At least when young, the shapely blue spruce in the pot adorns the balcony and the summer terrace. Furthermore, the elegant Picea pungens cuts a fine figure as a Christmas tree. Read here how to properly plant and care for a spruce in a tub. This is how the plant survives its guest appearance in the house at Christmas time alive and well.
After the Christmas season, the blue spruce can simply be planted out in early summer
Pot cultivation made easy
In order for a blue spruce to feel in good hands in the pot, there should be a minimum volume of 40 liters. A high-quality potting soil serves as a substrate, enriched with leaf compost, lava granules (€13.99) or perlite.(€37.51) Drainage made of potsherds reliably prevents waterlogging. Care is so easy:
- If the substrate dries on the surface, it is poured through
- Mulch with leaves, pine needles or grass clippings all year round
- Apply a liquid conifer fertilizer every 4 weeks from March to September
Since a spruce no longer sprout from the old wood, do not cut back the wood or only cut back in the green area. Annual thinning in early spring effectively prevents senescence. After 5 years at the latest, the vigorous tree exceeds the dimensions of a potted plant and is planted out.
How to use potted blue spruce as a Christmas tree
As the proud owner of a wonderful blue spruce in a pot, you can save yourself the purchase of an extra Christmas tree. If you heed the following tips, the spruce will survive the Christmas interlude unscathed:
- Prepare the tree in the unheated stairwell or conservatory for the warm living room
- Set up in the living room as far away as possible from the active radiators
- Keep the substrate constantly slightly moist by watering every other day
- Spray the blue spruce as a Christmas tree several times a day with lime-free water
Once the spruce has done its job as a Christmas tree with flying colors, it should acclimatise in a cool, wind-protected location for 8 to 10 days.
tips
For cultivation in a bucket, choose a small tree with a maximum height of 120-150 cm. At this size, a blue spruce can cope with the shock of transplanting better than a mighty specimen. Also subject the root ball to a thorough examination. This must not fall apart when pulled out of the cultivation container. Rather, a solid, compact structure should be preserved.