Konik spruce, planting and care. Konika spruce - a universal tree for plots and home growing

If a gardener dreams of decorating a live Christmas tree he grew himself every New Year, then great solution planting of konika spruce will begin. A low cone-shaped tree goes well with various types flowers and shrubs. Landscape designers plant the plant individually, as well as in small picturesque groups. The combination of Canadian spruce conica and echiniformis in sunny meadows is considered classic.

A little about the fluffy beauty

Canada is famous for its dense forests. More than a hundred years ago, travelers brought a small copy of the huge Canadian spruce - konika. The latter grows up to three meters only if all planting rules and quality care are followed. The compact tree is popular among breeders for its unpretentiousness and great decorative value.

Advice: if you bought a tree in a pot at the market, you can delay planting. A seedling with an open root system requires immediate placement in a hole.

Konica spruce grows only a few centimeters per year. As the plant matures, its growth slows down significantly. Gardeners rarely notice large cones (5.5-6 cm) - with proper care, the tree spends all its energy on the formation of shoots and needles of an unusual gray-emerald color. The needles are soft, not prickly, short (2 cm) and fragrant.

Which method of reproduction is better?

The easiest way to have a spruce tree in your home is to purchase your favorite specimen at the market. But for a true lover of green spaces, it is important to grow a tree yourself. Conica spruce, like Echiniformis, can be obtained from seeds. In the fall, ripe cones are collected, the seeds are dried and planted in seedling boxes to a depth of 1 cm. In a cool place, with moderate soil moisture, the first shoots will appear in three months.

Tip: young plants can be immediately planted in large pots. They will grow over the summer, but transplantation at further care not required.

Stronger seedlings are obtained from cuttings; new trees will retain all the characteristics of the original sample. Together with a piece of bark, the lower branch of the spruce is cut off, and then the excess is removed, leaving 8-15 cm with a “heel” of bark. After drying the cutting, it is immersed in a solution of any growth stimulator for several hours. At this time, prepare a soil mixture of equal parts:

leaf soil;
bottom peat;
river sand;
turf.

The cuttings are planted in separate flowerpots, deepened by 2-3 cm. To properly care for the seedlings, you need to find a bright, cool place. Young plants need to be watered as the top layer dries; conic needles also like spraying. IN closed ground the tree will remain for 3-4 years, and then it’s time to place the Canadian beauty on the lawn.

The best place for a Christmas tree

An excellent choice for planting Canadian Christmas tree there will be a plot near the house. Soft diffused lighting predominates here. These trees, like Echiniformis, can be planted in open space, but only if the area is not characterized by hot summers. Cold piercing winds do not have the best effect on the conic tree.

Advice: trying to protect the plant from the heat, you should not plant it in a shady place. Even with high-quality care, a compact spruce will always stretch out and the needles will fall off.

Like its forest counterparts, the tree likes soil that is acidified and enriched with nutrients. Planting on land with slightly alkaline PH values will also not bring catastrophic consequences, but if there is an excess of lime on the site, it is better not to plant Canadian spruce at all. The hole must be made wide (up to 1 m), but shallow (up to 0.5 m), add a bucket of rotted manure there and dig it well.

Easy care

In the summer you need to pamper the konika spruce by giving it a soft shower with a hose. You can water the tree abundantly; 2-3 waterings weekly in the early morning or evening are enough. Young plants in closed ground are watered and sprayed frequently in the summer, and in winter the soil is only slightly moistened. Overwatering of the plant will inevitably result in death from rotting of the root system.
Spruce is sick if:

The branches are covered with brown spots (rust).
Needles (rot) rapidly fall off.
The needles began to acquire a reddish tint (tracheomycosis).

Sick trees must be dug up and burned. Undamaged specimens are treated with a solution of a drug with fungicidal activity. The root system of Canadian spruce, like the roots of Echiniformis, is located shallow under the surface of the soil, so loosening must be careful. When loosening, you can apply organic fertilizers or complex fertilizers.

Advice: late autumn it is necessary to wrap the crown of the Canadian spruce with breathable material (burlap). Reflecting from the ice crystals, the sun's rays burn the fragile needles.

The Canadian herringbone has a remarkable quality for care - it requires little to no pruning. The conical crown of the tree grows evenly, if you have to cut it, then only a couple of protruding branches. In spring and autumn, gardeners carry out a routine inspection of the plant, and also remove dry shoots and needles. You can immediately mulch the soil surface under the spruce with peat, leaves, and sawdust.

Konik spruce, like Echiniformis, is so unpretentious that it can be planted in the fall. The species is frost-resistant, suitable for planting in the middle latitudes of our country. Spruce has been growing in one place for about three hundred years. So, a grandfather can safely tell his grandson about tree care.

Caring for a konica spruce is equivalent to a health walk. Inhaling the aroma of needles, a person receives a boost of energy for the whole day. If you plant tall trees in the background and create a flower bed in front of the spruce, the garden will look elegant. A magic tree in a pot for the New Year will be a surprise for the household.

Thanks to the right kind crown and neutral green color, conifers tend to fit harmoniously into any landscape.

For example, konika spruce looks great both in simple traditional front gardens and in the fanciful new-fangled styles of a modern garden. How to plant it on the site, how to provide proper care, you can find out from the article.

The corresponding photos, a description of the conifer, as well as information about the height of an adult tree are also attached here.

History and description of the plant, its maximum height

At the beginning of the last century, an interesting dwarf spruce was discovered in Canada. After some research, scientists came to the conclusion that this plant appeared due to a natural mutation of the Canadian spruce (Picea glauca).

The conika spruce looks like this:

The crown of the tree is very dense and has the shape of a cone.
Light green needles (up to 1 cm in length) densely cover the branches.
The average diameter of the crown at the bottom of the plant is 80 cm.
The roots are not long and are located closer to the surface.

Conica grows very slowly. Young trees add 6-8 cm per year. By the age of 10-12 years, the height of the plant reaches approximately 1 m. After this, the growth rate slows down and grows by only 2-3 cm per year.

