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How to Care for Hinoki Cypress Trees
How to Care for Hinoki Cypress Trees. Hinoki cypress, sometimes referred to as Hinoki falsecypress, is often trained as a bonsai plant for being the smallest of the cypress trees. (Bonsai is a method of growing shrubs and trees in a manner that stunts their full development but turns them into exquisite ornamental plants.) Yet, in its natural form...
Hinoki cypress, sometimes referred to as Hinoki falsecypress, is often trained as a bonsai plant for being the smallest of the cypress trees. (Bonsai is a method of growing shrubs and trees in a manner that stunts their full development but turns them into exquisite ornamental plants.) Yet, in its natural form in native Japan, Hinoki cypress reaches more than 100 feet tall. It is also an evergreen conifer that requires some care to thrive.
Things You'll Need
Blankets
Water
Miracid
1 tsp. Epsom salt
Horticultural oil
Plant Hinoki cypress in full sun. But if you live in a region of extreme summer temperatures, find a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. Lack of sun causes the tree's lower stems to die, according to Bonsai Clubs International.
Add this tree to your garden if you live within USDA Hardiness zones 5 to 8A. Even though this cypress withstands temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit, cold winds injure it. It’s hard to protect a mature tree that’s 100 feet tall. But if you have a short, young tree, insulate it with blankets if you expect a frosty breeze. If possible, plant this tree in a location where a structure or taller plants can act as a windbreaker.
Water your Hinoki cypress generously but with one stipulation: Keep the tree in soil that drains quickly. Although this is a thirsty plant, it also succumbs to root rot in wet conditions.
Feed your Hinoki cypress, but hold the lime because it makes soil alkaline. Bonsai Clubs International recommends Miracid, a fertilizing formula for acid-loving plants and evergreens. Starting in spring, apply it every two weeks. Stop feeding your cypress in mid-fall to slow the plant down for dormancy. In addition, once every three months, mix water with 1 tsp. of Epsom salt and irrigate your plant with the solution, if it’s a container-grown cypress. The magnesium in the Epsom salt rejuvenates the foliage, reports BonsaiGardener.
Eliminate juniper scale infestations with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Remove bagworm nests by hand.
Tips & Warnings
Remove your potted Hinoki cypress from its container every two years or so and thin its root ball to half its mass. Don’t plant the tree in a larger container. The soil dries more quickly in a smaller one, reducing the risk of root rot, says Bonsai Clubs International.
