The Second Life Of The Christmas Tree

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Description of methods for preserving conifers purchased at the New Year's sale until spring

Before the New Year, live conifers went on sale in all supermarkets. Beautiful Christmas trees Koniki, cypress, thuja and other species adorned shop windows, attracting customers and creating a festive atmosphere. Many could not resist and bought these fluffy, with a pleasant smell, conifers. The holidays ended quickly, and the question arose: "How to keep the forest beauties until spring and prolong their lives?"

Plant selection

First, you need to make the right choice so that later there will be no disappointments. When viewing in a store, you need to pay attention to the following points:

1) slide your fingers along the branches (they should be elastic, and the needles should firmly hold on to the stem);

2) an earthen lump to have a wet state;

3) the color of the needles is deep green;

4) shoots are strong and short.

If all these conditions are met, then you can safely make a purchase and not doubt the quality of the material.

Cases of prime importance

At home, immediately transplant the plant into a larger pot, at least two liters. Make large holes at the bottom of the container to drain excess water. First put the drainage (shards, expanded clay, pebbles), then some soil for conifers (sold in flower shops). Gently remove the Christmas tree from the purchased pot. Be sure to break the lump in several places, freeing and straightening the roots. If this procedure is not done, then the plant will die over time, since the coconut fiber firmly entangles the roots, preventing them from growing further. Place in a new pot. Fill empty places with soil, compactly crushing it. Planting depth remains the same. Pour abundantly with water, not forgetting to irrigate the crown of the tree itself.

Conditions of detention

Conifers are not intended for warm home cultivation. In winter, they are characterized by a state of rest. To do this, you should create conditions such as:

1. High air humidity.

2. Low temperature, close to zero degrees.

3. Moderate watering.

4. Diffused solar lighting.

In most modern apartments, these indicators are exactly the opposite.

What will help protect ephedra from death?

Insulated loggia

The temperature on it is in the range of 10-15 degrees. Here the plant usually comes out of dormancy and starts to grow, adding 10-15cm over the winter. In such conditions, it is necessary to spray the crown every day. As the topsoil dries up, water and be sure to loosen the ground. Feed the conifers with fertilizer once every 2 weeks. Shade out of direct sunlight.

Protective shield

On windows with wooden frames, a protective screen is installed, consisting of a frame and a film stretched over it. This device allows you to limit the access of warm air from the batteries. A little shading is done from the street side. This method is suitable for north and northwest windows where the intensity of direct sunlight is low. Care measures are the same as in the first case.

Cellar

Sufficient humidity and low temperatures do not allow the tree to start growing. Here it is necessary to prevent the earthen coma from drying out. Water on time and light up regularly for several hours a week. Before planting in open ground, gradually accustom to light.

Khrushchev refrigerator

In many houses of the old buildings, niches have been preserved under the windowsills in the kitchen for storing food. They have ventilation outside, so the temperature there is much lower than in the room. Maintenance will consist of regular watering and backlighting.

Burying in the snow

If there is a plot of land nearby, then you can bury the plant in the snow. So that during melting the snow masses do not break the ephedra, and the spring rays of the sun do not burn the needles, they wrap it with non-woven material, and cover it with a high box.

Balcony or veranda

On especially cold days, the temperature here drops below zero. The main thing is to prevent the earthen coma from freezing, since the aboveground part of the frost is not afraid. Warming the soil with blankets will help solve this problem. You can use a blanket wrap, consisting of a transparent bag and a zipper, or throw in thick plastic. With a cold snap from above

additionally cover with non-woven material in several layers. Place the Christmas trees higher from the floor and closer to the wall of the apartment.

All these methods will help the conifers safely wait for spring, replenish the collection and delight you for many more years in the garden.