it to a depth of 5-6 cm. If a salt deposit appears on the surface of the soil, it needs to be removed and the plant watered with softer water (filter, boil, soften with aquarium water products).
If you use store-bought peat-based soil, keep in mind that it quickly consumes nutrients and pure form It is far from ideal for thuja (dries out quickly), but can serve as one of the components. In addition, store-bought soils are often filled with a large dose of fertilizers; even specialized coniferous mixtures, as a rule, are based on pure peat and sand, while the ideal soil base for thuja will be light loam. But don't forget that growing in closed system(limitation to the walls of the pot) deprives roots important element- oxygen. Overwatering will suffocate the roots if the soil is not porous enough (pure loam). That's why we add baking powder. Drained soil does not mean drainage at the bottom, but drainage particles in the soil itself between the roots.
Forum topic: Thuja bonsai - options for forming thuja, as well as the topic Conifers
Reproduction of thuja
Thuja propagates by seeds and cuttings. Growing by seeds is not advisable - the cypress plant grows very slowly. But it’s a pleasure to grow cuttings - it’s important to know how! It’s very simple: in autumn or spring, cut a thuja twig about 15 cm long.
Take a spacious zip-lock bag and prepare the soil: 1 part universal soil (for example, Terra Vita Living Earth) and 1 part sand or vermiculite. Stir and sterilize for 3 minutes in the microwave. Cool and pour into a bag. The substrate should be moist, but not too wet (moisten boiled water). Place the cutting in the substrate and close the bag tightly. Hang it in a bright place - if the cutting is cut in the fall (October-November), then you can hang it on a south window without shading. If in early spring, then only under shade from direct sun. There is no need to open the package; it retains about 90% humidity. Just wait for the roots to appear. They are dark, not light, like many indoor plants, so they are hardly noticeable.
When the thuja takes root, it needs to be transplanted into a pot in the soil described above for adult plants. Place the pot in a bag and tie it. For the first week, shade from any sun and ventilate 2-3 times a day. After a week, the bag can be untied, but not removed, but gradually accustomed young plant to drier air. As soon as the opportunity arises, place the pot in the fresh air on the balcony.
Thuja – evergreen shrub of the cypress family, which maintains its blooming appearance throughout the year. IN wild conditions grows in Japan and North America, where it grows up to 7 meters. It can be grown both in the garden and used to decorate your home’s cozy corner.
Description
As you can see in the photo, thuja domestica consists of flat branches with small diamond-shaped needles instead of leaves. Opposite leaves cover the branches with peculiar scales. Some compare their shape and arrangement to tiles or an intricate path.
Instead of flower buds, after pollination, oblong cones up to 1 cm long are formed. They ripen in early autumn and usually bend towards the bottom.
While the thuja is young, its shoots have green tint, but with age they become woody and the color changes to brown. At home, thuja gives off a pleasant smell due to the camphor oil content in the leaves.
Breeders have created several varieties of shrubs with a dwarf shape and unusual leaf color. For example: green, blue, gold or silver. They even come in mixed colors.
Reproduction
There are several ways to propagate thuja. For example: seeds, cuttings or twigs. The longest process, taking about 6 years, is propagation by seeds.
Seed method
To propagate thuja from seeds, you need to remove them from the cones and separate them. Dry and sift through a strainer. Seeds are stored in the cellar and refrigerator, since they may lose their germination due to heat. Be sure to periodically check them for mold or excessive dryness.
As soon as the seeds begin to hatch, they need to be planted in the sand. Be sure to germinate in a warm place under film. It is also possible to plant them in the yard in a small greenhouse. The soil needs to be loose with a mixture of sand.
Cutting method
Thuja can be propagated by semi-lignified cuttings cut from the middle of the plant in the morning or during rainy weather. A piece of bark on a cutting can also increase rooting, but to do this you need to pull out the shoots with a sharp movement rather than cutting them.
The cuttings are rooted in peat with sand in equal proportions. To stimulate root growth, you can treat the shoots with a special preparation, for example kornevin.
