Cypress

Cypress Care

Cupressus macrocarpa

What is the plant

Lemon Cypress Tree plant is very easy to notice – if you brush up against the foliage, it exudes a distinctive fresh lemon scent. These plants are widespread because they’re easy to care for – and aren’t too large for a Cypress. If you ever had a dream of having a little tree in your living room, Lemon Cypress can be a great choice.

Lemon Cypress is a narrow, columnar, evergreen tree with upward-growing branches. Its delicate, feathery bright yellow-green foliage makes it stand out among other conifers.
There are bigger and smaller varieties of this cypress. The large outdoor one can grow up to 16ft (5m) high. The smaller, called dwarf lemon cypress, grows up to 3ft (90cm) long, which makes it perfect for an indoor setting.

lighting

Full Sun

temperature

18°C - 27°C

hardiness zone

7a - 11

difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Watering once a week is usually enough. The soil shouldn’t get too dry.
Pruning
The plant looks best in a natural shape and does not need pruning. You can remove dead foliage when necessary.
Fertilizer
This plant does not need fertilizing that much, but you can use standard 20-20-20 fertilizer in spring if you wish.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
This plant needs a lot of light. Plant it in full sun to partial shade outdoors. Inside, it needs 6 hours of indirect sunlight.
Soil
The plant thrives in a wide variety of soils, but, a bit counterintuitively, it’s best if the soil isn’t too rich in organic matter. In nature, this plant grows in poor, well-draining, and sandy soils. If it’s grown in rich soil, its height can outpace the root growth, making it unstable and prone to fall on a windy day.
Propagation
It’s best to propagate this plant in winter. Cut a piece of stem about 4 inches (10cm) long and trim off all the foliage in the bottom half of the stem. Moisten the cut end, apply a rooting hormone, and place it in a pot with moist and well-draining soil. Cover the pot with a plastic bag and fix it with sticks. The bag shouldn’t touch the plant. Place the pot in a location with bright indirect light, and water it regularly. When the plant has developed a root system (rug it gently to check), remove the bag, and move the plant to a spot with bright direct sun.

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Temperature
This plant likes cool and moist climates. If it’s too hot (more than 80°F or 27°C), the plant can be damaged. If it’s too cold (less than 20°F or –6°C), the cypress might freeze and die. If you’re growing it at home at room temperature, you won’t face any problems.
Container
Terracotta pot is ideal, but you can also use other materials if you wish. Drainage holes are a must for this tree.
Fun fact
It’s one of the most popular trees to buy during the Christmas holidays.