At home, in Canada, the maximum height of the conic reaches 3-4 m. In Russian latitudes, this figure is even lower - 1.5-2 m. Such a small growth is due to a decrease in the distance between internodes, combined with increased branching. This circumstance “flattened” the tree from top to bottom.

The ancestor of the conika, Canadian spruce, has the same number of internodes and branches, but its height, due to the greater distance between them, is 25-35 m. Thanks to its beautiful conical crown, this tree is used in the USA as the main decoration for Christmas in the most significant places countries.

Purchasing a seedling and planting it on the site

Konica spruce, like all its relatives, does not tolerate even the slightest drying of the roots. Therefore you need to purchase small tree in a container where the lump of earth is constantly moistened.

Advice. It is best to purchase konica seedlings from trusted garden centers. If you buy a spruce on the market from an unknown seller, you can lose time and money.

Landing is considered a very important moment. The further growth and development of the tree completely depends on this manipulation. When planting, it is advisable to adhere to the following rules:

Konica should be planted in the garden either at the end of April or at the end of August. Just at this time, the roots of the plant grow intensively, which contributes to good survival.
You need to choose a sunny place. In the shade, the correct crown of the plant may change, and the spruce will become less decorative.
Considering small sizes konica, it can be safely planted near the house.
The planting pit should be prepared in advance. The bottom must be covered with a layer of crushed stone or broken bricks.
It is also advisable to prepare the soil mixture in advance. For spruce, a mixture of garden soil, sand, peat and humus (2:1:1:1, respectively) is suitable. From mineral fertilizers You can add nitroammophoska.

The landing itself should be carried out as follows:

Soil is poured over the drainage layer so that a lump of earth from the container fits into the hole. Well watered.
Carefully remove the plant from the container and immerse it in the hole.

Attention! The earthen clod must not be allowed to be destroyed during planting. If this happens, then over the next 15-20 minutes you need to cover the roots with moist soil and lightly compact the soil.

The trunk of the plant is leveled on all sides.
The free space is filled with soil mixture.
Water the planting well. This requires at least 10 liters of water.
Finally, a shallow hole is created near the stem for further watering and cover it with a 5-centimeter layer of mulch.

Caring for dwarf spruce

Conic care can be called minimal. It does not require pruning or any other maintenance of the crown. The fertilizer that was planted during planting is enough for her for several years. If the summer is not hot and not very dry, the plant is provided with moisture through natural precipitation.

Despite these qualities, proper care can further increase the decorative value of spruce. For example, during hot periods, you should regularly water the tree, while simultaneously irrigating the crown. The first couple of months after planting, soil moisture is required weekly. If a crust forms on the soil around the trunk, be sure to loosen the top layer.

Attention! The roots of the Konik spruce are almost on the surface of the earth. Therefore, the plant does not tolerate trampling and significant soil compaction at a distance of 1 m around the crown.

Although konika spruce is winter-hardy, in order to avoid freezing, it is recommended to mulch the soil in the area around the trunk well for the first 2-3 years after planting for the winter. Too small seedlings can be completely covered with spruce branches before frost.

Dwarf spruce in landscape design

Despite the fact that conika loves sunny places, in the spring the plant can get significant sunburn. This is manifested by browning of the needles. Experienced gardeners It is recommended to wrap it in spring period crown with gauze, burlap, etc. The main thing is that the material does not obstruct the passage of air and is able to diffuse the bright rays of the sun.

The place of horses in the garden, as well as diseases that can affect the plant

at the entrance to the house;
near the gazebo;
At the playground.

Dwarf spruce is good both in single and in group plantings with fellow spruce trees or with conifers of other species. Such groups especially decorate the site in the off-season. At the foot of the conic, a calm green lawn or contrasting antennae and tenacious plants look great.

The spruce is especially beautiful during the period of formation of new shoots - it turns into an emerald green, fabulously beautiful cone. IN middle lane this time falls in May.

Carry out preventive treatment of spruce

Konik spruce can be affected by various fungal infections, timely detection and immediate treatment of which will help save the plant.

Rust - orange growths appear on the branches, the needles turn yellow and crumble. As a treatment, the crown and trunk are treated with special preparations for a whole month at intervals of 1 time per week.
Coniferous Schutte disease - caused by a fungus. When affected, the needles darken, then become covered with a white coating and fall off. If the disease is detected early, plants can be saved. In advanced cases, all that remains is to dig up and destroy the spruce.

The small growth of the once mutated Christmas tree turned into a significant advantage for it. Such a plant will decorate any area, and anyone can plant and care for it.

Canadian conika spruce: video

Source: https://dachadizain.ru/derevya/el-konika-opisanie-posadka-uxod.html

Spruce Konika: planting and care in open ground

1 Location
2 Landing
3 Care
4 Pests and diseases

Konika spruce is a miniature coniferous tree, which is a dwarf variety of Canadian spruce.

Thanks to its compact size and decorative effect, this mini-Christmas tree is successfully used in landscape design for coniferous landscaping in small areas, the area of which does not allow for placement of large trees.

Externally, the tree looks extremely attractive - the lush crown has the shape of a cone, the length of the soft bluish-green needles ranges from 6 to 10 mm. Growing in diameter up to 75–80 cm, Konika grows very slowly in height, adding about 6–8 cm per year.

As a rule, active growth is observed in the first 10 years of the tree’s life; over time, growth slows down, and the height of an adult plant rarely exceeds 180–250 cm. The root system of the Christmas tree is located in top layer soil, which greatly facilitates its transplantation. In addition, the baby is undemanding in care and is highly frost-resistant.

To ensure a comfortable stay of the tree on garden plot, suitable conditions must be created for it.

Location

Fertile loamy soils that retain moisture well are suitable for planting Konica, and soil acidity in this case does not matter, but the tree reacts extremely painfully to excessive alkalization.

as a place of residence for petite beauty You should determine a shady place protected from the wind, while avoiding hills and swampy lowlands. Does not build to plant Konika in places close to the surface groundwater.

