Norway spruce Picea abies Karst is the most decorated Christmas tree. In Poland, it occurs in two centers: northern (lowland) and southern (mountain), it is a part of lowland and mountain spruce forests and mixed lower montane forests, while in Europe its range ranges from sea level in the B altic countries to the Alps, Carpathians and Urals . It is absent in England, Spain, Portugal and France.
Its habitat requirements are quite high (similar to silver fir), it grows well in cool places with high humidity of air and soil (clay-sand, acidic).It does not tolerate dry conditions well and is extremely sensitive to air pollution.
Spruce is a light-loving tree: it grows in full sun and keeps its branches just above the ground. It is a basic species for planting in a natural landscape. Dwarf varieties are more durable and less demanding than the typical species. The root system is shallow, disc-shaped and facilitates transplanting the plant, although it makes the plant prone to frequent capsizing in high winds.
Spruce works well in planting in large parks, it tolerates clipping very well, therefore it is suitable for hedges.Dwarf varieties are suitable for small gardens, they can be successfully planted in pots or various types of containers.In the architecture of green areas, garden varieties are divided according to the growth strength, habit, color of needles, distinctiveness of cones and bark.
Dwarf cultivars are extremely valuable because they show greater resistance to unfavorable conditions, especially to polluted and dry air.They have a wide range of uses, they are perfect for planting in small gardens, alpine gardens, moors and in flower beds with perennials.Most of them are bud mutations, found by chance in forests, gardens and nurseries (called devil's brooms).
Dwarf varieties with slow or very slow growth are a very numerous group among the numerous varieties of Norway spruce.They have different shapes - conical, spherical and shoots that lie on the surface of the soil.They are suitable for small gardens, rock gardens and pots. Some of them can be valuable ground cover varieties. It is worth noting that they are less attacked by the pine spider mite, common on white spruce.
Strongly growing varieties
'Inversa ’
A variety with hanging branches. Creates weeping trees with main and side branches directed perpendicular to the ground at the trunk. It grows slowly. The trees vary in height and habit (it depends on the lead and the type of scions). It is usually grafted on a tall trunk.
'Cupressima ’
A variety with a narrow habit. It creates trees with a sharp, highly dense top. It is similar to a cypress. After thirty years it reaches a height of 8-10 m. The branches rise upwards at an acute angle. Planted in an espalier or singly, it grows well in gardens.
'Virgata ’
Slightly branched variety. Forms long overhanging shoots, sparsely branched, almost devoid of side branches, ending with only one bud. Needles stiff, thick and sharp, arranged in a brush-like pattern around the shoot. Transparent crown with an arrow visible inside.
'Koniecca ’
A variety with a conical shape, the needles turn yellow and maintain this beautiful color throughout the year. Perfect for color combinations with other plants. A variety intended for parks or large gardens.
The tree we buy for Christmas should be cut at the bottom of the trunk and stand in a cool room (around 8-12 ° C).Higher temperature will contribute to the intensification of life processes (aging of plants and dropping of needles). Such a tree is attached to a stand and pour water into it.
Another solution is to put the lower part of the plant in a container with wet sand (we keep spruce with access to water for up to 3 weeks, and about 7-10 days without water).If we put a tree in a stand, it is good to place containers with water under it, which will evaporate and increase air humidity.Another way to improve air humidity is to sprinkle the plant with water several times a day.
Gardeners have developed various methods of extending the life of coniferous tree branches and shrubs, and even whole trees without roots. One of them is spraying the twigs with purified or technical glycerin (mixed with water).Glycerin preserves the vivid green color of the needles and prevents them from shedding, especially in spruce trees, and also reduces transpiration because it clogs the stomata. Glycerine is not sprayed on trees and shrubs with their own roots, which are to be later transplanted to our gardens and plots.
Which plant to choose for the Christmas tree? Pine, spruce, or maybe a fir?
When buying a tree in a pot, pay attention to the quality of the root system. The roots should outgrow the lump, as evidenced by single roots interspersed (visible through the holes in the bottom of the pot). This is extremely important as some dishonest growers dig up the trees 2.3 weeks prior to sale and plant them in pots.Plants then have a damaged root system and will not have time to overgrow the root ball because the low temperature prevents them.When transferred to houses and apartments, they dry up and die after some time.
A correctly selected tree should have all shoots and branches, and its needles should be of the same color without discoloration and drying out. We place them away from radiators and other heating devices.Cultivation consists in systematic watering and taking care that the substrate is moderately moist (not too wet, because the lack of air access to the roots may cause the plant to die).
The tree should be kept in a warm room as short as possible (7-10 days), while longer keeping will contribute to its toughening (juices begin to circulate intensively, the plant begins to grow, and new shoots grow out of the bursting buds).Such a situation can only be saved by exposing the spruce to a cool, bright room and keeping it until the first decadeMay , and then planting it into the ground.Putting the tree on outside it would cause its swollen buds or young growths to freeze and then die.
"Short guest" at home, or how to deal with an ecological tree? In winter, when the soil is frozen, the best solution is to move the spruce with the pot after a short Christmas period to the balcony, terrace or garden.We protect the pot (the root system) from freezing by wrapping it with cloth, fleece or even paper, but remember not to use polyethylene film for this.
On the terrace or balcony it is good to place the container on a piece of polystyrene, which will insulate against low temperatures.Water the protected plant from time to time.If the soil is not frozen, you can plant the tree in a permanent place, but it would be more careful to pit the pot in a quiet part of the garden.Adding a pot consists of digging a hole to the height of the pot and placing a container in it, and then filling it with soil.Deciding where the tree will grow, choose a sunny position. Spruce and fir trees grow to large sizes, so they need a lot of space.
Remember that Christmas trees are grown on special plantations run by horticulture and forestry companies, and that's where we should buy them.It is forbidden by law to cut them down in forests and stands natural.
Dwarf varieties with a conical shape
'Kamon ’
A variety that grows very slowly and also has long and thick growths. Perfect for planting in small gardens, but also great for growing in containers.
'Pygmaea ’
One of the oldest dwarf varieties with very slow-growing, dense and irregularly rounded shrubs. It is characterized by thin, light shoots with shiny needles. After thirty years, they reach one meter in height and 1.5 meters in diameter.
'Remontii ’
A variety with slowly growing, most often conical shrubs that reach about 3 m in height. Regular, compact and even growth. Its growths are extremely short and the needles on the shoot are gradually narrowing. Shrubs similar to the 'Conica' variety of white spruce.
´ Barryi ’
Its shrubs grow ovoid at first, later irregularly conical in shape, with thick, lush guide shoots and very short side shoots. The shrubs reach 2-2.5 m in height, but in old garden layouts you can find forms up to 8 m.
