Eastern biota (Biota orientalis L.). Thuja western and eastern: description, care and cultivation Thuja eastern Golden Minaret

Even from the student bench, having understood the difference between the western thuja and, I easily learned to immediately see and understand who is who. When in the steppe Crimea I first saw the eastern ones (and then they were called that), which grew in ordinary plantings at almost every railway station, they did not impress me, and for a long time I could not understand: what is the difference between these two, on at first glance very similar, plants.

Over the years, getting acquainted with the decorative forms of the western thuja and the eastern biota (as it was later called), I slowly began to distinguish between them. After the inventory of coniferous cultivars carried out in 2014 in the Primorskoye nursery (which is located in the village of Partenit, Crimea), when Alla Nikolaevna Zakharenko repeatedly led us to luxurious conifers and affectionately, lovingly said: “This is a flat plant”, I finally I realized how much it is both similar and different from the western arborvitae.

However, until now, in some garden centers you can see one word on the labels -. A happy occasion can be considered an inscription with the name in the old fashioned way - thuja orientalis or biota orientalis. The importance of the differences and the correct definition of thuja and flathead are understood by many later when they encounter completely different requirements to the conditions.

At present, a huge variety of decorative forms can "drive into a dead end" even a narrow specialist in coniferous plants, and their age-related variability and the presence of juvenile (youthful) forms completely different from adult specimens sometimes add a serious " headache» dendrologists.

Fuel is added to the fire by the giant or folded thuja (Thuja plicata) with its forms, and the Korean thuja (Thuja koraiensis), which we will discuss separately in the next article. In the meantime, let's take a look at the similarities and differences between the eastern flatwort and the western arborvitae, so as not only to easily distinguish them when they meet, but also to avoid mistakes in cultivation.

Similarities

• Both are monoecious conifers from the Cypress family.
• Often in culture they reach 4-8 (10) m in height.
• Both species have a pyramidal crown; in thuja with age, it often takes an ovoid shape. Young spherical western thujas are very similar to flatheads.

• Both a large number of decorative forms that differ in height, appearance (habitus), leaf color.
• Both have great potential for use in dachas in solitary (single), group plantings, containers.

• Both species tolerate both pruning and shearing well, so they are used to make regular hedges. When planting, adhere to the following distance: in hedges - after 40-50 cm; in living walls - after 0.8-1.0 m. As a result of the annual, by the age of 7 you will receive a luxurious, rather dense hedge from the ground itself. The compactness of the crowns of pyramidal columnar forms in both species makes it possible to create green walls with little or no.

• It is striking, but true - the similarity of these two species is manifested in common mushroom. So, in wet areas with spring stagnation of melt water, they begin to dry out from the jamming of the roots and thuja, and flathead. If in spring the leaves turn yellow and are covered with a cobweb mycelium that changes its color from gray to black, then this is a shute. The browned upper part of both plants signals to summer residents - tracheomycosis or fusarium!
• Both oriental flatwort (which is a medicinal plant of traditional Chinese medicine) and western thuja have a diuretic, antibacterial, sedative, anti-asthma, antipyretic, antitussive, expectorant, laxative, antihelminthic effect.
• Thuja oil eliminates congestion and inflammation in the lungs. It reduces the phenomena of destruction and stagnation in the pelvic organs (ovaries, uterus, prostate). Apply as follows: baths - 3-5 drops, compresses - 3-4 drops, massage - 5 drops per 10 g of transport oil; 3-4 drops in an aroma lamp.
• Contraindicated during pregnancy and epilepsy; before use, you should consult with your doctor.

Differences

Russian and Latin names

• Oriental flathead (Platycladus orientalis)

• Thuja western (Thuja occidentalis)

Motherland

• Oriental flatworm - dry regions of Northern China, Iran.
• Thuja western - Eastern part of North America.

shoots

• The eastern flat-branch has branches raised upwards, branching from the base into several trunks, which seem to be parallel to the main one. The shoots are flat, radially located in relation to the trunk, they form a kind of system of plates (hence the modern and most accurate name - flathead).

• Adult western thuja is often single-stemmed. The branches of the western thuja, unlike the flathead, do not form plates; they are short, their horizontal ends are directed upwards and somewhat turned away from the trunk in different directions, which creates a “curly” leafing surface.

Leaves

• The leaves of the oriental flatweed are scaly, rounded, with an oblong groove on the central upper scale (needles); arranged crosswise, 1.5 mm long, dull dark green, turning brown in winter; fit tightly to the shoot and lean on each other; with or without specific aroma. They fall off after 3-5 years, after which the shoots become smooth, light brown.

• The leaves of the western thuja are flat with a round bulge (iron) on the central leaflet (needles), wedge-shaped scales (smaller than those of the platycladus) are glossy, becoming brown-green in winter; on the upper side the needles are green, and on the bottom - evenly lettuce; very fragrant when crushed!

cones

• Platycladus cones are almost spherical, mature - red-brown or dark brown, with curved scales ("royal" cone, "crown", with "horns"), up to 1.5 cm long or more, 1-1.2 cm wide ; are formed annually, but abundant fruiting - after 1-2 years.

• The cones of the western thuja are oblong, light brown or brownish-brown, without "horns" - bent scales, 1-1.3 cm long; abundant fruiting 1 time in 2-3 years.

seeds

• Seeds of orientalis platypus are oblong-ovate, brown, the size of a wheat grain, 0.5-0.8 cm long; ripen in October - early November. Ground germination of well-made seeds is up to 100%! Before sowing, the seeds must be soaked in water for 24-28 hours. Embedding depth 5-6 cm.