Dwarf spruce looks great both when planted alone and in a group. Thuja, juniper and other conifers are suitable as neighboring species for Konica.

In combination with them, miniature Christmas trees are used to create “dense” coniferous corners on the site. Geometric group plantings of mini-trees in the design of a trimmed lawn look very impressive.

A single baby Christmas tree will decorate the lawn in front of the house, and during the winter holidays it will perfectly cope with the role of a Christmas tree.

Landing

Christmas trees that have reached the age of 3–4 years must be transplanted into the ground; all this time they are kept in pots to form the root system. However, Konika should not be grown as a home potted plant; with age, it does not tolerate indoor conditions.

It is recommended to plant a mini-Christmas tree in cloudy, cool weather. The timing of planting is determined depending on the form in which the seedling was purchased - a closed root system allows planting from early spring to late autumn, including the summer months, and a plant with open roots can be planted in the ground only in autumn and spring.

Before planting, the soil must be well moistened. In order for the baby to recover faster after transplantation, you can add half a bucket of rotted organic matter to the soil or feed the seedling with complex fertilizer for coniferous crops. For several days, the newly planted tree should be protected from direct sun rays.

Care

Due to Konica’s unpretentiousness, serious care is not required; for her good health, it is enough to take the following measures:

Watering– the soil under small Christmas trees should always be well moistened; drying out is extremely undesirable, since Konika does not tolerate a lack of moisture. During dry periods, it is recommended to water the tree through the crown; such a shower is especially recommended for young Christmas trees. 2-3 days after the procedure, the soil around the tree trunk should be loosened, preventing the formation of a dried crust on the surface of the soil, blocking the access of air to the roots.
Top dressing– in the first days of spring, it is recommended to feed the plant with a complex fertilizer suitable for conifers (“Epin”, “Zircon”) or sprinkle trunk circle rotted peat compost. It should be remembered that the roots of the mini-Christmas tree are located in the top layer of soil, so under no circumstances should you compact the soil around the tree trunk.
Shelter for the winter– despite the excellent winter hardiness of Konika, the most dangerous period for it is the end of winter and early spring. It is at this time that the first hot rays of the sun, reflected from the snowy surface, strongly burn the soft needles of the spruce trees. To avoid unpleasant consequences exposure to the sun, it is customary to cover Konica for the winter, using burlap, lutrasil, wooden and cardboard shields for this purpose. It should be ensured that the covering material does not cover the spruce too tightly, since natural air circulation must be maintained inside the structure. The surface of the tree trunk circle of Koniks is mulched with peat for the winter (layer thickness - about 5 cm). In spring, mulch is incorporated into the soil, providing the tree with additional nutrition.

Important! The plant maintains its beautiful pyramidal shape on its own, so no additional work There is no need to trim or shape it.

Pests and diseases

If Konica is infected with tracheomycosis, it will not be possible to cure it; at this moment, all actions should be aimed at saving neighboring plants from infection. The diseased tree is dug up by the roots and burned.
Schutte's disease is a fungal infection that affects pine needles. Treatment is carried out using copper-containing drugs.
Rust - in this case, pathogenic mycelium, similar to orange growths, settles on spruce branches. To save the conifer, fungicidal sprays are used.

The measures discussed above are quite sufficient for the full development of a dwarf Christmas tree, however, their absence or untimely implementation can affect the health and appearance of Konika in the most negative way.

Source: http://OnWomen.ru/el-konika.html

Konik spruce, planting and care

Evergreen beauties have always been considered the best decoration garden, and their decorative forms are simply ideal for landscaping and creating garden compositions.

The most popular coniferous tree in Lately counts Canadian spruce and its low-growing conic form. This tree will certainly become the highlight of your site, thanks to its amazingly regular crown shape and the color of the needles.

Konika spruce is an amazing tree that can grow perfectly in open ground and in a pot, delighting you with its beauty all year round.

In this article we will take a closer look at the features of the Canadian conic spruce, learn all the nuances of agricultural cultivation technology and describe everything in more detail possible ways using such a beautiful coniferous tree.

Konika spruce: features and description

Konica spruce is a decorative form of such a popular type of spruce as Canadian spruce. This tree has several other names, which are also often found in the literature and in everyday life among experienced gardeners: gray conic spruce, white conic spruce, glauca conic spruce. All these names very accurately characterize appearance spruce, which has needles with a bluish tint.

Canadian conika spruce is considered miniature copy bluish spruce and is perfect for landscape design. The first mention of this coniferous tree was recorded in 1904, when a similar konica spruce was discovered in the mountains of Canada.

After that, it quickly spread throughout the world. And for good reason.

After all, it is very difficult to plant a large coniferous tree in your yard, and in this situation a decorative Christmas tree comes to the rescue, which fits perfectly into any landscape design.

Description of the konika spruce:

Konica spruce is a coniferous evergreen tree.
It is a decorative form of Canadian blue spruce. The decorative value of this tree is considered to be its height and the correct shape of the crown.
In height, the conic spruce reaches 1 meter, which is ideal for home conditions. At favorable conditions growing can grow up to 3 meters.
The diameter can reach 2 meters.
It grows very slowly. In the first 10 years of life, it can grow by only 6-10 cm per year. After this period, the growth decreases significantly - up to 1.5-3 cm.
Konica is a long-liver; in one place it can grow up to 300-500 years.
Decorative form Canadian blue spruce has a unique correct form crown, which in appearance resembles a narrow cone. the peculiarity of spruce is that it practically does not need care for the crown, it takes shape in a natural way.
The crown is very dense, consists of short needle needles, which are up to 1 cm long. The color of the needles is bluish-green. The needles do not prick at all, so the spruce is absolutely safe for children and animals.
Cones on conic spruce appear very rarely and have an oblong conical shape, reaching a length of 6 cm.
The root system is superficial, so you need to be careful when loosening the soil around the tree.
Spruce glauka konik has several mutant varieties: Alberta Globe, Laurin, Elegance Compacta, Gnome.

