Thuja

The genus Thuja consists of only 5 species - evergreen coniferous trees or shrubs, but many forms are derived from them, including dwarf, creeping and root-spreading. These plants are characterized by a conical or pyramidal dense crown. The shoots are thin, flexible, strong, falling together with the leaves. Leaves are scaly, 4 in whorls. Cones are single, conical, with thin scales. Western thuja (Thuja occidentalis), in Europe it is called the "tree of life" because it helps against scurvy. It is a plant with a narrow-pyramidal or broad-ovate crown. The leaves-needles are dull and green on the upper side, yellowish - green on the lower side. Shoots are horizontal, slightly hanging down. The cones are first yellow and erect, later drooping and brownish. Eastern thuja (T. orientalis) is a tree or shrub with small diamond-shaped or egg-shaped leaves. Scales of cones - with curved ends; when ripe, they acquire a light chestnut color. The folded or giant thuja (T. plicata or T. gigantea), with a dense pyramidal or conical crown, is widely used in gardening. This is a fast-growing shade-tolerant breed. Scaly flat needles on the upper side are glossy and bright green; on the reverse side-with small white stripes. Brown-yellow cones with sparse scales are formed only on adult plants.

The genus Thuja consists of only 5 species - evergreen coniferous trees or shrubs, but many forms are derived from them, including dwarf, creeping and root-spreading. These plants are characterized by a conical or pyramidal dense crown. The shoots are thin, flexible, strong, falling together with the leaves. Leaves are scaly, 4 in whorls. Cones are single, conical, with thin scales.

Western thuja (Thuja occidentalis), in Europe it is called the "tree of life" because it helps against scurvy. It is a plant with a narrow-pyramidal or broad-ovate crown. The leaves-needles are dull and green on the upper side, yellowish - green on the lower side. Shoots are horizontal, slightly hanging down. The cones are first yellow and erect, later drooping and brownish.

Eastern thuja (T. orientalis) is a tree or shrub with small diamond-shaped or egg-shaped leaves. Scales of cones - with curved ends; when ripe, they acquire a light chestnut color.

The folded or giant thuja (T. plicata or T. gigantea), with a dense pyramidal or conical crown, is widely used in gardening. This is a fast-growing shade-tolerant breed. Scaly flat needles on the upper side are glossy and bright green; on the reverse side-with small white stripes. Brown-yellow cones with sparse scales are formed only on adult plants.

Cultivation

Thuja is grown outdoors: in the open ground or pot, in single and group plantings, in hedges, forest protection strips, if possible, in a cool and humid microclimate. These plants are planted permanently in November or March. They prefer deep and slightly moist, but well-drained soil. For hedges, thuja is planted, observing the distance of 60-70 cm between plants. Growing it in pots or flower beds, use a substrate of peat and fertile land with the addition of organic fertilizers in the amount of 30-50 g per bucket of soil. From the second year of life practice liquid top dressing with mineral fertilizers (when growing in pots).

Location

Prefers open sun; tolerates partial shade as well.

Temperature

This plant is resistant to both high and low air temperatures.

Watering

It is required for young plants immediately after planting on a permanent planting site; potted specimens-regularly and gradually.

Transplant

Transplanted in the spring, but only when the roots of the plant are no longer placed in the pot. Use the same soil that is used for the main cultivation. If the container is large, replace the surface layer of soil.

Reproduction

The most common method of reproduction of species is by seed. Sowing is usually carried out in February, using seed soil. Seedlings are kept in a closed, unheated room. They also practice sowing seeds in March directly in the open ground. As soon as the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted into pots one at a time. Final planting is carried out in 1-2 years. Forms and varieties are propagated by cuttings. In autumn, take apical cuttings 10 cm long and place them in a mixture of sand and peat (1:1) in a closed, unheated, cool room. For eastern thuja it is recommended use growth stimulators that promote root formation. After the cuttings form roots, they are transplanted into pots singly, after which they are treated in the same way as seedlings.

Diseases

The fungus Fabrella thujina causes browning of the needles, Coryneum beckmanii provokes drying of the tips of the needles. In this case, the treatment is carried out with copper-containing fungicides. Aphids and worms settle on young specimens, shoots and conifers. Careful chemical treatment is recommended. The odorous tree beetle attacks the tuya, and it is disposed of at the moment when the larvae come out of the wood, by treating it with appropriate insecticidal preparations. Among the pests, there is a mining fly (infected leaves are removed) and larvae of the beetle Phillobius intruscus affecting the roots (produce treatment with appropriate insecticides).

Acquisition

Thuja is easily found in specialized nurseries and gardening centers. Buy plants in containers, they better tolerate the shock of transplanting.

Other forms Below are some of the many forms derived from evergreens in the cypress family, the species that make up the Thuja genus. From the Western thuja (Thuja occidentalis) received a number of different decorative forms. 'Brabant' - the plant is more compact than the original botanical species, the leaves are darker in color. 'Danish' is a miniature plant up to 80 cm tall, dense, spherical in shape, leaves of dark brown-green color. 'Friesland' is characterized by a wide base of the crown, the leaves are dark brown-green in color. The height and width of the 'Mickey' is 40-80 cm. This dense plant is spherical in shape, glossy green foliage. 'Rheingold' is characterized by slow growth, only up to 1 m, glossy leaves are golden yellow. Many dwarf varieties with golden-yellow foliage are derived from the eastern thuja (T. orientalis). 'Golden dwarf', 60-70 cm high, with an egg-shaped crown. 'Golden Surprise' is a columnar plant, more compact than the botanical species, and as the tallest of the decorative forms of eastern thuja, it grows up to 2.5 m. They also include 'Outstanding‘, 'Elegant' and 'Forever Golden'. Of the decorative forms of the folded thuja (T. plicata), the most well-known are the following. 'Dark green' - the name of which speaks for itself, however, at the stage of growing up, the foliage may have a yellowish tint. 'Golden-mottled' - with a spreading conical crown, the leaves are covered with yellow stripes.

Other forms

Below are some of the many forms derived from evergreens in the cypress family, the species that make up the Thuja genus.

From the Western thuja (Thuja occidentalis) received a number of different decorative forms. 'Brabant' - the plant is more compact than the original botanical species, the leaves are darker in color. 'Danish' is a miniature plant up to 80 cm tall, dense, spherical in shape, leaves of dark brown-green color. 'Friesland' is characterized by a wide base of the crown, the leaves are dark brown-green in color. The height and width of the 'Mickey' is 40-80 cm. This dense plant is spherical in shape, glossy green foliage. 'Rheingold' is characterized by slow growth, only up to 1 m, glossy leaves are golden yellow.

Many dwarf varieties with golden-yellow foliage are derived from the eastern thuja (T. orientalis). 'Golden dwarf', 60-70 cm high, with an egg-shaped crown. 'Golden Surprise' is a columnar plant, more compact than the botanical species, and as the tallest of the decorative forms of eastern thuja, it grows up to 2.5 m. They also include 'Outstanding‘, 'Elegant' and 'Forever Golden'.

Of the decorative forms of the folded thuja (T. plicata), the most well-known are the following. 'Dark green' - the name of which speaks for itself, however, at the stage of growing up, the foliage may have a yellowish tint. 'Golden-mottled' - with a spreading conical crown, the leaves are covered with yellow stripes.