2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Tuyevik (Latin Thujopsis) - a genus of evergreen conifers of the Cypress family. The only representative of the genus is Thujopsis dolabrata. Earlier, the Japanese Tuuya (lat. Thuja standishii) was ranked in the genus. Natural habitat - Japanese islands (Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku and Kyushu). Today tuevik is grown in many European countries, in parks and gardens of the Black Sea coast and in Azerbaijan.
Characteristics of culture
Tuyevik is an evergreen coniferous shrub or tree with a dense pyramidal crown and wide flat branches drooping at the ends. The bark is reddish brown, exfoliating in narrow stripes.
The needles are dark green, shiny, scaly, thick, outwardly reminiscent of thuja needles, but have a slightly "synthetic" appearance. The needles are very aromatic, which is why the plant is used to obtain essential oils used in the perfumery industry.
Cones are ligneous, round, up to 15 mm in diameter, equipped with 6-10 scales. Winged seeds, up to 7 mm long. In Japan, tuevik is divided into two subspecies: southern and variegated. Both types are decorative, the differences between them are minor.
Growing conditions
Tuevik develops well in open sunny areas and in partial shade. Soils are preferable moist, loamy, fresh, fertile, well-drained with a pH of 4, 5-8.
The culture is relatively drought-resistant, however, the presence of moisture in the soil is desirable; prolonged drying of the soil should not be allowed. Tuyevik has a negative attitude to waterlogged, saline and waterlogged soils.
Reproduction
Tuevik is propagated by seeds, cuttings and grafting. Western Tuya is used as a stock. The properties and characteristics of the mother plant are most accurately reproduced by specimens grown by sowing seeds. However, this method is not always feasible, therefore gardeners most often propagate the culture by cuttings.
Cuttings are cut in summer, the percentage of their rooting is 70-80%. Before planting for rooting, cuttings are necessarily treated with growth stimulants. Tuyeviks are rarely propagated by layering, since the plants do not retain the pyramidal crown shape typical of the culture. Mature plants propagated in this way are unsightly, with crooked branches that cannot be formed.
Tuevik seedlings are planted in the spring. The distance between the plants should be 0.5-1.5 m. The depth of the planting pit is preferably 60-70 cm, the width is 50-60 cm. The drainage is laid on the bottom of the pit with a layer of 10-15 cm, then 1/3 of the substrate is poured sod land, sand and peat compost in a ratio of 3: 2: 2 and form a hill. It is also recommended to add 200-300 g of nitroammofoska, which must be thoroughly mixed with the soil mixture. When planting, the roots are straightened, the root collar is placed at the level of the soil surface.
Care
Top dressing is carried out once every two years. For these purposes, it is not forbidden to use complex mineral fertilizers, including "Kemiru-universal". Thuviks are watered only during a prolonged drought. Young plants need regular watering. Water consumption per adult tree is 8-10 liters. In autumn, the soil in the near-trunk zone is dug to a depth of 25-30 cm, after which it is watered and mulched with peat or wood chips with a layer of 5-7 cm.
Formative pruning for tueviks is desirable, as well as sanitary. The latter is to remove dry and frostbitten branches. Saplings planted in late autumn are covered with cloth or glassine for the winter. Materials can be fixed on specially installed frames, but so that they do not come into contact with plants.
Usage
Tuevik looks harmoniously in group and single landings. It matches perfectly with cypress, oak, larch, fir, pine, spruce, cryptomeria and beech. Thuyevik wood is used in construction, as well as in shipbuilding, since it is resistant to decay and has a very pleasant aroma.
