How to grow blue spruce from seeds at home: care tips and growing description (video + 95 photos)

Seed germination

The first shoots can be observed after 10-14 days.
If spruce seedlings are placed close to each other, there is a need to thin them out. Of the entire row of plants, only the strongest specimens are left, keeping a distance between them of up to 7.5 cm. When fragile seedlings enter the active growth phase, it is necessary to maintain optimal conditions for growing needles, which are as follows:

stop watering and introduce light spraying of seedlings with water - 2 times a day;
maintain the temperature regime: minimum temperature - +13 o C, maximum - +15 o C.

Important! Remember that night frosts and direct sunlight during the day have a detrimental effect on fragile young needles

A month later, a young blue spruce seedling reaches a height of 3-4 cm. Experts note that indirect diffuse sunlight has a good effect on the growth rates of specimens. Since small needles are not resistant to diseases that affect plants, namely root rot, there is a need for special protection: first, a fungicide will be required, followed by treatment with an insecticide solution.

Growing spruce from seeds

Growing spruce from seeds is not much different from germinating all other double trees. Spruce trees have always occupied a place of honor among amateur gardeners in landscape design and landscaping. But spruce seedlings are not cheap, so many people strive to grow them themselves from seeds, especially since a home-grown Christmas tree is much more adapted to the climatic conditions of your area than imported seedlings.

So, using the example of growing prickly spruce from seeds, we will tell you how this is done. First you need to deal with the seeds: you need to decide which seeds you will germinate. Purchased ones do not always have a high level of germination, as they can lie in the warehouse for a long time. And how they were collected and stored remains a mystery, so for good germination you need to be sure that the seeds are fresh. Spruce breeders recommend collecting conifer seeds yourself. To do this, fir cones are collected in the fall (October - early November) before they fall to the ground. At home, they are laid out on newspaper near heating appliances so that the cones dry out and the seeds release.

Next, the seeds must be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and placed in a container with calcined sand about 1-1.5 cm deep. Place the pot of seeds on the refrigerator door for stratification. Stratification of spruce seeds is a mandatory process, since under natural conditions all coniferous seeds are exposed to cold during winter. This stimulates germination. If you simply plant spruce seeds in the ground, they can lie in the ground for a very long time and it is not yet a fact that they will germinate.

After three months of stratification, we take the pot of spruce seeds out of the refrigerator and place it in a warm place on the window. If you sowed seeds in October - November, then you should get a container with seeds in February - March. This is a very favorable time for all plants, as daylight hours increase, which makes it easier to provide additional lighting to the plants.

Spruce seeds should be watered abundantly during this period, because at this time, in natural conditions, the snow begins to melt and greatly moistens the ground. Warmth and moisture are the main conditions for active seedlings of conifers. After 1-2 weeks, small fir trees should definitely sprout and you should be careful here: overwatering seedlings leads to rotting of the roots, and underwatering leads to drying out of the entire plant. Everything must be done in moderation. Once every two weeks, you need to provide feeding to young Christmas trees and loosening the top soil layer.

When the air temperature becomes warm enough (around May), small spruce seedlings can be planted in open ground. Before planting, you should put compost mixed with soil and some mineral fertilizers in the hole. In general, spruce trees are fed only once in their life - only during planting. Having lowered the young Christmas trees into the hole, they need to be covered with earth and compacted slightly, watered thoroughly and covered with a cut-off plastic bottle to create a greenhouse effect for faster acclimatization of the seedlings.

Greenhouses need to be opened every day, ventilated, condensation removed and soil moisture monitored. After a week, they can be removed altogether, and the ground around the spruce trees can be mulched so that excess moisture does not evaporate.

Spruce trees have always been a decoration of Russian courtyards and gardens, especially since nowadays breeders have bred such a large number of types of spruce trees that everyone can choose something to suit their taste. And a Christmas tree grown from seeds with your own hands will not only decorate your site, but will also grow healthy in the climatic conditions where it was born. By the way, this method of growing spruce from seeds is suitable for all types of spruce: you can also germinate the seeds of blue spruce, Belobok spruce and others.

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How are coniferous plants useful on the site?

Spruce and pine trees really bring many positive changes to the site. Here are just a few of them:

Purify the air. Any evergreen plant emits into the atmosphere not only oxygen, but also phytonicides, which are a natural antibacterial agent.

Spruce and pine treat pulmonary diseases. The air around a spruce or pine tree will become an unusual natural prevention of tuberculosis and pneumonia, and frequent walks among coniferous plants will also help those who are already sick.

Good for removing inflammation. Decoctions are prepared from pine needles, which are used in dozens of folk recipes for a variety of diseases.

No mosquitoes! Spruce in the garden will cope well with midges, mosquitoes and other unpleasant insects; it is a natural “repellent” of midges.

A spruce can only bring one trouble to its owner. This tree has a shallow root system, which is not enough for a tall and overgrown specimen. A large spruce can easily be knocked to the ground by strong winds. You can compensate for the problem by planting several equally tall trees with a good root system around the spruce.

