Prickly spruce Bonfire has excellent decorative properties. This plant has long needles, which can have different colors - blue, greenish, gray or almost white. The indisputable advantage of spruce is its slow development. Due to this, the crop is often used to decorate summer cottages. Another advantage of the plant is its high resistance to frost.
Origin of the tree
The exact origin of the tree is not known. It is believed that it appeared at the beginning of the twentieth century. There is information that the variety was registered in 1901 in Holland. This happened in the Boskop nursery.At that time, its owner was Ari Koster, and the spruce was named in his honor.
However, there is information that the new variety appeared a little earlier. In any case, there is evidence in literary sources that such spruce was sold at the end of the nineteenth century. During its existence, the plant has become one of the most sought after and popular.
Description of the variety
Spruce Koster is considered an attractive decorative tree, which is characterized by the following features:
- Conical crown. The diameter of an adult culture reaches 5 meters. At the same time, its branches are slightly lowered downwards. Young seedlings have an asymmetrical shape. This is due to the rapid development of the lower branches. Moreover, by the age of 10 the plant takes on a more regular shape.
- Prickly and hard needles. It has a bluish-green color and reaches a length of 25 millimeters. There is a light waxy coating on top of the needles. The color of the plant remains throughout the year.
- The height of an adult plant is 10-15 meters. By the age of 10 years, the spruce reaches 3 meters. Moreover, its diameter is 1.5-2 meters. This culture has an average rate of development. In 1 year it increases by 15-20 centimeters. In spring, lilac cones appear on spruce branches. After some time they turn green and then brown.
The distinctive characteristics of wood include the following:
- High resistance to frost. An adult plant can withstand temperatures down to -40 degrees. At the same time, spruce is resistant to drought, polluted air, and smoke.
- The need to use loose fertile soil for planting. The best options include chernozem and loam. It is important that the soil has average moisture levels.At the same time, its acidity should be 4-5.5.
Landing Features
In order for a crop to develop normally, it needs to be planted correctly. At the same time, spruce can be propagated in different ways.
Through seedlings
Koster spruce is easiest to propagate using seedlings. It is important to choose the right place for planting. It is best to give preference to a sunny area or partial shade. At the same time, it is strictly forbidden to plant the crop in dense clay soil. In this case, the tree will not be able to take root normally, since it is characterized by a superficial root system.
Using cuttings
You can grow a Koster blue spruce from a small branch. To do this, from a plant 6-8 years old, you need to cut a shoot 10-20 centimeters in size and remove the needles from its lower part. Then it is recommended to place the cutting in the prepared recess. This must be done at an angle of 30 degrees.
After which the plant needs to be watered regularly. Until the end of summer it must be kept covered with burlap. For the winter, it is recommended to insulate the planting material with sawdust.
Using seeds
This propagation method is considered the most difficult, since it will take 3 years to grow a seedling. It is worth collecting seeds in winter. In this case, they need to be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.
Then the seeds need to be buried 1.5 centimeters into the soil and stored in the refrigerator for 3 months. After which the container should be moved to a warm place and watered until sprouts appear.
Care requirements
The culture is considered very undemanding to care and has strong immunity. When growing spruce, it is recommended to follow the following rules:
- Young trees up to a year old should be watered several times a day in small portions. Plants 10 years old need to be moistened every 2 days.
- It is imperative that pruning be carried out systematically.
- Until 5 years old, spruce needs to be fed with mineral preparations.
- To remove parasites, you should use products such as Karbofos or Decis.
- Fundazol or colloidal sulfur should be used as a treatment for diseases.
Application
For a long period of time, spruce was planted near monuments and administrative buildings. However, in the last 20-30 years it began to be used for the design of summer cottages. Today, spruce is often used to create compositions with other conifers and deciduous crops. It can also be used as a tapeworm.
Spruce Koster is a very impressive plant that fits perfectly into a variety of compositions. In order for a crop to retain its decorative properties, it must be properly cared for.
