Spruce horse in the country. Canadian spruce Konik - the subtleties of planting and care. Canadian Spruce Konik: video

11.04.2020

Decorative variety of gray Canadian spruce - Picea glauca "Conica" - suitable for open ground, used as indoor plant. Obtained as a result of a natural mutation of the species. It has the same characteristics as the main representative, but differs in miniature size, arrangement and density of needles.

Botanical description

Canadian, gray, or white, spruce is an evergreen coniferous plant from the Pine family. It is unpretentious to soil fertility, survives long droughts well, winter-hardy. A feature of the Konika variety is its compact size. Adult specimens at the age of 30 reach 1.8–2 m, 7-year-olds - no more than 0.9–1 m. The trunks are straight, covered with dark gray bark. Lateral shoots are shortened, slightly bent upwards, internodes are often located. The crowns are regular, narrow-pyramidal, dense, thick, starting at the bottom of the trunk.

The needles are greenish-gray, flexible, with a slight resinous aroma.. Needles 10–15 mm long, directed radially towards the branches. In frosty sunny weather, they sometimes burn, acquiring a reddish tint. This is due to the increased release of moisture from the above-ground part of the trees when it is impossible to replenish reserves from the freezing ground. Cones are elongated, dark brown, 5–6 cm long. In cultivated specimens, they rarely form.

The proportions of trees are formed from the first years of life, the young shoots are an exact reduced copy of adult fir trees. In the first years, Konika adds 7–8 cm in height. With age, development slows down: 4–5-year-olds grow by 2–3 cm per year. The total lifespan of trees is over 300 years.

Application

Gray spruce Konika is spectacular in containers and open ground. Used to decorate terraces, balconies, rock gardens, lawns, mixborders. It is used in single and group plantings, combined with most types of garden plants.

Container culture can be used as a New Year's symbol, decorated with garlands, toys.

Growing at home

Plants are recommended to be transplanted into spacious containers with fresh soil 1-2 days after purchase. Before that, they are watered, put in a shaded place. Seedlings with open roots are carefully examined. Dried shoots are removed. The root system is wrapped in a thick wet cloth for several hours. Further actions:

Before laying the soil on the bottom of pots, ceramic or wooden with several drainage holes with a diameter of 6–8 mm, expanded clay or broken brick is poured with a layer of 5 cm.
Add soil. It should be loose, slightly acidic. A ready-made mixture for gloxinia is suitable. You can make the soil yourself by mixing 1 part of sand and peat with 2 parts of leafy soil.
The soil in the old pot is crushed, the tree is carefully removed along with a clod of earth on the roots, and placed in a new container. The soil is poured from all sides, holding the spruce in the center. The root neck is not deepened.
The plant is watered, installed away from the heating system and direct sunlight. The surface of the soil is covered with a layer of sawdust so that the moisture does not evaporate longer.

They are fed with infusion of onion peel, complex additives for conifers. This should be done 2 times a month during the growing season. In spring, it is recommended to apply 20–30 g of ammonium nitrate.

In winter, for the normal development of spruce, rest is necessary.. Containers should be moved to a cool, moderately lit area. Watering is reduced to 1 time per month, top dressing is stopped. The ambient temperature from November to February should not exceed 8 °C. If young shoots began to grow on the tree before winter, it must be left warm.

Landing in open ground

Konika is planted in April or September. The place is chosen even, on the leeward side, near the walls of buildings or in the shade of large trees. Further actions:

Before being placed in the ground, the roots are shaken off, dipped in a basin of water.
Holes are dug twice as wide and deeper than the root system. The bottom is loosened, covered with drainage stone mass.
In the soil taken out of the pit, rotted manure or compost, 100 g of nitroammophoska are added.
Work is carried out in cloudy weather or in the evening when there is no direct sunlight. For the stability of the plant, it is recommended to dig a couple of pegs nearby, tie a seedling to them.
The trunk circle is covered with a layer of sawdust 2–3 cm thick. To retain moisture, a circular shaft is formed from soil 5–7 cm high. Ordinary or colored expanded clay can be poured into the trunk circle.

Care

In the first month after planting, Konika needs frequent moisture, especially in dry weather. Spruce should be watered every other day. Each trunk requires 10-12 liters. The tree tolerates crown sprinkling well. In the subsequent period, 1 watering per week is sufficient. Mature plants need additional moisture only in extreme heat, in the absence of precipitation for two or more weeks.

The soil near the trunks should be loosened regularly to a depth of 5–6 cm.. The frequency and composition of dressings for garden specimens are the same as for indoor plants. To support development, once a month, trees can be watered with infusions of organic matter.

Formative pruning of the crown is carried out 2 times a season:

In the last days of March, the main haircut is done, combining it with sanitization - the removal of frozen branches.
In the first days of summer, pinch new shoots.

in winter and in early spring Konik needs to be protected from the bright sun so that the needles remain healthy. You can build shelters from boards, nets, wrap crowns in spunbond. Before using the protection, it is required to inspect the crowns for damage by pests, to carry out preventive treatment. For warming, providing the roots with moisture during the winter, the plants are covered with snow.

