How to properly care for cupressus at home

A shrub or tree with small scale-like leaves - cupressus, or cypress. Many people are interested in how to properly care for the cupressus plant at home so that it pleases the eye with its attractive appearance.

What is cupressus

An evergreen plant belonging to the cypress family is called cupressus, cypress or cypress. O This is a tree with wrinkled bark, the shade of which varies from dark gray to brown. The branches on a very slender trunk are located in the same plane; adult plants have scaly needles, while young plants have very soft, small needles. Cypress can grow up to several meters in height.

Most often, cupressus is used as a landscape decoration in a country house or garden plot - the tree fits perfectly into the composition of alpine hills and flower beds. It can simply decorate the entrance or replace the New Year tree. Cypress can be planted in open ground and decorative pots.

Kinds

There are several known plant species and many forms and varieties, some of which are grown at home.

The most popular types are:

• Hybrid of Cupressus "Goldcrest". It is resistant to lack of moisture in the soil (drought-resistant), not very picky about the soil in which it grows, and shade-tolerant. It is characterized by increased vitality and grows slowly.Can be cultivated in open ground and apartment conditions.

• Wilma. This is the most popular variety, but at the same time the plant is very sensitive to care. It grows excellently in an apartment if it has a constant microclimate and almost no drafts.

• Macrocarpa belongs to the species Goldcrest Wilma (cypress). A characteristic feature that distinguishes it from other species is the lemon-yellow tint of the needles. The branches are placed on the trunk at an oblique angle, the plant has the shape of a cone and is very beautiful. It grows up to one and a half to two meters in height, secretes an essential oil with an aroma reminiscent of lemon. There are several varieties of Macrocarp, some of which are grown indoors, others in open ground. The root system is located close to the surface.

• Gold. It got its name due to the unusual shade of the crown - it is golden. The plant is very beautiful and at the same time useful: the essential oils it produces have a beneficial effect on the respiratory system. Unique tinctures can be made from Cupressus Gold cones. However, as the magazine purity-en.htgetrid.com found out, such a flower should not be placed in a room where a person suffering from high blood pressure or epilepsy lives.

Advice
Every year in the spring, in April or May, replant Macrocarpa cupressus into new soil using the usual method of transshipment. This will allow the plant to develop perfectly and maintain an aesthetic appearance.

Diseases and pests

More often than others, spider mites, false scale insects, and scale insects attack cupruscus. For prevention, spray or bathe the plant in the Actelika solution (1-2 ml per 1 liter of water), repeat the treatment after 7 days.You can spray with Karbofos or Aktara in accordance with the instructions for use.

When scale insects or false scale insects appear, brown plaques form on the stems and leaves. The leaves begin to dry out and fall off due to insects sucking out cell sap.

Improper watering often leads to root rot. To save the plant from disease, treat the root system with an antiseptic and transplant the cypress into new, disinfected soil.

Home care

The Cupressus plant must be carefully cared for at home. Care must take into account the following factors.

1. Lighting. Provide diffused but bright light, as direct sunlight has a detrimental effect on the cupressus - the leaves will turn yellow and fall off. The plant is very light-loving, but can also grow well in partial shade. During the warm months of the year, it is better to keep cypress in the shade. However, when there is insufficient lighting, the cupressus stretches out, its shape deteriorates and becomes ugly.
2. Watering. The plant should be watered abundantly in spring, summer and early autumn. In the winter months, reduce the amount of watering to avoid waterlogging and root rot. Cypress does not tolerate dry soil and excess water equally well. Severe drying of the soil can lead to the death of the conifer. How often you need to water the plant directly depends on the temperature in the room where it is located. For example, if the room is +8°C, watering once every 8 days would be appropriate, if from +12 to +14°C - once every 5-7 days.
3. Air humidity. High humidity will be optimal. If the air is too dry, the cupressus will simply stop growing.In summer, be sure to spray the flower, this will ensure increased humidity and the best growing conditions.
4. Temperature. The most suitable temperature for cupressus is +11° C. In summer, the optimal temperature will be from +18 to +25° C, in winter - from +5° to +10° C. In the cold season, it is better to place the plant in a cool place, but the ambient temperature air should not fall below +5° C.
5. Fertilizers. From May to August, feed cypress with liquid mineral formulations intended for indoor flowers, and you need to take half the dose recommended on the package. Fertilizers are applied to previously loosened soil.

Advice
If in winter it is not possible to move the flower to a cool place, simply spray it in the morning and evening with warm water.

Cypress does not tolerate root damage well, so perform a complete replanting with replacement of the soil ball only if absolutely necessary. It is better to reload and replace that part of the soil that is easily separated from the root system when trying to remove the plant from the pot.

The ideal soil for cupressus has the following composition:

• turf soil - 1 part;
• sheet - 2 parts;
• peat - 1 part;
• sand - 1 part.

Cypress loves loose soil, good drainage is a must. When replanting, do not bury the root collar into the ground under any circumstances - the flower may die.

Useful tips

The following recommendations will help ensure normal development and preserve the beauty and health of the flower at home.

1. Yellowing of the cupressus indicates insufficient care, lack of nutrients, dry air, watering with very hard water (excess calcium forms in the soil). Increase plant feeding, watering and spraying.
2. Exposure of the flower to direct sunlight will cause the leaves to yellow and fall off. It is necessary to move the plant to another place, more shaded and cooler.
3. The tips of the leaves turn brown due to insufficient watering, dry or cold air.
4. The twigs will begin to dry out if the cupressus is located near heating or heating devices. In this case, move the pot to another place and increase the number of sprays.
5. Be sure to ensure that the flower does not freeze.
6. In spring, prune dead branches. After pruning, lubricate the exposed bark with a special decoction.