If the Korean fir is planted outdoors, it is actually quite easy to care for. There are some special features when planting in containers.
Korean firs are less exotic than the name might suggest. Since the plant, which originated in Korea, arrived in England in the early 20th century, it has spread widely in Europe, Asia and North America. Today, the hobby gardener can get the attractive fir in numerous unusual varieties. You don't necessarily have to have a particularly spacious garden, because the slow-growing pine plants are also commercially available in numerous small species. If you follow a few care instructions, you will be able to enjoy the Korean fir (also Korean fir or Abies koreana) for decades and have found an ornament for your garden all year round.Water the Korean fir correctly
The substrate around the plant should not dry out. Regular watering is therefore necessary, especially on warm days. It is best to water the Korean fir with rainwater or stagnant tap water.
In autumn, the plants have an increased need for moisture. Irrigation should not be neglected even in winter. Check the soil regularly and water on frost-free days. It is important to avoid waterlogging. To make the soil more permeable, gravel or clay granules can be added to the substrate.
Particularly potted plants have an increased need for moisture and must be watered accordingly. The soil in the bucket dries out quickly and there is a risk of freezing through in winter.
Fertilize Korean Fir
As a shallow root, the Korean fir can get nutrients from the ground. It forms a flat, far-reaching root system. However, deficiency symptoms can occur, which the plant indicates. If, for example, the needles turn brown, the fir lacks magnesium. Here you can help with the gift of Epsom s alt. Proceed with caution, however, because brown needles are not the only sign of a magnesium deficiency. It can also be a too dry location or the plant suffers from frost damage. If you have the opportunity, you should carry out a soil analysis and suchGet certainty about missing nutrients.
➔ Tip: Korean firs require few nutrients. Do not plant the plants next to heavy feeders. Over-fertilization could occur.
Types of Korean fir at a glance
Over time, a whole series of cultivated forms of the Korean fir have emerged. You can opt for a small tree or plant larger trees with different colored needles. In many varieties, the needle coloring can be achieved by twisting the needles. This will make the subpages visible. You can also get the Korean firs with different colored cones.
The following species are commercially available:
Aurea
This fir grows quite slowly and is usually characterized by a rather shrub-like habit. The gold-colored needles are a special decoration.
Barabits Spreading
This variety grows particularly slowly and is very suitable for smaller gardens. Barabits Spreading only grows about five centimeters per year. With its wide and spherical growth, this variety is very suitable for rock gardens and bed borders.
Silver Bullet
This Korean pine grows flat and spherical. The needles are only about an inch long. The yellow-green needles have silver undersides.
Silver Curl
With an annual increase of four to seven centimeters, this Korean pine grows slowly. The purple cones, which form early in the year, are eye-catching. The densely packed needles partially show their silver underside and provide a nice contrast to the cones. This particularly attractive Korean fir was bred in Germany by the Horstmann Nursery in the 1980s.
Cutting the Korean fir - yes or no?
Korea firs do not require any pruning. They grow independently into their characteristic shape. So all you have to do is watch the Korean fir grow.
How to propagate the Korean fir?
The Korean fir can only be propagated by seeds. This is not an easy task. Patience and preparation time are required until offspring appear in the plants. First of all, you should collect the cones of the tree. The best time for this is the month of December. Put the cones on the heater, they will open quickly. The seeds can be removed after a few days.
➔ Note: Not every Korean fir seed is viable.
The germination can bedetermined using the water sample. To do this, place the seeds in a vessel with water and leave it overnight. Any seeds that are still floating on the surface in the morning can be discarded, they will not germinate.
The germinable seeds are now placed in a planter filled with potting soil and sand. The substrate is only slightly covered. So that the seeds actually germinate, they are stratified. Actually, the seeds should now be in the fridge for a few weeks, but this process can be simplified because it is winter. You simply place the planter in the garden or on the terrace. Protect the seeds from snow and rain and keep the soil evenly moist. However, it can take several months before the first shoots become visible.
Winter Korean fir
The Korean fir comes from the mountain forests of South Korea. There are low temperatures in winter and therefore the plants are well prepared for the winter in our latitudes. Late frosts can become a problem. This applies to potted plants that are less protected in small planters than outdoors. Therefore, the planters should be protected with garden fleece or brushwood. Outdoor Korean firs are rarely affected by frost damage.
➔ Tip: The Korean fir is a pretty eye-catcher in the wintry garden when it is decorated with a chain of lights and balls.