Planting is done in the ground at an angle of 60°, several centimeters deep. Then you need to build a small greenhouse with high temperature and humidity maintained there. It is also necessary to periodically check the cuttings for mold.
Thuja from a twig is obtained in the same way as in the previous method. It is also necessary to use a root solution. A greenhouse with sand must also be disinfected with potassium permanganate before planting.
Planting
The soil for planting thuja must allow air and water to pass through. The mixture can be bought in a store or mixed by hand. To do this, you need to mix coniferous (2 parts) and leaf (4 parts) soil with sand (1/2 part).
Dwarf thuja grows well in a pot of about 30 liters, but larger plants may need a container of up to 150 liters. But then it is better to keep the bush outside.
A drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the pot to prevent moisture stagnation near the roots. It is easy to construct from pieces of foam or pieces of cork. Or just fill it with gravel, but then you’ll just end up with a flower pot that’s too heavy to lift.
Care
Growing thuja at home is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. In summer it needs to be watered regularly and protected from sunlight. It does not tolerate hot climates and drafts, so it is better to keep it in light shade or on window sills facing north.
In winter, it is worth keeping the plant in a temperature range of 5-15°C. You should also not place bushes near heating devices. During this period, you no longer need to water too often. The main thing is not to dry out the soil too much.
Like all plants, it prefers spraying from a spray bottle to simple watering. Fertilizing for coniferous plants is required only in spring and summer. It can even be cut hard, so you can give the bush any shape you like.
Photo of home thuja
Thuja is a gymnosperm conifer of the juniper family. The closest relatives of the tree, besides juniper, are sequoia and cypress. Arborvitae came to Europe from America and East Asia. The plant is considered a long-liver; under natural conditions, thujas live up to 150 years.
Gardeners grow plants in open ground and at home, for which dwarf varieties have been bred.
In this article we will look at how to care for thuja in a pot at home, namely: preparation for planting, conditions of maintenance and reproduction.
Description and varieties for home cultivation
Thuja is a useful and pleasant plant to have at home, and one can only envy the owners of personal plots who have the opportunity to plant several species in their yard.
Thuja in the yard of the house
And for those whose breeding possibilities are limited by the open spaces of a city apartment, dwarf species have been bred.
So, thuja is an evergreen plant, tree or bush, depending on the species, of which there are more than a hundred.
Thuja branches are flat. The leaves are arranged oppositely, two at each node, and arranged like tiles.
Thuja cones (up to 1 cm) are brown, elongated, formed in place of flower buds after pollination. The fruits ripen by early autumn. Feature adult thuja - a constant pleasant smell of camphor contained in the cones of the plant.
Thuja sprig with cones
Main types of wood:
- Western.
- Eastern.
- Folded.
- Japanese (Standish).
An indoor version of the plant is the oriental thuja, or rather its smaller copies, bred by breeders for the home. Thujas are distinguished by the color and shape of the leaves.
Types of indoor thujas:
- Western: “Golden Globe”, “Teddy”, “Miki”;
- eastern - “aurea nana”;
- dwarf.
Types of indoor thujas
What should those who want to breed thuja know? The tree is not capricious, tolerates heat and cold well, and thrives in the sun and shade. All the thuja needs is:
- Regular watering.
- Special soil for coniferous plants.
- Moderate amount of light and shadow.
The ideal place for a thuja in a house is next to the windowsill of a western or eastern window.
Preparing for landing
The main methods of growing thuja are cuttings and seeds. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. When taking cuttings, the gardener is guaranteed to get quick results, but it can be difficult to find healthy cuttings. In turn, growing thuja from seeds is more troublesome, but rooted plants are genetically healthier.
Thuja seedlings
Selecting a soil mixture
In order for the thuja to take root and planting to be successful, prepare the soil - river sand, leaf and coniferous soil - in a ratio of 1: 4: 2 plus complex fertilizers.
An adult plant is planted in soil made of turf soil, peat and sand (2:2:1). If you don’t want to tinker with it yourself, purchase a ready-made mixture at the store.