Reproduction of spruce conika

Konica spruce propagates by cuttings and seeds. Any of these methods are quite lengthy and it will take a long time before you get a young seedling.

This method is used very rarely and is very unreliable, since the conic spruce grown in this way practically loses all its decorative maternal features. From one cone, only a couple of seeds can inherit the characteristics of the mother tree. But still, this method has the right to exist.

It is necessary to collect seeds from well-ripened cones. The optimal time for collection is autumn-winter.
Next you need to prepare nutritious soil with high level acidity. To do this, combine peat, leafy soil, soddy soil and sand in equal proportions.
Seeds are sown to a depth of 1 cm.
After sowing, the container is placed in a cool time that resembles natural growing conditions.
Such optimal conditions The first shoots may appear in early spring.
If you properly care for the seedlings, they can reach approximately 20 cm in a year.
Young spruce can be grown at home or planted in the ground after growing.
The seed method of growing konica spruce is always successful, since it has a very high level of similarity.

Reproduction of conika spruce by cuttings

This method is used much more often and has quite good results. The young plant will have all the maternal characteristics. Of course, this process is quite lengthy.

It must take more than one year to get one suitable for landing in open ground seedling.

Experts recommend breeding and growing konika spruce on outdoors- this will correspond as closely as possible to the real growth conditions of the tree.

Cuttings must be carried out in June, so that within a few months the cut on the cuttings has time to overgrow and after that the tree begins to actively take root.
For cuttings, be sure to cut only the lowest branches.
The length of the cuttings should be no more than 10-12 cm.
The main thing is to correctly separate the cuttings from the mother tree: the cutting must have a heel, i.e. separation must be carried out together with part of the tree bark. Otherwise, the seedling will die.
Next, you should place the cuttings in a growth stimulator solution, for example, Kornevin solution. To do this, liquid is poured into the container and the cuttings are placed there for at least 2 hours.
Subsequently, the remaining solution can be diluted with water and used for watering the cuttings.
Prepare fertile substrate. To do this, you can mix peat, leaf soil, turf soil and sand.
The cuttings are buried into the soil to a maximum of 2.5 cm.
Further care consists of moderate watering and maintaining the required humidity.
Konik spruce is planted in a permanent place in open ground only after 4-5 years.

Preparation before planting konika spruce

To obtain a healthy and beautiful evergreen coniferous tree, you definitely need to carefully prepare. The first step will be to select and purchase quality seedlings or prepare those grown yourself. It will also be important to find right place for landing.

Selection of seedlings

Most often, konica spruce seedlings are purchased from specialized nurseries; less often, they are grown independently. When buying, it is important to follow some rules:

It is best to purchase a seedling in a pot with a closed root system. Then you can plant it at any time from spring to autumn.
If you purchased a seedling with an open root system, you will need to plant it immediately.
At the same time, pay attention to the root system; it should be with a lump of earth and covered with burlap. This will prevent damage to the roots.
Carefully inspect the seedling. It should not have damaged branches or dried ones.
It is best to buy seedlings in specialized nurseries, so you will be confident in what you are purchasing.

Choosing a place for planting Konik spruce

Konika spruce prefers to grow in open sunny places with some shade, as it can sometimes be susceptible to sunburn. If it is planted in the shade, then the coniferous tree will quickly lose its decorative properties and the color of the needles.
It is also important that the place is protected from the winds and that there is no close groundwater underneath it, because conika spruce does not tolerate stagnant water.
It is important to take into account that they do not grow nearby big trees. Otherwise, there will be little space for the spruce and it may lose its decorative properties.
The choice of place to plant konica spruce will depend on the desired composition in the garden and landscape design.
It is important to remember that you should not plant conika spruce within the city limits - it does not tolerate air pollution and may die.

Selection and preparation of soil for planting

Konica spruce is not a particularly picky tree and will grow almost anywhere. However, to preserve its decorative features and bright color of the crown, you need to select fertile soil. The soil should be loose and light, well permeable to air and moisture. It’s great if the soil is enriched with organic matter. Also, before planting, the soil must be thoroughly dug up.

The process of planting konika spruce

Canadian conika spruce can be planted in open ground in spring, autumn and summer. However, you should know a few nuances, because planting varies slightly in different periods.

In spring and autumn, seedlings should be planted with bare roots. Definitely in summer planting material should be with a clod of earth, as there is a risk of damage to the roots. The conic spruce root system does not tolerate hot, dry air.
You need to start planting by preparing the soil. A soil mixture consisting of peat, leaf soil, turf soil and sand in equal proportions is suitable for spruce. You can add some organic matter.
Next, you should dig a planting hole, the size of which will depend on the size of the seedling and its root system.
At the bottom of the pit you can place a layer of drainage, which consists of broken bricks or crushed stone.
Next, pour out some of the prepared soil, into which you can add a little complex fertilizer.
A seedling is placed on this soil and sprinkled with the remaining soil.
After planting, it is imperative to water the seedling; there should be 10-12 liters of water per tree.
After that, be sure to mulch the tree trunk circle to retain moisture. Peat can be used as mulch.

Features of caring for konika spruce

Further care of the konica spruce does not require much effort or any complex actions. However, it is worth paying attention to the tree so that in the future it will delight you with its chic crown and bright color of the needles.

Watering

Konik spruce needs constant moderate watering. Especially in the hot season, it is imperative to water young trees 2 times a week, 10 liters of water per seedling. Spruce also loves sprinkling, so using a hose or watering can you can spray the needles 1-2 times a week. However, be careful not to flood the root system.

Loosening and mulching

Periodically, the tree trunk circle can be loosened, but this must be done very carefully. After all, the root system of a tree is close to the surface, and you can damage it. After loosening, be sure to mulch the ground. Peat or compost can be used as mulch. This mulch will protect your tree from drying out and large quantity weeds.

Shelter and protection of spruce konik

Young seedlings of conika spruce need protection from sunlight, as they can get burned and die. Cardboard and burlap can be used as protection. It is necessary to cover in the fall for the entire period of frost, while leaving the lower part of the tree open.