Sun damaged but living branches can be restored. To do this, they are sprayed with a solution of the drug "Epin-extra". Use 2 ml per 500 ml of water. This should be done in the evening. After 5–8 days, regeneration will begin, during the first warm months the tree will turn green again.

reproduction

Vegetative propagation is preferred. Lignified lower shoots are used as material.. Cuttings are prepared in April or September. Each should be 15–20 cm long, contain an internode. The lower sections are soaked in a growth stimulator for 30 minutes before planting. For rooting, the cuttings are placed in a shkolka (container with soil), deepened by 2–3 cm. Seedlings are kept in a lit place at a temperature of 18 ° C, moistened daily. To prevent drying, cover with a film, ventilate daily. The root system of the cuttings appears after 4-5 months. After that, they are transplanted into pots, grown in room conditions within 2–3 years.

Shoots and needles of Konik often suffer from rust. If red growths and color-changing needles are found, it is required to treat the crowns with Vectra or Gliocladin solutions. You need to spray the trees 1 time in 7 days for two months.

White, chalky, coating on the needles may be a sign of a Schutte infection.. Spraying with a solution of copper sulphate, Alarin-B fungicide and other drugs of similar action helps to destroy this fungus. If most of the crown is affected, the tree cannot be cured, it must be destroyed.

Tracheomycosis is another fungal disease to which spruces are susceptible. Affected branches and needles acquire a reddish hue, dry, crumble. It is impossible to cure a tree from an infection. Infected specimens should be uprooted and burned. The soil in the place where the trees grew should be shed with a solution of vitriol.

It is almost impossible to get rid of spruce beetles. For prevention in the spring, it is recommended to cover the lower parts of the trunks with lime, inspect and process all the trees in the garden.

The culture grows mainly in the north of America. A small ephedra was discovered at the beginning of the last century. Then dendrologists Reder and Jack visited Lake Liggan, located in Canada. Konica has become a popular variety and has become the main material for creating new subspecies.

Description of Canadian spruce

The horse has a rather squat crown. It consists of tightly pressed branches. A spectacular, clearly defined conical crown is formed due to short internodes. By the way, the clarity of the form is observed in the first 10 years of development. After that, it distorts a little. If not trimmed, it can turn into a pin-shaped.

With proper care and planting, Canadian spruce lives up to 60 years.

The growth of needles occurs on the shoots. They are short, never exceeding one centimeter in length. When young, they are soft and pale green. Over the years, they become a little sharper, like needles. By winter, the shade changes to a persistent green. If the plucked needles are rubbed between the palms, you can get ether, the smell of which resembles the aroma of ripe black currant, but the smell is not for everyone.

Cones culture forms rarely. Initially, the roots grow down, then begin to spread in width. As a result, they take up space much more than a spreading crown.

Growth is slow. Canadian spruce can hardly be called a dwarf variety, since it is not a low tree that grows during the entire life cycle. In one season, the height of the Canadian spruce (young) increases by 3-6 centimeters. A big jump in growth is noticeable between 6 and 15 years. Then the growth is 10 cm. In Russia, such indications are not registered, since the variety does not tolerate dry air - it interferes with development.

After 10 years, the rate decreases. Now, during the season, the culture rises by a maximum of 3 cm. By the age of 30, spruce can grow up to 4 meters. But such specimens are found only in a few European countries with a humid climate and in North America.

Application in landscape design

It is rare that a composition is complete without the participation of a gray-haired spruce. Young specimens are perfectly combined with other plants that adorn alleys, flower beds, rock gardens. Terraces are planted with low-growing varieties. They look especially organic in combination with flowers.

Often Konika is planted in containers. It is very comfortable. For example, decorating the front door, balcony and other resting place, you can safely move the plant to different locations.

Types and varieties of spruce

Canadian spruce (conic) not prepared for the Russian climate. There will be no cultural development in neighboring Belarus or, for example, in Ukraine. The variety is cultivated in countries where the level of humidity is high. Where temperature fluctuations are quite rare. Spring in such places is predictable and the transition of seasons is smooth. But does hardship stop anyone? Especially gardeners and breeders.

Her care is difficult. For example, cleaning takes a lot of time, and it also harms a person. Even gardeners by all means try to avoid this procedure. Treatment with epin and sprinkling is carried out when it is no longer possible to ignore the problem.

This is how a Canadian spruce turns from a decoration into a disgrace. A culture designed to purify the air begins to pollute it. Pests begin to settle in the crown of a neglected tree, which then become breeding grounds for diseases. Their life activity is not limited to one culture and they begin to spread throughout the country / garden area.

Pros and cons of growing

Blue Canadian spruce is a nightmare for any gardener, even an experienced and conscientious one. Hence the question: how did she become so popular? The plant is cultivated in countries with comfortable climatic conditions and high humidity. Nobody dealt with issues of adaptation in our conditions. Having decided to buy a seedling, contact the nursery. These samples to a small extent, but were able to adapt to our climate.

