Characteristics of the cypress and native places of growth, tips for indoor growing, reproduction and methods of pest control, interesting facts, species. Cypress (Cupressus) belongs to the genus of plants belonging to the Cypress family (Cupressaceae). All of them are evergreen representatives of the flora, which have a shrub or woody form of growth. The crown is mostly pyramidal or spreading outlines. In natural conditions, cypresses are most often found in the northern hemisphere, where the tropical and subtropical climate completely dominates. Namely, on the lands of the Mediterranean, on the Black Sea coast (in the Caucasus and in the Crimea), but you can find these examples of the green world in the Sahara, in the vastness of the Himalayas, also the cypress has not bypassed the southern Chinese regions and the American continent (from Oregon to Guatemala). All species that exist today are of very ancient origin, the roots of which go back to fossil times, but the remains of such varieties can be found in the Tertiary formation. This genus (according to various scientific sources) includes from 19 to 25 varieties.
The height of such representatives of the cypress family can reach 25 m. When grown at home, these parameters are much more modest, they do not exceed 2 meters. In trees or bushes, leaf plates are quite small, when the plant is still very young, they resemble needles, and when the cypress becomes an adult, the leaves acquire a scale-like shape and press against the branches, arranged in the form of tiles, laid in four rows. Each such leaf has only a free top, all of its main part is tightly fused with a twig. On the reverse side of the leaf, there is a developed oily gland, which often has a sharp outline. The color of the leaves is dark green and there is a slight bluish bloom.
This pyramidal plant is monoecious and each has male or female cones. Men are called microstrobils and they have a spherical or elongated-cylindrical shape, they include a rod on which microsporophylls are located. There are varieties in which they are rounded, but in others the form is polygonal-thyroid, the placement of microsporophylls is opposite opposite. Each of them contains 3-5 microsporangia. Female cones are called megastrobils, their coverts are completely spliced with the seed scales, therefore this formation consists of a rod that covers from 6 to 10 (rarely 14) cross-placed scales called megasporophylls. Each scale carries several ovules - they are called megasporangia.
In the second year of formation, the cones ripen, they acquire an ovoid or spherical shape, and the scales themselves become like thickened multifaceted shields, which are very eccentrically attached to a plump leg. On the back of the scale, a pointed outgrowth is clearly visible, developed to a greater or lesser extent. On the underside of such a scale, the seeds are placed very closely, arranged in several rows. Each flattened seed has a narrow winglet. The embryo has a pair of cotyledons, in rare cases 3-4 units can be formed.
It is important to note that, in comparison with other representatives of conifers, cypress adapts quite well to life in a room setting. It happens that unknowing people confuse a cypress with a Cypress tree (Chamaecyparis) very similar to it, only the needles of the latter with a light greenish color scheme without a blue tint. Of course, this is not a big problem, since you need to take care of both "green pets" according to similar rules. However, it is worth noting that it is not so easy to grow a cypress in your home - it is quite capricious and requires close attention, but it's worth it. Consider the basic requirements for plant maintenance.
Recommendations and rules for the care of cypress
- Lighting level should be high, but the direct rays of the sun should not fall on the plant, so a place on the windowsill of the east or west window is suitable. In summer, cypress is placed on the north window, and in winter - on the south.
- Content temperature. When spring comes, it is better to grow cypress at room heat - it is important to moisturize on time. With the arrival of autumn, the cypress tree should be moved to a place where the temperature will vary between 5-10 degrees.
- Watering cypress needs regular and abundant. Drying the soil, like its bay, is destructive. Light drying of the topsoil serves as a signal for watering. With the arrival of winter, watering depends on the temperature of the content; it is impossible to overdry the substrate. Water is used only soft and well-separated at room temperature.
- Air humidity when growing cypress, it should be high, since in the natural environment the plant is located near river arteries and lakes. For indoor cultivation, it is recommended to abundantly irrigate the crown with a spray bottle or wash it under the shower (cover the soil). It is recommended to spray twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.