• Western thuja seeds are flat, light brown, about 0.6 cm long, with 2 wings. Seeds also have good soil germination - 80-85%! Seeding depth up to 1 cm or superficially, followed by mulching.

decorative forms

• ‘Aurea Nana’ (at the age of 10 years it reaches a height of 0.7 m, the crown is ovoid, the shoots are densely spaced, the leaves are golden yellow; it grows slowly);

• ‘Balaton’ (rare form, up to 3 m high and wide, spreading crown);

• ‘Elegantissima’ (up to 5 m high, wide-conical crown, straight branches, pinnate twigs, golden yellow leaves, greenish-yellow with age, turn brown in winter);

• ‘Semperaurea’ (up to 3 m high, oval crown, golden yellow leaves).

And now consider the best decorative forms thuja western:

• ‘Brabant’ (tree over 3.5 m high, columnar crown, light green leaves);

• ‘Ericoides’ (dwarf form 1-1.5 m high, crown round, wide-conical, multi-apex; numerous shoots thin, flexible, straight and curved; leaves subulate, soft, dull yellow-green, turn brown in winter);

• ‘Little Gem’ (height and width up to 2 m, rounded crown, shoots thin, straight, lateral raised, curved, leaves turn brown in winter);

• ‘Smaragd’ (up to 2 m high, cone-shaped crown, branches weakly; shoots are located in a vertical plane, branches are far apart, leaves are green in winter and summer) and others.

Growing Features

Attitude to soils

• Oriental flatwort is salt tolerant, undemanding to soils, but grows better on loose forest ones. Having provided it with mineral fertilizers in the first 5 years after planting (before the shoots begin to grow), then you can generally forget about top dressing.

• Thuja western is not demanding on the soil, it develops better on fertile loamy, sandy and moist sandy soils (does not tolerate drought).

Attitude towards light

• Oriental flathead is photophilous, but at the same time relatively shade-tolerant.

• Thuja western - shade-tolerant. It is the western thuja, all its forms, including golden ones, that can “burn” in the bright spring sun! Therefore, it is important to shade them with protective screens made of burlap.

Relation to soil moisture

• Oriental flathead - drought-resistant, but responsive to watering; Excessive moisture for him in winter is fatal. In the first 3 years after planting, regular watering, then after 4-5 years - after the soil dries up, and from 6 years old - only in hot dry summers.

• The western thuja is less drought-resistant, therefore, in the steppe zone, it is often replaced by the more drought-resistant eastern flatweed.

Pruning, transplanting, gas resistance

• The oriental flatworm tolerates transplanting well in the spring, even with an open root system. The deepening of the root neck is permissible, since this leads to the formation of additional roots, and the plant becomes more wind resistant in the future. Some gardeners use shaping pruning with the gradual cleaning of the trunk from branches to a height of up to 50 cm and the removal of additional top shoots.

• Thuja western grows slowly, with age the bark of its trunk becomes reddish-brown, fissured. Corrective pruning is applied to thuja with shortening of branches that protrude beyond the desired contour, and then only sanitary pruning - with the removal of dry branches inside the crown. It is gas-resistant, not afraid of winds.

The nuances of reproduction

• Oriental flatworm is propagated by seeds (moreover, decorative forms completely transfer their properties to offspring), cuttings *.

• The western thuja is also propagated by seed (high-quality, completed seeds are tied only when watered), but the seed offspring do not retain the decorative properties of the parent plants; decorative forms - only vegetatively, mainly.

To begin with, your attention is presented with a photo and description of the western thuja, whose homeland is the eastern part of North America.

Western thuja in the photo

This is a lush tree up to 20 m in height and 70 cm in diameter with a pyramidal crown. It is cultivated everywhere - from the Black Sea coast to Arkhangelsk, from Siberia to the Far East.

The western species of thuja has oppositely located scaly needles, flat flattened shoots and exfoliating bark. Plants are monoecious, that is, they have both male and female flowers. Male - sit in the axils of the needles. They have stamens with 4 protruding anthers. The female spikelets are located at the tips of the branches. Each scale has 1-2 ovules, except for the top pair.

Look at the photo - this variety of thuja has small cones, up to 1 cm in length:

Western thuja cones
Western thuja cones

They have an elongated oval shape. They ripen in the year of flowering, open and fall off. In June, the cones are green, and in October, when they ripen, they are brown.

Seeds are flat, narrow-winged. When describing the western arborvitae, it is worth noting that its entire appearance, reminiscent of cypress, differs from other trees in the dense and dense branching of the pyramidal crown, with shoots branching in the same plane.

An exceptionally frost-resistant plant, but when flooded in summer, the root system can suffer in winter, up to complete death. Prefers moderate humidity, but also grows well on dry slopes with sandy loamy soil. It loves fertile loams, where it grows extremely luxuriantly. Better than any other tree, it tolerates drought. Almost does not suffer from damage by pests and diseases.

Thuja occidentalis tolerates shearing and transplanting well, which should be done in early spring or in September - October.

She has many decorative forms, which vary greatly in growth, crown outlines and shade of foliage.

Thuja western
Thuja western

Thuja western- fragrant plant. Its plantations exude an unusually pleasant aroma of freshness, which indicates a rich content of phytoncides and other physiologically active substances. It is no coincidence that during the heyday of homeopathy, thuja was in the lead as a means of combating skin diseases, heart and vascular ailments.

Traditional medicine also does not neglect raw materials from thuja. Healing are the bark, leaves, fruits of thuja.

Thuja leaves contain essential oils with a characteristic strong camphor smell - a valuable raw material for the perfume industry. Preparations using thuja stimulate the immune and central nervous system, cardiac activity.

The role of thuja as an air conditioner is undeniable. It not only cleanses it of harmful substances, but also enriches it with useful ones, always remaining, even in the most polluted places, fresh, viable and decorative. This is because, according to its biological requirements, thuja is very unpretentious plant, but deserving of attention to its biological needs.

Thuja "Aurea" in the photo

"Aurea"- a collective name, under which several forms with a golden yellow color are hidden. Typical is the form growing as a single-stemmed tree up to 2.5 m high, with a pyramidal crown. The needles of this variety of western thuja are bright yellow, turning green in the shade. It is most intensely colored from mid-summer to the onset of cold weather. Well cut and shaped, suitable for molded hedges. Effective in a single landing and as part of coniferous groups. Beautiful in combination with conifers, contrasting in crown shape and color. Winter hardy, weather resistant.