The advantages of a problem variety include:

the beauty;
adaptation to containers;
slow growth;
frost resistance;
shade tolerance;
small size;
symmetrical crown, the care of which does not require regular pruning.

Most of the shortcomings are due to the fact that the gray spruce (Canadian, horse) is not adapted to Russian conditions:

in sunny areas, the needles begin to burn;
needs regular and long-term cleaning of the crown;
very difficult process culture propagation;
every day the culture must undergo a sprinkling procedure;
develops poorly and is not adapted to life in a city with polluted air;
it is necessary to carry out processing every 2 weeks and introduce foliar fertilizers;
at the beginning of life, growth is very slow, but then the tree rises to 4 meters. Therefore, a transplant to a more spacious place is required.

Planting and plant care

Earlier it was said that the cones rarely ripen. So wait for the seeds natural way complicated. They are not available for free sale. But if you place an ad, there may be suppliers. It's just that in the end, nobody knows what will grow. Unspeakably lucky is the one who still manages to find seeds that will germinate and:

young seedlings will be able to painlessly endure several transplants;
in the first 4 years they will not get sick and will not die from drying out the soil, insufficient moisture, and many other reasons.

Planting a Canadian spruce: preparing seedlings, plot

The ideal soil for planting is acidic and slightly acidic. The variety responds well to sandy soil. The main thing is to find a site with a deep occurrence ground water. The landing hole is dug in advance. Not less than 60 cm in diameter. Depth from 70 cm.

Be sure to have a 20-centimeter drainage. No need to delay the landing of Koniki. Soak the root system in advance in the root solution for better development. Six hours will be enough.

The substrate should be based on humus and sod. Also contribute up to 150 g of nitroammophoska. The presence of high-moor peat will improve the structure of the soil. 2 weeks before planting, the hole is 2/3 filled with substrate, poured and left in this form.

Purchase imported seedlings from trusted suppliers. Read reviews on thematic forums. When buying, pay attention to the root system. In such specimens, it should be in burlap, inside which is a wet substrate.

Spruce Neighbors

Planting Konik spruce in the southern regions is carried out from October to the end of February. In the north, planting begins in August. Container seedlings take root well, but it is better not to plant in hot seasons. The plant is planted in a shaded area, watered before the arrival of frost.

All plants adjacent to Konika, such as:, should have similar requirements for care, climatic conditions and soil. Otherwise, one of the neighbors will begin to wither or die altogether.

Do not plant shrubs that need regular loosening of the soil. The ephedra will not tolerate this procedure.

Its small roots are located almost on the surface of the earth and can be damaged during the procedure.

Large crops with dense foliage are recommended to be planted on the south side so that they become a kind of shield for spruce that protects from the sun. But choose those that do not completely block the beauty of spruce. With age, the need for this protection will be less and less.

Plant transplant

If enhanced care is required for the Canadian Konik spruce, then it tolerates a transplant better than many representatives of conifers. But doing this is not recommended. Only specimens up to 10 years can withstand a transplant painlessly. The rest are much more difficult.

In youth, it is small and does not cause inconvenience. But over the years it grows to a decent size, including in width. The plant becomes cramped, and against the background of other dwarf appearance culture becomes irrelevant.

A couple of days before the planned transplant, the culture is watered in such a way that the earthen ball does not collapse under the weight of the liquid and the roots do not remain bare. The hole is prepared much earlier. Only in this case, in diameter, it reaches one and a half meters in relation to the perimeter of the crown. Usually the depth of the pit is half a meter, but often it has to be further adjusted.

The algorithm for planting and caring for the Canadian Konik spruce:

A piece of old burlap is well soaked and laid nearby.
Around the tree, using a shovel, draw a circle equal to the perimeter of the crown - this area remains intact during digging.
First of all, they take out the soil. Dig in the direction from the trunk.
As soon as the shovel meets the root, it is necessary to chop it off.
You can try to loosen the lump and cut the roots that interfere with the process.
The dug up tree is transferred to a damp burlap. Be sure to secure the edges with twine or other tight rope.
The depth of the pit is measured as follows: 20 cm is added to the distance between the earthen clod and the root neck.
Carry out landing.

If the soil has settled a little, and the plant itself has slanted, the reason may be as follows:

landing was carried out immediately after digging the hole;
they forgot to fill the hole with soil and did not water it;
did not compact the soil.

Canadian spruce: culture care

After planting, keep the soil constantly moist. Watering is reduced to moderate only after the rooting of the plant.

Placing a crop near a pond or lake partly increases the humidity of the air. The fountain located on the site in close proximity to Konika will save the situation. Its jet should not flow down, but spray drops on the sides.

