Cedar is truly the king of Siberian forests. In many ways, the forests of this frosty area won their popularity precisely thanks to this tree. And the clean air and the aroma that it gives.
Cedar is a very beautiful coniferous tree that is resistant to frost, therefore, you often want to have such a plant in your garden, turning it into a piece of home Siberia. How realistic is it to grow cedar at home? How to grow a cedar from a nut at home? Or maybe it is better to use special seeds for planting from a gardening store? There are answers to all these questions. But first things first. There are even special gift sets in order to plant cedar at home successfully.
Plant features
Cedar is a fairly powerful and large plant with a thick trunk. In natural habitats, the height of this conifer can reach 40 meters. And if you add a lush tree crown to this height, the question arises: what should be the area of the site in order to allow myself to grow cedar? Yes, if you use natural seedlings, it should be noted that the tree will occupy a small area. Not everyone can afford it.
It was for such cases that a breed of low-growing cedars was bred, which will fit on a compact site, and will grow no less beautiful and luxurious than a tree in the Siberian forest.
In nature, there are 5 species of Siberian cedar. There are much more decorative varieties, and some of them are able to produce fruits - pine nuts. It is about such varieties that will be discussed later.
Why do many people want to grow cedar at home
Cedar is an unusual ornamental plant that will delight with its attractive appearance, both in summer and in winter. This one of the reasons why gardeners so passionately want to grow a tree in their area. In winter, cedar stands out with its green crown over snow-white snowdrifts, which gives the site an unusual aesthetic appearance.
Secondly, cedar gives fruits - pine nuts, which are not only a delicious product. From pine nuts, you can make cedar oil, which has healing properties. Also, the resin of the tree promotes wound healing. Well, many people know firsthand the benefits of needles. From the needles you can make various tinctures, inhalations, or just enjoy the coniferous smell, relaxing in the shade of a tree.
Given all these advantages, and the benefits this tree provides, many people want to grow cedar from a nut at home.
How to grow a cedar
There are two ways to grow cedar: either buy seedlings, or use the seeds of a tree, that is, nuts. Do not want to bother much, buy cedar seedling. In this store they are delivered throughout Russia. How to grow a cedar from a nut at home? (video).
Instructions for growing cedar
When subscribing to growing cedar from a nut, you should remember that this process will take a lot of time and you will have to work hard, and also, of course, invest your love and care.
Cedar seeds should be collected in the autumn. The most suitable for planting are ripe cones of the tree, which can be collected in the forest. From the cones, the most vigorous nuts should be selected.
Collected nuts should be lowered into a weak potassium permanganate solution, and kept in solution for about three hours. After that, the nuts should be put in warm water for three days, while changing the water every day. After “water” procedures, the nuts should be buried in peat or coarse sand. It is best to use wooden boxes for this purpose, filled to the top with peat or sand.Nuts should go into the soil about 1.5 centimeters in order to feel the depth, it is better to dig in the shift with your fingers. When the seeds hide in the soil, you can sprinkle them with wet sawdust.
So that nuts have constant access to oxygen. Holes should be made in the drawers: one from each side and at the bottom of the drawer.
In this form, the seeds will winter until spring. Boxes should be sent to a place with a temperature of 3 degrees to 5, not more. At this point, the seeds will awaken until spring. It should be remembered that the water in the boxes must be moistened periodically.
Nuts should be planted in the ground by the end of May. 14 days before, boxes with seedlings should be moved to a warm place.
Cedar nuts do not have to be germinated throughout the winter and spring, but then the chances of the seeds coming up will be small.
A brief instruction on how to grow a cedar from a nut at home (photo) will help to grow a beautiful cedar. But, it should be remembered that a tree bears fruit only for 30 years of life. Not everyone has so much time and patience. The fruiting process can be accelerated.
How to speed up the process of fruiting cedar
So that the tree begins to bear fruit much faster. Than as many as 30 years, it is possible to plant a cedar seedling on an adult tree with a cuttings. But, in this case, the tree will not be very tall, the maximum height of growth will reach 5 meters. But, on the other hand, this miniature tree will bear fruit already for 5 years of life from the moment of planting.
How to care for cedar
The cedar is unpretentious in its care. A tree needs watering only during periods of drought, that is, when it cannot receive enough water from the soil.
The tree still needs fertilizer, once a season. As a fertilizer, sawdust, potash and phosphorus fertilizers, peat are suitable.
It is also worth noting the fact that a young tree in the first years of life is better to be in the shade. The most successful place for planting this coniferous beauty will be the depth of the garden. Or you can create a shadow for the tree, using additional devices that cast a shadow.
Some more tips on how to grow cedar from a nut at home
Following the instructions given above, you can count on success in growing cedar from a nut. However, a couple of practical tips will definitely not be superfluous:
- Before planting, boxes of seeds can be taken outside (in sunny weather), so that the tree slowly becomes accustomed to fresh air and sunlight.
- Adult seedlings need mulching. It can be made using fallen needles and weeds.
- Good nuts to plant are those that do not have a smell, on which there are no tribe or other raids.
- If there are no boxes in which you can dig nuts, then 200 gram containers from under salads are perfect.
- Immediately after planting, the cedar does not need watering, the soil is so moist enough for this plant.
- The soil should remain loose for as long as possible, this favorably affects the growth of the tree.
- To avoid waterlogging of the soil in which the nuts are located, spraying can be used instead of watering.
The key to success in this difficult task is care, love, attention and, of course, patience. Despite the fact that cedar is an unpretentious plant, it will not grow without some effort. Growing cedar from nuts at home takes a little longer than growing a tree from purchased seeds. However, the result is certainly worth all the hassle. Adult cedar not only brings useful fruits, but also is a long-liver, which will delight the eye all year round!
Daria
From my experience I can say that the main thing is not to water the cedar after planting.The plant is rather capricious and does not like excess moisture! You always have time to water, but by no means immediately!