Just before Christmas many spruces or firs in pots are offered as Christmas trees. In itself a great idea to use the tree for several years, but unfortunately this rarely works in practice. Why?

Spruce also grows well in pots

Can a spruce be cultivated in a pot?

In contrast to the fir, a spruce can be cultivated quite well in a pot, as it is a so-called flat-rooted tree. Above all, it is important that the spruce is optimally supplied with water, because it does not tolerate waterlogging or prolonged drought. If the spruce does not get enough water, it soon drops its needles.

Where should I buy the spruce?

Don't buy a spruce that you intend to keep for more than a few weeks for Christmas at a Christmas tree sale. On the one hand, Nordmann firs are often offered here, on the other hand, the roots of the small spruces are often improperly trimmed.

It is better to contact a tree nursery, there the root ball will be kept small and compact by frequent transplanting. The gardener calls this retraining. A spruce can later even be transplanted into the buyer's garden as a stately tree.

Is the spruce always suitable as a Christmas tree?

If you take good care of your spruce in a pot, you can enjoy it for many years, not only in the garden but also as a Christmas tree. However, you should be satisfied with a fairly small tree at the beginning. Once your spruce has reached a certain size, it no longer tolerates transplanting well. This point in time is reached at a height of about 1.2 meters.

Spruce care in brief:

  • slowly acclimate to heat or cold
  • water regularly
  • only leave it in the warm living room for a few days
  • Plant in the pot as early as September/October
  • take them outside again soon after the party
  • Protect the pot and root ball well from frost
  • Only plant again in the garden when the ground is frost-free

tips

It is best to buy a spruce in a pot from a tree nursery, there you will find plants with a high chance of survival.

Category:

Trees