Conifers are popular hedge plants, but they can also be easily cultivated in pots and in this form decorate the balcony or terrace. Like all potted plants, conifers in pots require significantly more care than outdoors.
How do I care for conifers in a pot on the balcony?
Conifers are ideal for balconies and terraces in pots. Choose a suitable bucket with a drain opening, drainage layer and special conifer soil. Protect the conifer in winter with a polystyrene plate under the pot, bubble wrap and fleece or jute around the plant.
Cultivation in a bucket
The thuja is ideal for planting in containers. However, the bucket should be of appropriate size so that the plant can root well. Further requirements for the bucket:
- It must have a drain opening.
- A drainage layer should be integrated into the bucket above the drain.
- Cultivation in special soil
- It should have sufficient width and height.
- A mobile vehicle is comfortable.
The opening in the bottom of the bucket is particularly important so that there is no waterlogging. The conifers like moisture, but not standing wet. The roots would rot and the bush would die. To ensure that the soil is not washed out of the drain when watering or in rainy weather, a layer of gravel or expanded clay should be sprinkled over the hole when planting. The drainage is covered with fleece and then the potting soil is filled and the conifer is inserted.
Planting conifers in the pot
When using a conifer as a pot plant, it should be taken into account that the soil used contains special nutrients, especially for conifers. The soil is provided with humus, sand and fertilizer in the correct proportions. This means that the shrub initially has everything it needs to root well. Proceed as follows when planting:
- Fill a drainage layer in the bucket.
- Now place the shrub in the middle of the planter.
- Add conifer soil to the pot, being careful not to push the shrub out of the center.
- Press the soil down every now and then and fill up to 5 cm below the edge.
- Water the conifer.
Winter protection for conifers in pots
Conifers are hardy and can also be overwintered in a pot. Since the earth can freeze quickly here and the conifers can be damaged, optimal winter protection must be provided during the winter. Place your conifer on a Styrofoam plate (€45.00 on Amazon) and wrap the bucket with bubble wrap. The plant itself is loosely wrapped with a fleece or a jute bag.