- Fertilizers. Used preparations intended for conifers in liquid form, the frequency of application is monthly, from May to the end of summer. It is important that the preparation does not contain a large amount of nitrogen, and magnesium is necessary.
- Transplantation and selection of soil. After about two years, a transplant is required, as the substrate will lose its nutritional properties. Spring is good. Since the root system is highly sensitive, it is better to change the pot by transshipment. A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the new container - a quarter of the total container volume.
If a new shoot is found during transplantation, then after removing the plant from the flowerpot, it should be removed and the place of separation should be treated with garden pitch. Then, planting is carried out in separate pots with a suitable substrate. The soil is selected loose, you can purchase a composition for conifers, or you can make a soil mixture yourself from coarse-grained river sand, sod land and peat soil (parts equal) and two parts of leafy soil.
How to propagate cypress on your own, growing from seeds?
To get a young cypress tree, you will need to sow seeds or cuttings.
Propagating cypress with seeds before sowing, it is recommended to stratify them (keep for 3-4 months in the cold, the lower shelf of the refrigerator will do). Then they should be soaked in warm water for 12 hours, but better in a solution of root or epin. Planting goes in boxes with a 4x4 scheme, in a substrate intended for conifers, or use moistened sand (sawdust). The container is covered with polyethylene to create conditions of high humidity, and heat is also maintained for successful germination. But still, at best, up to 50% of cypress seeds germinate. It is required to winnow the crops every day and if it is necessary to moisten the substrate. As soon as sprouts appear, the shelter is removed and when the seedlings reach a height of 5–6 cm, a pick is made in separate pots with a suitable substrate. Over the course of a year, they will become equal to 20-25 cm.
When grafting, apical or semi-lignified branches are used, which remain from pruning cypress. There should be a "heel" on the handle, the leaves from the bottom of the twigs are removed and placed in the root solution for 24 hours. After that, you need to sprinkle the cuts with crushed coal and plant them in a pot with soil for conifers. Planting depth is 1/3 of the entire length. Then the soil is well moistened and the branches are covered with a glass jar or wrapped in plastic wrap. For successful rooting, it will take 1-2 hours a day to remove the shelter. After 1–2 months, the cuttings will take root.
Controlling cypress pests and diseases at home
Of the harmful insects that attack the plant, spider mites, scale insects or false scale insects can be distinguished. If signs of the presence of these pests are found, then it is necessary to treat with soap or oil solutions. If this does not give the desired result, then the cypress is sprayed with insecticides (Aktellik or Aktira, diluting 1-2 drops of the product in 1 liter of water). It is required to repeat the treatment after a week has passed and you can still carry it out 3-4 times with the same break to remove all pests and eggs.
Basically, all the problems when growing cypress in rooms are due to violations of the conditions of detention:
- Root rot can appear due to the constant waterlogging of the substrate in the pot, if a problem is identified, it is recommended to transplant into a new container and sterilized soil, before that all rotten parts are removed, and the sections are sprinkled with activated or charcoal crushed into powder. Watering is reduced until the plant recovers.
- Cypress begins to dry out in case of low humidity, watering with poor quality water or insufficient moisture, too low room temperature.
- If the leaves began to turn yellow, then this is a sign of a lack of nutrition.
- In the case when the cypress has stopped growing, the color of the needles has changed, a small bloom appears on it and the shoots and small insects are visible, this is evidence of the poor quality of the soil or that it is not suitable for growing cypress. An urgent transplant is required with preliminary washing of the affected parts with soapy water, as well as spraying with insecticides and frequent ventilation.
- If the branches dry out, then it is recommended to cut them to a living bud.
Interesting facts about cypress
According to the legend that exists in Greek mythology, Cypress was the name of a young man with a beautiful face, who was the favorite of the god Apollo. There are different versions of what was happening at that time. According to one of them, the young man grieved so much over the deer he had killed that God could not stand it and turned it into a slender tree with an evergreen crown. On the other hand, knowing how the Greek deities did not allow mortals to pass, the young man chose to turn into a tree himself in order to avoid the persecution of Apollo.
