Can you have a pine in a pot?

The pine is a tree whose roots are very, very strong. They are so strong that they can lift and break the asphalt. So you may think that having one in a pot is nonsense, and you would be right, because if its root system is capable of damaging the road, destroying a pot will not cost you anything. But the truth is that yes you can.

Proof of this is the number of pine bonsai that any Internet browser shows you when searching for images of this type of plant. And it is that, bonsai are trees that, through pruning, have been given that style, shape and size, but if they were planted in the ground, they would grow as large plants, because that is what their genetics dictates. That's why, if you can work as a bonsai, you can have a pine in a pot.

The importance of choosing the right pot

The pot in which we are going to have our pine must have a series of characteristics, since it is a tree that tends to grow rather slowly, so it is important that the container is not excessively large and that, in addition, it has holes at its base. In fact, the ideal is that its diameter does not measure more than twice the size of the pot that it has at the moment, because the bigger it is, the more land will have to be thrown. And of course, the more amount of land, the more amount of water will have to be poured when irrigating... something that could cause serious problems.

So assuming the pot you're using now is about 10 inches in diameter by another 10 inches tall, your new one will need to be 15 to 17 inches in diameter and XNUMX inches tall. As for the material with which it is made, I recommend that it be plastic for one reason: it will be easier to remove when it comes time to plant it in a larger pot. Now, you can choose a clay one, but think that it must have at least one hole in its base.

What type of substrate does the pine need?

El substratum It is a soil mixture that is used, above all, for potted plants, although it can also be mixed with garden soil to improve it. But let's not get sidetracked: the pine is a tree that grows in soils generally poor in nutrients, but at the same time quickly absorbs water and filters it.

Therefore, we have to put a substrate that is spongy, such as the universal Westland or the fertiberia. In this way, we will ensure that the pine is well.

When to water potted pine?

The watering of the pine that is kept in a pot should be moderate, throwing little in autumn and winter. It is a tree that resists drought much better than excess water, so try to water when the substrate is rather dry; in this way, we will prevent its root system from rotting.

In addition, we will also reduce the risk of fungus making you sick, because these microorganisms love the humidity and heat that exists in a medium such as the culture substrate. Therefore, you need to water an average of 3 times a week during the summer months, and 1-2 times a week the rest of the year.

How to prune?

Since we are going to have the pine in a pot, we will have to prune it regularly. For it anvil pruning shears will be used to prune tender branches, and a hand saw for woody ones that we will clean and disinfect with soap and water before and after using them to prevent the tree from getting sick. Also, you have to know that pruning will be done at the end of winter, before the plant starts to grow again.

How is it pruned? As well. The first thing we will do is remove the branches that are dry and/or brittle, since they are of no use to the plant; and then, we will proceed to reduce the length of the branches of the cup so that it has a more compact shape. In general, if these branches are about 20 centimeters long, they will be cut about 5 centimeters, and always above some leaves.

If we are interested in forming it as a small tree, we will cut the lower branches of the trunk if it has any and/or if they sprout.

When should potted pine be fertilized?

Although we are not interested in it growing much, it is important that it is paid from time to time, especially in spring, because that is when he is usually most active. To do this, we will use a fertilizer for green plants that is liquid, so that the roots absorb it as soon as possible.

We will apply it as the container indicates, and thus we will surely make it beautiful, as well as healthy.

As you can see, it is not difficult to maintain a pine in a pot.