Thuja "Belokonchikovaya" ("Albospicata") in the photo

Belokonchikovaya (Albospicata)- reaches a height of 2.5 m, the crown is wide-conical, with obliquely ascending shoots. The needles are of medium size, white-motley at the ends. Especially intense white color appears in the first half of summer, by autumn it becomes somewhat discolored.

In some years, with high humidity and intense solar activity, the trees look simply magical, as if illuminated from the inside. This variety of thuja of the western species is completely winter-hardy, beautiful both in a single planting and as part of coniferous groups and compositions. It is well sheared and shaped, suitable for creating highly decorative hedges.

"Emerald"- in terms of the combination of qualities, the most demanded of the pyramidal forms. The crown is made up of short fan-shaped branches, densely adjacent and together forming a narrow cone up to 3 m high, with a diameter of not more than 0.8 m. In gardens finds universal application.

As you can see in the photo, this variety of western thuja is beautiful both in a single planting, and as part of coniferous and coniferous-shrub groups, and in alleys:

Planting thuja
Planting thuja

Quite quickly reaches decorativeness and optimal growth, remaining attractive until old age.

Globoza- a spherical shape that does not lose its popularity, 1-1.2 m high, in shading it can stretch a little higher with a less dense crown. It has a dense, almost perfectly spherical crown that occurs spontaneously without shaping. The needles are medium in size, green in summer, slightly brownish in winter. A dense ball is formed by the age of 5-7, after which it continues to grow in breadth and thicken until the age of 18-20. Winter hardy and stable. When describing this variety of western thuja, it should be noted that it looks good both singly and as part of coniferous groups.

Globoza Nana- one of the most decorative spherical thujas, not exceeding half a meter in height. Advantages: unpretentiousness to growing conditions; unusual crown density combined with a stable green color of scaly needles.

It fits perfectly into a wide variety of compositions: a traditional mixborder, coniferous-shrub groups, coniferous monogardens. Good in a line fit in the form of borders of various densities up to sheared rectangular profiles. Organic in rocky gardens of different styles: alpine slide, mountain slope, flat or landscape rockery, Japanese garden, etc. Very desirable in all kinds of ceremonial places.

"Kristata" ("Comb")- in adulthood, it has a wide pyramidal crown up to 3.5 m high. When describing this variety of thuja of this variety, it should be especially noted distinguishing feature- small scaly dark green-gray needles, collected in dense flat, vertically standing branches, resembling bird feathers.

In youth, it grows columnar, then it expands somewhat in breadth. Frost-resistant. Good singly, in groups and alleys, well sheared, suitable for molded and natural hedges.

"Golden Tip"- has a sparse wide pyramidal crown up to 4 m high and up to 2 m wide at the base, formed by ascending straight branches. Young shoots are thick, light brown or yellowish. As the name of this variety of thuja implies, its large needles have a thick golden color at the ends. It grows very quickly, reaching maximum dimensions by 15-20 years old. Very stable and winter hardy.

AT different years the intensity of the color of the ends of the branches ranges from light yellowish to bright gold, then the tree is unusually spectacular. Good in a single landing, on the edges of groups of tall coniferous and deciduous trees. It makes unusually elegant molded hedges. Suitable for curly haircuts.

"Rheingold"- extremely attractive with an unusual color of needles, most of the year light golden, in autumn it acquires a copper-yellow color, and in spring - a pinkish tint.

The height of the plant is up to 1 m or a little more, the crown is initially spherical, somewhat shapeless with age, consisting of thin, densely woven shoots, but at the same time dense and compact. The needles are of two types: at the ends of the shoots - finely scaly, in the crown - heather. It is winter-hardy and steady in culture.

The Rheingold variety of the western variety of thuja is indispensable for creating coniferous groups and gardens, where it goes well with other conifers, both with vertical and flattened crowns. Good next to the rocks, on the slopes, in the Japanese garden.

"Danica"- one of the most popular forms of thuja. It is valued for its dense, spherical, slightly flattened crown, formed by many ascending, pushing each other flat branches. Height 0.6 m, with a width of up to 0.8 m. Winter-hardy and undemanding to soils.

Pay attention to the photo - this western-looking thuja fits well into a wide variety of compositions with the participation of ornamental shrubs, conifers and perennials:

Ornamental deciduous shrub thuja

"Teddy"- in an open location, it has an almost spherical crown about 30 cm high. This is the smallest form of arborvitae with many advantages. The needles are needle-shaped, short, non-spiny, dark green, not at all typical for arborvitae, brownish from autumn to spring. At the same time, it never “burns out” and does not lose its decorative effect.

The crown is dense, formed from an early age. Plants very quickly (by 5-6 years) reach mature sizes and remain elegant until old age.

Dwarf growth and unusual appearance open the way for the plant to a variety of gardens and compositions from a small rock garden and mixborder to coniferous gardens and groups with shrubs and trees. This western thuja variety grows well in containers.

By dense planting of many plants, you can create something like an evergreen coniferous lawn for sodding foregrounds, slopes, etc. It likes fertile loams, and grows poorly on dry sandy soils.

"Filiformis"(filamentous form) - an original, completely unusual appearance for a thuja. The shoots of this thuja are long, cord-like, practically unbranched, arcuately hanging to the periphery of the crown. The needles are scaly, closely adjacent to the branches, brown in winter. Crown sparse when young, very dense with age, rounded profile. This form of thuja shows winter hardiness, unpretentiousness, extraordinary appearance. Very interesting alone on the lawn and as a tapeworm in small gardens, goes well with vertically growing conifers.

"Elegantissima"(elegant) - has a dense, wide-conical crown about 4 m high, which it reaches only by the age of 30-40.