Breeding methods at home

On their plots, gardeners grow mainly blue spruce varieties, which are especially beautiful in the landscape design of the area. For this, both low-growing varieties, reaching a height of 1.5-2 m, and tall trees, capable of growing up to 15-20 meters, are used. However, do not forget that spruce grows slowly and this can take several decades.

There are several ways to grow spruce.

For those who are not looking for easy ways, seed propagation is suitable. This is the most difficult method, which also does not guarantee the appearance of a high-quality tree such as blue spruce on the site. It happens that in the process of growing, the Christmas tree loses its noble blue and becomes green. Unfortunately, this can only be noticed in the second year of the plant’s life.

Seeds should be selected from special forestry farms

In this case, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:

percentage of germination (it may depend on storage conditions);
excluding crossbreeding with other varieties of the breed;
quality of seeds - they must be fresh (current season).

But good seeds are only half the battle; to guarantee success, the rules for preparing and sowing seeds must be followed. However, if you want to plant an ordinary Christmas tree in the garden, the seed method is also suitable.

The most effective and simplest way to propagate spruce is by cuttings. This way the tree takes root better, adapts to a new place faster, and caring for the seedling is much easier. However, the vegetative method has its own subtleties - it is necessary to collect planting material in a timely manner, taking into account the age of the mother plants.

Even cuttings collected from young trees are capable of producing a developed root system in only 80% of cases, while material taken from an old spruce is viable only in half the cases. The method is relevant for growing blue spruce trees, since by sowing seeds they often grow with green needles.

Description

Spruce (in Latin - Picea) is a popular and well-known evergreen coniferous tree. One of the varieties of spruce is blue spruce (the second name is prickly spruce). The root system of the plant is located quite close to the soil surface, but even despite this, the tree is quite strong and resistant to adverse weather conditions (for example, strong winds). In nature, blue spruces mostly grow in western North America. However, today trees are distributed far beyond the borders of this country. Moreover, they grow not only in natural conditions, but also in private gardens. Many homeowners plant spruce trees to decorate their plots.

The spruce does not bloom. It also cannot be said that it is growing rapidly. However, due to these characteristics, it does not become a less popular plant and is actively used in landscape design.

The average height of blue spruce is 30 meters. However, scientists have recorded individual specimens whose height reaches 46 meters . Such specimens are record holders. Under natural conditions, the tree can most often be found in areas close to water bodies. Despite the fact that the name of the spruce is “blue”, the color of the tree’s needles can vary within several shades, acquiring silver, white or green undertones. In this way, the decorative properties of the plant are manifested.

Coniferous trees are famous for their beauty, originality and healing properties. Without them it is difficult to imagine the landscape of parks, garden plots and dachas. Spruce occupies a special place among evergreen crops.

Growing spruce from seeds

Growing a beautiful Christmas tree from seeds is more difficult than from a branch, but if you follow certain recommendations, you can boast that you succeeded. It is not recommended to buy seeds in a store or order online, since you do not know the quality of these seeds, as well as how much and under what conditions they were stored.

Tricks for growing spruce from seeds:

In November, choose any spruce you like: ask your neighbors for a cone, find a tree in a park or forest. The cone needs to be picked from the tree, not picked up from the ground. At home, these cones should be placed in a warm place, closer to a heater or radiator, and allowed to dry.
When the cone produces seeds, treat them (the seeds, not the cones) with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then place them in a box with calcined sand.
There is no need to bury it deeply, 1.5-2 cm will be enough. Place the box in the cold. It is these conditions that will be closest to natural.
Thus, the seeds, while at rest, will accumulate useful substances and will be ready to sprout by spring. The seeds should be left in this form for 2-4 months.
Then the seeds will need to be placed in a warm place and constantly watered so that they sprout. A large amount of water will cause the seeds to rot, so watering should be moderate. With proper care, the first shoots will appear in 2 weeks.
Before you plant the seedling in open ground, the soil must be fertilized twice. You need to water in such a way that the soil is moist, but the water does not stand on the surface.
When the night frosts are behind you and it gets warmer outside, you can plant your spruce on the site. First dig a hole and put mineral fertilizers there. There is no need to feed the spruce anymore.

At first, the seedling needs a greenhouse. To do this, cover it with a cut plastic bottle. Do not remove such a homemade greenhouse for at least a week. But at the same time, it would be wrong to completely deprive the spruce of air flow. Therefore, periodically remove the bottle to ventilate the seedling and remove accumulated condensation. Do this during the warm part of the day.

Over the summer, your spruce will not grow or become strong enough to survive winter frosts. For the winter it needs to be covered or a greenhouse made. The layer of snow should be sufficient so that the seedling does not freeze.

Features of caring for spruce indoors

Growing

In order for a spruce grown in the house to grow and develop within normal limits, it must be provided with good care:

the air temperature should be from 15 to 25 degrees;
sufficient amount of light;
moderate watering (the water in the soil should not stagnate, and the earthen clod should not be allowed to dry out);
protection from mechanical damage and timely implementation of preventive treatments against diseases.

Substrate selection

Spruce grows well in a soil mixture with a weak or moderately acidic reaction. The best option is to use loam or sandy loam, while oily or heavy soil is not suitable for such a tree. The lump of earth in the container should always be a little damp, and water stagnation in the root system should not be allowed. When the tree is watered, you need to carefully loosen the surface of the soil mixture, not forgetting that its roots are very close to the surface of the soil.

