Keep conifers in the bucket

In addition to many other plants, conifers are also part of the list of popular potted plants. Thuja, cypress and rocket juniper are equally suitable for cultivation in a larger pot. Their soft foliage varies from light to dark green to bluish hues, depending on the species. Whether as a solitaire or in a group, conifers in pots are extremely charming.

What are conifers?

The term within the biological system is made up of the Latin words "conus" for "cone" and "ferre" for "carry". Both connected together result in the designation "Zapfenträger". In German usage, however, the expression "coniferous wood" has prevailed. Experts occasionally speak of Coniferales or Pinales. The cones are spike-shaped female infructescences that lignify over time. Seeds ripen under the scales. In the case of arborvitae and cypress plants, the fruits have the shape of a berry. Nevertheless, the correct definition is cones. This is also true of the juniper, where the scaly leaves become fleshy and develop into a pea-sized fruit.

What are the benefits of conifers?

Coniferous trees are indispensable in garden design. The popularity is no coincidence, because conifers come up with a number of convincing arguments:

• evergreen (exception: larch)
• provide privacy all year round
• no falling autumn leaves
• green splashes of color in winter
• frost tolerant
• easy-care

Deciduous trees would die of thirst if they kept their leaves in winter. All trees and shrubs draw water and nutrients from the soil with their roots and transport it through the trunk, branches and twigs to the leaves. Evaporation takes place via the leaves, so that supplies must be constantly provided. When the ground is frozen, this cycle is no longer effective.

Deciduous trees shed their leaves in autumn to protect them from drying out during the cold season. Needles are covered with a thick layer of wax and have a low surface area, which significantly reduces evaporation. This is why conifers can keep their needles in winter. The same principle applies to the scale leaves of the cypress family.

Why cultivate conifers in tubs?

In times of constantly rising prices for building land, the garden is relatively small for more and more home builders. On the other hand, many buildings located in town centers have little or no green space. There may only be a paved courtyard that does not allow direct planting in the ground. If you own a condominium, you usually don’t have a garden, but only a terrace or a balcony. All of these variants do not provide a valid reason for not using conifers.

Because wherever there is a lack of space, bucket maintenance is a good idea. On the other hand, there are the garden owners who, despite the large area, prefer a planter for various plants. Being able to move a plant to one side or move it to another location when needed can sometimes come in handy. Below are a few suggestions for pitches where conifers in tubs come into their own:

• right and left of the entrance
• next to a stairway
• to surround a bank
• front of the house
• Decoration of the terrace
• on the balcony
• as a demarcation for separate areas

size of the bucket

The pot emphasizes the natural expressiveness of the conifer. What size should it be so that thuja, cypress or other coniferous trees can thrive in it? A rule of thumb says that a bucket diameter of 30 to 40 cm is required for one meter of growth. Higher conifers need correspondingly more volume. Conifers are generally flat-rooted, but the minimum vertical dimension should be the same as the width. For very small trees, double the height and width of the root ball is initially sufficient. If the plant grows in size over time, it needs to be moved to a more spacious container.

Which bucket?

The bucket for the conifer must first and foremost please. But before personal taste influences the purchase decision, you should also think about the material. The specialist trade currently has buckets available in the following materials:

• Terracotta: often not hardy
• Earthenware/ceramic: fragile, not frost-proof
• Concrete: heavy, unwieldy
• Zinc: durable
• Plastic: light and inexpensive
• Poly rattan: modern
• Fiberglass: high strength
• Aluminum: robust, low weight
• Stainless steel: looks very classy
• Rust steel (Corten steel): rustic
• Wood: insulating, close to nature
• Bamboo: decorative

If the bucket stays in the same place all the time, its weight plays a subordinate role. However, if you know from the outset that the planter will have to be moved away from time to time, you should opt for light materials (plastic, zinc, aluminium). Alternatively, mobile pedestals provide good services. Conifers that remain outdoors all year round require a frost-proof container.

