The mussel cypress does not like an abrupt change of location. However, it cannot always be avoided that you have to transplant your mussel cypress. To prevent the plant from suffering too much, you should follow a few tips.
How do I transplant a mussel cypress correctly?
When transplanting a mussel cypress, you should dig up the tree in autumn, cut back the roots and shoots, prepare a new planting hole with conifer fertilizer, insert the plant and then water it well without causing waterlogging.
Transplanting mussel cypresses
Basically it can be said that transplanting only makes sense for younger mussel cypresses. Although the mussel cypress has shallow roots, older plants have a pronounced root system that is difficult to get out of the ground.
Because the roots are cut and snapped, the mussel cypress does not receive enough nutrients and cannot draw enough water. This increases the risk that the tree will die, even with good care.
After transplanting, you must expect that the mussel cypress will need care for a long time and will only grow a little. She often gets a lot of brown needles after a change of location.
The best time to transplant
If possible, only replant mussel cypresses in the fall. Then the growth phase is over and the plant can put all its energy into forming new roots.
If you transplant a mussel cypress in spring or summer, you must be very careful to ensure that the moisture in the soil does not dry out, but that under no circumstances does it become waterlogged.
How to transplant the mussel cypress correctly
- Dig up the mussel cypress completely
- pruning roots
- Short shoots
- dig new planting hole
- Improve soil with conifer fertilizer (€8.00 on Amazon)
- Insert tree
- Fill up the earth and carefully tamp it down
- water well in the following days
Before the mussel cypress is replanted, the roots and shoots must be cut back.
After transplanting, good watering is the most important prerequisite for the mussel cypress to grow in its new location. Water regularly, but make sure that under no circumstances does it become waterlogged, as the plant will then turn brown or begin to rot.
The new location must be warm and bright, preferably sunny. In general, most mussel cypresses are not hardy and must be kept indoors over the winter. That's why it usually makes more sense to grow the trees in a bucket.
Tip
Plant mussel cypresses in pots in fresh substrate every two to three years. When repotting, shorten roots and shoots.