With its picturesque appearance, the corkscrew hazel adorns balconies and terraces all year round. Reason enough to cultivate the tree with its magical charisma in a bucket. Read here what details you need to pay attention to when planting and caring for a Corylus avellana.
How do you grow a corkscrew hazel in a pot?
A corkscrew hazel in a pot needs a pot of at least 30 liters with drainage, high-quality substrate, regular watering, fertilization from March to August and annual pruning in spring. In winter the pot should be insulated and protected from frost.
Planting skillfully in the right pot – this is how it works
As a heartrooter, a corkscrew hazel spreads its roots both deep and wide. Therefore, choose a bucket with a volume of at least 30 liters. To ensure that excess irrigation water does not accumulate in the substrate, an opening in the ground is of utmost importance. If you spread a drainage system made of pottery shards over it, waterlogging has no chance.
As a substrate, we recommend high-quality potting soil (€32.00 on Amazon), which you can optimize with compost, perlite and a little sand. Before you take the young plant out of the growing container, place the root ball in water until no more air bubbles appear. If the previous planting depth in the pot is maintained, you have done everything right.
How to properly care for a corkscrew hazel
The corkscrew hazel feels at home in a pot in a sunny, warm and wind-protected location. Give your picturesque woody beauty this care:
- If the substrate dries, watering is carried out thoroughly
- Administer liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks from March to August
- Alternatively, supply with a complex fertilizer with a sustained release effect in March and June
- In early spring, thin out the tree and cut it to the desired size
Since the bizarre hazel species is not completely hardy in a pot, we recommend taking appropriate precautions before winter sets in. This includes a warm winter coat made of raffia mats for the pot. A wooden base ensures a frost-proof base. Please place the container in front of the protective south wall of the house and cover the substrate with a layer of autumn leaves, straw or needle twigs.
Tip
There are many myths surrounding the corkscrew hazel in ancient times. The tradition of making a dowsing rod from a hazel branch in order to discover hidden sources and treasures has been preserved to this day.