Feeding spruce konika

If, when planting, you added organic matter to the soil and complex fertilizers, the first time the seedling does not need to be fed. Further in the summer, you can feed the spruce organic fertilizers, diluted in water.

Trimming

Konica spruce has a regular conical crown shape that practically does not require pruning. In autumn and spring, sanitary pruning can be carried out, during which damaged, broken and dried branches are removed.

Disease and pest control

Diseases of conika spruce:

Tracheomycosis. This disease is very serious and cannot be treated. The first signs of this disease are redness of the needles and their falling off. The only way to fight it is to dig up the tree and burn it.
Rust. Signs of this disease include orange growths on branches, yellowing and falling of needles. To combat the disease, you can use special drugs, such as Vectra.
Schutte. Signs of the disease are blackening and white coating on needles. To combat, a solution of copper sulfate is used.

Pests eating conika:

Konika spruce is very loved by landscape designers for its decorative features, so it can often be found in areas.

Methods of using konica spruce in landscape design:

This decorative spruce will look great as a small hedge. Thanks to its regular crown, it does not need to be looked after.
Konica can be planted in various garden compositions such as rock gardens or rockeries.
It will serve as an excellent backdrop for flowering plants.
Konik spruce can be planted in pots and containers. Moreover, during the cold season they can easily be taken indoors. The advantage of this type of cultivation is the ability to use such a tree for New Year and Christmas.

Photo of konika spruce in landscape design

All the features of using Canadian conika spruce in the design of garden plots can be seen in the following photos.

Konica spruce in a garden composition

Konik spruce as a low hedge

Konik spruce can be planted along the walls of the house, on both sides of windows or doors.

Canadian conika spruce looks great in pots

Konica spruce is one of the most beloved evergreen coniferous trees, which is excellent for landscaping a site. Thanks to its compact growth and beautiful crown, it will become a real decoration and will delight you with the bright color of its needles all year round.

Now it has become popular to give the most unusual gifts for the New Year. A seedling of Canadian spruce (Picea glauca Conica) - isn’t this a win-win option for those who don’t have a plot of land, but really want to have one? indoor plant? Perhaps, but you should immediately familiarize yourself with the basic rules for caring for spruce at home, because growing it at home is not so easy.

Canadian spruce Konica (Picea glauca Conica): description

Canadian spruce Conica (Picea glauca Conica) is a dwarf coniferous plant with a regular conical (cone-shaped) crown shape.

Worth knowing! When you buy a very short young seedling, it does not have a conical shape and its needles are quite sparse. Nose every year Konika will become denser and will eventually acquire the necessary cone shape!

Main characteristics of the Canadian Konica spruce:

Needles- soft, light green in color.
annual growth in height- 4-10 cm, 3-5 cm wide.

Note! If you decide to grow Konika at home, then you should know that it will give a maximum of 4-5 cm of annual growth.

Maximum height- 3-4 meters with a crown diameter (width) of 2 meters.

According to experimental data, at 35 years old some specimens reach a height of 3.6 meters, and at 60 years old - 4 meters.

Requirements for growing Canadian Konica spruce:

Light- according to some data, it is light-loving, but easily tolerates partial shade. It grows well in sunny places, but is very prone to sunburn (it will burn on the sunny side without shelter or shading).

As a rule, in diffused light or partial shade, Konika grows (behaves, or rather, feels) much better than in bright light.

Moisture- sensitive to drought.
The soil- does not tolerate compaction and waterlogging of the soil (moisture stagnation).
Care and protection- protection from strong winds and from winter-early spring sunlight is required (in other words, it should be covered).
Frost resistance- very frost-resistant (USDA zone 3 - up to -37.2..-39.9 degrees).

Is it possible to grow Glauka Konica spruce at home?

Important! Despite the fact that Canadian Konik spruce appears on sale in November-December (before the New Year) - this is not a homemade tree, which can grow safely at home. This exclusively outdoor, not indoor plant.

It is worth understanding that the business of growing plants is quite cruel, in fact, like the people who generate such demand. After all, many people buy such live trees solely for the sake of 2-week fun (for New Year and Christmas), and then simply throw them away. Thus, potted Konicas sold in supermarkets are temporary decorative Christmas trees, which are subject of New Year's commerce and commonly used as disposable plants.

For growing in the garden, it is better to purchase container seedlings from special nurseries in the spring.(and not on New Year’s, when they cannot be planted in open ground).

However, many enthusiasts manage to grow the Canadian Konica spruce at home with relative success (at least for the purpose of preserving it until spring planting in open ground). Moreover, if you have no choice, and you have nowhere to drop it off, and it’s a shame to throw it away.

Interesting! In the video below, the author talks about the experience of caring for and growing Konika, bought in winter for the New Year, in room conditions during a year. What’s interesting is that the author does not moisten frequently, and, in her opinion, the spruce feels fine.

Author’s comment on caring for Konika: “I water it in the morning once every 4 days, watering moderately. I spray once a day, in the morning. In winter it grows in an apartment, near balcony door, at temperatures from +17°C to +22°C. In the summer I take it out onto the balcony. I put it in a corner. In the morning there is sun for 3 hours, and then partial shade, and so on until winter. I use the fertilizer once a month, marked for coniferous trees.”

Video: experience of growing Canadian spruce Konica at home

By the way! Konica is not very suitable for growing at home for one more reason - it potentially quite large. For this purpose, it is more suitable, for example, Canadian spruce Daisy White(at the age of 10 years it reaches only 80 cm in height). But again, my place is in the garden, not in the apartment!

How to decorate the Canadian spruce Konica for the New Year

Ideas for New Year's decoration Canadian spruce Konica:

Important! Of course, if on the afternoon of December 31 and the morning of January 1, Konika is in not very suitable conditions, then nothing bad will happen. But after the holiday, it is better to immediately put it on the balcony or in another specially designated place (with the necessary microclimate).