Sprinkling will help simplify care procedures. The crown is moistened either early in the morning or after 6 pm. If the needles do not dry out before the activity of the sun, they will get burned and turn yellow.

fertilizers

Buying a universal fertilizer is not the most the best choice. And when it comes to varietal plants, they need only special top dressing. The reason is that Konika suffers from gassed city air, and using the wrong fertilizer will only make matters worse. For example, the yellowness of the needles occurs with a lack of magnesium, iron and nitrogen.

Soil microelements are absorbed extremely poorly, so they are applied during foliar top dressing. The crown is recommended to be treated with epin. Nitrogen should predominate in spring, and potassium and phosphorus should predominate in autumn.

Pruning procedures

Up to 10 years, pruning is not required, as the plant will have its own beautiful crown. With age, there is a slight deformation. The crop tolerates pruning well. But they do it to obtain visual aesthetics and in order to limit growth.

To enhance the decorative effect, the crown is cut in early spring. Pruning of dwarf varieties of Canadian spruce can be replaced with standard sanitary cleaning.

Crown cleaning rules

First, carefully push the branches apart. All dry needles are cleaned. To do this, the shoot is tightly covered in the trunk area and the hand is pulled along the growth. Control power. Your goal is to clean off the dry needles, and not uproot the culture.

Try to break off all the dead branches located inside. Trimming each will take a lot of time.

There is no need to stretch the cleaning for several days. Dry branches and needles should be cleaned immediately in one day. Do not leave them on the ground - they are the strongest breeding ground for insects and many diseases. The best assistant will be a garden vacuum cleaner. But you can use the usual rake.

After cleaning, do not forget to treat the culture with a copper-based fungicide. Abundant spraying should be done near the trunk circle and in the inner part of the crown.

Wintering

Jan Vn der Neer claims that without shelter, the plant can only endure the cold in frost-resistant areas. Other sources recommend installing protection as soon as the air temperature drops to -32C. However, our gardeners and nursery owners assure that -40C is a completely normal temperature and the culture is able to endure it without protection.

In the description of the Canadian spruce Konik, frost resistance was mentioned. And there is. Where does such stability come from? It's all about humidity.

During frosts it is low. Plants feel this, so the risk of frostbite is low. When grown in a place protected from the winds, then do not worry, it will definitely withstand 40-degree cold.

Naturally, we are talking about adult specimens that have managed to take root. By the arrival of winter, they are only mulched. In the first year, a variety that was previously sick should be covered with a white cloth. Small seedlings are protected with spruce branches.

The best month for shelter is December. It is necessary to cover, at the moment when it drops to -10C. Don't do it ahead of time. Otherwise, the crown will rot, which is even more dangerous.

Sun protection

There is no urgent need for sun. Ate it is necessary only at the end of winter and in the first days of spring. With the advent of spring, the needles of the crop start the process of active evaporation of moisture, while the root system after winter dormancy is not yet able to adequately provide the crown with the necessary liquid.

To avoid burns, the crown must be covered with any non-woven fabric white color. Otherwise, they will burn and fall off. The sprinkling procedure and spraying with epin, of course, can restore the needles, but the culture will lose its decorative properties.

Despite the capriciousness, the variety grows well in the sun and in partial shade. However, seedlings planted in the southern orientation burn. In such cases, the side with the active property is covered with plants with dense foliage.

spruce breeding

Spruce gray Konik does not breed easily. Whichever method is chosen, there will be many problems, since they take root very poorly, although they retain all the signs of the parent plant. Breeding in nurseries in Russia has begun quite recently and has not yet brought great success. Therefore, the delivery of seedlings is carried out from abroad.

But suppliers are not able to saturate the domestic market. Amateur gardeners will not be able to master reproduction with the help of vaccination, but they do not leave attempts.

Of all the ways, it is a little easier to grow spruce from cuttings. But be prepared for the fact that not all of the “material” will take root, but only a part. To bring the cuttings to a marketable appearance, it will take not only years, but also an appropriate room, a greenhouse, and transplants. Don't rely on luck. Without regular maintenance of a certain temperature, humidity, soil, nothing will work.

You can buy cuttings at any time. It is desirable that they be "with a heel." The lower part must be treated with growth hormone. Next is landing in perlite. You can also use a mixture based on peat and sand or pure sand. Keep the cuttings in a stable cool and in high humidity. Even a single overdrying of the soil can bring the cuttings to death.

Diseases and pests

Most often, the variety affects the invasion spider mites. Although butterfly caterpillars also cause significant harm. The invasion of these insects does not happen often, but lasts up to 7 years. Pests are able to eat all the needles in a few days, leaving the plant with bare bark.

Of the diseases, the variety is most often exposed to

rust,
necrosis
rot.

To prevent the occurrence of insects and diseases, once a week, with a magnifying glass, you should inspect the plant. The first few times it will take many hours, but over time everything will go much faster.

What to do if the spruce began to dry out

First, we find out the reason for what happened. The loss of turgor is associated with rotting of the root system from overflow. Therefore, it is not worth grabbing buckets with liters of water or a hose. The culture “drowned” in the liquid becomes lethargic and gradually begins to dry out.

