Decorative evergreen cypress can be grown in a pot as a houseplant or planted on a site. Unlike a cypress tree with a flat needle, this tree has a more fluffy crown of a pyramidal shape. To obtain new seedlings from one adult specimen, various methods of propagation of the culture are used. In nature, cypress is distributed through seeds, and gardeners often grow it from cuttings. The basic rules for plant propagation, planting features and recommendations for caring for a future tree are described later in the article.

Description of the method of reproduction

The essence of cypress propagation by cuttings is that from a grown representative of the Cypress family they cut off a stiff shoot, and then root it in the soil. This method does not require experience or special knowledge from the gardener, and if all the recommendations for the procedure are followed, the stalk quickly takes root. For planting, parts of apical shoots obtained during trimming of cypress are used.

When is it better to cut

Pruning of cypress is usually carried out in early spring or autumn, therefore, cutting of cuttings can be carried out at the same time.. But experienced gardeners advise cuttings in the period from late April to early May, so that the plant takes root before the onset of autumn. The cut branch should be immediately planted in the soil so that it does not dry out.

Did you know? In ancient Egypt, sarcophagi for mummies were made from cypress wood. Products from this tree have always been particularly durable, because they contain a lot of resin.

How to cut

To cut off the apical shoot of a shrub quickly take root and take root in the ground, you must follow certain rules.

The main features of cypress cuttings:

• It is recommended to propagate the culture in small shoots 5-15 cm long;
• the top of the handle may be green, but its lower part should be lignified;
• the shoot is torn off with a sharp movement to the side and down so that a piece of wood with bark remains on its lower part - the “heel”;
• before planting, the lower third of the handle is cleaned of needles.

How to plant a stalk

The process of rooting cypress cuttings is carried out in the soil. To clear the bottom of the shoot from the resin, it must be kept in water for at least 2 hours. After this, the stalk is put in a solution of "Epina" or "Kornevin" for a day to stimulate root growth.

Did you know? Cypress wood is practically not affected by harmful insects, therefore, in medieval Byzantium, iconostases and icons for churches were made from it.

Step-by-step landing instructions:

1. Prepare a loose and fertile substrate consisting of equal parts of peat and sand.
2. Disinfect the soil by spilling it with a strong potassium permanganate solution or hot 3% manganese solution.
3. Make holes with a small peg, lowering it into the ground at an angle of 45 °. Leave a distance of 3-5 cm between adjacent recesses.
4. Place the bottom of the handle in the hole, deepening the shoot about ⅓ of the length. Seal the soil around it with your hands to eliminate voids.
5. Pour the cuttings with warm water. Cover them with a glass jar or plastic bag to create greenhouse conditions.

Where better to plant - in open ground or in a pot

Cuttings can be planted in individual pots with a loose substrate or immediately in open ground, but in the first case, the probability of successful rooting of shoots is much higher.

It is easier to create optimal conditions for seedlings in the room, and young trees grown in this way will be stronger.

The rooting process of cypress cuttings lasts up to 2 months. At the same time, shoots must be kept in a shady place and watered with warm water as the soil dries. Shelter is removed 2-3 times a week for 1-2 hours to provide seedlings with fresh air. Completely remove the jar or bag from the tank is possible only after rooting the shoot.

To check if roots have formed on the handle, you can gently pull it up. If the seedling gives in with difficulty, then it has already fixed itself in the soil.

Caring for the future tree

Rooted cuttings are recommended to be grown in a pot until the age of 2-3 years, and then transplanted into open ground. A container with a future tree is placed in a place with bright diffused lighting. In summer, cypress can be taken out onto the street or balcony, and the room must be maintained at a temperature of about + 20 ° C. In winter, the room with the seedling should be cool - about + 10 ... + 15 ° C.

Caring for a tree until it is transplanted to an open area is reduced mainly to regular watering and top dressing. It is equally important to implement preventive measures to protect the seedling from diseases and pests.

Watering

Cypress reacts poorly to a lack of moisture in the soil, but waterlogging of the soil can adversely affect the plant.

Therefore, when watering a young tree, observe the following recommendations:

• in the summer, cypress is irrigated every 3-5 days - while the soil in the tank with a seedling should not completely dry out;
• in winter, watering is carried out once a week, and if the plant is grown at a temperature below + 10 ° C - 1 time in 10 days;
• in hot weather, the tree branches are sprayed with warm, settled water up to 3 times a day.

To increase the humidity in the cypress room during the summer heat, it is recommended to install the pot with the plant on a pallet with wet pebbles or moss

Top dressing

For normal growth, a young tree needs nutrients, so cypress is periodically fed with store-bought mineral fertilizers for conifers. At the same time, observe the following recommendations:

• from the beginning of May to the end of August, top dressing is applied once a month;
• the concentration of the nutrient solution should be 2 times less than that indicated on the package;
• in winter, fertilizers are applied at intervals of 1.5 months.

Important! Before you feed cypress with nutrients, you need to slightly water the tree so that the fertilizer solution does not burn the roots.

Disease and Pest Prevention

With all the recommendations for care, cypress is rarely affected by diseases and pests. But if the gardener violated the watering schedule, then the roots of the tree can rot, and with insufficient humidity on the shoots appears spider mite and scabthat cause the shoots to dry out.

If the plant is sick root rot, then it must be removed from the soil, removed all damaged areas in the underground part, and then planted in a fresh substrate, making adjustments to the irrigation mode. You can cope with insects with the help of insecticides (for example, "Actellica").

To prevent the appearance of diseases and pests, you need:

• disinfect the soil before planting;
• follow the watering schedule;
• adhere to the rules of feeding;
• prevent stagnation of air in the room;
• irrigate the crown of cypress in hot weather;
• use loose soil for planting, which allows water and air to pass through well.

Transfer

After the cypress seedlings have reached the age of 2-3 years, they are transplanted to the site. This procedure is recommended to be performed in April or May, choosing a well-lit place for the trees, which is in the shade for several hours a day.

Important! Cypress reacts poorly to polluted air, so it is not recommended to plant it near industrial enterprises and highways.

Step-by-step instructions for replanting seedlings:

1. Dig up planting pits, the depth and diameter of which is 50% more than the size of an earthen coma around the roots of a seedling. The distance between adjacent depressions depends on the variety and should be such that the trees do not obscure each other.
2. Prepare a loose and nutritious substrate by mixing sheet soil, peat, sand and turf soil in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1.
3. Put a layer of pebble drainage or pieces of broken brick on the bottom of the landing pit. Top with a little fertile soil mixture.
4. Water the soil abundantly in a container with a seedling so that it becomes soft. Carefully remove the tree along with an earthen lump formed around the roots.
5. Place the young seedling in the planting pit so that its root neck is flush with the surface of the earth. Fill the hole to the very top with the remains of the nutrient substrate.
6. Tamp a little soil around the trunk with your hands. Drive a vertical support near the tree and tie cypress to it.
7. Pour the seedling with warm water.

At home, cypress is easily propagated by cuttings, and even a beginner gardener can perform this procedure. The process of preparation of planting material and its incorporation into the soil does not require much effort, and with the help of the care recommendations presented in the article, you can grow a strong and healthy seedling. After transplanting to the site, the young tree will become a spectacular decoration in any landscape design.