Spruce is an evergreen coniferous tree. It can reproduce only with the help of cones containing seeds. The plant is unpretentious and is considered one of the most common conifers in Northern Europe and the world. In the home garden, the pine tree boasts not only its decorative qualities, but also its usefulness for the human respiratory tract and the ability to clean the air of harmful bacteria.
Selection of planting material
The success of growing spruce directly depends on the right planting material.If you are going to buy seedlings for planting, then decide in advance on the choice of plant variety. Also, contact only trusted suppliers or nurseries for services. Carefully inspect the planting material and do not rush to the choice.
Self search
In the case when you decide to find and collect planting material yourself, the main thing is to choose the right time of year and weather. It is best to look for cones in late autumn or early winter, when the ground is already frozen. This is due to the fact that the seeds are better preserved in the absence of moisture, and during frost it is always lowered.
Finding your own planting material is very simple - visit the park closest to your house or the planting strip in which the fir trees grow. Pay attention to the integrity, color and humidity of the cones. Seeds should not even be slightly rotten or wet: such material is not suitable for successful planting and cultivation.
Did you know? According to the myths of ancient Greece, all pines descended from Pitis. This is the nymph of the morning dawn, which itself turned into a spruce.
Seed purchase
When choosing a ready-made planting material, pay attention to the following criteria:
- aroma;
- Colour;
- structure.
First of all, the smell of seeds should not contain ripe notes. This indicates a possible beginning of the process of decay from the inside. [img
The color should be uniform brown or dark gray, not interspersed. Shriveled samples indicate improper storage, which can also affect the quality of the material.
The type of soil also depends on the choice of the tree variety, therefore, for inexperienced gardeners, those plants that naturally grow in the region of residence are recommended. If you want to leave the spruce tree directly in the house or apartment, dwarf pines will be an ideal option.Important! When sprouting trees from cones of hybrid pine varieties, in most cases, the decorativeness of the plant is lost.
Stratification
To accelerate the germination of seedlings, the seeds of many plants are kept in a humid place or at a specific temperature. For firs, there is no strong need for this action, but stratification is recommended. This will increase the germination rate.
The easiest way to stratify is to extract seeds taken from cones in cold melt water 3 days before sowing. If during this process they stuck together, you can dry them slightly - room temperature is suitable for this. Many gardeners recommend disinfecting with a solution of manganese in order to get rid of the risk of diseases for the plant.
Soil preparation
Plant a Christmas tree in the same land in which mature trees of this variety already grow. The best option for pines is sandy soil. To start, fry the soil in the oven - this procedure will help get rid of unwanted harmful organisms and bacteria. Then water the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate to fix the disinfecting result.
To increase the nutritional value of the land, add a small amount of peat. If you don’t have it, then buy a special soil for pines in a specialized store in the form of a ready-made mixture.
Did you know? The oldest spruce grows in Sweden - the tree is more than 9 thousand years old. This is due to the fact that it is able, after its own death, to sprout again from the remaining roots, which happened to this record pine.
Planting seeds
To germinate the seedling, prepare a large pot to provide freedom for the roots. In addition, moisture is retained in a large container, which stimulates growth.
Next, follow the steps in this sequence:
- Put drainage at the bottom of the pot, and the pre-prepared soil goes a layer above.
- The next layer should consist of seeds, which are sprinkled on top with a small amount of earth.
- Cover the top of the pot with plastic wrap.
- Put the container with the future seedling on the windowsill, so that there is enough lighting.
Water the soil regularly and wait for the first sprouts to appear.Germination Care
Before the shoots germinate, watering is necessary. In order not to erode a thin layer of soil, water and decontaminate exclusively with a spray. After the first sprouts appear, stop watering: excessive moisture can provoke rot and disease. Instead, occasionally spray the plant with a little warm water.
For spruce seedlings, temperature differences in winter are useful. Also, the pot must be removed from the windowsill - delicate sprouts should avoid direct sunlight. If the shoots appeared even white trunk and the shell of the seeds is visible, then you did everything right. After the sprout will change its color depending on the level of environmental lighting. In the case when, in addition to the main one, other weak and curved trunks appeared, cut them so that they do not consume nutrients.
At the first warming in the spring, you can take the pot out into the fresh air during the day, and bring it back at night. The best temperature for the plant at this stage of development is + 15 ° C. In the warm season, regularly water. The first few winters should warm the young tree with peat. So it will not suffer from frost and will not stop growing in winter.
Growth period
It takes at least two weeks to germinate the tree. Do not be discouraged if after this period the seedling has not made its way: many fir trees need more time. On average, the sprout appears during the first two months. However, some varieties of the tree may not show signs of life for a whole year, after which they can grow successfully. In this case, do not stop caring for the plant - over time it will germinate if the selected seeds were of high quality.
Open transplant
You can plant a pine tree in open soil in autumn or spring. Many experts choose the second option so that the seedling can get used to the soil and get stronger before the onset of winter. Planting in autumn is good because at this time of year the root growth rate is much higher than in other seasons. Pay attention to the tree itself: there should be fewer branches on its north side, and it is in this position that you need to transplant into the open ground.
First of all, dig a hole for planting. Its depth depends on the age of the seedling: if it is a year old, then you need to dig only 50 cm deep. If the tree is 2 years old, a meter hole is needed.Important! Although spruce is considered a very frost-resistant tree, a young seedling may not survive in harsh winters.
For proper transplantation, follow these points:
- Prepare the soil: pour stones into the pit for drainage, add compost on top, and fertilizer as the top layer.
- Insert the tree trunk into the remaining space and sprinkle with earth.
- Tamp the soil so that no roots remain at the roots.
- Water with a little water.
If the seedling is very small, you can arrange a greenhouse for it with the help of polyethylene, which must be removed after 7 days.
Follow-up care
After the spruce has taken root, constant care of the tree is necessary. The main thing for a gardener is to properly water. An already grown, but still young tree requires 15 liters of water per week. In the rainy season, you do not need to water. In a period of drought, ordinary pine can dry out. If this happens, water the plant with a hose.
Young spruces aged 1 year require watering with a small amount of water, but much more often. It is advisable to do this daily to maintain a constant small amount of moisture in the soil. Loosen the soil regularly so that fresh air enters the roots.
From the moment of planting, the fertilizer should be enough for several years, because new nutrients are not required to be added at first. Over the years, the plant can continue independent growth without human intervention.
Growing this conifer from seeds is a difficult, time-consuming and long process. However, grown pine will decorate your garden. After the appearance of fir cones, you can collect seeds to carry out the process of artificial reproduction again. In this way you can grow a small coniferous forest.
