Golden Japanese Thread Cypress Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea'

Water

For the Golden Mop Cypress, it's important to maintain consistent moisture without overwatering. Water this plant when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, which can be approximately once every one to two weeks, depending on the weather and soil drainage. Use a watering method that allows you to slowly soak the soil at the base of the plant, providing deep water penetration to encourage root growth. The amount of water required will vary, but aim for about 1 to 2 gallons at each watering session, ensuring even moisture throughout the root zone but avoiding waterlogged soil. Adjust the frequency and amount during hotter, drier periods or cooler, wetter times to keep the soil conditions optimal.

Light

The Golden Mop Cypress thrives best in full sun to partial shade. This plant should be placed in a spot where it can receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. However, during extremely hot, sunny summers, some afternoon shade can help prevent scorching. A location with bright, indirect light for the remainder of the day is ideal to maintain the vibrant golden foliage of this evergreen.

Temperature

Golden Mop Cypress can handle a wide range of temperatures, making it a hardy plant for various climates. It can survive in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit, but the ideal growing temperature is between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to protect it from extreme temperatures below -20 degrees and above 90 degrees Fahrenheit to maintain its health and appearance.

Pruning

Pruning the Golden Mop Cypress is mainly for maintaining shape and controlling size, rather than a strict necessity for health. Lightly trim the plant in the late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Pruning at this time prevents cutting off the forthcoming season's blooms and allows the plant to heal before the growing season. Prune no more than once a year, as this plant grows slowly and does not require frequent trimming.

Cleaning

As needed

Soil

The Golden Threadleaf False Cypress prefers a well-drained soil mix with a mix of loam, sand, and organic matter. The ideal soil pH for this plant is slightly acidic to neutral, ranging from 5.5 to 7.5. A good recipe would be one part garden loam, one part peat moss or compost, and one part coarse sand or perlite to ensure good drainage.

Repotting

The Golden Threadleaf False Cypress is a slow-growing plant and does not need to be repotted often. Generally, repotting every 3 to 5 years is sufficient, and only when the plant has outgrown its current container or the soil has become compacted or depleted of nutrients.

Humidity & Misting

The Golden Threadleaf False Cypress does best in moderate to high humidity levels but is quite adaptable and can tolerate lower humidity. Keeping the humidity around 50% is ideal, and they can withstand normal outdoor humidity fluctuations when grown outside.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  Provide bright indirect light and avoid hot dry air indoors.

• Outdoor

  Plant in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil.

• Hardiness zone

  4-8 USDA

Life cycle

The Sawara Cypress 'Filifera Aurea', starts its life cycle with seed germination, where the seeds require a period of cold stratification to break dormancy. Once germinated, the seedlings grow into juvenile plants, slowly developing the characteristic golden-yellow, thread-like foliage as they mature. The juvenile phase transitions to the adult phase as the plant begins to form woody stems and takes on its conical shape, typically reaching its mature size in several years. Throughout its life, the Sawara Cypress 'Filifera Aurea' will produce cones: males discharging pollen and females developing into seed-bearing structures after pollination. After reaching maturity, this evergreen conifer will continue to grow slowly, and can live for many decades, even centuries, under optimal conditions, retaining its ornamental appeal with minimal maintenance. The final stage is senescence, where growth slows down, and the plant may become more susceptible to environmental stresses, pests, and diseases before eventually dying.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Spring-Early Summer

• The most popular method of propagating the Gold Mop Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea') is through semi-hardwood cuttings. This is typically done in the late summer, which allows the cuttings time to root before the onset of winter. To propagate, take cuttings that are 4 to 6 inches long from the current year's growth, ensuring each cutting has several nodes. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting to expose the nodes, as this is where the roots will develop. Dip the exposed end in a rooting hormone, which encourages root growth and protects against fungal diseases, and then insert the cutting into a pot filled with a mix of peat and perlite. The cutting should be kept in a humid environment with indirect light and a consistent temperature, with the soil kept moist but not soggy. With proper care, roots should develop within a few weeks, after which the new plants can gradually acclimate to less humid conditions before being transplanted outdoors.