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How to Care for Potted Cypress Trees

By: Bridget Kelly

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21 September, 2017

Cypress, a conifer, is easy to grow in containers. In fact, those cute little Christmas trees that you can pick up at the supermarket during the holidays are sometimes small cypress trees. While cypress trees can grow quite large when planted in the ground, planting cypress in a pot will limit its growth.

Grow your potted cypress tree in well draining, sandy/loamy soil. To amend soil, use peat, up to a 50 percent mixture. Place the tree in an area that receives morning sun and light shade in the afternoon.

Water your potted cypress tree deeply, and keep the soil moist. A good rule of thumb is to feel the soil. When it is dry to within one inch of the top of the soil, it is time to water. If your potted cypress is growing outdoors, water only in the morning, as an evening watering will cause the roots to get too cold.

Cypress, a conifer, is easy to grow in containers.
If your potted cypress is growing outdoors, water only in the morning, as an evening watering will cause the roots to get too cold.

Prune your potted cypress tree carefully. Different varieties of cypress have different pruning needs. Generally, don't cut into any leafless areas of a branch and trim branches to their point of origin.

Generally pest and disease resistant, cypress trees are subject to canker, a disease cause by a fungus. Treatment involves removing any affected twigs and branches.

Care For Potted Cypress Trees

Whether you received a potted cypress tabletop Christmas tree or are adding a Hinoki cypress to your container garden, routine care will help the plant thrive. Remove wrapping, lights, price tags, stickers and any other non-organic materials from the cypress tree and its container, and place the plant in a cool, light location, such as an enclosed patio or porch. Add water until it begins to drip from the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Transplant the cypress tree into a larger pot in early spring with a decorative container that is at least 2 inches larger than the current pot. Fill the bottom 2 inches with pebbles to facilitate drainage. Potting soil blended with slow-release, 10-8-6 fertilizer, mixed according to the measurements on the manufacturer's label, is a good choice.

Prune your potted cypress tree carefully.
Transplant the cypress tree into a larger pot in early spring with a decorative container that is at least 2 inches larger than the current pot.