How to Care for Cypress

The cypress is a conifer native to the Norfpk Island located between Australia and New Zealand in the Pacific Ocean. Although not a pine tree, the cypress tree looks a lot like a pine tree and is often used for decoration as a Christmas tree. In the wild, this tree can reach a height of 60m. The cypress tree is also great when grown indoors and can grow up to 1.5m – 2.4m tall. The secret to caring for this plant is to provide plenty of moisture, indirect light from the sun, and maintain the right temperature.

Table of Contents

Provide nutrients for plants

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Plant on suitable soil. In the wild, cypress trees grow in sandy and slightly acidic soil. This means they need well-drained soil. You can mix the following ingredients in equal proportions: ^{[1] X Research Source}

Soil for potted plants
Peat moss
Sand

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Maintain light moisture in the soil. The cypress prefers evenly moist soil, similar to that of a wringing sponge that is only slightly moist but not wet or soggy. Before watering, you should test the moisture by poking your finger in the soil. If you find that the 2.5cm layer of soil on the surface is dry, water the soil with lukewarm water until the water runs through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.

Allow excess water to drain through the drain hole into the drain pan below the pot. Pour the water in the dish when the water stops flowing. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Even if it happens only once, severe water shortages can cause a tree’s branches and leaves to dry up, fall off, and never grow back.

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Make sure the plant receives plenty of indirect sunlight. Cypress trees need sunlight for many hours a day, but they do not like direct sunlight. The right place to place the plant is in a room with many windows facing northeast or northwest.

You can also place the plant in a room with south- or west-facing windows, but must have a shade to protect the plant from direct sunlight.
Other locations that are also well suited for cypress trees are the sunroom and the covered porch. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Fertilize throughout the growing season of the plant. In spring, summer, and early fall, you should fertilize your cypress with a balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks. When the plant needs to be watered, you can mix some liquid fertilizer into the water and apply it to the plant.

A balanced fertilizer is one that has equal levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Cypress trees do not need fertilizer during their dormant period in late fall and throughout winter.
To see when the plant is growing again, look for the new light green shoots on the tips of the branches in the spring. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Plant a healthy cypress tree

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Rotate the tree often. Just as the sunflower always turns towards the sun, the cypress will either grow with or lean towards the light source. To prevent uneven and lopsided growth, rotate the pot ¼ turn every week.

Don’t push the plant too hard when rotating the pot, as cypress trees don’t like to be moved. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Maintain the right temperature. This plant does not like extreme temperatures and will not survive when the temperature is lower than 2 degrees Celsius or too much higher than 24 degrees Celsius. The ideal daytime temperature for plants would be around 16 degrees Celsius, and night temperatures would be slightly cooler, around 13 degrees Celsius ^{. [6] X Research Source}

Although preferring cooler temperatures at night, cypress trees do not like sudden temperature changes. A shady corner in the solarium would be a good location for the plant, as nighttime temperatures will naturally drop as the sun goes down.

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Provide extra moisture to the plant. In their natural habitat, cypress trees grow in coastal tropics, which means they prefer moist air. The ideal humidity for plants is 50%. You can maintain this humidity by misting the plant daily with room temperature water, or using a humidifier. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Providing extra moisture to the plant is especially important if you live in a cold and dry climate.

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Sand only to remove dead or brown foliage. This tree does not need pruning. You just need to remove dead branches or tips that turn brown. Use sharp pruners to prune dead leaves.

When you prune a cypress tree, you also prevent the branch from sprouting at the point it was cut. Instead of stimulating the plant to grow new shoots, pruning forces the plant to grow in another location, and this changes the shape of the tree. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Choose an ideal location

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Avoid placing the plant in a drafty location. Hot or cold air will also defoliate leaves, so you need to choose a location away from air inlets, fans, and heater or air conditioner vents. ^{[9] X Research Source}

You should also place your plants away from drafty doors and windows at a safe distance.

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Avoid moving the tree. The root system of the cypress tree is very fragile and easily damaged when the tree is moved. Don’t move your tree unless you have to, and once you’ve chosen an ideal place for it to thrive, it’s a good idea to leave it there for as long as possible. ^{[10] X Research Source}

If you have to move the tree somewhere else, you need to be very careful and only move it gradually.
Find a spot where the tree won’t accidentally move, bump, tip over, or jostle.

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Repot the plant every few years. You should repot your tree every three to four years in the spring, when the roots emerge from the ground. Prepare the new pot by filling the pot with a mixture of soil, sand, and peat moss halfway. Carefully dig the plant out of the old pot and place it in the ground in the new pot. Fill the rest of the pot with soil and cover the roots.

Each time you repot, choose a pot that is larger than the old pot.
Plant pots must have drainage holes in the bottom to allow excess water to drain out of the pot.
Although cypress trees don’t like being moved, you still need to repot the plant from time to time and provide fresh soil to allow the root system to grow. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Troubleshoot common problems

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Reduce watering if the branches droop and turn yellow. Cypress trees like moist soil, but they are not very good with wet soil. If you notice the branches begin to droop or start to turn yellow, reduce the frequency of watering. ^{[12] X Research Source}

You only need to water the plant when the 2.5 cm layer of soil on the surface has dried.
Yellow leaves can fall off if you water them too much.

Steps

Provide nutrients for plants

Plant a healthy cypress tree

Choose an ideal location

Troubleshoot common problems

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