How to keep Glauka Konica spruce at home

If you did buy a Glauka Konica spruce or it was given to you for the New Year, then you can and even should try to preserve it in the winter at home. To do this, you will need to create certain conditions (microclimate) as close as possible to street conditions.

And in the spring it is very advisable to plant Konica in open ground (on own dacha or somewhere in the courtyard of an apartment building).

Transplanting into a new pot

If you are definitely going to transfer Konika to open ground in the spring, then you don’t have to transplant it into another pot, but you will have to create the most suitable conditions.

After the purchase (or gift), it is advisable to soon (preferably even immediately) transplant the spruce into a larger pot. In a large pot, the earthen lump will dry out noticeably more slowly, and the evaporation of moisture on the needles will occur throughout the entire volume.

Worth considering that Konika does not like transfers. Therefore, if you are going to grow it at home, then immediately choose a pot that will permanent place residence of the conifer for several years!

Especially You cannot plant a spruce in open ground in the spring and take it home for the winter, replanting it in a pot.

Naturally, we should not forget that soil for conifers needs a certain composition and structure, namely it must be sour. So it suits you ready-made substrate for violets or gloxinias, as well as special soil for azaleas, rhododendrons or conifers (it is always acidic). However, you can dig up one like this acid earth and in coniferous forest.

Important! Don't forget to do drainage holes in the pot, or even better, add a small one (2-3 cm) drainage layer, for example, from expanded clay. Naturally, the pot will need a tray into which excess moisture will be poured.

It is necessary to replant along with an earthen clod, optimal transfer method. Before transplanting, water and let it sit for at least half an hour (in principle, you can water in the evening and replant the next day). Then pull out the spruce along with the lump and quickly move it to another larger pot. After this, cover with soil. Under no circumstances should you shake off the soil from the roots. If you damage the root system, the plant will hardly be able to take root, especially at home.

Attention! Be prepared for the fact that after transplantation, Konika will shed some of its needles. It will remain dull and pale for quite a long time, and the young tips of fresh branches will dry out.

By the way! If you notice that Konica is in the active growing season, in other words, it has a lot of young shoots (or previously swollen buds) that have a bright light green color, then such a plant should be taken under special control (replanted and/or ensured maximum suitable conditions). It should not produce “offspring” in winter. Obviously, the plant is not in a dormant period, which means its life rhythm (cycle) has been disrupted, and thus it tries to survive, giving life to new shoots, which begin to pull everything they can from the old needles, which are beginning to turn yellow.

Place in the apartment and temperature conditions

It is worth understanding that in winter all coniferous crops have a dormant time, and this can only be ensured by low temperatures. Therefore, the place where the spruce will stand must be cool. It is necessary that there be at least +15 degrees (or better yet, up to +12 degrees, the ideal range is +5..+12 degrees). If the temperature rises higher, this will negatively affect the coniferous plant: it will begin to crumble and gradually die.

Important! If you place a spruce in a room where the temperature is about +25..+28 degrees, then no matter how much you moisten it, the plant will instantly begin to wither and dry out within 1-2 weeks.

In this case, the place should be bright, but not open (optimally diffused light). Direct sunlight is the last thing a conifer needs (hence, no southern window sills), because home conditions for a plant are already a great stress and a test of survivability.

And do not forget to periodically turn (rotate) the spruce with different sides to the light, otherwise the needles, which will not reach the light, may turn yellow, dry out and crumble (similarly, if the side is closer to the battery).

Note! It is advisable to find a place on insulated and glazed balcony, loggia, veranda or special room for indoor flowers where there is no heating (in as a last resort — the coolest window sill in the apartment or the space between the windows). However there there should not be sub-zero temperatures, otherwise the ground is in flower pot will instantly freeze and the plant will die (alternatively, you can insulate the pot from freezing). This in winter. And at other times of the year (spring, summer and autumn), when the temperature outside the window is above zero, Konica should be kept in the open air: on the same balcony or loggia, not forgetting to shade it from the bright sun, for example, by wrapping it in white gauze or other white material. b cloth.

Note! When low, but not sub-zero temperature(+2..+5 degrees), the requirements for photosynthesis are minimal, so theoretically it is possible to preserve the spruce until spring even in a dark room. At the same time, it is important to accustom the plant to the cold gradually. Naturally, in this case, additional spraying and watering are not needed. Yes, the needles will turn a little pale, but when you return them to the light, they will gradually restore their bright green color. But it’s still better that the temperature is a little higher and a little light falls on the plant.

Required humidity

You need to water the spruce often, in other words, constantly maintain the earthen ball of the coniferous plant in a moderately wet state, it should never dry out(but do not over-moisten so that the moisture stagnates).

However, the air humidity in an apartment with central heating is very low (the air is dry), so, in addition to watering, you will have to regularly spray the ephedra with water(2-3 times a day). Air humidity should be at least 50%, and better - 60-75%.

Advice! Ideal for watering and spraying spruce soft water, for example from the filter. Also, of course, suitable rain and melt water.

Optimal place a container of water near the pot of spruce so that the water evaporates and settles on the needles. Or put wet towels on the radiator.

Idea to maintain high humidity at home when there is severe frost outside and hot radiators are drying the air at home central heating! It's quite simple - you need to do it for your spruce home greenhouse. While the tree is small, it can be covered with a cut 5-6 liter plastic bottle. When it grows, build a real mini-greenhouse - make a frame and attach the film to it. And then spray water inside the greenhouse 2-3 times a day. Such a greenhouse should stand in the coldest place in the apartment!

And don't forget that all conifers love fresh air, so the room where your Konika will be located needs ventilate periodically.

Another idea! Next to the spruce you can put humidifier, which, in fact, will constantly humidify the air near the crown.

Feeding

Konika spruce necessarily requires regular feeding (especially in spring and early summer) with special fertilizers for coniferous plants. As a rule, they are sold in liquid form (but they are also available in dry form); you only need to dilute them according to the instructions and pour them under the root.