To check the degree of soil moisture, it is enough to dig a shallow (10 cm) hole along the perimeter of the near-stem area. If the soil is dry, then you can water it.

Next, you need to determine the permeability of the earth. The culture does not tolerate dense soil. To do this, take a match and insert a wooden tip into the ground in the place where the roots are. If she entered unhindered, then everything is in order. In another case, you will need to remove the mulch, carefully loosen it around the perimeter to a depth of 5 centimeters, without thinking about the safety of the root system.

The life of the Canadian (gray) spruce is in the first place. At the third stage, a thorough inspection of all parts should be carried out. It is necessary to make sure that the listed areas are not damaged by any diseases and have not been invaded by pests. Along the way, it is worth checking for the presence of a special constriction on the main shoot, where a label was attached earlier during the purchase.

It is Canada that is the place where the Canadian Konica spruce acquired its current forms. The small size of an adult tree is the result of a natural mutation. The decorative properties of Konika are highly valued by landscape designers from all over the world. Let's take a closer look at this tree.

Description of Koniki

Canadian spruce is directly related to the genus Spruce and the Pine family. Today the plant is considered ornamental. In artificial conditions, it grows up to 0.5 meters. In a garden or park, Konika can grow up to 2 meters. Despite its small stature, the tree is long-lived. Spruce is able to grow in one place for 5 centuries.

For the first time as an element garden decor, Konika began to be used in the 20th century. Spruce was discovered in North America. From there it was brought to Europe.

Gardeners distinguish several types of Canadian spruce:

White spruce. A tree with light needles, reaching 10 meters by 30 years. Grows in eastern Canada. Feels great on sand, clay and loam, loves high humidity;
gray or blue spruce. Tree with blue needles. Light-loving species with a large number of cones. Every year such a tree grows by about 5 cm;
El Glauka. The tree lives up to 500 years. Has soft needles. Used in different types decor.

Luxurious and respectable trees have long been loved by gardeners. Minimal care, compact size, unusual needle color - this is what distinguishes this spruce from trees similar to it.

Features of the Canadian spruce

The average size of Koniki in the garden barely reaches 1 meter. The common crown diameter, most often, is 80 cm. The cone-shaped cap of the tree naturally forms quite evenly and does not require pruning.

Spruce Konik does not tolerate dirty city air. It is used in landscape design in suburban areas..

During the first decade of life, the evergreen conifer grows by 6-7 cm per year. Having stepped over a ten-year milestone, spruce begins to grow even more slowly: by 2-3 cm per year.

Phytoncides emitted by Konika disinfect the air around. Canadian spruce almost does not get sick, has a superficial root system, thanks to which it is easy to transplant. The tree propagates by seeds and cuttings.

How to successfully plant Konika?

A place for planting a Canadian spruce should be chosen carefully. The landing site should not be too sunny or shady. Spruce should not be planted in soil where groundwater lies near the surface.

Canadian spruce can grow in a variety of soils, but young trees are best planted in the fertile layer. Before planting, the Koniki seedling is kept in a large pot in a greenhouse for 3-4 years. Then it is planted in the ground at any time of the year except winter. If the root system of the seedling is weak, then the tree is placed in a hole with a large clod of earth from the pot. When the seedling has good roots, they are shaken off excess soil before being placed in a new place.

For Konika, there is a developed disembarkation algorithm. Let's consider it in more detail:

A hole for a tree is prepared a little wider than the diameter of the plant itself;
Drainage of bricks or stones is laid at the bottom of the hole;
After drainage, place in the well a small amount of fertilizers;
Then they put a thin layer of soil there so that the fertilizer does not burn the young roots;
When the spruce is planted and sprinkled with earth, it is watered with water (10 liters).

At first, the Koniki seedling is mulched with improvised materials so that the root system of the tree maintains constant moisture.

How to properly care for North American spruce?

Caring for an unpretentious plant species is not difficult. In warm months, the tree is watered 2 times a week. Once a week, spruce is sprayed with a hose or watering can, creating for it the so-called sprinkling.

If you plant a tree in cool soil, it will take root better and faster..

Once a month you need to loosen the soil around the trunk. Care should be taken when loosening, as the roots are close to the surface.

Fertilize spruce once a year. For Konika, 5 kg of humus placed under a layer of mulch is enough. At severe frosts the tree trunk is wrapped with a covering material. This tree does not require pruning. You can prune dry spruce branches if they have not blossomed by the beginning of summer.

Canadian Konica Spruce is an amazing tree that can be used to create hedges, borders, and just as the main element in any landscape composition.

Canadian conic spruce is a decorative form of spruce. Its height is up to 1 meter, but under certain conditions, spruce can reach 3 meters. Its appearance is quite original: a conical shape, a bluish-green color, the tree is characterized by softness and a short shape, a weak taproot and the root system is located close to the soil surface. As a result, loosening is carried out very carefully.

