Cypress trees are typically found in wetland areas and swamps. These plants require a lot of water, and may therefore be planted in a yard's low-lying area where water collects or along a storm drainage system. Cypress can be grown from seeds, but require a lot of care in order to grow properly. When growing these specimens, the cypress seeds should be started indoors. After the seeds germinate and grow into healthy seedlings, they may be transplanted outdoors.
Quality cypress seeds can be purchased from a plant nursery. Before the seeds can be planted in a container with soil, however, they should be placed between two sheets of wet paper towels. The paper towels and the seeds should then be put inside a plastic storage bag and placed in a refrigerator for at least 30 days. The chilling of the cypress seeds is required to bring them out of dormancy, and failure to follow this step will result in seeds that do not grow.
After the cypress seeds have been thoroughly soaked and chilled, they can be planted in a small seedling container kept indoors. A rich potting soil should be used. Each seed should be placed just under the soil, in a small hole approximately 1/4 of an inch (0.6 centimeters) deep. The soil should be watered until it is very moist, but not wet. For best results, a container with a hole in the bottom should be used, and this may be kept in a tray of water to keep the soil moist at all times.
The seedling container should be kept in a warm room, with a temperature between 70° and 75° Fahrenheit (21° and 24° Celsius). The container should be placed in an area that receives indirect sunlight during the day, so a south-facing windowsill should be ideal. Germination time varies for cypress seeds, but they will generally sprout in 7 to 30 days.
When a seedling grows to 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) in height, it should be moved to a larger container, but still kept indoors. A seedling is generally ready to be transplanted outdoors when it reaches a height of about 24 inches (61 cm). For optimal plant health, it is recommended that a cypress seedling is kept indoors for at least six months before being moved outside. The young tree then should be planted in an area with very moist soil. It typically grows best in a wetland environment that is shallowly flooded for several months of the year.