For lovers of all things green and passionate growers, a Christmas tree in a pot is essentially a genius solution. How to take care of him so that he is happy? And can it be planted in the garden or in the forest over time?
Traditional spruce (Picea abies) the Caucasian fir competes not only in the category of cut trees, but also those in pots (Abies nordmanniana), as it is very handsome and relatively durable. Unlike our home fir, it is denser when young and grows slowly – you can grow it in a container for several years. However, our original, also beautiful white-barked fir (Abies alba) you can later plant in the forest as part of ecological programs.
Already in 1998, enthusiasts involved in nature protection (ZO ČSOP Veronica, House of Ecological Education Lipka and Hnúti Duha) came up with the idea of how to connect Christmas joy with helping nature. In cooperation with Brno forestry companies, they organized the sale of high-quality Christmas fir seedlings in flower pots and then their planting. And today you can also participate in many other places, for example, bet together with Lesy hl. of the City of Prague () or download a brochure on the website of the Veronica Ecological Institute () with instructions on how to organize a similar God-loving event anywhere else.
And why hemlocks? White firs are conifers of the future, whose return to forests is highly desirable. Spruce trees have no chance of resisting the bark beetle as the climate warms, but they are thriving. True, in the past, the spruce displaced them, as the foresters preferred it. In the first years of its life, it is much less demanding – young seedlings survive even in clearings, while hemlock requires shading. But in the following years, the roles will be reversed and the spruce trees today have no chance of a long, happy life, the basis of a healthy forest.
Tree from horticulture
However, you can also plant a tree in the garden, then you can simply buy it in a garden store. When selling, it should be placed outside or in a bright and cool room. The period of vegetation rest, which nature gave him due to the change of seasons thousands of years ago, cannot be cheated. The tree should have flexible branches, non-falling needles and fresh color. The growing container must be large enough – transplanting in the middle of winter is not suitable. You can easily cover the appearance of the plastic flower pot with a suitable cover or basket.
Tip: If you wish to grow a sapling in a container for many years, choose a dwarf cultivar whose genes do not allow it to grow many meters high. Such a plant will be happy in a flowerpot for many years if you provide it with suitable conditions. And you can choose between many species and their varieties.
Christmas visit
If it is freezing outside, you should allow the tree to acclimatize at least a week or two before Christmas Eve in a cool, but frost-free, bright place. If it is frosty outside, this preparation is not necessary. However, do not leave it in a warm room for more than three days. And if they only spend Christmas Eve with you, so much the better. Of course, it also depends on the temperature in the room, where it should definitely be as far away from the heater as possible. The lower the temperature, the better. The warmth of several days can already wake the tree from its winter sleep. In this case, it will survive in good health until the spring only in the same place that was used for acclimatization – i.e. bright, cool, but with temperatures not falling below zero.
- The tree needs enough light and moisture – the warmer it is, the more.
- Always keep the substrate slightly moist. Cover the pot with a saucer, but do not let the water stand in it for more than an hour.
- You can decorate the surface with moss and, if it falls, also with snow, which will cool the tree and water it at the same time.
- The relative humidity in the room where the conifer is temporarily housed should reach at least 70%. Therefore, the tree often grows, or place an air humidifier directly under it. A small diffuser that produces a fine mist will also work.
In a flowerpot all year round
If it willtree in a flower pot to live all year round, find a suitable place for it in the summer.
- The conifer should be in full light, but the pot should not be exposed to sunlight.
- You can also sink the container into the ground – it is important that the soil does not heat up in it, and that the sapling is not in full shade, where it would pull out.
- Water the soil regularly, keep it slightly moist, and fertilize regularly with a fertilizer for conifers. Or put tablets in the flowerpot, which gradually release the nutrients.
- In winter, the container must be protected against freezing.
- As the temperature drops, the tree will need less moisture, but be careful that the substrate does not dry out completely.
As long as it is growing, you can transplant the sapling into a container one size larger in the spring. You can use a substrate for conifers or a mixture of mature compost and sand or perlite or vermiculite, which will aerate it and improve the water regime in the container.
You could find this article in the magazine Recipe No. 12/25.
