Evergreen tree, spreading a delicate coniferous fragrance, creates a warm and cozy atmosphere in the house. Fir in the pot fits perfectly into any room. And it seems that there should be no difficulties in growing this tree at home (after all, they are perfectly acclimatized on the street).
But if you want your fir to be beautiful, you need to take into account some of the nuances and follow the rules of care.
- Fir: description of coniferous plants
- Is it possible to grow fir in a pot
- Features of planting fir in the room
- Lighting, humidity and temperature
- How to choose a container for planting fir
- Preparing the soil for planting fir
- How to plant fir at home
- Top home care tips for fir
- Watering and feeding plants
- Trimming fir
- Soil care
- Diseases and pests of room fir
Fir: description of coniferous plants
The homeland of this evergreen is the Caucasus and North America. A variety of varieties of wood has made it a favorite of many gardeners. If the fir grows in the wild nature, then its height can reach eight meters, the growth of ornamental species rarely exceeds two meters. 
The trunk of the fir is covered with hard bark with small cracks or even smooth (it depends on the variety), a taproot, but very powerful, which allows it to go to a sufficient depth. The needles of this tree are flat, soft, spirally arranged on the shoot (some varieties have a comb).
Grown in pots of fir (the description of the care for which we consider further) differs from the street color of the needles and the shape of the crown. Fir are mainly grown at home:
- Nordman (or Caucasian);
- Fraser;
- erect;
- golden brown;
- gray
Decorative varieties of fir can live for several centuries, and in the wild - about 800 years. Moreover, a tree planted in open ground grows by 30 cm per year, while in a pot it can grow only by 4-6 cm per year.Fir in planting and further care is unpretentious, so many gardeners plant it on their backyards. During flowering on the fir appear male (similar to earrings) and female (growing up cones) flowers. They are pollinated by the wind and give mature seeds in the same year.
Is it possible to grow fir in a pot
Dwarf breeds that today are available to everyone are ideal for growing fir in a pot.
When purchasing a tree, be sure to consider its cold resistance.
If the fir-pot will spend a lot of time on the balcony or in the garden, its frost resistance should be slightly higher (by 1-2 zones) than in the region.
The best option - planting fir seeds. For this, they are harvested at the very beginning of the ripening of the cones. Sown in spring or autumn. After the sprouts appear, they are seated in separate containers.
It is possible to propagate the dwarf fir and vegetatively, with the help of cuttings with a top bud, only this seedling will grow very long and take root in 8-10 years.
Features of planting fir in the room
Fir in a container looks very impressive, but its cultivation requires compliance with a number of rules.
In order to make fir tree care more convenient, it is better to use a stand for pots on wheels - in this way, an adult tree can be easily moved around the room.
Lighting, humidity and temperature
If the seedling is bought in the winter, then before planting the fir in a permanent pot, she needs time to get used to the new conditions. At first, the conditions should not differ from those that were in the store - at a lower temperature than in the room.
As soon as the tree adapts to the environment, move it to the place where you plan to leave in the future. A good pallet and drainage should be taken care of initially - the fir likes wet soil, but does not tolerate the stagnation of moisture (its roots simply rot).
Air for the normal growth of fir is suitable for any. There is absolutely no need to take any measures aimed at moistening the habitat of fir.
How to choose a container for planting fir
A purchased tree can immediately be planted in a larger pot (5-10 liters) with suitable soil, without destroying the earthen clod around the roots. It is preferable to grow fir in a large pot, since they are more stable, contain more ground and, accordingly, the soil in them remains moist longer.
But in smaller pots it is necessary to replant the dwarf fir every 2-3 years. The ideal time for a transplant is September-October.In order for the fir to take root in a new place, it is not necessary to remove the ground from the roots, and the soil after transplantation should be fertilized with preparations.
Preparing the soil for planting fir
The main thing to take care of is the right choice of soil. The earth should be nutritious and neutral (it can be slightly alkaline).
Under natural conditions, the breeding of fir occurs by seed, so the basis is better to take light soil, loam, ready soil for coniferous plants or a special mixture (clay, peat, sand, leaf soil).
To maintain normal nutrition during planting add complex fertilizers. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the root neck of the fir is at ground level.
How to plant fir at home
Before you buy a growing fir, carefully remove it with the roots from the pot to evaluate the root system.
Like the tree itself, they must be fresh and the soil moist. On how the rules for the care in the store were observed, it directly depends on how easily you will be able to grow fir in the home.
Many stores offer to buy fir planted in a special substrate. In such a soil a tree will not live long, so such purchases should be avoided. Saplings need to be bought only with an earthen clod - such fir is grown from seeds and packed by the manufacturer with the expectation of obtaining minimal stress during further transportation.
After transplanting fir into a new container, moisten the ground thoroughly. To do this, it is recommended to put the pot for a couple of hours in the sink, bucket or basin with water. After this procedure, you need to get rid of excess water through the drainage holes.
Now you can put a pot of fir in a decorative pot (after growing a tree more - in pots). If volume permits, you can pour a layer of expanded clay on the bottom and pour in some water to raise the humidity level.
Top home care tips for fir
Knowing how to properly create the conditions for the full growth of fir, you can enjoy a beautiful coniferous tree in a short time.
Watering and feeding plants
As soon as the tree has settled down, it is not recommended to water the fir in the pot often - it is better to spray every three days (in hot weather it is possible more often), and the watering should be carried out to the root.
The tree also needs additional feeding, but not earlier than 14 days after transplantation. Granular fertilizers for conifers (ideal - Kemira wagon) are suitable for feeding.
With the hygienic purpose, you can periodically arrange fir shower.
Trimming fir
The distinguishing characteristic of fir is the independent formation of the crown. But, if you want to control the height of the tree, it is better to prune. As a rule, this procedure is carried out in the spring.
Soil care
In general, fir is not particularly demanding on the composition of the soil, but prefers not rich and slightly acid. If you want your tree to be bright and fluffy, you can add humus to the substrate.
Before you grow a spruce fir, you need to prepare the right soil. The bottom layer should consist of a nutrient mixture: peat, sand, humus (leaf soil) and clay soil (ratio - 1: 1: 3: 2).
The second layer - sawdust, on top of the roots sprinkled with earth without fertilizer.
Young plants need shallow loosening of the soil and mulching of the root circle with sawdust and peat.
Diseases and pests of room fir
Despite the fact that fir at home does not require special care, their decorative varieties are subject to certain diseases:
If you have overmoistened the soil, a fungus may appear. Such a plant should be treated with a solution of copper sulfate (1%) and transplanted into another soil. In the future, abundant watering the tree is not recommended.
Coniferous leafworms, root aphid and shoots moth. You can get rid of them by treating the plant with pesticides. For prevention, spraying should be repeated in the spring.
These simple rules for the care of the fir will allow you to enjoy its charming beauty and grace for a long time without much effort.
In order to enjoy the healing air, it is not at all necessary to go into the woods - you can put a pot with fir in each room, which, thanks to its picturesqueness, will be a worthy decoration of any interior. Coniferous fragrance at home is not fantastic, if you know all about fir.
