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2 Questions on Norway Spruce transplant and Blue Spruce color

10 years ago

Hello, I have two questions that I'm seeking help on. I've tried to do a Google search on both question but I get totally different answer. My questions are....

1. I'm buying some 2-3' Norway Spruce that at 4 years old (2 years potted, 2 years in ground) They are going to come bare root around mid November. My question is if I plant these in pots with some potting soil and keep these inside throughout winter, will the root system/tree grow better then if it were to be in the ground outside? The pots will be located in my kitchen which gets 6+ hours of direct sunlight if this even matters.

2. I'm buying a 4' Colorado Blue Spruce. I've been told that the color or shade of blue will not change over time...is this true? I went to a few nurseries and they have different shades of Blue Spruce. The nurseries with the darker blues told me they will lighten up within time and vice versa...nurseries selling light blues told me that darker Spruces will not lighten up and to buy them a the color I'm looking for.

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Comments (3)

ricksample
10 years ago
For question 1 - Don't bring them inside. Trees need to be dormant in the winter. For the ones I don't get planted, I'll leave outside in a bright shaded area until sometime in November after I can assure they are fully dormant. Then I'll bring them in my attached, unheated garage. They are dormant and require no sun during the winter. Occasionally I'll toss a snow ball or two on each one so they have a little water.

Question 2 - The shade of each spruce is determined by the site, amount of rain, etc. The blue is wax... as soon as it washes off it's green. If you want the bluest blue spruce, try Picea pungens 'Hoopsii'
Cal_00
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you for that information.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
cal ... do not buy the picea pungens .... wait until spring ... to verify its spring color ....

the blue.. is a waxy coating..

its is prime.. the best ... at spring flush .. this is when you buy an unnamed variety ...

if you want to buy now.. you buy a named variety.. [of which we can provide names and mail order places] ... and do to such.. there will be predictability of color ..

as a waxy coating.. it wears off to some extent.. over the summer.. high heat.. rain storms... sprinklers.. just to piss you off ..... etc ... so they all dull up to some extent.. as summer rolls by ...

if you look in the interior.. you will see 2 and 3 years old needles.. nearing the green color all needles are.. under the wax.. this is all normal ..

regardless.. BUY A NAMED VARIETY ... even if you have to buy smaller and mail order ... and it will make your toes tingle..

too many peeps buy unnamed seedlings... which are kinda blue.. and hope they will be like the ones that make your toes curl ... odds are.. it wont be ....

go for quality .. over the instant gratification of size..

pic below of my Picea pungens Hoopsi.. at spring flush.. showing its annual growth.. starting from a one gallon ... one foot turd ...

ken

{{gwi:205545}}
it was a blue turd.. lol...

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