We Bought A 4″ Cypress Tree From The Home Depot…
Keivan Asked
We bought a 4″ cypress tree from The Home Depot in early November and immediately I potted it in a very big ceramic pot (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202519338/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053). I was keeping it indoors and next to our only window with SOME sunlight; it’s a north-facing window in Chicago so there is not much sun. After a few days the leaves started to go dry and the branches started falling apart from each other. I thought it could be the flies around the tree and, based on a suggestion from a guy at The Home Depot, I sprayed a half & half beer and water on it, which killed the bugs but the tree got worse. Then I read on in the Internet that it should be outside in the cold, and it was there for two or three weeks, then I brought it back in because nothing changed; then I removed it from the pot, spread its roots, and opened them a little and put it back in the pot. Now it is somewhere away from the direct sunlight but the condition has not changed and it has bugs. Its condition now is this: the small branches at the bottom have completely dry leaves, some leaves at the top are still feel kind of fresh to the touch but mostly dry so that if you touch them they my fall out. All the leaves are green but dry, and instead of being fluffy they are thin and like little thorns. I really want to do anything to save this plant and I really appreciate your time and your help and suggestions.
The Gardener’s Answer
Hello, Keivan in Chicago: I am not certain which cypress you purchased, but all members of the Cupressaceae family are cold-hardy to at least zone 7 and most of them zone 6, which is what I believe you are gardening in. So, from what you have described I don’t think you will be surprised to hear that your evergreen is not happy and, depending on the severity of the issue(s), it may be too far gone to save. Unfortunately, once evergreen show signs of stress it is often too late to reverse the inevitable. They typically do not put on new growth after losing their foliage. You mentioned that you purchased a 4” cypress and then potted it up in a large container. As a general rule when we re-pot we do not want to increase the container size more than 2 inches from what it is currently growing in. Doing so increases the chances of over-watering and potentially causing root rot. It is better to let the plant root out in a smaller container and then bump it up as it grows. As for keeping this plant indoors, it really depends on which cypress you are growing. The Web site you sent was a container so I am not sure if you thought this was specific information on the plant or not, but if you still have the grower’s tag I can be more specific. Unless you are growing the Arizona or smooth cypress, this plant would be much happier growing outdoors. These evergreens require a cold dormancy period and keeping it indoors will not allow this to happen. As for the bugs, are you referring to fungus gnats? I have not heard of spraying any plant with beer and would not recommend it, but sticky traps are effective if it is fungus gnats you are dealing with. If you are really determined to save this plant, you should first get a positive diagnosis on the insect you are dealing with and then treat accordingly. Your County Cooperative Extension Office will have a horticulture agent on staff that can help you or you can take it to a reputable nursery with a horticulturist on staff. They will also be able to tell you what kind of cypress you are growing, and if it is hardy in your zone put it outside as soon as possible. Depending on the size of the container it is growing in you may choose a smaller one if needed. All cypress grow best in full sun, which technically means six hours of direct light. When the light levels are so much lower during the winter months it is necessary to place it in a southern exposure. Cut back on your watering during the winter months and do not fertilize until the spring.