Potty requirements
A pot for indoor thuja is selected taking into account the size of the root. The peculiarity of the coniferous root system is that the root grows downward, which is why the depth of the container is so important.
Pots for thuja
When choosing a pot, add a few centimeters of depth for drainage and note:
- for the presence of drainage holes;
- on the material from which the container is made - avoid porous structures.
The thickness of the walls is also important to protect the roots from hypothermia if the wintering is cold (on a glazed balcony).
Location and lighting
Thuja feels good in the shade, but if there is not enough light, the plant fades and loses its shape. At the same time, exposure to direct sunlight is dangerous for the tree - it injures the leaves. The best lighting for thujas is diffused light, and the place in the house is a table near the windowsill. In a room with windows facing north, a pot of thuja can be placed on the windowsill.
Place for thuja
Procuring seeds and preparing for sowing
Thuja seeds are obtained from cones placed temporarily in a dark space. When the cones crack, the seeds are removed and wrapped in a damp cloth for a day.
Planting containers are filled with soil: peat, turf, sand in a ratio of 1:1:2. Then:
- The mixture is compacted and leveled.
- Make several rows at a distance of 6 cm.
- Plant the seeds at the same distance.
After planting, the seeds are covered with soil in a layer of up to 1 cm, compacted and carefully watered.
Avoid exposing the seedlings to direct sunlight, which will destroy the plants.
How to care for thujas at home?
The plant is unpretentious, tolerates dry air, heat, cold well, and feels good in indoor conditions.
What thuja does not like is sudden changes in temperature and drafts.
Feeding and fertilizer
Caring for a thuja in a pot: the tree does not need too frequent feeding - once a month is enough.
In spring add nitrogen, in summer - potassium and phosphate fertilizers.
Liquid complex fertilizers for thuja
Watering
Excess moisture for thuja is undesirable; one or two waterings for 7-10 days are enough if the weather is hot, or spraying if the room temperature is moderate.
If we are talking about recently planted plants, then watering is mandatory. To avoid accumulation excess moisture, install good drainage. Water thuja only with “soft” water. In winter, the plant “sleeps”, so water it less often, slightly moistening the soil on warm days.
Trimming
There is only one requirement for pruning - remove dry branches in a timely manner. Trim the plant to give it the desired shape you can, as and when you want.
Thuja, trimmed in the shape of a ball
Temperature and humidity
Comfortable temperature for home thuja is +20-30°C in summer. Under such conditions, the plants are taken outside and left in the shade.
The optimal temperature for thuja in winter is up to +15°C. Although the plant is frost-resistant, indoor views It is recommended to protect against hypothermia.
The plant, as a rule, does not react to dry air, but if the temperature is too high and the humidity is too low, typical for city apartments in winter, it is better to spray the thuja with a spray bottle.
Transplantation
Thuja is replanted no more than once a year, when the root system grows and the tree does not have enough space. Adult specimens are transplanted even less frequently.
Transplanting thuja into a new pot
For replanting, special soil for conifers is used. The transplantation procedure involves transferring the thuja from one pot to another while preserving the “native” soil on the roots. It is also important not to compact the soil too much and not to hill up the root collar.
Choose a pot with a depth slightly greater than the root system of the plant plus 3-4 cm for drainage, with holes in the bottom to remove excess water.
Preparing for winter
Frost-resistant plants that can easily withstand the winter outdoors may die when wintering on the balcony. The reason for freezing of the roots of coniferous plants at home is in their structure - the roots grow in depth. In garden conditions, the soil does not freeze too deeply, but in a pot it can. In turn, warming can unexpectedly awaken the plant to life.
Thuja on the balcony
A plant that can withstand short-term light frosts will die if the temperature drops for a long time. On an insulated balcony, the pots are wrapped with foam rubber and batting, and the soil is mulched with peat or sawdust to protect the thuja from freezing.
Reproduction methods and growing features
Thuja, like other plants, reproduces by seeds, cuttings, branches or layering.
