Our Potted Cypress Trees

Our Potted Cypress Trees

By Joseph Parish

In November or December of last year, Pam purchased about ten small European Cypress Trees from the Produce Junction in Dover. It was hard to pass up at only thirty-three cents each. She is patiently awaiting them to get the trees in again, so she can buy up more of them. These plants do well in containers as you just need to give it a little attention like watering, feeding it occasionally and other common routine plant care. All you need to do is to transplant it into a larger container as it grows. It appreciates an occasional water shower and shows its gratitude with shiny and bright branches.

These trees are native to the Western section of America and used as a container plant, a hedge, or as a single tree. It is often decorated with balls and tinsel during the holidays as a Christmas tree. They are capable of growing up to 15 feet high with widths of 5 feet. They are usually enjoyed during the holiday season as an indoor plant. It can later be planted outside in well-drained soil. It can be left in its pot for many years by just transplanting it to a larger pot.

This attractive tree is easy and simple to maintain. When you get it home remove any wrapping that it was in. This includes price tags, stickers and the usual assortment of non-organic attachments. Now, place the plant in a cool, light location, such as an enclosed sun room or a porch. These trees like partial shade as opposed to full sun. They are good in zones 6 to 9, so I am not sure how they will take to the Delaware temperatures. The best they can take id -5 degrees when in the ground. At the other extreme they cannot tolerate the higher temperatures above 115 degrees.

When the top inch of soil becomes dry to the touch, water the cypress tree until it drips liquid from the drainage holes in the pot. As it grows transplant the tree into a larger pot usually in early springtime. The pot which you transplant the tree to should be at least two inches larger than the one it is currently in. Place about two inches of pebbles in the bottom of the pot along with some slow-release, 10-8-6 fertilizer.

When it is time to trim up the tree, prune about 1 to 3 inches of the top of each branch with a sharp pair of pruning shears. This is generally accomplished during the spring season as it will encourage growth. At the same time give your tree a strong washing with a garden hose, and rinse the branches. Do this in the early morning, that way the tree can dry before it gets dark.

Out of all the European Cypress trees that my wife bought she has planted two of them outside, however, due to the temperature restraints, I don’t know how they will do outside. Only time will tell.

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