- 1). Grow cultivars from summer cuttings. Take a cutting from new growth. Remove the bottom third of the foliage from the stem, dip the cutting in root hormone and plant it in sandy soil. Water and cover the pot with a plastic bag and secure it with a rubber band.
- 2). Grow lemon cypress in full sunlight. This goes for potted plants and ornamentals planted outdoors. Full sunlight means at least four to six hours of sun each day and a little afternoon shade. Place potted plants in a sunny window and plant ornamental trees in a south-facing spot.
- 3). Test your soil. Fortunately, the entire cypress family can tolerate a range of soils, from acidic to alkaline (pH of 5.6 to 8.5). Monterey cypress, lemon cypress' parent species, grows along the California coast, so salty sea air and some sandy soil will not harm the lemon cypress, either. In general, the lemon cypress should be grown in a well-draining, sandy soil. This is true when propagating cuttings and tending to adult trees.
- 4). Water deeply. Do not allow the soil in potted lemon cypress trees to dry out. Trees planted in the landscape are drought-tolerant but should be watered deeply at least once a week in very hot weather.
- 5). Prune the trees to keep their compact, conical shape when they are used as ornamentals or in a hedge.
- 6). Move container plants outdoors in the spring onto a porch or patio and move them back inside in the fall.
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