Make sure that the soil mixture in the pot is not overly compacted, and also do not allow it to dry out or crack on the surface.

How to water depending on the time of year

A Christmas tree grown indoors must be systematically watered from the first days of spring until the end of September. As frost approaches, watering should be gradually reduced. It is necessary to moisten the tree in the middle of winter once every 20 days, and the air temperature in the room where it is located should not fall below 6 degrees. If the room is colder than 0 degrees, then watering should be reduced to once every 30 days.

When growing a Christmas tree, it should be taken into account that while it is young in the summer, it must be protected from direct rays of the sun, in late autumn from a sharp drop in temperature, and in winter from freezing of the substrate in the container. To protect from the sun, you can use shady shelters, canopies from frost, and protective windings from freezing. When preparing for winter, it is recommended to mulch the surface of the substrate with organic matter, while the trunk can be covered with spruce branches or wrapped in burlap.

Top dressing

Coniferous plants, which include spruce, are able to make do with a minimum amount of nutrients, since they grow in rather harsh conditions. The florist himself decides whether feeding is necessary for an indoor Christmas tree. If this is necessary, then after the bush is watered, a special mineral fertilizer (in granules) is evenly distributed over the surface of the substrate. It is not often necessary to feed the spruce; it is enough to do it during planting, as well as a couple of times during the growing season (from May to the end of the summer).

Required tree care

Young seedlings are very fastidious and can quickly die if not properly cared for. Mature trees do not need care.

If the summer is hot and dry, young plants need to be watered at least once a week at the rate of 12 liters of water per spruce . The prickly beauty will also benefit from loosening the soil to a depth of 7 cm and sprinkling the tree trunk circle with a layer of peat about 6 cm thick. In the spring, peat is mixed with the soil during loosening. Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is also useful for young spruce trees .

Heavy snow can break fragile young branches. Before the onset of cold weather, they are pulled to the trunk and tied with a rope or net. It is necessary to cover the tree with spruce branches from late interseasonal frosts, since the needles of young seedlings do not tolerate low temperatures.

How to prepare and select seeds for sowing

Growing spruce from seeds is the most reliable way. The seed material must be of good selected quality, which can be purchased at the nursery, or you can get it yourself from the fruit of the spruce - cones. Cones are collected in mid-February, since during this period the seeds are considered especially valuable. The collected cones are placed in a fabric bag, which must be placed next to the battery. After a few weeks, the dried cones open, creating free access to the spruce grains. Next, the seeds must be carefully rubbed together to free them from the lionfish, rinsed under warm water, getting rid of any greasy film that can form due to the released essential oils. At the end of the preparation, the seeds are dried.

Planting seeds in the ground

Before planting seeds, you should prepare a medium-sized pot for free development of the root system. There should be good holes in the bottom of the container. Drainage is laid out at the bottom of the pot, then soil suitable for conifers is poured, which can be collected in a coniferous forest or bought ready-made soil in a store. Before planting, any of the materials are spilled with weak potassium permanganate.

Before planting, the seeds are soaked for three days in warm water, ideally with the addition of a rooting stimulant. The finished seeds are placed in moistened soil to a depth of 0.5 - 1.0 cm. The container is covered with film and placed on the windowsill. Seeds can take a long time to germinate, from two weeks to several months.

Comfortable conditions for keeping young Christmas tree seedlings are:

cool
sufficient illumination
high humidity
timely feeding.

A sprouting spruce seed with a straight white stem and seed coat indicates the normal development of the seedling. Then the stem acquires a green color with a brownish tint and the first leaves-needles begin to appear. At this time, special fertilizers are applied.

Some experts recommend growing seedlings in one pot for several years, while others advise replanting when the seedlings reach 2 cm. Practice shows that it is better to do the first transplant after a year, the next one after three. When a young Christmas tree reaches a height of 50 cm and is 3-4 years old, it can be safely planted in a permanent place in your garden plot, having previously been accustomed to the street climate for comfortable adaptation.

How to grow blue spruce at home

All spruces are very attractive as decoration for the territory. Their stylish appearance, richness and sophistication have been used to decorate parks and squares for a long time. Blue spruce is a specialty even among this plant species.

The biggest challenge when cultivating is that not every tree that is planted will acquire the corresponding exquisite and incredible blue hue.

The first year all seedlings are characterized by a standard green color. Only the second year of growth reveals the true shade of the tree, and no more than a third of all those planted will become blue. Of course, this may stop many, but those who are determined to acquire this unusual and exquisite tree may well try their hand.

Seed harvesting occurs in mid-February. Collect the pine cones and place them in appropriate cloth or gauze bags. After this, it is advisable to place it in a fairly warm place, for example, right next to the battery.

The characteristic spruce smell indicates an extremely high content of essential oils. All conifers are rich in them. To remove excess, rinse the seeds under running water.

Disinfection is carried out by daily maintenance of potassium permanganate in a weak solution. After drying, it is necessary to place the planting material in the snow for 2 months. Placing the seeds in a sterilized jar is also approved. After closing the lid, you can put it in the refrigerator.

Stratification is carried out in an appropriate, ideal cold climate for a given planting material. Place some snow in the shade, then compact it. Next, a bag of seeds is placed, and a thick layer of sawdust is poured on top.

You can also use other materials that will simply slow down the melting of the substrate. This is an ideal condition for storing seeds until sowing.

Immediately before planting, the seeds are soaked in a solution of microelements for 12 hours. Preventive treatment against diseases is carried out using a solution of foundationazole. Or another similar drug. The seeds can be dried a little before sowing, but it is worth remembering that they can be stored dry for no more than two days.

It is advisable to prepare the earthen mixture yourself, since it is not common enough to buy it ready-made. The approximate ratio is 20 g of ammophosphate and 35 g of lime or dolomite flour for each bucket of peat.

Mix the mixture well and then place it in plastic containers up to 25 cm high. Bury the containers in the ground of the greenhouse. Add sufficient fertilizer before planting.

Immediately before planting, the earth is compacted. Seeds are laid out in groups of several pieces. On top of the planting material is covered with a layer of peat with pine sawdust, and twice as much peat is taken. Shoots can be expected in 2-3 weeks.

Transplantation is carried out in the spring even before the active growth of existing seedlings begins. It is worth remembering that the plant is extremely sensitive to drying out, especially its roots. You can't keep them in the air for long. If it takes some time, the best option would be to dip the roots in a clay mash or a special gel immediately after digging.

Remember that in the first case peat and other components are not added. The distance between seedlings is approximately 15 cm, and up to 25 cm must be left between planting lines. Be sure to take care of the availability of soil, which is taken from a coniferous forest.

Upon reaching three years of age, the seedlings are located no closer than 1 meter from each other. In this form they can grow for another three years.

After this period ends, the trees are transplanted to a permanent place of growth. Blue spruces are distinguished by excellent resistance to wind, frost and drought, they feel great even in polluted air, and they grow quite slowly.

Dry calcareous soils, as well as samples with a close fertile layer, are not very suitable for them. The ideal is moist, fertile soil that has not previously grown potatoes or corn.

Types and varieties of spruce

Spruce has many varieties: they differ not only in appearance, but also in the color of the needles. Let's look at the most common ones:

Ordinary. In other words, this is our ordinary Russian Christmas tree, green, tall, and shaped like a cone. The height can be very impressive, up to 50 m. It tolerates frost, shade and is generally unpretentious in care. It lives for hundreds of years, reaching its highest growth point at 150 years.
Canadian. Beautiful spruce with a bluish tint. The height of an adult tree is 10 m. The needles are short and have a slight smell of black currant. Loves light, but is quite capable of withstanding shade, as well as severe frosts. The trunk reaches 4 m in thickness. It does not like high humidity, but it will survive drought.
Akrokona. A variety of common spruce. An excellent choice for those who are looking for an interesting decoration for their site. These are small trees, usually no more than 4 m high, growing in an irregular bush. The needles seem to be pointing downwards. A special highlight is the multi-colored needles. At first it is bright green, and then becomes very dark. The combination of both colors creates a very beautiful composition. Cones appear all over the tree, and by spring they turn bright burgundy.
Inverse. The crown of this spruce resembles a weeping willow. All branches are directed downward and seem to flow around the trunk. Height is about 6 meters. Its crown can be directed, then the tree will grow in a given direction. If you do not create any support for the trunk, the spruce will not grow above knee level at all, it will creep along the ground.
Serbian. This decorative spruce is one of the most slender. It grows quickly, reaching a height of 15 m. It tolerates frost well, but not an abundance of moisture in the soil. The needles are bright green, lighter towards the bottom of the trunk. The decoration is purple cones. It is almost impossible to meet Serbian spruce in the wild. It is easy to cut; in strong winds the tree may fall, since the roots go shallow into the ground. In Europe, this spruce is very popular and is often used as a traditional decoration for Christmas.
Nana. This is one of the varieties of Serbian spruce. A low tree up to 3 m in height with bluish needles. It is undemanding in care, tolerates frost well and looks very beautiful. But it grows slowly, no more than 3 cm per year.

Features of spruce root growth

The first 10–15 years of a tree’s life, its root system is tap-type, after which the central root dies off and the spruce feeds mainly through roots located within a radius of 1.6–1.8 m from the trunk. Due to the shallow location of the roots, the tree does not tolerate strong winds. Most of the spruce roots, more than 80%, are located in the surface layer of soil, at a depth of up to 10 cm. The roots are very thick and intertwined.

Starting from a depth of 10 cm, the root system loses its density. At this level, the volume of the roots is only 16–18% of those located above, just below the soil surface layer. In addition, in the upper layer there are approximately 10 times more large roots than in the deeper layer (below 10 cm). At a depth of more than 30 cm and up to half a meter, only 2% of the total mass of spruce roots is found. But in the very top layer of the substrate (5–8 cm), the root system branches densely and adheres well to the remains of organic matter.

Important! The spruce should not be planted closer than 4 m from the house. After 20 years of life, the roots can reach 3–3.5 m in diameter, depending on the type of soil.

In total, the roots of a tree rarely reach 1.5–1.6 m. In the vertical direction, the roots develop much weaker than in the horizontal plane. They grow best in the top layer of soil with good air access. The small roots are small in size, there is no hair covering, the color is brown-black, and the thinner they are, the darker they are. The roots are covered on top with scales that have a lamellar structure.

Features of cultivation

Maintaining a dormant period in cooled conditions for planting seeds creates conditions analogous to natural conditions. By following all the recommendations, you can grow a beautifully formed spruce sprout. For the first 3-4 years, spruce sprouts need individual supervision.

Landing dates

Before planting blue spruce from seeds, they are first prepared and then planted in April. Prepared substrate is used as planting material. Its key components: and turf soil. Before direct planting, the soil and cone seeds are treated. The optimal planting depth for spruce seeds is 1 to 2 cm.

Important! Experienced summer residents choose acidic soil for accelerated growing of blue spruce in greenhouse conditions. For this purpose, you can purchase packaged soil for Christmas trees and... After 2-3 weeks, the first shoots of seedlings appear

The seedlings are thinned out and the weakest specimens are removed. The distance between them is approximately 7 cm. The shoots are protected from frost and direct sunlight. The optimal temperature for the germination procedure is +15°C. Young trees are moistened by spraying, instead of direct watering with water at the base of the trunk. At first, the procedure is repeated twice a day.

After 2-3 weeks, the first shoots of seedlings appear. The seedlings are thinned out and the weakest specimens are removed. The distance between them is approximately 7 cm. The shoots are protected from frost and direct sunlight. The optimal temperature for the germination procedure is +15°C. Young trees are moistened by spraying, instead of direct watering with water at the base of the trunk. At first, the procedure is repeated twice a day.

Conditions for growth

The sprout increases to 3-4 cm in the first month of growth

It is important to monitor the soil moisture level. Keeping the conifer in a well-lit area will ensure intensive growth of sprouts

Young seedlings are not recommended to be frequently transplanted from container to container. Frequent transplants are difficult to tolerate. This promises a significant obstacle to the growth and development of the crown and trunk of the plant.

The procedure of transplanting into another container is done exclusively in the spring. When changing the pot, the roots are protected from exposure, preserving the soil lump. In the first year of life, the seedling reaches a height of 15 to 25 cm.

In winter, the shoots are moistened according to the following scheme:

1 time per month at zero air temperature in the greenhouse;
Once every 2-3 weeks at above-zero temperatures;
When wintering in the house, spruce trees are sprayed.

Brief characteristics of the plant

Blue spruce is rightly called the most prominent species of the coniferous tree family. It is extremely popular in the field of gardening and landscape design. A slow-growing tree with bluish thorny needles has its own characteristics.

In our area, the “noble” coniferous tree reaches a maximum height of 15 m. The thickness of the Christmas tree crown is from 6 to 8 m. In the ancestral home of coniferous trees, these figures are twice as large. The crown is conical or cylindrical.

Depending on the variety and temperature conditions in the location, the needles of the branches vary in color from rich blue to grayish-green. The cones of a young tree shimmer in red or purple, while mature ones are light brown.

Representatives of the elite breed have a high level of resistance to strong frosty winds and arid soil. This allows varieties to be grown in different climate zones of our region. The frost resistance indicator is down to -30°C.

Coniferous branches do not suffer from the smog of megacities. An exquisite silvery coating is clearly visible on the needles. In addition to its decorative qualities, it retains moisture and provides barrier protection against the penetration of dirty air. Therefore, you can grow spruce from seeds at home for landscaping your garden plot in the city.

Planting seeds

First, determine the most favorable date for planting a spruce tree. The seedling will feel comfortable in nature if the ambient temperature is around +19 o C (+-1-2 o C).

Important! After changing the temperature regime (i.e.

after refrigeration) they can only be stored for 50 hours.

Before landing, the planting material is treated with a solution of foundationazole: 20 g per 10 liters of water.

Spruce is planted in well-moistened soil. If the spruce will be grown in greenhouse conditions, then the containers are deepened into the ground by 1.5 cm, and a film is stretched on top. If on open ground, first tamp the soil in the hole, then put the seeds, covering them on top with a peat mixture and a thin layer of sawdust (about 1 cm).

Important! The distance between individual seeds should be at least 3.5-6 cm

How to Grow Blue Spruce from Seeds

Growing a blue spruce from seeds on your summer cottage is the dream of any summer resident. After all, she will be able to embellish the area. But, unfortunately, this is quite difficult to do, so few people despair of taking this step

It is worth noting that it does not matter at all what seeds you choose to plant. Only with proper care, thirty percent of spruce trees turn blue

Collecting seeds for planting

First you need to prepare cones that are collected from blue spruce. They can be found in the forest around mid-February. It is during this period that they are already fully ripe. All collected cones need to be wrapped in a piece of gauze and placed on a radiator or other heating device. This way the cones can open faster and we will get seeds. As soon as the cone opens, you need to collect and clean the seeds from the lionfish. You also need to wash them thoroughly under running water and dry them. Dry seeds should be placed in a pre-sterilized jar, tightly closed with an airtight lid, and left in the refrigerator for about two months. But if winters in your region are stable, then it is best to store seeds in natural conditions. You need to compact the snow and make small depressions for the seeds, then cover everything with a thick layer of sawdust so that the snow does not begin to melt ahead of time. Such preservation in natural conditions will allow you to get the most productive results.

If you doubt the preparation of seeds from cones, you can purchase seeds in specialized stores. The process of sowing purchased seeds will be the same.

Sowing seeds

Before you start planting blue spruce seeds, you need to accurately determine the place and date of planting. After all, after you take the seeds out of the cold, they can be stored for no more than forty hours. Before planting, you need to soak the seeds for twelve hours in a solution of microelements, which will saturate them with all the useful substances before sowing. You also need to treat the seeds with a fifty percent solution of Fundazol. This will prevent the development of various diseases.

If you plan to plant seeds in a pot, then you need to prepare a special soil mixture in it. You need to take high-moor peat and dilute it with lime flour, at the rate of 40 grams of flour per six kilograms of peat. You need to bury the pots in the greenhouse so that the top of the pot is level with the ground. Seeds should be planted to a depth of no more than 1.5 centimeters. To create a greenhouse effect, you need to cover the pot with film, so the seeds will hatch much faster. If you plant in open ground, you just need to compact the soil well around the planted seed.

Seedling care

Already 20 days after planting, blue spruce will sprout its first shoots. You will need to thin out the sprouts so that they are six centimeters apart from each other. It is also worth noting that small sprouts do not need to be watered. They need to be sprayed with warm water twice a day. The optimal temperature for the growth of young shoots is fifteen degrees Celsius. It is necessary to constantly protect the sprouts from direct sunlight and from night frosts.

But, unfortunately, not all spruces will turn blue when they begin to grow. This has already been tested several times. But such experience in growing spruce on your own plot will help to significantly increase your level of horticultural knowledge. After all, this process is very painstaking and requires the most correct approach to the matter. If you follow all the rules, then this activity can become a pleasant hobby for any amateur gardener. The main thing is to follow all the simple rules, and the blue spruce will be able to constantly show off on your plot of land.

How to order flowers for delivery?

Blue spruce is a plant ideal for growing within the city. Creating a beautiful plot where you can relax body and soul is the dream of every gardener. Everyone chooses their own path to realizing their dreams, but the best one is to pay special attention to landscape design, and only then engage in further work.

What will help decorate the site? Coniferous plants are the answer! a huge variety of coniferous plants . But now we will talk about one of the most beautiful representatives of conifers: the blue spruce.

Blue spruce is a plant that came from North America. There it has long grown along the banks of rivers, adding a bluish tint to the green canvas of grasses, deciduous trees and shrubs.

Main characteristics of blue spruce

Even those who have never encountered this spruce will guess that its needles have a blue, gray color. It is thanks to the color of the needles that it gained such enormous popularity. As for the size of the plant, there are both low-growing forms (bred by breeders) and classic tall ones (15 meters, and sometimes 30 meters).

Blue spruce is very resistant to severe frosts (can withstand -35 degrees). Thanks to the color of the needles, it can withstand extreme heat, which is completely uncharacteristic for coniferous plants. Blue spruce can be grown in any region, as it can withstand +50 degrees.

Blue spruce is a plant ideal for growing within the city . It is not at all afraid of exhaust gases and dust; moreover, it purifies the air. That is why blue spruce is very often used for landscaping flower beds along the roadway, as well as for landscaping city parks.

Features of planting blue spruce

It is best to plant a seedling that has reached three to five years of age, since only such a seedling can be transplanted to another place without much stress.

You need to choose the right place to plant blue spruce so that it develops normally and does not lose its decorative properties. What is meant by "right place"? Of course, conifers grow very well in the shade, but this is not about blue spruce; in the shade it loses its decorative effect . Therefore, it needs to be planted in an open, sunlit area. Experienced gardeners advise that one spruce requires an area of at least 4 square meters. meters.

The spruce seedling should be placed in a planting hole that is three times larger than an earthen ball. Damage to the roots of spruce should not be allowed, since it, like all conifers, is very sensitive to root injuries.

When planting, you should also ensure that the root collar of the plant is on the surface, otherwise rotting will occur and the plant will die. After planting, the seedling needs to be watered abundantly.

Blue spruce is one of the few plants whose roots are very painful in the open air. This also needs to be taken into account.

Rules for caring for blue spruce

In general, caring for blue spruce is not much different from caring for regular spruce or juniper, but there are some nuances.

Feeding. Both young and mature plants need them. In the first year after planting, you need to apply two root feedings with a growth stimulator and two or three foliar feedings with a specialized fertilizer for coniferous plants. Next, every year you need to carry out one root feeding with fertilizer for conifers.

While the plant is young, it needs to be watered regularly. This should be done as the soil dries out. Watering should only be done at the root so that water does not get on the needles, otherwise the needles may get sunburned, which will undoubtedly have a negative effect on the plant and also spoil its appearance.

If we talk about weeding, experienced gardeners recommend that while the spruce is young (1-2 years after planting), remove only large weeds and leave small grass, as it creates a microclimate. However, grass growing in the tree trunk, even if it is small, will somehow spoil the appearance of the garden, especially if the garden is designed in some strict style, for example, French. Therefore, whether to pull out small grass or not to pull it out is your choice.

To create a beautiful crown of blue spruce, you need to prune. In the spring, dead shoots are removed, that is, sanitary pruning is carried out, and in the summer, formative pruning is carried out, removing unnecessary shoots, thereby forming a certain shape. Pruning should not be neglected, especially while the plant is young.

It is not necessary to cover blue spruce for the winter , since, as stated above, it very easily tolerates even the most severe frosts. Therefore, in this case we are talking about a shelter that will protect the young plant from snow, which can break the still fragile branches. To do this, just wrap the spruce with ordinary covering material and tie it with twine. In early spring, the cover should be removed, because blue spruce is not afraid of the spring sun, which means the risk of sunburn is practically zero.

Methods of propagation of blue spruce

Blue spruce can be propagated by cuttings and seeds . to get new spruce trees using cuttings . You should cut branches 15 centimeters long, treat the heel in some kind of growth stimulant, and then plant it in a container with soil suitable for coniferous plants. This procedure is carried out in April-early May. The roots of the cuttings will appear in August. Immediately after the roots appear, the petioles will grow very quickly, and new buds will begin to develop. In spring, seedlings are planted in open ground.

It is still not recommended to propagate with seeds Also, growing seedlings from seeds is quite a troublesome task. After all, even in nurseries, cuttings are most often used to propagate spruce.

What diseases and pests can attack blue spruce?

Blue spruce has as many diseases and pests as common spruce. You can fight them, but it’s best to prevent their occurrence. Among diseases, the most common disease is rust , and among pests - various mites , as well as hermes .

The most popular varieties of blue spruce

Now in gardening both the natural form and those bred by breeders are used. If we talk about hybrid spruce, then there is a huge selection in size: from miniature (up to 50-60 centimeters in height) to large ones.

The most popular varieties : Waldburn, Hoopsie, Bialobok, Montgomery and various varieties of Glauka spruce .

How to use blue spruce in landscape design?

Tall and medium-growing varieties look very effective as a tapeworm. Due to the color of the needles, they look great in group plantings consisting of coniferous plants. You can plant different types of spruce together, as well as completely different conifers, for example, fir, mountain pine, horizontal juniper and blue spruce. Blue spruce also goes well with deciduous shrubs and flowers . For example, the combination of blue spruce and roses is classic.

Coniferous plants look very impressive on the site , they decorate it, add charm, and the blue spruce, having a bluish color, will also add a touch of a certain strangeness and unusualness to the garden. With proper care, blue spruce will become “the highlight of your garden.”

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Further care

The first shoots appear after 10-15 days. If a frequent arrangement of seedlings is detected, it is advisable to thin out the plants. Only strong specimens are left. The ideal distance between them is 6-7 cm.

Seedling care

In the first two to three weeks, it is important to ensure optimal conditions:

do not water the sprouts, only spray the seedlings twice a day;
pots with seedlings are kept at a temperature range from +13̊ C to +15 C°;
Seedlings need to be shaded; they will burn in the open sun.

After a month, blue needle seedlings reach a height of 3-4 cm. To prevent the formation of root rot, the soil is treated with a fungicide. The plant itself is treated with an insecticide solution.

How to care for seedlings

In hot, dry weather, trees are watered once a week (a bucket of water per plant). The roots of young plants (up to 3 years old) are very close to the surface of the earth. During periods of drought, they require increased moisture.

When removing weeds and loosening the soil, do not go deeper than 7 cm. Some summer residents believe that in the first years of its life it is better not to disturb the spruce planted in the soil. Allow it to grow in the grass, water and mulch the soil with humus. Adult coniferous trees do not need soil fertilization; young seedlings are fed with fertilizers with a mineral composition.

In winter, there are two threats to young spruce:

a branch breaking under the weight of snow;
burns from UV rays followed by shedding of needles.

To protect fragile branches in winter, they are tied to the trunk with a small net. To avoid the harmful effects of direct sunlight on the southern side of the site in the first years, the crowns are covered with cotton cloth or agrofibre.

Transplanting a plant to a permanent place

When choosing ready-made seedlings for planting, pay attention to the color of the annual plant. In greenhouse conditions, a blue Christmas tree will outgrow the meter barrier

The place for permanent planting is cleared of weeds. Then they dig a planting hole larger than the volume of the tree’s roots. Make sure the soil is soft - it is difficult for young roots to break through. Plants remain at risk of death if the soil is not treated before planting. To protect against blackleg, the soil is treated with Trichodermin 14 days before planting.

The tree is dug up from a greenhouse plot or container. A little “native” soil is poured onto the bottom of the prepared hole. If possible, add a little soil from under mature pine needles to the hole. The seedling is placed in a hole so that the ground levels on the trunk coincide. Planting too deeply will damage the rhizome.

The remaining space around the spruce trunk is covered with soil and compacted well to avoid drying out the roots. Then the coniferous plant is well watered so that the roots quickly straighten and penetrate into the surrounding soil. Although this variety of coniferous spruce belongs to the group of shade-tolerant trees, it is still planted in the sun. In the shade, the crown becomes loose and loses color saturation.