The needles are fresh green, scaly, the ends of the shoots have a whitish tint, which, combined with a beautiful silhouette, gives the tree an unusual showiness. By autumn, the white color fades to yellowish, but the plant continues to be attractive. During the winter, the needles become somewhat discolored, in the spring they again acquire a bright color.

Requires an open location. Good singly, in groups, alleys. Desirable in all kinds of ceremonial places.

"Elwanger Aurea"- has a slightly flattened spherical crown with separate protruding shoots, up to 70-90 cm high. The branches are thin, the crown is dense. The needles are golden-colored, heather-shaped inside the crown, scaly at the ends of the shoots, small. In some periods of the year, it is very similar to the "Rheingold" shape, but the color of the needles is more stable. During the summer it is bright golden, by autumn it turns slightly bronze. Good in a variety of gardens and compositions. Very interesting as part of coniferous groups.

Erikoides(heather) - a small tree about 1 m high, with an irregularly spherical multi-top crown formed by numerous thin, slightly branched shoots. The needles are needle-shaped, 6-8 mm long, soft. In summer, it is two-colored: yellowish green above, dark green below with a gray bloom; in winter it acquires a brownish-purple hue. It does not form seeds, but propagates well by cuttings.

In adverse winters and springs, it can burn. It is very interesting as part of group compositions in the underfur of taller shrubs and trees, especially conifers, contrasting with it in external data: prickly and Canadian spruces, pyramidal junipers and arborvitae, etc. Good in large arrays on the slopes.

"Europe Gold"- a slow-growing shade-tolerant shrub, reaching a height of 4 m. The crown is dense, narrowly pyramidal at first, acquires a conical shape with age. As follows from the photo and description of this variety of western-looking thuja, its needles are orange when blooming, golden yellow in winter. Handles haircut well. Used in single and group plantings, hedges, suitable for creating alleys.

"Sunkist"- tree 3-5 m high, conical crown diameter 1.5-2 m. Golden yellow needles. It grows very slowly, tolerates a haircut, photophilous. It is possible to board in groups and singly.

"Dumosa"- shrub form, its height and diameter within 1 m. The crown is flattened or slightly rounded. Used in heather gardens and rock gardens.

"Douglas Pyramidalis"- Looks like a cypress. Height up to 15 m. Swamp green needles. It is very shade-tolerant, but on the lower branches the needles dry out early and partially fall off. This form of western thuja is suitable for hedges, in single and group plantings.

"Holmstrup"- shrub up to 4 m high, conical crown diameter up to 1 m. The needles are scaly, dense, green. In some plants, the needles turn brown in autumn and winter, with a rusty tint. Used in single and group plantings.

Here you can see photos of the varieties of western thuja, the description of which is given above:

Western thuja varieties
Western thuja varieties

Western thuja varieties
Western thuja varieties

Now your attention is presented with photos, names and descriptions of varieties of the eastern variety of thuja.

Thuja orientalis in the photo

Thuja orientalis (or biota orientalis)- another type of thuja, common in landscaping along with the western one.

This tree in nature up to 8 m in height, comes from China. It may also be a shrub.

As can be seen in the photo, the eastern thuja has an ovoid crown, consisting of many flat plates rising from the base of the trunk to the top:

The crown of the eastern thuja is ovoid

On the back of the flat scaly needles there are resin glands, which distinguishes the eastern thuja from the western one. The abundance of aromatic resin allowed the ancient people to call the thuja "life tree", which in itself speaks of its extraordinary usefulness. When describing the properties of oriental thuja, it is enough to say that the essential oil contained in thuja is used in homeopathy as a powerful heart remedy.

Thuja blooms in May, the plant is monoecious. Cones in the immature state are fleshy, bluish-green. They ripen only in the 2nd year and then become dry, red-brown. Seeds are viable only in the lower and middle parts of the cone. They are wingless and quite heavy.

There are many forms and varieties of eastern thuja, among which columnar, spherical, golden are common. Along with street gardening, this plant is used both as a greenhouse and as an indoor crop.

Thuja "Aurea-variegata" in the photo

"Aurea Variegata"- variegated form with a spherical crown and golden needles.

"Compact Ungeri"- also a spherical shape, but with white ends of the shoots.

"Elegantus"- with a dense pyramidal crown, golden-yellow needles in spring and greenish-yellow in summer.

"Siboyadi"- undersized spherical shape with bright green needles.

"Nana"- a densely branched dwarf shrub with erect leaves.

"Rosentalis compacta"- a dense shrub with an ovoid crown and golden yellow needles.

Biota is propagated by seeds, stem cuttings and grafting.

Look at the photo of the eastern thuja varieties described above:

Thuja "Siboyadi"
Thuja "Nana"

Growing conditions and care for western and eastern thuja in the country (with photo and video)

After reviewing the photo and description of the eastern and western thuja, it's time to learn about the cultivation of these plants and their reproduction.

The care for the western and eastern thujas is the same, and the methods of their reproduction are the same. It is not difficult to grow thuja, you need to take into account only some features of agricultural technology.

One of the conditions for the successful cultivation of thuja is the use the right soil. Trees grow better on powerful fertile structural loams. Sandy soils are less suitable, but can be improved with clay and large doses of organic matter.

Despite the relative shade tolerance, for thuja in the middle lane and in more northern regions, completely open locations protected from cold winds are preferable. When growing western and eastern tui uniform illumination from all sides contributes to the formation of the most decorative crown.

Thuja, unlike most coniferous crops, tolerates transplanting well. In the first years, it grows slowly, then a period of more intensive growth follows, and again a slowdown in growth.

As shown in the photo, when caring for thujas, like all conifers, the main thing is watering:

Tui care
Tui care

The first spring watering is carried out when the soil warms up and dries. It should be combined with spraying the crown with water. During spring and summer give abundant watering, but not more than 2 times a month.

When growing and caring for thuja, it does not like an abundance of fertilizers, which can even destroy it. Fertilizers in the first two years after planting are quite enough of those that were given to the planting pit. However, if the soil is poor and fertilizers were not applied during planting, top dressing is needed, but large doses of fertilizers are undesirable, their fractional application is better.

