Plant, cultivate and propagate fan juniper

The fan juniper not only has a few special features to offer, it is also very easy to care for. Find out here how it can also thrive in your garden.

The fan juniper (Microbiota decussata) is an evergreen coniferous tree that has a number of exciting properties. For example, the needles of the Siberian dwarf arborvitae are botanically titled scales. As an evergreen plant, the fan juniper can also offer an interesting spectacle. The small shrub offers a location-dependent bronze coloration in different shades in winter.

Origin

As the name Siberian dwarf arborvitae suggests, the tree's natural home is in Russia. More precisely, the fan juniper occurs on the remote slopes of the Sikhote-Alin Mountains in eastern Siberia. There, the robust plant can often be found above the tree line.

The plant was discovered in 1921. The Russian botanist Komarov described the fan juniper two years later. However, the plant was slow to become popular. The first seedlings reached the Tashkent Botanical Garden in Uzbekistan only in 1949. In addition, the plant only slowly gained attention in Europe in the early 1960s.

The focus of international interest was the fan juniper in 1974, when it won the "Award of Merit" at the highly acclaimed Chelsea Flower Show in London.

Select the right location

The fan juniper is one of the few plants whose location you can freely choose without any disadvantages for the plant. The Siberian dwarf arborvitae thrives in full sun, in light partial shade as well as in full shade. However, sun and partial shade are preferred. There the fan juniper reaches a growth height of 60 centimeters and can measure up to two meters in circumference.

The fan juniper is usually used as a ground cover and can be planted in rock gardens or to green embankments. Planting in troughs and other rustic containers is also popular. The fan juniper is also suitable for planting in public green areas or as a grave decoration.

Ideal plant neighbors aree.g.:

juniper
Rhododendron
Heather
Snow Heather
Ornamental Grasses

The ideal substrate

The plant is also not very demanding when it comes to choosing the soil. The fan juniper will thrive in sandy soil as well as on loamy subsoil. Lime is tolerated as well as an acidic substrate.

The plant does not do well with waterlogging alone. This can become a problem for the wood, especially in the winter months.

Plant Fan Juniper

The fan juniper is offered as a container plant. Planting is possible all year round. However, there should be no frost on the planting days. Then proceed as follows when planting:

Select Location
Loosen the soil and remove stones and roots
Dig a planting hole twice the size of the root ball
Watering the fan juniper in the plant pot
Remove fan juniper from the plant pot
Drainage made of gravel or potsherds to prevent waterlogging
Place fan juniper in the middle of the planting hole
Fill the substrate and press well
Water fan juniper

How to properly care for the fan juniper

❍ Pour fan juniper:

In general, the plant has a high water requirement. However, you should water them with caution. If the plant gets too much moisture, the water accumulates in the ground and the roots rot.

Tip:
Heavy clay soil is particularly prone to waterlogging. Sand can improve the permeability of the substrate.

❍ Pruning fan juniper:

The plants grow slowly and do not necessarily have to be cut. If you want to give your fan juniper a certain shape, you can cut it at any time. The plants tolerate pruning and often sprout more vigorously after pruning.

❍ Winter fan juniper:

The fan juniper knows how to assert itself in Siberia and can convince with a frost hardiness of up to -40 degrees. It therefore does not require winter protection.

It should be noted, however, that the fan juniper often cannot withstand the pressure of snow. In snowy winters it can therefore help if you attach a string to the branches so that they do not unfold under the snow load.

This is how the fan juniper can be propagated

You can propagate juniper by cuttings. To do this, cut a fresh one in midsummerShoots about 15 centimeters long. The cutting is then simply stuck in conventional garden soil and should sprout there.