Having started a cypress tree in your house, you can not only get a two-meter-long evergreen plant, but also fill your home with a fresh and fragrant coniferous smell that the resin of the cypress exudes. It is recommended to grow large-fruited cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa), which is small in size, in room conditions. And if climatic conditions permit, it is customary to use evergreen cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) to decorate hedges.
If we talk about obtaining fragrant oil, then needles and shoots of not all varieties will come in handy, for example, Mexican cypress (Cupressus lusitanica Mill.). This product has antirheumatic, antiseptic, and also helps to relieve spasms and tone the body, it is not superfluous to say that this oil is actively used in aromatherapy sessions. However, the price of such oil is quite high and therefore in medicine and perfumery it is replaced by products with a lower cost.
All species, with the exception of Arizona cypress, have a fairly soft and light wood, it has properties to exude fungicides, and its smell is a good protection against insects. It is used in furniture and shipbuilding, often serves as a material for the manufacture of church accessories - rosary, crosses, frames for icons, crayfish or small kovels. An interesting fact is that the Egyptian priests knew about the properties of cypress wood and sarcophagi were made from it, and the oil was part of the solution for embalming mummies. Even Plutarch (the ancient Greek philosopher, biographer and moralist) called for writing all the laws on cypress boards.
However, the foliage itself, painted in a dark green color, has always been a symbol of sadness, therefore cypress is a frequent visitor to cemeteries, cypress branches were laid on tombs and decorated with them as a sign of mourning.
The Kashmir cypress is considered to be the national symbol of Bhutan.
Types of cypress
Here are just a few of the types of cypress plants:
- Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica) mainly in natural conditions, it is found in Mexico and in the southwestern United States. Such a tree reaches a height of 21 m, easily tolerates frosts up to 20-25 degrees. The wood is heavier than other types. The plant is evergreen.
- Kashmir cypress (Cupressus cashmeriana) is the tallest tree plant in Asia. For its growth, it "climbs" to heights in the range of 1250-2800 m above sea level. On the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, the plant appeared only at the end of the 19th century. If the cypress passes the seven-year mark, then it reaches a height of 20-25 m with a trunk girth of about 50-70 m. Coniferous and evergreen, with a narrow pyramidal crown, the leaves are scaly color.
- Saharan cypress (Cupressus dupreziana) can be found under the name of Dupre cypress. It is endemic to the territories on the Tassilin-Adjer plateau, which are located in the central Sahara (southeast of Algeria). To protect this species from destruction in the 20th century, a national park zone was created in the indicated area, and it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These trees reach 20 m in height with a trunk diameter of up to 3 m. Due to the merciless human activity, it is impossible to establish the natural outline of the crown. Their trunk is covered with a bark of a red-brown color, cut by elongated longitudinal cracks, it is often stripped off. The branches grow almost perpendicular to the trunk, and then have a bend towards the top, the shoots are thickened. In dense foliage, the outlines of scales, they are arranged like a cross, overlapping each other, have a slight squeezing, at the top with a sharpness. The scale reaches 1–1.5 mm in length, its color is green with a bluish undertone.
- Weeping cypress (Cupressus funebris) found in China. Plant height can reach 18 m, the branches have a drooping appearance. This variety is often planted in cemeteries in China and Japan.
- California cypress (Cupressus goveniana) today, several populations of this species are known that grow in isolation on the California coast. It can take both a shrub and a woody form, rarely growing above 10 m, if conditions are favorable, then the parameters in height can reach up to 50 m. There are several fruit-bearing trees collected in populations, reaching a height of 20 m and preferring to grow in sandy dunes. Crohn takes on a spherical or columnar shape, with moderate density. The bark covering the trunk is smooth to the touch or irregularly cracked. The branches are often heavily intertwined. The needles do not have a bluish bloom, and they do not have a gland that secretes resin. The size of male cones is 3-4 mm in length with a width of up to 1.5-2 mm, while female cones vary in length within 1-3 cm. The shape of the latter is rounded, grayish-brown in color, and they have 3-5 scales. The color of the seeds is dark brown, black or bluish, the length is 3-5 mm.
What cypresses look like, see below:
