The Japanese cedar grows quickly and is very easy to propagate. As a hedge, it can offer ideal privacy protection in your garden.
When it comes to conifers, many gardeners are over the moon. Because these are not only easy to grow and maintain, but also offer numerous advantages. So they offer a good privacy screen, which arises very quickly because the conifers grow quickly. At the same time, conifers can be brought into a certain shape, i.e. thinned out as desired so that they grow nicely. Those looking for something special often reach for the Japanese sickle fir (Cryptomeria Japonica), which originally comes from China and Japan. After all, it is a not very often seen, but noble and attractive alternative to the typical conifer in Europe - and also convinces with a very beautiful wood that has a slight red tinge.
Why multiply Japanese cedar?
Japanese cedar trees prefer to be more sheltered and grouped. At the same time, when properly shaped, they provide ultimate privacy protection, can act as a kind of hedge and provide plenty of shade on hot days. So if you have enough space and enjoy the look of the Japanese conifer, you can multiply and plant it as you wish. However, there is another reason that speaks for the beautiful fir: its wood is very popular as construction wood and is also popular because of its reddish colour. An equally positive feature of the Japanese cedar is that it grows very quickly - so if gaps in the garden have to be closed or if an old tree has died and been removed, the Japanese cedar creates an appealing remedy. The big plus of the tree: It can also be used as a bonsai and looks particularly beautiful in miniature form. The fact that propagating the Japanese conifer is very easy also speaks in favor of trying out the process yourself - even if the offshoots are then only to be given away.
| Advantages | Cons |
| growing particularly fast | must always be moistbe held |
| is very easy to propagate, so no additional purchase is necessary | Crown should also be protected from the sun in winter if possible |
| doesn't have too difficult claims | Young plants must be protected during the winter |
| provides privacy and shade | |
| offers a pleasing appearance that is slightly different from European firs | |
| delivers an attractive red-brown wood | |
| overwinters without protective measures at appropriate age | |
| needs hardly any fertilizer |
Propagation with cuttings
If you want to grow a second Japanese cedar, cuttings are recommended. Faster and more successful results can be expected here than with sowing. Bonsai can also be created this way, which, with a little patience and care, will gradually grow to perfection in miniature size.
Gain cuttings
It is best to take the cuttings from the tree at the end of autumn, with a size of 15 to 20 cm being ideal. When cutting it should be noted that the sharpest possible pruning shears are used to keep the cut as smooth and small as possible - at the same time the cut should be held at an angle so that water can drain off easily in the rain and the rest of the shoot does not rot.
Prepare and set cuttings
The cut cuttings must now be freed from the pine needles on their lower part. However, you should proceed carefully so that the bark is not damaged and no cuts can be found that could prevent germs and damage to the shoot from growing. Now you need a sufficiently large flower pot, which needs to be filled with humus-rich but nutrient-poor soil. The cuttings are inserted into this - about so deep that they are half covered. A cling film over the flower pot helps to accelerate and promote the uprooting of the shoot.
Caring for cuttings
The flower pot with the cutting or several cuttings should ideally be placed in a frost-protected place with plenty of light - this way they can overwinter and root. But they need a regular water supply for this, because the soil must always be kept moist. So that no mold develops or the cutting begins to rot, the cling film should be removedventilated every two days at the latest and changed if necessary to minimize germs. If the offshoots have already taken root, they should (if they haven't already taken root) be separated from each other and placed in their own flower pots - otherwise their roots will become entangled with one another, making it difficult to separate them later without damaging the root system.
Propagation by sowing
You can also propagate the Japanese cedar by sowing seeds. If you already have one at home, you can get them from the pine cones. You can also use store-bought seeds.
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You should be aware that propagation from seed takes a lot of time and it takes a lot of patience and time to take care of the seedlings. It can take years to develop a reasonably robust young sapling that can be planted in the garden and overwinter successfully there.
When propagating by seed, you can use a cold frame and cling film to speed up the sprouting of the seedlings. A slightly sunny, medium-warm place is ideal for this. Make sure that the soil for the seedlings - ideally containing humus and enriched with nutrients - is always kept moist. Waterlogging is to be avoided, as is the formation of mold due to insufficient ventilation. In this way, too, the cling film should be aired and changed often. If the seedlings are big enough, they can move to a large flower pot. As already mentioned, however, it takes years for the small, delicate plants to grow into young trees that can really withstand the European weather in the garden.
Summary
It doesn't hurt to internalize all the key points again before you actually start propagating the Japanese cedar - otherwise you'll forget one or the other important point that could ensure the success of the campaign. So here are all the procedures in a nutshell:
Propagation by cuttings
» when propagating via cuttings, cut shoots that are at least 15 to 20 cm long from the tree - pay attention to diagonal cuts
»free the lower part of the cuttings from the needles - avoid damaging the bark at all costs
» place the cuttings in nutrient-poor potting soil and keep them moist»
cover at best with cling film, which needs to be aired »
lighter,frost-protected place for overwintering »
transplant into individual pots when rooting is sufficient
Propagation by seeds
» when propagating by seeds, provide a cold frame with potting soil and nutrients
» Always keep seeds and seedlings moist, but avoid waterlogging
» Separate seedlings later and repot individually
» Only plant out after a few years when they are sufficiently strong
Whether multiplying is crowned with success or not depends on many factors. However, if you really want to be successful and don't have that much patience, you should choose propagation via cuttings. Because this process is usually successful and doesn't take that long.