This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
You opted for a small conifer to beautify your home during the Holidays and you are now wondering what to do to keep it year-round? Here are our top tips for maintaining it brilliantly.
First of all, you need to know what type of conifers you are dealing with. Is your favorite tree hardy or not hardy? There is the question !
To resist the cold… or not
You’ve probably heard of hardiness zones. These allow you to determine whether a plant will survive in a given region based on the minimum and maximum temperatures recorded on average over the past few years. So often the lowest (or coldest) zone is the one taken into consideration when we choose plants that will survive the rigors of our Quebec winters, the maximum zone also has its importance when we choose plants for the interior. Some absolutely need to overwinter below the freezing point. Depriving them of this icy period can be fatal in many cases…
Non-hardy conifers
The epithet says it straight away: plants of this type should stay indoors for the winter. And even if they can be taken out during the summer, they absolutely must be brought in before the first frosts.
hardy evergreens
Hardy species survive our winters, and need this period of rest, which is part of their natural life cycle. This is where things get complicated: if you deprive them of cold and darkness, they risk dying. In this case, what to do and what not to do with your hardy conifer?
How to keep a hardy conifer indoors?
1. Put it in a room with bright light. However, some varieties like direct sun less. Find out more about your mini-tree!
2. Be careful not to put it in a room that is too hot. The idea here is to do everything to prevent the resumption of growth. So make sure the room temperature is around 15°C.
3. Keep it away from direct heat sources as well as heating sources, which dry out the ambient air. In addition to harming the plant, air that is too dry could attract spider mites (tiny red spider mites).
4. Avoid overwatering. Water only as needed, especially in winter.
5. Resist the urge to fertilize your hardy evergreen when it’s indoors. Why ? Because the tender new shoots would have no chance of surviving outdoors afterwards.
Tips for taking out a hardy conifer after the holidays
1. Initiate dormancy by placing your mini-tree in a cold, dark room before thinking about overwintering it outside.
2. Wrap your small conifer in a drop cloth before taking it out, then place it in a place sheltered from the wind. Burying it in the snow or sheltering it inside a shed will greatly increase your chances of success.
3. Despite all these precautions, your attempt may fail. We must not forget that it was our neighbors to the south who popularized this practice, and that their winters are generally milder. You will at least have had the merit of trying!
Tips for spending all winter outside
1. Failing to plant it in the ground (this is your best option), place it in a large insulated pot to limit the impact of frost on the roots.
2. Water it abundantly in the fall. In this respect, mini fir is no different from other conifers.
3. Decorate it hassle-free with LED string lights. However, do not leave them around the trunk for too long, so as not to strangle it.
4. If it is exposed to the winds, cover it with a winter protection sheet when the holidays are over.
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Homework, relating to marketing. The drafting of Homework did not take part.