Moist soil expands when frozen, cracking pottery and ceramic pots. In the case of plastic, it is advisable to pay attention to the “UV-resistant” note. Without this property, the colors fade when exposed to sunlight and the material becomes brittle. If the predicate, which indicates lightfastness, is missing, tubs will look old and worn after just one season.

conifer substrate

When it comes to the soil, plants in the bucket cannot draw from the full. Unlike outdoor planting, they depend on the amount offered to them in their habitat. In order for them to be bursting with health, they need a substrate that provides them with all the important nutrients. Commercial special soil for conifers has the properties that are expected of the plants:

• slightly sour
• pH 3.5 - 4.5
• rich in humus
• retains moisture
• permeable
• mostly supplied with start fertilization

Thuja, cypress and rocket juniper in the bucket

Cypress plants, which from a botanical point of view also include thuja and juniper, see scaly leaves are generally more full-bodied than the native conifers fir, spruce and Jaw. The denser growth makes these conifer species popular components in the garden. The essential oils in the leaves and young twigs also spread an aromatic scent. Types that only grow slowly and not excessively high should be given preference for keeping in buckets. Please note that the plants require a little more care than in free-range husbandry and, to prevent frost damage, possibly in winter, a thermal protection wrapped around the bucket need.

planting

Spring and fall are the perfect planting times. Conifers do not tolerate extremely wet conditions. In the bucket there is a risk that the roots will rot. Excess water can run off through a pot base equipped with an opening. To be on the safe side, you should insert a drainage layer at the bottom so that the water does not accumulate around the roots. As far as putting them in the pot is concerned, there are no significant differences between thuja, cypress and rocket juniper. Therefore, here is a summary of the potting instructions for all three variants:

1. Immerse the roots of container plants in water until no more bubbles appear
2. Soak bare root plants in water for at least an hour
3. Equip the bucket with a layer of drainage (gravel, potsherds, expanded clay) about 2 cm thick
4. Insert a fleece as a boundary to the ground
5. Fill in a layer of coniferous substrate
6. Place the plant in the middle of the pot
7. pour earth around the roots
8. press on the substrate
9. Leave 3-5 cm free up to the edge of the bucket (so that the bucket does not overflow when watering)
10. Water well

watering

Outdoors, dry weather is usually not a problem for conifers, but it is for potted plants. During heat and longer periods without rain, the water supply quickly comes to a standstill due to the limited volume in the bucket. Make sure that the soil always has a certain moisture content. During the summer, the watering can may need to be in action every day. Too much of a good thing can also have negative effects. Extreme moisture promotes mold growth and hinders the roots from absorbing nutrients. Proper watering means:

• wait for the soil to dry
• do not wet the above-ground parts of the plant, but pour directly onto the substrate
• Water temperature not colder than ambient temperature
• Water in the morning or in the evening - not in the midday heat (otherwise the water will evaporate immediately)
• in summer usually daily watering necessary
• Spring and Summer: about twice a week
• Do not leave water in the coaster for a long time (waterlogging!)
• even in winter, make sure that the soil does not dry out (do not water in severe frost)

fertilization

Initially, there is no need for fertilization, because the conifer substrate initially has enough nutrients ready. After 2-3 months this supply is used up. In order to avoid deficiency symptoms in the crop, you should then add liquid fertilizer to the conifers about every four weeks via the irrigation water. From the end of August there is no more fertilizing so that the plant can prepare for the winter. The next nutrient doses are only due in early spring. Long-acting fertilizers only need to be applied once or twice a year.

Tip: Dry the coffee grounds from time to time and work them into the substrate. The residue from coffee preparation contains, among other things, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and has a slightly acidic effect.

Thuja – special features:

• Location: sunny to semi-shady
• possibly reacts sensitively to draughts
• regular cut for dense growth
• relatively hardy
• Dwarf forms: "Teddy", "Tiny Tim" and "Little Giant"

Special characteristics of the cypress:

• select hardy cypresses
• add some sand to the soil
• Location: Sun or semi-shade
• needs winter protection when kept in buckets (wrap the pot with bubble wrap, coconut mat or sackcloth)
• small species: "Baby Blue"

Rocket juniper in detail:

• typical heather plant
• Location: as sunny as possible
• grows stiffly upright
• tolerates frost well
• loves nutrient-poor soils (fertilize only a little!)

Further care measures

It is certain that weeds will grow next to the plants after a while. If it is still small, it can be weeded easily. Take this opportunity to loosen up the soil a bit with a hand hoe or a fork so that oxygen can penetrate to the roots. But be careful not to damage roots. Thuja, cypress and juniper plants are very tolerant of pruning. If the trees in the bucket break the originally intended framework, you can boldly reach for the scissors, but not into the old wood, because the branches will no longer sprout there.

Better to prune a little more often than radically once. Ideally, pruning should take place in spring or autumn. With imagination, patience and possibly with the help of a stencil, interesting shapes and sculptures can be created. The rocket juniper grows up as a slender column. With this conifer, only the upper shoots are usually shortened.

Learn more about potted plants