Use of seeds
The soil mixture for young plants is poured into a box, leveled and slightly compacted. The seeds are planted on the surface and sprinkled with a layer of sawdust or sand (up to 1 cm). The container with seeds is installed in a room with a temperature of +20-23°C and diffused light. Shoots appear in 30-45 days.
By layering
Reproduction of thuja by layering is complicated by the small number free space in a pot. If you decide to propagate thuja in this way, place a pot nearby in which you place the cuttings. Tear off the leaves from the branch area, sprinkle with soil, and water. After roots appear, separate the cuttings from the plant.
Branches
Propagation by branches is similar to propagation by cuttings. When propagating, use “Kornevin”; the sand and pot are disinfected with a manganese solution before planting.
Cuttings
For thuja cuttings, semi-lignified parts of the plant are used, which are cut or torn off with a sharp movement, from top to bottom, so that a “heel” is formed at the end of the cutting - a piece of bark from the mother branch. The “heel” increases the chances of rooting.
Cuttings are chosen that are not too young or old; the lower leaves and branches are removed before planting.
A mixture of soil for cuttings - peat and sand in equal proportions.
- The prepared cuttings are dipped into a root stimulator solution.
- Planted in the ground at an angle of 60°.
- Cover with a plastic jar.
The jar is periodically removed and the cuttings are sprayed.
Inspect each plant for mold growth.
Remove the shelter after the cuttings have completely rooted.
Diseases and pests
What do thujas suffer from? Most often, problems manifest themselves as yellowing of leaves, the causes of which are:
- Incorrect planting when the root collar is too exposed or deepened into the ground.
- Direct sunlight.
Like other plants, thujas are susceptible to fungal diseases. These are:
- cytospora;
- fusarium.
They get rid of the fungus using carticide or Bordeaux mixture. Starting in March, thuja affected by the fungus is treated with drugs every two weeks until complete recovery.
Spraying with Bordeaux mixture
If the thuja turns yellow and faded in winter, this is not a disease. Do not rush to treat the plant - this is a normal process; by spring the tree will turn green again.
What is the benefit
Thuja stands apart among plants with increased content phytoncides. Medicinal properties plants have been known for a long time and are widely used in medicine.
Thuja wood contains:
- Aromadendren, which has an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Taxifolin is a natural antioxidant.
- Essential oil containing tannins, thujone, cedrol, iodine, etc.
Thuja in pots
Thuja, in particular its indoor version, is aesthetically pleasing, evergreen: undemanding to living conditions. Thuja is propagated by seeds and cuttings. The plant has medicinal properties.
Thuja is a representative of gymnosperm coniferous plants from the Cypress family. In nature they grow up to 7-12 m in height. Japan and North America are considered their homeland. This indoor plant is perfect as a gift or just as a decoration for the New Year holidays. Of the conifers, thuja domestica is the least demanding and will delight you for many years.
Did you know? Thuja is popularly called the “tree of life.”
Indoor thuja: description of the plant
Thuja orientalis is used for growing at home. Based on this type, many dwarf forms, which are ideal for growing indoors. Thuja releases essential oils, which, in addition to a pleasant smell, help cleanse the air of bacteria. It is because of this thuja in suitable for apartment not only as an ornamental plant, but also improves the microclimate in the room, while absolutely anyone can care for and grow it.
How to choose a place for a thuja
As with all indoor plants, it is necessary to create the right microclimate for thuja. Fortunately, the plant is unpretentious, but there are still some recommendations for optimal growth.
Lighting requirements
Thuja indoors loves light, but does not tolerate too bright lighting; a good solution would be to place the plant on the north side of the room. In spring and winter, direct sunlight is not recommended.
Temperature
In summer, the optimal temperature is considered to be +20...+30 °C. At this time, the thuja can be taken out into the air, but it is best to place it in shaded places. In winter it's like this heat Not suitable for thuja at all. The optimal temperature at this time is no higher than +15 °C. Thuja easily tolerates frost, but it is still better not to overcool indoor plants.
What should the air humidity be?
The plant is not demanding of humidity, so it can easily tolerate dry air in the apartment and extreme heat. But if the temperature is too high and the humidity is low, then you need to occasionally spray the thuja with a spray bottle.
