pocket-size but mighty , a lemon cypress tree tree is a fragrant evergreen that ’s amazingly well-to-do to grow as a houseplant .
Kate Sears
A dry pint - sized miscellany of the Monterey cypress , lemon cypress tree are famous for their unique , chartreuse needles and their refreshing , lemon - similar scent . While these plants are often used as short - livedholiday decor plant life , they can also be grow as houseplants to enjoy twelvemonth - turn with a snatch of care . From selecting the best pot to watering and light , here ’s what you involve to get it on to keep indoor stinker cypress trees long after the holiday are through .
Credit:Kate Sears
1. Choose the Right Pot
Lemon cypress trees needwell - draining soiland they should be repot as soon as potential if you buy one in a potful without drainage gob . For ripe results , prefer a well - draining , terracotta slew that ’s just one or two sizes larger than the works ’s original growing container and repot your flora using a potting mix blended with backbone , perlite , or bark for faster drainage . As houseplant , lemon cypress trees raise comparatively lento , butthey should still be repottedabout once every 3 - 4 year to ensure their roots have room to grow .
2. Provide Plenty of Light
shining , indirect lightis in force for lemon cypress tree trees , while too much direct sun can cause sun equipment casualty and discolored phonograph needle . A bright illuminate windowpane that receive at least 5 - 6 hour of morn sun or filtered light throughout the afternoon is best for these plants , but they can also be placed undergrow lightsin blue - light homes . To keep your plant from stretching towards the luminousness , rotate its locoweed a quarter turn every time you water .
3. Water Regularly
Lemon cypress trees require to be watered regularly , but it ’s of import not to exaggerate it . Overly teetotal dirt can cause these plants to turn brown and brittle ; however , overwatering can also conduce toproblems , like base rotand plant death . To avoid these issues , urine pot tree diagram about once a week when the top 1 - 2 column inch of dirt feel wry andreduce watering a bit during winter .
4. Fertilize Sparingly
In the natural state , Monterey cypress tree maturate in comparatively poor filth with a abject nutrient content , so it ’s no surprisal that lemon cypress trees do n’t ask much plant food . In fact , grow these plants in overly full-bodied soil or fertilizing too often can cause their stem to outgrow their roots and make the plants gawky . In general , lemon cypress tree tree wo n’t demand to be fertilized at all , but if your plant looks like it needs a find fault - me - up , feed it just once a year in former spring with compost or a diluted liquid , organic plant food .
5. Boost Humidity
Just like too juiceless soil , dry indoor melodic phrase can cause stinker cypress tree tree to wrick brown and brittle . But you’re able to keep your plants looking lucullan byplacing them near a humidifieror on top of a pebble tray . It ’s also a right idea to keep these flora aside from A / carbon and heating units , which can make indoor melody even dryer .
6. Keep It Cool
Although lemon cypress trees tolerate stock room temperatures , they ’ll acquire even better if you set your thermostat at around 60 - 65 ° F . Just keep in mind that freezing temperature anddrafty windowscan damage these plants . So , if you place your stinker cypress tree outdoors during the summer , be sure to get it back inside before cold weather striking .
7. Avoid Pruning
Lemon cypress tree trees naturally assert a pyramidal form as they maturate and rarely need rationalize . However , if your plants develop a few wayward stems , you may always snip them out withclean pruning shearsor scissors . If you want to get even more creative , lemon cypress tree can alsobe used for topiariesor bonsai .
8. Watch for Pests
Indoor industrial plant are less likely to pull in pests than plant in the garden , but pests can still once in a while find their way inside and wreak havoc on indoor plants . Aphids , mealybugs , andscale insectsare particularly adoring of lemon cypress tree trees , but these plague are treatable . constituent soap nebulizer apply every 7 - 10 days work wonders against mealybugs and aphids , while constituent horticultural petroleum is your best bet if you ’re dealing with hard - bodied scale .
9. Propagate Stems
If you want to create more lemon cypress tree , the best way to do it is to take 4 - 6 column inch - foresighted stem cuttings from healthy arm and propagate them in soil withrooting hormone . localise the cutting in bright , collateral light , handle them up with clean-cut charge card to lock in humidness , and keep the filth evenly moist until the cuttings source . Then , pot your fresh lemon cypress trees into individual pots and care for them just like the parent plant life .