It is not at all necessary to use special expensive fertilizers for conifers; the most standard ones are quite suitable. So, in spring, nitrogen-containing ones are required, i.e. you can use urea (carbamide) or ammonium nitrate, or better yet, an infusion of mullein or horse manure (now even in finished form sell). In the fall you can use potash, for example, potassium sulfate (potassium sulfate).

Important! You should not feed spruce (like any other conifers) in winter (during the dormant period) and immediately after transplantation (after all, the substrate is already quite nutritious). It is necessary to feed only when the plant is sufficiently provided with light, i.e. in late spring-summer-early autumn.

Video: growing spruce at home

Pest and disease treatment

It is very important immediately after the purchase (gift) or a little later, but definitely in winter, that is, before spring, treat Konica against pests.

On spruce in the winter months, often in a dormant state, sits green aphid, which can eat all the needles in a month. On those shoots where aphids have visited, the needles turn yellow and fall off. A weak solution of Aktara (under the roots and on the needles) or other similar insecticides can help in the fight against aphids. A day after treatment, you need to shake the tree so that all dried harmful insects fall out. Green aphids are a very insidious pest because they are tiny in size and blend in with the pine needles. You can detect it only if you look closely (for example, with a magnifying glass) - the aphids have reddish-brown eyes.

If you notice on the needles white coating, so you know, this is hermes. To combat this pest, the following drugs (insecticides) should be used: Aktara, Fitoverm, Confidor, Iskra, Fufanon and similar.

Sometimes it may appear on the lower shoots white mycelium, which indicates the presence of such fungal disease , How snowy shutte. To combat it, treatment with copper-containing preparations (fungicides), for example, Oxyx, Hom or (1%) will be required. After treatment, it is advisable to cover the plant plastic bag and hold it like that for a while.

Video: Canadian Spruce or Glauka Konika Spruce - care and watering at home

Why does spruce turn yellow, crumble, or go bald?

As you already understand, low temperature (+5..+15 degrees), high humidity (60-65%), sufficient light and nutrition - these are 4 main components of your success for temporary maintenance of spruce at home.

However! We repeat once again, the Canadian spruce Konica is not an indoor plant, but an outdoor one. However, if you purchased it in a store during a New Year's sale, then this is a typical plant for temporary decoration.

It’s another matter if you bought a seedling in a special nursery. But even there they won’t sell it to you for the New Year, because plants for planting in the ground are purchased not in winter, but, as a rule, in spring!

It is worth understanding that growth continues in indoor conditions, which requires good lighting and nutrition. Otherwise, the crown inside becomes bald and crumbles.

Also, spruce begins to turn yellow and crumble due to:

heat and temperature difference;
dry air (low humidity);
strong drying of the soil, and then produced abundant watering.

To save the conifer, you can try spraying it with Epin several times (3-4 times with an interval of 3-4 days). However, it rarely helps, so especially count on the restoration of a neglected plant is not worth it.

Transplanting Canadian spruce into open ground

Important! How to replant the Canadian spruce Konica will be described in detail in one of the following articles.

However, it is worth considering that plants that have lived at home for a long time do not take root well in open ground and often simply do not survive the winter following planting (even with shelter).

In the meantime, you can watch an excellent video about the rules for planting Canadian spruce from a pot into open ground.

Video: how to plant a Canadian spruce

If you do not plan to plant Konica in open ground in the spring, then with the onset of warm weather it is still advisable to take the pot of spruce out into the fresh air: to a balcony (loggia), terrace or garden, but doing this gradually (increasing the time of stay).

As you understand, you will have to go to a lot of trouble to preserve the Canadian Konica spruce until spring if you are going to plant it in your garden. If in the future you plan to continue growing it at home, then let’s hope that you understand the responsibility you are taking on.

Note! More suitable coniferous crops for home grown and interior decoration for the New Year is considered araucaria, cryptomeria, cunninghamia and cypress.

In contact with

The decorative Konika is unusually beautiful - a dwarf form of the gray Canadian spruce. It was her attractive appearance that opened the doors for this little beauty to the world of gardening, where she was joyfully and unconditionally accepted. Today this mini-Christmas tree decorates various corners of the Earth.

It also grows well in the middle zone of our country. Distinguished by its winter hardiness, Canadian spruce Konica can grow wherever ordinary spruce trees grow. And its small growth turned out to be a great advantage, allowing the tree to settle even in a small area.

Description of Canadian spruce Konica

Konica is a decorative form. Under favorable conditions, the height can be up to 3 m, but more often it grows up to 1 m.

The crown is narrow-cone-shaped, dense. The needles are bluish-green, soft, thin and short. The root system of Konica is represented by a compact, weakly expressed taproot. The predominant part of the roots is located quite close to the soil surface, so loosening must be careful.

This tree grows very slowly - only 3-4 cm per year. But some specimens can still gain up to 10 cm in height per year. At the age of five, the height of the Christmas tree reaches only 20 cm, but already at this age it differs in decorativeness from the same-age seedlings of common spruce. By the age of 10, the Christmas tree grows up to 80 cm. Good growth is maintained until 10-15 years, when the height of the plant is about 1 m. Subsequently, the intensity of growth decreases and amounts to only 2-3 cm per year. This increase will continue into old age. By the age of 20, the height is 150 cm, the crown in diameter at the base is about a meter.

Canadian spruce Konica Maygold is a variety of gray spruce characterized by yellow growths. In other characteristics, the variety is similar to Konica and Daisy White.

How to care for Canadian Konica spruce

This variety of spruce is convenient because its care is minimal. Konika does not need crown care - it does not need pruning. Natural soil fertility and natural precipitation are sufficient. But if the Canadian Konica spruce grows on the site, it still needs to be cared for, even minimally. This will only enhance its decorative properties.

In case of excessive drought, irrigation through the crown is useful. 1-2 days after this, it is advisable to shallowly loosen the soil under the tree. With the arrival of summer, you need to feed the spruce. To do this, you can add 5 kg of rotted organic matter to the root zone and mix it with the soil. With the arrival of October, it is recommended to mulch with a layer of peat compost 5 cm thick.