How to plant a thuja in a pot
Due to its unpretentiousness in the open air, thuja takes root well almost anywhere and in any conditions. However, if you want to plant thuja at home, then you need to take into account some important tips and recommendations. But despite this, caring for a thuja in a pot is easier than caring for an outdoor plant.
Soil requirements
Thuja, as a houseplant, feels great in a pot if you choose the right soil. The most suitable soil for thuja is slightly acidic. You can prepare the soil yourself. For young plants, the following mixture will be optimal:
- 1 part sand;
- 2 parts of coniferous land;
- 4 parts leaf soil.
- 1 part peat;
- 0.5 parts sand;
- 1 part of turf land.
Potty requirements
For growing indoors, any pot for thuja is suitable, the main thing is to take a pot with a reserve so that the plant can grow normally. Any container must have a drain to prevent stagnation of water in the soil. However, if you are going to grow thuja outdoors, for example on a balcony, then not just any pot will do. The pots must be frost-resistant, the range of them on the market is now quite large, you can choose one to suit every taste.
Planting thuja
For successful planting, you need to make sure that the pot drains water well and fill the bottom with a good layer of drainage. Planting a thuja, in fact, is no different from other indoor plants, the main thing is to plant the plant in the right soil and not damage it. Next, the question arises of how to care for the thuja after planting. Caring for the plant is not particularly difficult; it quickly takes root.
Features of caring for thuja at home
In general, indoor thuja is not demanding when grown in a pot, but, like any other plant, it will need to be looked after regularly. Mainly care consists of proper watering, fertilizing and pruning. It is also worth considering the temperature regime.
How to water a plant at home
The most important thing is watering; the splendor of the branches and the overall attractiveness of the plant will depend on this. The plant needs to be watered regularly to keep the soil moist. Dry soil will not kill the plant, but it will definitely affect its appearance.
Feeding and fertilizing indoor thuja
Thuja indoors does not need frequent feeding, since you can’t care for it too closely. It is recommended to use organic and mineral fertilizers in combination, with nitrogen fertilizers usually used in the spring, and potassium fertilizers in the summer no more than once a month. Sometimes, depending on the condition of the plant, phosphorus fertilizers can be added to the fertilizing. That's all you can feed thuja for beautiful pine needles, the above fertilizers are ideal for the plant.
Plant pruning
The only requirement here is to trim the dried branches that will appear periodically. However, to give the plant the desired look, you can trim it whenever you wish, experimenting with a variety of shapes.
Wintering of thuja
Thuja is not afraid of cold weather, especially at home. Moreover, in winter it is advisable to keep thuja at a temperature of +10 to +12 degrees; a well-glazed balcony may be suitable for this. The only thing that absolutely cannot be done is to suddenly change the temperature where the plant is kept. Thuja is also contraindicated strong wind and strong drafts.
When and how to transplant a thuja?
It is advisable to replant the thuja once a year, during which time it grows quite large and requires a larger pot. Older plants require replanting less often. For replanting, you need special soil for coniferous plants. The procedure must be carried out carefully, transferring the plant along with the soil from one container to another, so as not to damage the root system.
How to propagate domestic thuja
Thuja is propagated at home by seeds and cuttings. This will require a mature plant. The seeds are taken directly from it, they are located inside the cones. Cut them off along with the branches on which they grow. Place the cones in a warm place; over time they will dry and open. Then you can extract the seeds from them. The seeds should be wrapped in a wet cloth and left there for a day, periodically moistening the cloth with water. A small step-by-step instruction for planting seeds:
- Prepare a tub; you need to pour the substrate into it and fill the bottom with drainage.
- Water the ground with water.
- Plant one seed per pot.
- The seeds do not need to be buried, just sprinkle wet sawdust on top.
- Moisten the soil.
And then you need to be patient; the first shoots will appear no earlier than in a month. And a full-fledged thuja bush will appear in just 5 years. Therefore, thuja is propagated by seeds extremely rarely, since there is a simpler and more effective way for this.