Under natural conditions, the noble spruce variety develops much more slowly. The tree loves moisture. Growth in the forest stops temporarily during summer drought. With sufficient watering, dacha coniferous plantings grow vigorously.

Spruce is a coniferous plant that plays the role of a classic decoration of the territory. Blue spruce is one of the endangered species, therefore it is listed in the Red Book. This factor affects the cost of pine seedlings. But why spend money on buying young trees if you can grow them with your own hands? Let’s try to understand together how to grow spruce from seeds, because in addition to saving money, the gardener receives a healthy plant adapted to the environment.

Owners of country estates are massively purchasing blue spruce cuttings for further cultivation, even despite the high cost. This is because not everyone has an idea of how to grow a spruce from seeds, but you will know for sure.

Planting fir trees

Many people wonder whether it is possible to plant coniferous trees on their site, as well as how to grow spruce. The blue herringbone planting method does not differ from other decorative forms of seedlings. the main condition is to preserve the root system from drying out, since exposed roots die within 15-20 minutes. They should also be protected from exposure to wind and sun. The roots of the seedling must be wrapped or placed in a container.

They also prefer light, loose soils and loams; stagnant water is contraindicated for them. In this regard, the soil must be well drained.

Landing Features:

large spruce trees must be planted in winter;
the pit should be 50 to 70 cm deep;
between tall trees the distance should be at least 2-3 meters;
the soil around the trunk should be quite loose, and it should contain turfy deciduous soil, as well as sand and peat;
the drainage system should be about 20 cm thick, it is possible to use fine crushed stone and sand;
the application of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizers after planting has a beneficial effect on the development of the plant. Also, when planting in a hole, it is recommended to add a layer of soil along with spruce needles from the place where the spruce grew.

When planting young seedlings of this beautiful tree, it is also necessary to comply with some mandatory conditions:

You need to choose a well-lit place for planting. Although spruce is a shade-tolerant tree, blue spruce requires sunlight, because in the shade their color becomes less bright and their crown becomes loose.
Suitable for planting are specimens that have been growing in a container for at least the last six months, and their root system is strong and ready for transplanting.
It is preferable to choose a seedling at the age of 3-5 years, since the tree is already quite strong, adapts more easily to environmental conditions and is ready to decorate the area.
There should be no weeds at the planting site, and the planting hole should be dug a little larger than the volume of the tree’s root system. This is due to the fact that it will be easier for young roots to make their way into soft soil.
After removing the seedling from the container, you need to pour some soil from it onto the bottom of the hole.
It is necessary to place the seedling in the hole so that the ground levels coincide. If the tree is buried too deep or, conversely, planted above the level, the root system suffers and the tree may die.
The area around the seedling is sprinkled with earth and thoroughly compacted to prevent air from reaching the roots.
Immediately after planting, the spruce must be well watered, then it will be easier for the roots to penetrate the soil.

If the tree is not transplanted from a container, then it is better to carry out this process in early spring, before the plant begins to actively grow. After frost and thawing of the ground, the seedling is dug up along with a lump of soil and replanted. As already mentioned, it is important not to dry out the roots, so spruce seedlings are always sold with their roots covered. They are wrapped with soil or planted in a container.

Seed collection

To grow any plant with your own hands, you need selected planting material, which is better not to buy, but to get it yourself. To grow spruce seedlings, seeds obtained from the fruits of a coniferous plant - cones - are used. The cones are collected in mid-February. This is the ideal time to collect full-fledged spruce seeds. The cones are placed in a fabric bag and placed next to a heating device or fireplace, which facilitates quick opening and free access to the grains. After a few weeks, you will be able to remove the seeds without damaging them. After the cones open, the spruce seeds in the bag are ground together to remove the lionfish. Rinsing under running water will get rid of the greasy film formed due to the release of essential oils. At the final stage of preparation, the planting material is well dried.

To ensure complete protection of the seeds from bacteria, they are washed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and then wiped with a cloth. The prepared seeds are placed in a glass jar, which, tightly closed, is placed in the refrigerator. The conditions in the freezer are as close to natural as possible (during the cold season), where the seeds are kept until mid-March.

How to grow spruce from seeds yourself? It is very important to get good planting material, which, however, can be bought on the market if necessary. The main thing is to know a good manufacturer

Methods of propagation of blue spruce

There are two methods of propagating this tree:

Seeds from blue spruce cones

Let’s say right away that the process is long and difficult. The thing is that seeds from the same tree give different results. It is far from a fact that it is a blue and not a green spruce that will grow from the seeds of one cone. The real color will appear only in the second year.

It is imperative to disinfect all planting material and soak it in a solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. This will protect the future tree from viruses, pests and fungi.

Seeds must be planted in a greenhouse for at least a year. And only in the second year, after the frosts have completely stopped, can the sprouts be transplanted into open ground.

Cuttings

The spruce that was grown by cuttings completely bears all the characteristics of the parent tree.

You only need to take side shoots that have not reached a length of 10 cm. The best time for pruning is April, when tree sap is actively released.