Young plants in the first year after planting in a hot climate must be shaded, for which use gauze, agril or burlap. In this case, the material should not touch the branches. The most convenient is to have a lightweight folding frame covered with fabric. The use of such a protective frame allows you to reduce the number of sprays with water.

Also a necessary method of caring for thuja in the country is mulching. Mulch (coniferous sawdust, peat, peat compost, humus) with a layer of 5-8 cm is poured into the trunk circle. When sprinkled, the mulch absorbs moisture, creating a microclimate with high humidity. Periodically loosen the mulch.

Fashion for thuja is growing every year. They go well with many other conifers (junipers, spruces), with ornamental shrubs and perennials. They are good in complex tree and shrub compositions, beautifully knock out the edges of groups of tall trees.

The video "Growing thuja" shows all the main agricultural practices:

Thuja propagates by seeds, cuttings. Seeds are harvested in September-October, when the scales of the cones turn brown and begin to open slightly. But we must prevent them from escaping. The collected seeds are dried in a ventilated area. Sowing is done immediately after collection without preparation. For spring sowing, the seeds are mixed with wet sand and sown when they hatch. When propagating thuja, seeds should be sown in light or medium loamy soil.

The seedlings that appeared in the 2nd year dive onto the ridges in which they stay for 2-3 years. For the winter, the soil in the beds is covered with spruce branches, leaves, or lightly sprinkled with humus. In the spring, the shelter is removed gradually and the plants are immediately shaded.

After 2-3 years, seedlings are planted on permanent place or growing at a distance of 25x70 cm. Growing lasts 4-5 years, after which the plants are ready for sale or transplanting to another place. A clod of earth during transplantation must be preserved. The thuja crown, especially the western one, forms itself, but once in the spring the branches that go beyond the habitus are slightly shortened.

Tui cultivation

Tui garden forms are propagated vegetatively in order to completely repeat their inherent decorative properties. The main way of propagation of thuja is with green cuttings. They are cut or plucked with a "heel" 5-8 cm in size. The terms of grafting are different, from April to July.

The best survival rate is in spring cuttings planted in a warm ridge or greenhouse (a layer of manure, a layer of soddy soil 10-15 cm and a layer of coarse river sand 1-1.5 cm). Cuttings are taken from young, well-developed plants. They are left in the beds for the winter, and in the spring, with well-branched roots, they are planted in a school, where they grow for 4-5 years. For growing large-sized thujas, another transplant for growing is useful. After that, a standard material for implementation is obtained.

Watch the video "Reproduction of thuja", which shows how to grow this tree from cuttings:

The page contains photos of thuja orientalis and its varieties. You can read the description, learn the principles of planting and care.

This plant belongs to the Cypress family and is the only representative of the Flatworm genus. The full biological name of the plant is the eastern flatweed or eastern biota, although earlier the plant was really called the eastern thuja and was attributed to one of the thuja species. Hence the well-established popular name "thuja orientalis", although now it is unscientific, it is still actively used, not only in everyday life, but also in specialized catalogs and publications. According to the modern statement of experts, the eastern biota is only remotely similar to thuja, despite the presence of similar leaves in the form of scales. Biologists note that the oriental flatweed has a much greater resemblance to the microbiota, juniper and cypress.

China is considered the homeland, where the plant naturally grows in the mountains in the north of the country. In the natural range it occurs singly, in small groups or in mixed forests on poor soils, in a temperate warm climate. From these places, the plant spread to neighboring regions, and was later brought to Europe. It is also found in Central Asia, the Caucasus, southwestern Ukraine, and the Crimea.

There are known old specimens of the oriental flatworm, which are about 1000 years old, which have become symbols of Beijing. In the Buddhist religion of China, the oriental biota is also symbolized with vigor and long life.

Description of thuja orientalis in nature. Trees grow up to 15 - 18 m, in culture it is much lower, up to 8 - 10 m; often have numerous branches extending from the very base of the trunk. The crown of the plant is ovoid. There are bush forms when growing in adverse conditions. The shoots are flat, located parallel to each other, forming a system of plates radially located in relation to the trunk. Shoots are formed by scales of dark green color. Planar scales up to 1 mm long, ovoid - rhombic in shape, contain a longitudinally grooved gland. Lateral leaves are keeled. The bark is thin, reddish-brown. Cones 10 - 15 mm long, bluish-green before maturation, located at the tips of some branches and have characteristic hooked protrusions. Seed ripening time: October - November.

Frost resistance of thuja eastern. The plant needs a moderately warm climate. It has less frost resistance than western thuja and folded thuja. Some ornamental varieties painlessly tolerate winter temperatures down to about -23 C °, and some down to -17 C °. In conditions middle lane, plants need to be covered for the winter and planted in protected places, as they often freeze slightly in adverse winters.

The plant is photophilous, drought-resistant, undemanding to soils, tolerates some salinity. Handles haircut well.

Care for thuja orientalis in the room. So it turns out that the eastern biota is a rather heat-loving coniferous plant and therefore it is believed that it tolerates it better than other conifers. room conditions. However, growing arborvitae of any kind at home is associated with many difficulties associated with physiology. coniferous plants, which should grow in open ground, where there is wind, rain, optimal air humidity and, of course, a period of winter dormancy with a low ambient temperature. Therefore, experts do not recommend growing thuja in a room, but at least on a balcony or a cold veranda. In the end, you can always transplant homemade thuja into open ground.

The principle of growing thuja orientalis at home is absolutely identical to the growth of all coniferous plants grown in a room. It is not without reason that all conifers are united in one of the departments of the diverse plant kingdom and have a number of their own characteristics. One of the features is their natural habitat, represented mainly by temperate and cold zones, while the usual indoor flowers are natives of warm zones, tropics and subtropics, so they feel much better in the room.

