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New dwarf conifers for fairy garden.

13 years ago

A few weeeks ago I received 7 very small conifers, mainly chamaecyparis type of conifers, for my fairy garden. I had them in semi shade for a couple of weeks and they look fine.

I made a nice raised bed with good drainage in semi shade for them and they are to be part of my fairy garden I I am making it for me and the grandkids).

Do you think they will fare ok with watering....daily or what do you recommend. Of course, they will be in overhead direct sun for about two hours a day, semi shade the rest of the day and shaded am and pm.

Or should I wait a year after potting them up and letting them grow a bit. They are just a few inches high to start with.

Also, they are in long type of pots, with long straggly roots. Should I trim them when I repot them or plant them.

Thanks for the help. I am not a new gardener, just new to dwarf conifers.

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Comments (3)

firefightergardener
13 years ago
As others will probably suggest, water when the soil is dry to a knuckle. If your climate is warm/hot/dry, I'd probably suggest daily watering for a few weeks for such small plants(very small root zones), but it also depends how quickly your soil drains, etc.

Generally smallish conifers can probably go a couple days between watering in warm/hot conditions but unless you're in a heavy-slow draining clay, they can probably be watered daily with no ill effects. A pic would be helpful!

-Will
in ny zone5
13 years ago
Only cut damaged roots, and then as little as possible. You are fortunate to have received plants with long roots which will help the plants to grow. Distribute the roots evenly downward in the place you are planting, be it a pot.
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tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
13 years ago
First, if they are in pots get them out of any direct sun-quickly. Small pots like those in direct sun can cook roots and damage to conifers may not show up for a while. Next, planting small conifers in mid-July in zone 6 Illinois is dangerous. If they were mine I'd sink them at least half way into the ground in total shade, water when needed and wait for late September.

tj

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