How to maintain star pine
Pine is one of the 50 to 70 species of the cypress family. They are coniferous evergreen trees or shrubs. The color of their foliage varies from green-blue to light green, and they are needle pink or scaly. Scotch pines have needle-like foliage when they are young (called juvenile foliage). The scaly foliage appears later. How to maintain and fertilize houseplants
After heavy pruning, heavy watering or other stressful conditions, these young leaves will grow again. It can take several years until the natural scaly foliage is fully grown and all the needle-like foliage is lost. When you think of the short and traditional bansa, star pine definitely comes to mind. This plant is very resistant, has a long life and can withstand adverse conditions. In fact, star pine is a low-growing juniper native to southern Japan.
What is star pine?
Star pine is a type of needle pine from the family of pines. Pine trees are always green and their growth is high in the natural environment, but in the apartment it is slow and it needs a lot of oxygen and cannot tolerate high temperature. Adapted pine needs normal light, cool air, always wet soil, relative humidity between 50 and 90% and slightly acidic soil.
How to maintain star pine:
Position = Place the tree outside (year-round) in a bright area with sunlight. These plants do not survive outdoors. Protect the tree during winter when temperatures drop below -10°C (14°F). Some species change their foliage color to a purplish brown during frost periods, which is associated with a cold protection mechanism. In the spring they turn green again. Star pine is a living miniature tree, not a houseplant! Therefore, during the cold and frosty season of winter, it must be kept indoors.
During the spring, summer and autumn seasons, your tree should be placed outdoors such as a patio, balcony, terrace or garden. Once brought out, your star pine should be placed where it receives adequate sun – morning sun and afternoon shade are best.
Watering = Be careful not to overwater the star pine, because the roots of this tree do not like wet soil. Before watering, the soil should dry a little. You should moisturize the tree regularly and constantly (especially after changing the soil and the tree pot), because air humidity is very useful for it.
Make sure you never forget to water this tree. Water when the soil looks dry and never let the soil dry out completely. If you put it in direct sunlight, you should water it every day. This watering schedule may vary depending on the size of the pot, the type of soil, and the type of pine tree you have. Assess the water needs of each tree and adjust your watering schedule accordingly. It is best to use a moisture meter until you are familiar with the needs of your tree. Irrigation should be done slowly so that the soil surface is not completely wet.
Fertilization = Use organic fertilizers every month during the growing season. You can also use liquid fertilizers weekly. Higher nitrogen levels can be used in spring if high growth is desired. In order for your tree to look healthy and beautiful, accurate fertilization is essential. Since your tree is growing in a small amount of soil, it is necessary to periodically add nutrients back to the soil.
Star pine pruning: Never cut the star pine tree like a hedge, because removing all the growing parts will weaken the tree and its tips will turn brown. When the foliage stems are too dense, they should be thinned at the base with sharp scissors.
Star pine is generally a strong tree that has good resistance to severe pruning. However, if the tree is completely bare, it will not resprout, so be sure to leave some foliage in the star pine maintenance method.
Changing the pot = In the maintenance method of star pine, try to change the pot of the tree completely every two years. Repot very old trees more widely using a basic soil mix (or slightly more draining). Do not prune the roots too hard.
Propagation = use seeds or cuttings
Pest or disease = If these trees are well taken care of and placed in an ideal position, they will be completely resistant to all kinds of pests. It is important not to allow the star pine foliage to become too dense, because otherwise pests can easily settle in them. In the way of maintaining the star pine during the winter, make sure that this tree is kept in a place with enough light and they should be regularly controlled for pests, because there are pests even during the winter season.
A major problem is fungal rust diseases. Different species of this tree have different levels of resistance to insects and pests. Generally, green and blue pines are more resistant than pines that have yellowish green foliage.
Humidity = In the star pine maintenance method, during the cold months when your tree is indoors, we recommend placing it in a shallow tray filled with a layer of sand with water. This creates more moisture around the tree by evaporating water and reduces the amount of moisture lost in modern heating systems. vegetable gardening
Do you have a star pine plant in your home and you don’t know how to take care of it?! In the following, we intend to introduce you to the method of maintaining star pine. These are very beautiful and small houseplants that have become very popular as Christmas trees and are bought by people all over the world during the winter holidays.
Temperature factor
Star pine is a tropical plant and does not tolerate cold. These plants can neither tolerate very high temperature nor very cold. The suitable temperature range is around 20 degrees Celsius in the summer season and between 10 and 5 degrees Celsius in the winter season. Due to sensitivity to temperature, it is recommended to plant them in covered areas or indoors. However, it is recommended to keep them near windows to ensure sunlight is available.
Moisture factor for star pine
Since star pine is a tropical indoor plant, it needs a lot of moisture. During winters, these plants face a big moisture problem. Turning on the air conditioners in the summer dries the air a lot and as a result, a significant drop in the humidity inside the house occurs. Therefore, it is recommended to use a sand tray with water or a humidifier to keep the humidity high around the plant, or just a daily spray of water will do well.
The light factor in the maintenance of star pine
In the method of maintaining star pine as an indoor plant, never forget the light. These plants are very sensitive to light and therefore you prefer to keep them near windows or dimly lit areas. These plants need direct light to grow and survive. So don’t be afraid to put it on the windowsill, it likes direct sunlight.
Watering the star pine tree
Pine does not need a lot of water to grow, but it is important to water it with enough water. Have a regular watering schedule to keep the soil moist. In addition, we recommend adding compound fertilizers to your plant every 2-3 weeks during the summer. They do not need nutrients during winters.
The main problems of the star pine plant:
Yellowing and browning of leaves: Yellowing or browning of leaves is related to factors such as lack of nutrients, especially iron, or plant disease, and to solve these problems, use Mancozeb fungicide and also to ensure nutrients. Use complete fertilizer for indoor plants as well as iron fertilizer.
Dry tip of the leaf: The dry tip of the leaf of this plant can have different causes, including heat, low humidity, high light, dry environment, and low and inappropriate irrigation, which must be investigated individually.
To provide moisture, you can spray water on the leaves, but the best way to provide moisture is to place a tray or under a pot on the gravel, you just have to make sure that the water does not come into contact with the soil of the pot.
Dryness of the lower leaves: The cause of the drying of the lower leaves is due to unfavorable environmental conditions such as light, temperature, and also low humidity. Use the above materials to provide moisture and plant conditions.
The cause of the yellowing of star pine:
Star pine is one of the plants that has a high resistance to drought and one of the causes of yellowing of star pine is its excessive watering. When you overwater your pine, the roots can’t get the oxygen they need. If you water too much, the tip of the plant will probably turn yellow and become droopy.
If you think yellowing is the problem, stop watering. You can use a soil moisture meter to check the soil around the tree or stick your finger into the soil to see if it feels saturated a few inches deep. Let the soil dry a little before watering again.