The basic principles of caring for a thuja in a room are similar to the principles of caring for all indoor conifers.(only expert advice taken from various sources and TV shows was used:

1. Transfer (landing). The houseplant should be in a permanent pot, not in the shipping container you bought it in. For a low plant, whose height is 20 - 25 cm, a pot diameter of 15 cm is sufficient. The pot must have a drainage hole. When transplanting a thuja from a container into a pot, remember that the lump of earth should not be disturbed during this process, that is, before transplanting, the earth with the plant must be watered so that it keeps its shape well. In the process of transplanting, it is not necessary to shake off the extracted earthen ball from the edges or touch the roots of the plant in any way. They contain the mycorrhiza fungus, which not only helps in growth, but also protects against diseases. In general, it would be more correct to call a transplant of a home thuja a transshipment. Further transplantation of room thuja should be carried out no more than once every 2 to 3 years. Choose thuja varieties that grow more slowly.

Height of the root collar. It is necessary to deepen the plant to the previous level, as it used to grow before transplanting.

Drainage in a pot. A layer of crushed stone or expanded clay is necessarily placed at the bottom of the pot to improve the outflow of water, the layer thickness is about 2 cm.

Additional Transplant Tricks. To protect against diseases, you can put a few tablets on the drainage layer. activated carbon or a small layer of charcoal.

2. Use only special soil for conifers, which should be light and nutritious. It is best to purchase a special soil for coniferous plants in the store. In extreme cases, you can make the soil mixture yourself. Here is the soil mixture recommended by experts for conifers: mix equal parts heather or coniferous land(decomposition of coniferous litter) + leaf earth + washed coarse sand.

3. Location. You should not choose a bright sunny location for the thuja growing in the room. North and northeast windows are best suited. The crown of conifers thickens better in those places that receive more light, so the plant must be periodically turned to the window in different directions so that the plant does not become "one-sided".

4. In winter, you must ensure that the eastern thuja has a lower air temperature within +6 - +10 ° C. Because the indoor plant is in a pot or in a tub, its root system is limited and more prone to freezing, so it is recommended to keep it at a temperature not lower than 0 ° C in winter. And this despite the fact that soil thujas are not afraid of frost. The winter period for thuja is a period of rest. At this time, it can be placed on the veranda, on the glazed balcony and, in extreme cases, in the cellar (without shelter).

5. Watering and irrigation of needles. Watering and air humidity are perhaps the most important indicators to which all coniferous plants, including thuja, are very sensitive.

The volume of watering room thuja is different in winter and summer. An important point: watering and irrigation is done only with soft settled water at room temperature. In summer, the thuja growing in the room without fail needs daily watering and irrigation of needles. As for watering, here one should adhere to the "golden mean": conifers do not like excess water, but the soil in the pot should never be dry, rather optimally moistened. In principle, the drying of the soil is not allowed at any time of the year. In winter, watering is not daily and its frequency largely depends on the storage conditions of the plant. The main rule of winter watering: maintaining the soil in a constant moderately moist state, that is, moderate watering as the soil dries up. In winter, irrigation of needles is carried out depending on its appearance. If the needles on the branches have dried up, then it's time to spray the crown.

But in spring and summer, if the leaves - the scales of the thuja have died or turned yellow, then you can spray the crown with an additional growth stimulator. For example, zircon. So your growth will resume and the crown of the thuja will thicken again. However, spraying the crown with a growth stimulator is not used in the autumn-winter period.

6. Systematic ventilation rooms during the warm season.

7. Formation and removal of yellowed branches. For indoor thuja, you can use formative pinching of shoots or a haircut along with ground plants. Yellowed shoots should always be removed, they are cut with scissors or secateurs.

8. Top dressing. I noticed that the thuja does not really like to grow in a pot, where its worst growth is observed in comparison with ground plants, even if the potted ones are constantly on outdoors. If container plants are not fed, they grow poorly and thicken. And what can we say about potted room thuja? For a good appearance, she definitely needs mineral supplements. This should be a special fertilizer for conifers. Mineral fertilizers for conifers are different, and there are also slow-acting granules. In any case, homemade thuja should be fed only in the spring and summer, and it is usually recommended to do this no more than once a month. Just follow the instructions for the fertilizer you purchased.

Varieties of thuja eastern (biota, flathead). Frost resistance in plants is not too high (see above). Therefore, for outdoor cultivation in cold frosty regions, it is important to purchase zoned plants from specialized nurseries located nearby. Almost all varieties of eastern biota have low requirements for moisture and soil composition. The plant is quite shade-tolerant, but planting in the shade is not recommended, as the crown will become rare. For varieties of green color, they choose a place in the sun or in partial shade, for variegated ones - only sunny, otherwise their bright color will fade.

Aurea Nana (Aurea Nana)(see photo) - golden yellow ovoid shrub with a slow growth rate. In the first 10 years of life, the height is about 70 cm. The crown is dense.

Franky Boy (Franky Boy)(see photo) - an undemanding variety with a cone-shaped, slightly ovoid crown shape. Grows slowly. It has characteristic cord-like shoots golden - yellow color. A ten-year-old copy has a height of 60 cm and a width of 80 cm. To maintain the appearance, experts advise cutting off last year's shoots.

Justinka (Justinka)(see photo) - dwarf columnar plant. Has about 1 m height at 10 years of age. It has a dense, dark green crown.

Sieboldii (Siboldi) (see photo) - an ovoid dwarf up to 1 m high at 10 years old. It has vertical, regularly spaced shoots. In autumn, the color of the plant becomes golden yellow. The plant should be planted in a protected area.

For gardening of adjacent territories and suburban areas, various varieties of thuja are planted. Conifers ornamental plants became popular due to their exterior features and high endurance during transplants. One of these cultures is the Eastern biota. The article will provide information on the rules for planting and caring for this plant, as well as photos and names of the most common varieties of evergreen shrubs.

