Geraniums don't always have to be in the balcony box - small and weak-growing conifers can also be wonderfully cultivated in sufficiently large pots on the balcony or terrace. They provide fresh greenery not only during the summer months, but also in winter.
Which conifers are suitable for pot cultivation?
Popular conifers for pot cultivation are the Korea fir, dwarf cork fir, Hinoki false cypress, Sawara false cypress, dwarf arborvitae, dwarf balsam fir, snakeskin pine, Scots pine, ball spruce, Cushion spruce, arborvitae and creeping juniper. They offer different growth heights, growth forms and needle colors for attractive arrangements.
The most beautiful conifer species for the pot
For pot cultivation, you should select small or weak-growing species and varieties that, at least if you want to keep several container plants, have different heights, growth forms and needle colors. This much colorfulness loosens up the picture and makes a pot arrangement really interesting. Conifers for pots are available in very different shapes and colors: as bushes or shrubs, as standard stems, spherical, with blue, green or yellow needles, with long, short or soft needles. The choice is yours!
Shrub-like trees
- Korea fir (Abies koreana)
- Dwarf cork fir (Abies lasiocarpa 'Compacta')
- Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Coralliformis')
- Sawara. Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Sungold')
- Dwarf Tree of Life (Microbiota decussata)
Hemispherical and spherical conifers
- Dwarf balsam fir (Abies balsamea 'Nana')
- Snakeskin pine (Pinus leucodermis 'Schmidtii')
- Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris 'Wintergold')
- Ball spruce (Picea glauca 'Alberta Globe')
- Cushion spruce (Picea abies 'Little Gem')
- Tree of life (Thuja occidentalis 'Danica')
Creeping and drooping conifers
Creeping juniper (Juniperus communis), v. a. 'Plumosa', 'Glauca' and 'Wiltonia'
The right care
With proper care, conifers grown in containers can grow very old. As a rule, the trees or bushes are uncomplicated; they just need regular water and fertilizer. If the needles turn brown, you have either watered too much or too little - the plants cannot tolerate both waterlogging and drought.
Pot and pot size
If possible, choose clay or ceramic pots in light colors, as these do not heat up as much in the sun as dark plastic containers. The pot is ideally about a third to a half larger than the root ball.
Location and substrate
Most conifers prefer a bright to sunny place. Depending on the species, the substrate is sandy, humus or acidic. However, you should always ensure good pot drainage.
Watering and fertilizing
In summer, the substrate should always be slightly moist, but watering is less frequent in winter. Fertilize the trees about every two weeks with a fertilizer specific to the selected species (€18.00 on Amazon).
Wintering
Hardy conifers can also overwinter in pots outside; all others should be moved to a bright, frost-free and cool place.
Tip
Only the indoor fir (Araucaria heterophylla) is suitable for year-round indoor cultivation. All other coniferous plants belong outside or, if necessary, in the winter garden.
