The Christmas tree can become not only a part of landscape design in the garden, but also decorate the apartment. Many varieties, thanks to their unpretentiousness and high adaptive characteristics, perfectly take root in pots. About which variety to choose and how to care, read below.

What types of spruce are suitable for growing in a pot

Not all varieties of spruce will develop well in the cramped conditions of the apartment.

To create a home conifer, such varieties are suitable:

• common spruce;
• Canadian grade Konika;
• araucaria;
• dwarf view of blue spruce.

If you decide to grow a spruce at home, then you should not go for it to the nearest coniferous forest. A wild plant will not be able to take root at home. It is best to buy a decorative look of spruce in a specialized nursery.

Important!Do not buy conifers decorated with tinsel, sequins and toys. When treated with aerosols, the pores of the needles become clogged, which ultimately leads to the death of the plant.

When buying a plant, be guided by the following criteria:

• needles - evenly colored, flexible, elastic;
• shoots - not overdried, resilient, easily bent in different directions;
• bark - without cracks, exfoliation, flaky areas;
• tank size - the diameter should be equal to the diameter of the crown, and the height sufficient so that the roots are not too visible from the drainage holes.

How to plant a spruce

Spruce trees are very susceptible to movements from one substrate to another. They take root for a long time. The most vulnerable part of the tree is the roots. They take root after a transplant for about 3 months.The right moment for a transplant is spring. However, if the plant was acquired in the winter and the pot is already too small for him, then you can carry out the manipulation at this time of the year.

The first step is to prepare the substrate. It is best to buy it right away in the nursery, in which the spruce will be purchased. But if you want, you can do it yourself. The main thing to remember is that a plant needs soil that is moisture-permeable and not too nutritious.

For self-preparation of the substrate is required (mix in equal proportions):

• lowland peat;
• sand;
• vermiculitis;
• perlite.

To the resulting composition should also be added about 20% of its total mass, wood ash.Regarding the capacity, it is better to choose a plastic version. It does not overheat in the summer and does not freeze very much in the winter, which ensures normal microflora in the root system. The size of the new pot should be 3 times larger in diameter and the same in height. Spruce should be planted in a tank large enough to stimulate root development.

Important!After transplanting, the spruce discard part of the needles, and the ends of the branches begin to dry out. Do not be afraid - this is a normal adaptation process, you just need to create normal conditions and the tree will quickly recover.

Step-by-step briefing of the landing:

1. Pre-tree, in the evening, abundantly water the tree, but not flood (the earth should not turn into a swamp).
2. Pour boiling water over a new container (to destroy bacteria), place drainage from expanded clay, about 5–10 cm, on its bottom.
3. Place a layer of nutrient substrate (5 cm) on top of the drainage.
4. Take with one hand a pot with a plant under the bottom, and with the other grab the trunk, as close to the root as possible. Having bent the container in the side, gently, shaking the Christmas tree, begin to gently pull.
5. After extracting the plants, assess the condition of the roots. If there are rotten, damaged, then they should be trimmed, and the surface treated with wood ash.
6. Put the tree in a new container. Make sure that the root neck is at the same level as in the previous pot. Fill the empty space with soil. If the transplant is carried out in winter, then the earthen lump on the roots should be left and with it moved to a new pot, and if in the spring - gently rinse under running water and completely replace the substrate.
7. Water the tree with 1 liter of water.

Features of plant care

Caring for a house spruce is not so difficult. It is important to observe several conditions:

• choose the right location;
• maintain a certain temperature regime;
• moisten the soil and air in time;
• Do not forget to periodically apply top dressing.

In addition to the above, spruce need to be transplanted regularly so that they do not suffer from exhaustion. Periodic loosening of the soil to increase its aeration and reduce the risk of compaction also does not hinder

Location

Depends on the location in many ways, how the plant will develop.

When a grower is faced with a choice of where to keep a room conifer, the following criteria should be followed:

• lighting level;
• temperature.

If in nature the tree has a sufficient area of ​​nutrition to ensure full development and protect itself from the negative effects of the environment, then in the pot this area is much smaller. Given this, the plant has to spend more effort to adapt to cramped conditions.

Lighting

When grown at home, conifers are not very impressed with abundant lighting, although in the wild they develop quite well in open sunny areas. Direct sunlight will cause burns and, as a result, a decrease in immunity, and accordingly will increase the risk of developing diseases and the spread of pests.

Did you know?Spruce bark is used for tanning leather.

If the apartment is too bright and the windows face only the south side, then it is better to put the tree deep into the room. You can also create artificial lighting using fluorescent lamps, thus ensuring the arrival of stray light.

Once a week, be sure to rotate the plants relative to the light source. Otherwise, the crown will develop unevenly and take on an ugly shape.

Temperature

Particular attention should be paid to the temperature regime in the winter. At this time, the vegetation is at a dormant stage, which, accordingly, is required to be ensured by lowering the temperature. In winter, you can withstand the tree at room temperature for no more than 2 weeks (on New Year's holidays). In other periods of the cool season, the main condition is to maintain the temperature within -5 ... + 10 ° С.

To do this, the tree is moved to a glazed balcony or loggia. If it is too cold, then they necessarily cover the soil with a layer of compost, about 10 cm, and the branches are covered with burlap or lutrasil. In winter, it is recommended to stop all care (watering, fertilizing, loosening). Spring, summer and autumn vegetation will feel good on the balcony, in shading. If the house has a terrace or there is a garden nearby, then at the indicated time you can freely keep the vegetation in the fresh air.

Humidification and watering

If you need regular hydration. To do this, an air humidifier is installed next to the tree. Watering is carried out at such an interval that the soil is constantly moist, but not marshy. It turns out about once every 2–4 days. Water is taken for standing. The temperature of the liquid should be similar to the environment.

Tree feeding

If you decide to grow spruce at home, then she will need top dressing. They are brought in once a season - in spring or autumn. If a transplant is planned for spring, then fertilizers are not applied this year.It is important to understand that the composition of top dressing for conifers should not contain a large amount of nitrogen (up to 15%). Mostly phosphorus and potassium should prevail in the composition. It is best to take the natural look of top dressing without all kinds of chemical impurities.

An effective option is to combine vermicompost with wood ash. For young plants, 2 tbsp will be enough. the first element and 1 tbsp. - second. If during the whole season after each watering the soil loosens and is covered with compost, then fertilizers can be omitted at all.

When to transplant

Spruce should be transplanted every 2 years. Optimal period: end of April - beginning of May. Depending on the selected variety, it will be possible, after 5 years of home maintenance, to plant a Christmas tree in the garden. The main thing is to familiarize yourself in detail with the features of a particular type.

Did you know?The name "spruce" came to us from the Türks. Translated from their language, the word means "road" - in ancient times it was believed that the top of the tree indicates the way to heaven, that is, to another life after death.

Growing spruce at home is not such a difficult task as it might seem at first glance. Thanks to breeding, a sufficient number of species have been bred that perfectly take root in apartments. Such an acquisition will also help preserve wildlife from merciless deforestation on New Year's Eve.