This way the plant will overwinter better. In early spring, mulch is incorporated into the soil. To prevent spring browning (burning in the sun), Christmas trees should be wrapped in burlap or some other material that will protect from the sun without affecting ventilation.

Spring browning of needles is not a disease. This is just the plant's reaction to spring solar activity against the backdrop of frozen soil. In other words, the tree begins its seasonal growing season, and the unmelted soil is not yet able to provide the roots with the necessary nutrition, so the needles begin to turn brown. But when the sap begins to flow and when there is sufficient nutrition, the color of the needles tends to be restored.

Planting Canadian spruce Konika

Canadian spruce can be replanted throughout the growing season. Konica, the planting of which is not so difficult, still requires compliance with certain requirements. So, at the beginning of spring and at autumn period Transplantation with an open root system is optimal.

In summer, it is recommended to transfer the plant on its roots with a lump of earth. It is better to do this in cloudy weather. Within 2 weeks after planting, the Christmas tree needs protection from direct sunlight and maintaining the soil at an optimal level of moisture. Transplantation is better tolerated at a young age.

Application of Konica

Canadian spruce Sonica is very popular in landscape design. She is good both in solo performance on the lawn and in a group. Due to its slow growth, it is practically not used in flower beds, but when it reaches a certain height, the tree looks great in mixborders.

Canadian spruce dwarf Konica effective in a variety of compositions. It can often be found in a container on the roof ("green" roof), terraces, near houses, when decorating gardens. The decorative form is good in large rock gardens. Looks great in the background flower arrangements, and also harmoniously combines with other low-growing conifers. Konika looks especially beautiful on a smooth, trimmed lawn.

Canadian spruce Konica in a pot in the photo

Growing spruce in a pot is not at all difficult, as long as you know the technology. To start a “home” Christmas tree, you can buy a ready-made one in the store, you can grow it from seeds or dig a seedling in the forest. Whichever method is chosen, the seedling must be very carefully transplanted into a container. It is important to ensure that the root collar of the plant remains at ground level. The root system must not be allowed to dry out. By the way, a Christmas tree bought in a store needs to be replaced with soil.

For all types of spruces, the soil should have the following recommended composition: leafy soil, soddy soil, sand, peat in a ratio of 2:2:1:1. It is desirable to lay drainage (gravel, coarse sand, expanded clay) at the bottom of the container or pot with a layer of 10 cm. When planting / transplanting, it is desirable to apply fertilizer at the rate of 100 g / m 2. General fertilizing is applied at the rate of 15-20 g per container 2 times per season.

Although spruce trees are shade-tolerant, an optimal light regime is still recommended. Spruce in winter gray Konika requires sufficient humidity (80-90%) and optimal temperature+5-15 °C. The tree does not tolerate dry soil well, but waterlogging is not recommended. To maintain the optimal level of humidity, mulching with peat can be carried out, the layer of which will be 5-6 cm. Periodically, it is mixed with the ground, and mulched on top with a new one. Spruce Canadian dwarf Konika grows slowly and does not need pruning, you can only remove diseased and dry branches.

In summer, it is better to take out a pot or container under trees or shrubs. Irrigation is recommended to carry out drip. Every year, the Christmas tree needs to be transplanted into a pot. bigger size and special compost.

The advantage of dwarf forms is that, under favorable conditions, they can live for a long time in pots and containers. An ordinary spruce in a container can live no more than 3-4 years.

Konika in a pot for the New Year

Today it is considered very fashionable to have a potted plant as a New Year's tree.

For such a New Year's tree, you need to choose a place away from radiators and other heat sources. It is best to place the pot on a cold window, but given the “New Year’s” purpose, this is not always possible. In addition, a south window is not an option, since the young plant is afraid of direct sunlight. Wherever the pot stands, it is necessary to periodically turn it in relation to the light.

When keeping Konica in a heated room, it is necessary to spray the crown. It would be better to try to increase the air humidity near the tree itself. To do this, you can place containers of water around the pot. Another way to increase humidity: place the edge of a towel in a container with water, and hang the other edge on the radiator. With this method, you will have to constantly add water, as the water will evaporate quickly.

Many have seen these little ones lush beauties in stores, especially before the New Year holidays. "Glauka Konika" is sold very small, often it reaches a height of only 30-40 cm. But with the right maintenance and care, a spectacular plant up to 3-4 meters can grow from such babies.

The main suppliers of these small firs are Holland, Poland and Denmark. At its core, the gray-gray spruce "Glauka Konika" is just a dwarf hybrid of the usual gray-gray spruce, resulting from a mutation. Spruces are practically not intended for cultivation, since they need a hibernation period and low temperatures. Therefore, all small spruces grown in pots are intended mainly for temporary use.

In open ground, this tree reaches its maximum height only at the age of 50-60 years. It grows very slowly. In the first ten years, the annual increase in height is no more than 3-4 cm. After that, even less - from 1.5 to 3 cm per year. Average duration is 300-500 years.

Caring for a plant at home

Caring for the Glauka Konika spruce is not difficult. If you purchased a very small gray-haired beauty in the winter and want her to survive until she is transplanted into open ground, be prepared to devote a lot of time to her.

Keeping a spruce tree in a home pot for a long time is a real crime.

If such a little beauty lived to see it, it is recommended to transplant it into open ground. This can be done from spring to autumn.

Transfer

Having brought home a spruce, it is first recommended to carefully inspect it. Since plants cannot be transported across the border in the ground, coconut fiber or sterilized peat is poured into pots instead of soil. But such a substrate is not suitable for spruce. The optimal solution would be to choose fertile soil. However, there is a nuance here.

If the spruce is in a dormant state, then it is better to wait a bit until spring and provide it with low temperatures. If she has already “woke up” and releases green needles, then the transplant cannot be delayed.

The normal reaction after transplantation is the shedding of needles. To help relieve stress, it is enough to keep the temperature within 10 degrees and provide humidity.

Conditions in the house

Find the coldest place in the house: a window with a sill on the north side, glass balcony or veranda.