Cupressus FUNEBRIS

Cupressus FUNEBRIS - Chinese weeping cypress, Mourning cypress, Cupressus funebris.

Can be grown as a bonsai!

Cypress is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees in the family Cupressaceae. It includes about 25 species and is distributed in North America, Asia, and the Mediterranean.

Plants of this genus are slender trees with a conical crown and scale-like leaves. The branches are thin, dense, directed upward or spreading. The bark is fissured, peeling in thin strips. The foliage is small, closely appressed to the shoots.

Flowering occurs in spring. Microstrobili (male cones) are small, rounded, and yellowish. Megastrobili (female cones) are larger, globose, woody, maturing in the second year. The seeds are winged, released after the cones crack open.

Chinese weeping cypress is a slender evergreen tree up to 20-30 m (66-98 ft) tall in nature. The branches are long, slender, drooping, giving the crown a characteristic weeping form. The leaves are small, dark green, closely appressed to the shoots, scale-like.

Flowering is observed in spring. Male cones are small, yellow, situated at the ends of shoots. Female cones are rounded, up to 2-3 cm (0.8-1.2 in) in diameter, greenish, then turning brown upon ripening. The seeds are winged, small, and light brown.

Seeds require a prolonged period of stratification: they are kept for 3-4 months in a cold environment at a temperature of 4-5 °C (39-41 °F). In home conditions, the seeds are placed in the refrigerator. Immediately before planting, they are soaked in warm water or a solution of Kornevin or Epin for 12 hours. A 2 cm (0.8 in) drainage layer is placed beneath the soil.

Sowing is performed into a loose moist substrate to a depth of 0.5-1 cm (0.2-0.4 in). The container is covered with film or glass, and daily ventilation is provided. The germination temperature is maintained at 18-22 °C (64-72 °F). At best, only half of the seeds germinate.

Seedlings appear in 20-40 days. The minimum germination period is 20 days, and the maximum can exceed 60 days. After 2 true leaves are formed and a height of 5-6 cm (2-2.4 in) is reached, seedlings are pricked out into separate containers, taking care not to bury the root collars of the seedlings into the soil. Young plants are provided with good illumination without direct midday sun and regular moderate watering. Over a year, the small bushes grow up to 20-25 cm (8-10 in).

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Growing in sunny spots or in light partial shade is recommended. Under indoor conditions, it is grown extremely rarely; cultivation in open ground in sheltered areas is preferable.

In summer, a temperature of 20-28 °C (68-82 °F) is maintained. In winter, adult plants are able to withstand drops in temperature down to -15 °C (5 °F). Watering is carried out moderately, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings. Waterlogging is avoided.

A loose, well-drained substrate based on sod soil, sand, and humus is used. Repotting is carried out in spring when needed at a young age. Drainage is mandatory to prevent water stagnation.

From spring to autumn, specialized fertilizers for conifers are applied every 4 weeks. In the winter period, feeding is not required. Excess nutrition can weaken frost resistance.

Sanitary pruning of damaged branches is carried out. Formative pruning is permissible in spring. Propagation is carried out by seeds or by rooting green cuttings.