Canadian Spruce Konica

Growth Features

Konik spruce grows slowly, it grows only 3-4 cm per year. There are certain species that grow up to 10 cm. When they ate for 5 years, its height is about 20 cm, at this age it already stands out with some kind of decorative effect. At 10 years old, Canadian spruce reaches a height of 80 cm. It grows for 10-15 years and reaches a level of 1 meter. In the following years, spruce growth is characterized by some slowness, only 2-3 cm per year. When the spruce reaches the age of twenty, its height is 1.5 m, and the diameter of the base of the roof is 1 m.

Canadian Spruce Care

Konik spruce requires minimal maintenance. The crown of the tree does not require pruning. She lacks natural rainfall. But still, at least minimal care, but it is required.

If it's dry outside, then through the crown you need to irrigate spruce. A few days later, it is recommended to slightly loosen the soil. When summer comes, you need to feed the Konik spruce. To do this, take 5 kg of rotted organic matter and mix with the soil in the root zone. When October comes, you need to put a layer of peat compost 5 cm thick. As a result, the tree will better endure the winter season. To prevent spring browning, you need to wrap the spruce horses with burlap. This will serve as a protective element from the sun and will not disturb ventilation.

Spruce browning in spring is not a disease. In this way, Canadian spruce reacts to solar activity after winter. We can say that this is a seasonal vegetation. The soil that has not melted cannot fully saturate the roots with the necessary nutrition, as a result of which the spruce begins to turn brown. When the secretion of juice begins and the spruce of the horse has sufficient nutrition, then its color is restored.

Planting Koniki

Canadian spruce can be transplanted during the growing season. Planting Canadian horse spruce is not very difficult, however, it is recommended to follow certain rules:

Application of Canadian spruce

Konika is often used when decorating landscape design. The tree looks great in a single form, as well as in a group. As for flower beds, it is planted there very rarely due to slow growth.

Spruce is used for various compositions. It is planted on terraces, near the house, in containers, and is also used to decorate the garden. A great option for horses is a smooth cut lawn. Wood is used for the background flower arrangements , also combined with other conifers that have low growth.

Canadian spruce can be grown in a pot. To do this, you need to purchase it in a store, dig it out in the forest, or grow a seedling from seeds. This the seedling must be carefully transplanted into a pot, the root neck of the spruce should be at ground level. The root system in this case should not dry out. If you bought Canadian spruce in a store, then you need to replace the ground.

To create soil for spruce, you need to take turf and leaf ground, sand and peat, the ratio should be as follows 2:2:1:1. At the bottom of the flowerpot, put a drainage that has a layer of 10 cm. When you plant or transplant spruces, it is recommended to make fertilizer. Twice a season you need to make general top dressing.

For normal functioning ate a horse you need:

make a normal light mode;
in winter, it is required to provide the necessary humidity (80-90%) and normal temperature(+5-15 degrees);
to prevent drying out or waterlogging, mulch with peat, its layer should be 5-6 cm. Mix this layer with the ground from time to time, and put a new layer on top.

Spruce canadian horse is characterized by slow growth and no need to cut it. Only dry and diseased branches should be removed.

With the advent of summer, take out the container with spruce outside under the trees. Do drip irrigation. Transplant it into a larger pot every year.

At good conditions conic can long time live in a flowerpot than an ordinary spruce, which in a pot can exist for only 3-4 years.

Canadian spruce for the holiday

In line with current trends spruce decoration in a flowerpot is considered very fashionable. New Year . When installing this plant as a Christmas tree, you need to find a place that will be remote from various heat sources. The best option would be to place the container on a cold window, however, if using spruce as a Christmas tree, this is not very possible. In no case should a flowerpot be placed on a south window, since there is a lot of sunlight there, and the tree does not tolerate direct sunlight. In any place where you put a flowerpot, you need to turn it to the light from time to time.

If Canadian spruce is placed in a heated room, then it is necessary to spray the crown from time to time. The best option would be if the air humidity is higher near the conic spruce. To do this, you can put dishes with water near the flowerpot. Or you can also do this: put one edge of the towel in the set dish with water, and place the other on the battery. If you are using the latter method, then don't forget to add water to the dishes regularly because it evaporates quickly.

When all the holidays are over, move the Canadian conic spruce to the loggia or balcony, if it is glazed. In this room, cover the flowerpot with spruce with a cap, this will give the plant required humidity. As a cap, you can take a five-liter bottle that does not have a bottom. Wrap the flowerpot with warm material so that the earth does not freeze. But do not overdo it with warming, make optimal winter weather for spruce because it is not a tropical plant.

If it happened that the root system filled the entire pot completely, it must be transferred with lumps of earth into a flowerpot that is larger.

If you follow and adhere to all the rules for caring for spruce, create for her the necessary conditions, then Canadian horse spruce will delight with beauty for many years. It will perfectly decorate the room in the house., as well as create the uniqueness and originality of landscape design.

evergreens coniferous plants are very popular with owners of private houses. They look spectacular in any weather and do not require special conditions for care. A sought-after conifer is the Canadian spruce Konik.

