Cypresses not only look good as a hedge or solitary tree in the garden. The pretty conifers can also be grown very well in pots to create a Mediterranean flair on the balcony or terrace. What you need to consider when caring for the cypress in the pot.
How do I properly care for a cypress in a pot?
To successfully care for a cypress in a pot, you need a large, deep pot with a drainage hole and drainage layer, a bright but wind-protected location, regular watering with rainwater, fertilization every two to three weeks and a frost-free winter at five up to ten degrees.
The right pot for the cypress
The right pot should be at least twice the size of the root ball. Since cypress trees do not tolerate waterlogging at all, the bucket must have at least one drainage hole so that excess irrigation water can drain away.
The pot should be deep enough that you can add a drainage layer at the bottom. This will prevent the roots of the conifer from becoming too wet. Materials such asare suitable for the drainage layer
- Pebbles
- coarse-grained sand
- Perlite
A good location for cypress trees in pots
Even if cypresses prefer sunny locations, if you have a cypress in a pot, you should make sure that it is not exposed to direct midday sun for too long. The needle tips can burn and turn brown.
Place them in a location where it is very bright and the trees receive morning and evening sun. The place should also be somewhat sheltered from the wind.
Care for cypress in the pot
In order for the cypress to thrive in the pot, it needs a little more care than outdoors. In addition to regular watering and fertilizing, it should be repotted at least every two years.
Watering is always done when the substrate has dried on top. Rainwater is best used as irrigation water. In warm summers you may need to water several times a day.
Cypress trees are fast-growing and therefore need a lot of nutrients. Fertilize them every two to three weeks during the growth phase with a liquid fertilizer for conifers (€8.00 on Amazon). Fertilization is no longer carried out in winter.
Overwinter potted cypresses frost-free
Cypresses are not hardy in pots. They must be wintered frost-free at a minimum of five and a maximum of ten degrees.
On protected balconies, cypresses can overwinter in pots outside if you cover them well and place them in a protected place.
Tip
Cypress trees tolerate cutting well, although they cannot tolerate cutting directly into old wood. They can also be cut into shape in a pot or cultivated as a bonsai.