Growth area

In nature, this plant can be seen in mountainous regions dominated by stony soils with a varied and complex topography. Biota can grow in groups or in a single specimen, sometimes in mixed forests with poor soil. Initially, the eastern biota was found mainly in China, then migrated to neighboring regions. Currently, it can be seen in the Crimea, Central Asia and the Caucasus. The plant does well in warm, temperate climates. Another scientific name for the conifer is the oriental flathead. In the wild, there are thujas in the form of shrubs and trees that grow up to 17 m in height.

Description

The flathead belongs to the cypress family, is a sprawling, monoecious tree or large shrub with erect, raised shoots. The main advantage of the eastern biota is its openwork, highly aesthetic crown. The branches are shaped like plates, arranged tightly, stacking on top of each other. At the ends of the scaly needles, cones are formed, which are covered with a blue bloom. Over time, they become red-brown in color and dry out. In October, the bolls open and release the seeds. In winter, the needles become brown.

Kinds

Of the evergreen representatives of the flora, the western and eastern flatheads are better known. In some ways they are similar to each other, but each of them has its own characteristics. It differs from the presence of resinous glands located on the needles. Because of this feature, the plant is considered medicinal and extremely useful. Essential oil, obtained from an aromatic resin, is used in the development of homeopathic medicines.

There are many varieties of eastern biota. Ornamental trees and shrubs are used in the design of household plots and urban landscapes, and some species are grown as greenhouse plants. You can grow thuja indoors. According to varietal characteristics, they are divided into spherical, golden and columnar. We offer the names of the most popular varieties:

• Compact Ungeri. It has a spherical configuration, the needles are painted white along the edges.
• Siboyadi. A low-growing plant with a spherical crown and bright green needles.
• Aureo varienget. Thuja is different golden color, looks pretty colorful, the bush has the shape of a ball.
• Rosentalis compacta. It grows in the form of a shrub, the crown is ovoid, the color of the needles casts yellow.
• Elegantus. Numerous shoots of the tree are located very densely, they are a magnificent pyramid. The plant is able to change color depending on the season - in spring it is more golden, and by summer it is more dominated by a greenish tint.
• Nana. This variety is characterized by strong branching and small growth. His shoots noticeably diverge to the sides.

Requirements for climatic conditions

In the description of the eastern biota, it was mentioned that it is a southern culture. Based on the nature of its origin, it is necessary to create similar conditions for it. When growing thuja, its individual characteristics should be taken into account:

• The plant is slow growing.
• Drought-resistant.
• It reacts negatively to waterlogged soils.
• Feels great in the shade.
• Can grow in sunny areas.
• Not too demanding on the composition of the soil.
• In spring, the needles are affected by the burns of the first rays of the sun.
• Prefers soil with a good alkaline reaction, clay and drained.
• The temperature that thuja can tolerate in winter ranges from -17 to -23 ° C (the plant variety is of great importance here).

Gardeners who grow flatweed in regions with more severe climates should be aware that this plant needs to be warmed up during the winter months. Otherwise, his branches are frostbitten, and the tree may die. On the Black Sea coast and in other southern regions, the eastern biota does not need shelter, grows faster and looks more luxurious.

If you liked this plant, but you live in cold areas, plant dwarf varieties of arborvitae in seasonal containers. In summer, it will grow outdoors, and in winter it should be moved indoors.

Landing dates

Coniferous perennials are planted outdoors in any season except winter. Experienced gardeners advise planting in late autumn, as this is associated with many risks. For example, if this process is carried out in November, the plant may not take root. Therefore, we will talk about how to plant thuja in open ground in the spring.

The flathead should be placed in partial shade. You should think about this right away when you break household plot on the section. If the plant is planted in the shade, this will negatively affect the color of the needles - it will be faded and not too lush. It is better that the designated place is protected from the wind.

How your green pet will develop in the future depends largely on the condition of the selected seedling. If the scales on the shoots do not hold firmly, then you do not need to buy it. The substrate in which the young seedling is located must be sufficiently moist. The appearance of the shoots is also important. They need to be checked for elasticity and the presence of unwanted stains.

Seedlings with an open root system are planted in the spring, purchased in containers can be moved to the ground in the summer.

Landing Rules

Before placing in the ground, you should carefully examine the roots of the thuja. Eastern biota will grow better if they are not dry, so for a short time the seedling is lowered into the water. Already in the first season, the plant can become a decoration of your estate. For this to happen, several steps must be taken:

1. The landing hole should be deep - 1 m and about the same diameter. For dwarf plants the hole is reduced in size.
2. The thuja is installed in a recess in such a way that the earthen clod with roots fits freely. If he does not have enough space, the landing pit should be slightly expanded.
3. The root neck is placed on the same level with the surface layer of the soil.
4. The earth extracted from the hole is mixed in equal proportions with peat and its voids around the earthen clod are filled.
5. The soil should be filled tightly.

The distances between tree-like varieties leave about 5 meters, between shrubs - 1 meter. The design idea also plays a role here, for example, in the alleys, flatheads are seated more densely.

Care

It cannot be said that after planting an evergreen perennial, the gardener's work was completed. Eastern biota also have features in care. The plant needs regular watering, top dressing, pruning and timely loosening of the soil.

In the spring, thuja does not need a lot of moisture, it is enough to water it once a week. The optimal volume of water for each plant is 10 liters. With the onset of hot weather, moisture content is doubled.

The openwork crown also needs irrigation. By carrying out abundant spraying of needles, it is possible to significantly improve the decorative qualities of plants, which will always be fresh, and their shoots more elastic.

Spring top dressing is carried out with special complexes with the addition of a growth stimulator. Adult plants are fertilized with phosphorus and potassium every 12-15 days. Organics with mineral additives are also suitable for them. good remedy in this regard, the drug "Fertika" is considered. Twice a year, rotted compost can be applied to the near-trunk area of ​​the arborvitae.