Spruce Konika - description

A wild-growing species can be found in the forests of North America, and it grows to a height of up to 30 m. In contrast, the selection representative is much smaller. Its closest relative is the Glauka spruce, the second name is Canadian or white. Konica was bred in Canada in 1904. You can distinguish a miniature tree species by the following features:

height does not exceed 2 m;
dense, cone-shaped crown with a diameter of up to 1.2 m;
the needles are short and thin bright green;
shoots woody, slightly bent;
ash gray bark;
roots are short, located closer to the surface;
minimum growth of 7 cm per year;
cone-shaped cones up to 6 cm long.

Spruce Konika - types and varieties

Culture is represented in a wide variety. Canadian spruce Konika is distinguished by the following varieties:

Conica Glauca. This is a frost-resistant species that should be grown outdoors. In one place, it can grow up to 500 years. The peculiarity of the plant is soft, pleasant to the touch needles.
Picea Glauca Conica. The color of the needles of this plant is pale blue, which is why it is called the "Grey Conic". Furniture and stairs are made from gray spruce wood.
Picea Alba. This variety loves sandy, clay and moist soil. Distributed in North America. The color of the needles is greenish-blue, up to 2 cm long.
Alberta Globe. A feature of this variety is an elongated spherical shape. Considering what the Konik spruce looks like, we note that the height of an adult conifer is 1 m in height and 1 m in diameter. The needles of the needles are sharp and thin yellowish-green in young growth, and in an adult plant they are bright green in color.
Maigold Conica. The tree has a dense crown with soft, light green needles. In one year, spruce grows by 3-4 cm, tolerates winters well.

Spruce Konika - a place to land

For selection right place, the following factors must be taken into account:

Spruce Konik does well in partial shade, and in the sun, but without UV rays, it will grow more slowly. In the shade, the conical shape of the tree may change, the plant will lose its decorative properties. The lack of sunlight can cause a change in the color of the needles, which will negatively affect its decorative effect.
Due to the peculiarities of the root system of a miniature spruce, it must be planted in a calm area. The root system of this plant has one feature: over time, the root dies off, and the tree is held only on superficial roots, which can be easily damaged.
Soil for spruce Konik should be moist (80-90%), perfect option- It is a loamy, sandy loamy soil with excellent air and water permeability. In order for the tree to take root well and decorate the landscape of the site, before planting it is important to choose and prepare the place correctly in advance.

Spruce Konika - landing

Such work is carried out in the spring, so that by the cold weather the seedling has time to take root and overwinter. Spruce Canadian Konika Maygold is planted as follows:

The day before planting, watering the soil in a pot is carried out so that the roots are not damaged during transshipment.
The landing pit should be twice the diameter of the container in which the spruce was purchased.
Drainage from crushed stone or crushed brick is poured into the prepared pit. The thickness of the layer is about 15 cm.
The seedling should be positioned so that the junction of the trunk and root remains at ground level.
Fill the remaining voids with soil mixture and carry out tamping.
Water and mulch the soil around the trunk.

El Konika - care

For full growth, planting and caring for Konik spruce must be carried out correctly. The seedling requires the following attention:

Watering. In hot summer days, the plant especially needs watering and spraying. You can install a special sprayer near Koniki and turn it on 5-6 times a day for the purpose of spraying.
loosening. After watering, it is necessary to carry out a shallow loosening of the soil near the spruce trunk, without damaging the trunk and roots that are near the surface.
top dressing. In spring and autumn, Konik spruce needs complex phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. They are necessary to prepare the plant for the hot or frosty season. In spring, spruce needs to be sprayed with Epin and Zircon solutions.

Spruce Konika - how to water?

Young prickly spruce Konik in summer period needs frequent watering. Once every 10 days, it needs to be irrigated warm water. Mature plants that are well rooted can be watered once every 2-3 weeks. In order for soil moisture not to evaporate quickly, during periods of drought, the earth needs to be loosened. Spruce does not tolerate drought, but can also die from waterlogging. For watering in the summer, one ten-liter bucket is required for one tree. The water temperature should be + 18 ... 25 °. Mature trees do not require watering, they have enough moisture from natural precipitation.

Spruce Konika - what to feed?

Each ornamental plant, several times a year, needs to be fed. Young seedlings, in the first two weeks after planting, must be sprayed and watered with growth stimulants. Desember conica spruce and other varieties need nutrient-rich soil. You can fertilize them using mineral fertilizers with a low nitrogen content. An excellent top dressing will be organic additives based on compost and biohumus. Useful material for a plant you need to choose, depending on the season:

Spring. To restore the ephedra after winter, treat burns, you can use the Epin solution.
Summer. To increase resistance to diseases, in June you need to use "Plantafol". Dosage: 25 g per 10 liters of warm water.
Autumn. To strengthen and stimulate the growth of the root system, you can use "Agrekol". For 1 m of plant growth, you need 1 tbsp. a spoonful of funds.

