- 1). Obtain a healthy Italian cypress tree from a garden center or nursery. Consider Tiny Tower Italian cypress, a dwarf Italian cypress cultivar that performs well in containers.
- 2). Select a pot or planting container that is at least 24 inches wide, 12 inches deep and has four or more ¼ inch drainage holes. A container with wheels makes it easier to relocate the tree in the fall and winter. Putting 2 inches of coarse gravel or pottery shards in the container's bottom facilitates healthy drainage.
- 3). Plant the Italian cypress tree in the prepared pot at the same depth it grew in its nursery container. Combining 4 parts loam, 3 parts peat moss, 2 parts leaf mold, 1 part sand and 1 part perlite creates a moisture-retentive, well-draining, growing medium.
- 4). Positioning your potted Italian cypress in a full-sun location encourages healthy growth and development. Sites receiving more than six hours of direct sunlight per day are ideal.
- 5). Irrigating the Italian cypress weekly during the spring and up to twice weekly during the summer maintains soil that's lightly moist, but never saturated. Water the tree with a garden hose until you see water dripping from the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Reduce the irrigation frequency to once every two to three weeks during the fall and winter months, when the tree is indoors.
- 6). Fertilize your Italian cypress with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer before new spring growth begins. Apply subsequent half-strength fertilizer applications every three weeks during the spring and summer.
- 7). Move the potted Italian cypress indoors before the first fall frost. Place the tree within 4 feet of a window receiving six hours of direct sun each day.
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