To reduce the frequency of loosening, the soil around the trunk can be mulched. For this purpose, straw, sawdust, nutshells are used.

pruning

It is produced mainly for sanitary purposes. Remove dry, diseased or damaged shoots. The main pruning is done in the spring, in dry weather. Biota is also suitable for topiary. Adult thujas are adjusted throughout the warm period. Pruning flathead is a creative and very interesting process. What experienced designers do not come up with, giving plants certain configurations. After such manipulations, one can observe square, figured, stepped and other forms of plants. To make the biota less sick, when pruning, you need to leave space for air circulation.

reproduction

Thuja is propagated in three ways: by seed, by cuttings and grafting. The latter is used extremely rarely. Growing oriental biota from seeds - best method breeding, which is most often practiced by amateur decorators. With the help of cuttings, it is better to breed young crops with needle-shaped needles.

Perennial seeds can be purchased at a specialty store or obtained from cones. This is done in the fall.

1. Plucked cones are placed in a well-lit, ventilated room and wait for them to open.
2. Before sowing, the seeds are kept in a damp cloth to swell.
3. Then they are evenly scattered over the surface of a previously prepared mixture of humus with peat (1: 1), located in an ordinary flowerpot.
4. From above, the planting material is sprinkled with earth, it is not worth deepening it.
5. You need to keep a pot of seeds in diffused lighting conditions, regularly moistening the soil in it.

Scope of application

The durability of conifers has always attracted connoisseurs of plant design. Most of them tolerate heat, drought well, and are resistant to diseases. This can also be said about the eastern biota. The tree-shaped flathead is great for single planting or group compositions. It is also used as hedges. It looks especially beautiful when its tops are cut off.

Quite widely used in landscape compositions are dwarf varieties. With them are rock gardens, rockeries and mixborders. Lawns on which low varieties of conifers grow look original.

Conclusion

Having figured out how to plant a thuja in open ground in the spring, you can start growing it. It is advisable to follow the rules given in the article. In this case, the plant will be less exposed to external factors and get sick. During the summer, you will be able to observe how the young seedling will behave, adjusting its development.

Thuja in all its varieties is particularly volatile. Thuja orientalis alone is able to clean the room of medium cubic capacity, saturate it in sufficient quantity. "Tree of Life" - this name was earned by thuja because of its unique qualities and healing properties.

plant description

In the northwestern region of China, in the provinces of Gansu, Henan, thuja orientalis was found in a wild form. Its other names are oriental flathead or oriental biota. Rocks and rocky steep slopes of highlands are the natural habitat of the plant. The cultural form of thuja is most common in Japan, China, and Korea. From these eastern countries, biota was brought to the territory of Central Asia and used as a cult plant: it attracted the eye with its crown near sacred purgatories and mosques. In the 18th century, thuja orientalis was brought to European territory, and became one of the best decorative coniferous crops. AT modern world successfully cultivated in Ukraine, Russia, European countries, as well as in the USA.

What attracts the attention of the eastern biota? Its appearance is quite bright: the height of the tree is up to 10 meters, the crown is of a beautiful pyramidal or egg-shaped shape. The branches are raised up, the shoots are flat with scaly foliage. The plant loves a well-lit place, unpretentious in care, easily tolerates heat, dry soil. Especially decorative are the cultural forms of thuja with golden variegated and silvery leaves. Since the plant is slow growing, it is easy to grow at home, indoor conditions.

At the tops of the shoots, bluish-green cones are formed in spring, as they ripen, their shade changes to a brownish-red color. The plant blooms from the beginning of spring for about 2 months. Seeds ovoid, wingless, up to 5 mm long.

Useful properties and application of eastern biota

Thuja orientalis is not only an ornamental, but also a medicinal plant. Its usefulness has long been known. Representatives of American Indian tribes used medicinal drugs from the bark and foliage of thuja to treat various inflammatory processes, infectious diseases, rheumatism, and to prevent the same diseases. It is not for nothing that the biota acquired an eloquent name in those days - the “tree of life”.

In the 19th century, American homeopaths used infusions of Oriental flatworm to treat common ailments. Bleeding (uterine and intestinal), hemoptysis, venereal diseases, bronchial asthma responded well to treatment. Particularly useful is thuja oil, which contains caryophyllene, cedrol, aromadendren, vidlen. The essential oil is found in the leaves and seeds of the plant.

The composition of the thuja also contains tannins, pectin, resins. Quinikithiol is also highly valued for its antifungal activity. The use of kernels of thuja orientalis seeds has a tonic and strengthening effect on the body. A good remedy for thuja is also for the treatment of colds, as an expectorant for pneumonia and bronchitis. Lupus, skin rashes are cauterized by biota leaf powder.

Thuja: folk recipes

Thuja orientalis is used in alternative medicine in the form of a powder, water and alcohol infusion for the prevention and treatment of common ailments. The powder is made from well-dried biota leaves. It should be consumed no more than 3 grams at a time.

An alcoholic 10% tincture of leaves and young shoots is also easy to prepare if you take half a liter of vodka and 100 g of chopped leaves. Infuse the contents in a glass container in a dark place for at least a week. Then the infusion can be filtered through cheesecloth. An alcohol drug from biota will be used for skin diseases, with congestion in the bronchi three times a day, 25-30 drops until the condition improves.

If there is no time to wait, you can prepare a decoction of young twigs with thuja leaves. Take 20 g of raw materials, pour 1 liter of boiling water. Infuse for about 5-10 minutes, then strain. Take with the above diseases, as well as with cystitis, prostatitis, rheumatism, uterine, intestinal bleeding, asthma, a glass three times a day. The course of treatment is at least 2 weeks.

Thuja oil is effective in heart failure, cystitis, stagnation in the pelvic organs, enuresis, rheumatism, helminthic invasion, in the treatment of genital warts and papillomas. For problem areas skin apply oil with cotton swabs twice a day.

Baths with the addition of thuja oil help to increase frigidity, the ether is used for massage rubbing.

Before you start self-medicating, be sure to consult your doctor. Also remember that thuja-based healing potion is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women and those who suffer from epileptic seizures.