Is it possible to cut Konik spruce?

A miniature Christmas tree is ideal for decorating landscapes. The plant has a specific cone-shaped crown, which is ideal without pruning. If the tree has taken root well and grows in a favorable environment. However, other options are also possible, for example, the Canadian gray spruce Konik, although unpretentious, can lose its presentable appearance in drought conditions, the branches can dry out. In order to save the plant, it is better to cut off the dry parts. In order to give spruce a certain shape, it can be cut.

Spruce Konika - reproduction

There are two ways to increase the number of trees:

Seed use. In this case, it is a long and laborious process: the seeds need 4 months. keep in the refrigerator with a temperature of +4°C. For the best effect, sprinkle the top layer with snow. Then they are dipped in growth stimulants for a day and immersed in prepared soil. Cover with a film and put in a warm and dark place until germination. After the appearance of greenery, they are moved to a bright place, watered and the film is opened to prevent mold.
Reproduction by cuttings spruce Konik carried out as follows. The material is cut in early spring (late February-early March), they can take root in just three months. You need to cut them from the bottom of the spruce with a small piece of the mother branch. After that, the cut area is treated with a root stimulator and placed in the prepared soil for two centimeters. To maintain the required level of humidity, the seedling needs regular watering and spraying.

El Konika - transplant

If a situation arises that the tree can no longer grow in the selected area, you need to choose another place for it. The correctness of the transplantation of the green beauty depends on its further growth and development. Spruce Konik gray and other varieties are transplanted in this order:

In the prepared pit, on top of the drainage, soil should be poured, it should be well filled with water and the seedling should be moved there without exposing its roots.
The tree is leveled, if necessary, it can be tied up.
Pour the seedling planting with water (10 l).

Spruce Konik in a pot

Thanks to small sizes the tree can be grown at home as an ordinary flower. Blue Konik spruce and other varieties require transplanting to another container as soon as possible after purchase. She must be bigger size, which will help increase the drying period of the earthy coma. The pot should be such that the spruce tree fully grows in it for several years. The earth must be acidic a good option- a ready-made substrate for violets, land for azaleas or conifers. The container must have drainage holes. Transplantation is carried out quickly by the transshipment method.

El Konika - home care

To make the tree pleasing to the eye all year round, it is important to know how to care for Konik spruce in a pot:

Lighting. It is better to put a pot with a plant in a place where the sun's rays fall only in the evening. This will help to avoid burns of the branches of the conifer.
Temperature. In a closed heated room, it is difficult to maintain a temperature of + 10 ° C, which is necessary for miniature tree. A pot with a plant is best placed on the balcony and loggia for the winter.
Moisturizing. Both in summer and in winter, the conifer must be moistened, watered and sprayed, and the room should be regularly ventilated. For watering, it is better to use warm settled or melt water. You need to spray the needles at least five times a day, and the earth in the pot should always be wet.

El Konika - diseases and pests

If the conditions for caring for the plant are violated, the spruce can get sick or become the object of pest invasion. Neglect of the rules can lead to the following diseases of Konik spruce:

Rust. This is a fungal disease that manifests itself in the form of orange spots on the branches. This can be cured by using special preparations for spraying the crown and trunk, for example, "Topaz".
Shute. This is an ailment that can be caused by a fungus. At the first stage, the needles darken, at the second a white coating forms, and at the third it crumbles. By identifying the disease at the initial stage, the plant can be saved, in advanced cases, it is better to dig it up. The treatment is carried out with a 1% solution of copper sulphate.

Spruce Koniku will not be saved from pests even by perfect care. On spruce you can find green aphids, shoot moths, spider mite or sawfly. For effective fight with an insect use the following drugs: "Aktara", "Fitoverm" or "Confidor". For prevention, one spring treatment is enough, and if detected, several will need to be carried out to completely get rid of pests.

Spruce Konik needles turn yellow - what to do?

Nobody likes when plants start to lose their beauty. It is important to know why the Konik spruce turns yellow and what to do in such situations. This can happen as a result of:

insufficient or excessive watering;
incorrect landing;
being in direct sunlight;
pest or disease infestations.

Before you panic and get rid of the plant, you need to establish the exact cause of the wilting. If the problem is in violation of the conditions of cultivation or care, then everything needs to be changed in better side. To get rid of diseases or pests, you need to choose the right product and carry out the processing according to the information indicated on the label. For the result, it is important to follow the rules exactly.

Spruce Konika in landscape design

Ephedra look beautiful on any site and Spruce Glauka Konika is no exception. Let's look at some placement examples:

The evergreen Canadian beauty is ideal for placement in a recreation area, in front of a house facade or in a children's playground. You can make bonsai from Konik spruce, it will be a great addition to other plants or make an independent composition on the site. Everything depends on fantasy. The correct location of the spruce, competent care are necessary factors for the health of the Canadian beauty.