Rhododendron habitat. Rhododendron is a beautiful fantasy of nature. Disease control measures

We tell you how to transplant and plant a rhododendron in open ground. Describing favorable conditions landing: place, soil, acidity, and we give step-by-step instructions.

Proper planting of rhododendron: place, soil

The further growth and development of the plant depends on the correct choice of the planting site, soil and preparation of the soil substrate. It is advisable to decide on a place before buying a seedling so that it immediately gets into comfortable conditions and rooted faster.

Which landing site to choose?

When choosing a site, it is important to consider biological feature kind. Ideally, the illumination, humidity of air and soil should correspond as much as possible to the place where it grows in nature. In general, than bigger size leaves, themes required less wind and higher air humidity.

Favorable place - light penumbra from tall trees. At the same time, the "rose tree" needs to be provided with shade at the peak of solar activity - from 11.00 to 16.00, and in the morning and evening it should receive a sufficient amount of light.

The scattered shadow is Better conditions for the development of all plant species, especially where there is a sharply continental climate with cold winter hot summers and low humidity.

It is better to plant on the north or east side, since the rhododendron is shade-tolerant, and tolerates shade more easily than bright sunlight.

At the same time, in open sunny place you can plant some deciduous species (Daurian, yellow, Kamchatka, Canadian or Japanese). However, they will grow better in a shady area with diffused light and bloom more beautifully.

Bad place - open strong winds and midday sun plot. In this case, there are often problems with flowering, development and wintering.

It is not recommended to plant in areas with high level ground water, as well as heated in spring with melt water. In extreme cases, you can plant on a high ridge (10-15 cm), make good drainage and diversion ditches.

If for some reason you planted a rhododendron in an unfavorable place, then it can be transplanted. The shrub tolerates the transplant well, it often affects it positively. Therefore, you always have a second attempt in reserve.

Selection of neighbors and landing distance

When choosing a landing site, consider the surrounding "rose tree" plants. Since the flower has a superficial root system, then the "neighbors" have a rod so that he has enough nutrients.

Best neighbors: spruce, larch and pine - just like in nature.

Good neighbors: pear, oak, pine, apple, cherry.

Bad neighbors: elm, birch, willow, chestnut, maple, linden.

Minimum distance to large shrubs and trees: 2-3 meters, from the building up to 7 years (then almost no lime is released from the solution) - 1.5 meters. When landing in a row - 130-180 cm.

Soil and acidity

Optimal soil acidity for rhododendron, pH: 3.0-4.5, he loves acidic soils. Therefore, peat soil is excellent. The earth should be rich in humus, with high air and moisture permeability (loose).

Large-flowered species are more sensitive to soil acidity, even a neutral environment inhibits their development.

Soil mix for planting

Main components: heather soil, acidic high-moor peat, hardwood (humus) and pine needles. They do not have to be all present, the main thing is to approximately observe the proportion: 50/50 organic part and garden soil from digging a hole.

In light and medium loam, ordinary garden soil, it is better to increase the proportion of peat and add pine needles. In sandy soil, increase part of the loam, peat and humus.

Horse peat, garden soil (loam or sod land) and sand 3:2:1. A simple blend that has been proven over the years and by thousands of gardeners.
High-moor peat, leafy soil and coniferous litter, sand - 3:2:1:1.

Any soil mixture must be supplemented with complex mineral fertilizer - 30-40 gr.

Rules and Tips

Loam or garden soil should make up 35-50% of the volume of any potting mix. So that the substrate is sufficiently loose and permeable to moisture, and also better retains moisture near the roots.
When planted in a soil mixture with a large amount of peat without loam, the water evaporates quickly and after the root ball dries, it is difficult to moisten it due to the air cushion.
Usually, 4-6 standard buckets of high-moor peat and 3-4 buckets of loam are required to prepare the soil mixture. But if you are missing any component, then it is better to do landing pit smaller (30 * 40 cm) than reduce the amount of peat or loam.
And after 2-3 years, dig a ditch 10-15 cm wide / 30-35 cm deep along the perimeter of the planting pit, and fill it with soil mixture.
Do not add leaves, manure (in any form), grassroots peat, sawdust and black soil to the soil mixture.

Instructions for planting rhododendron

Rules and Tips

It is better to dig a landing hole and fill it with soil mixture in advance. If you plant in the spring, then in the fall, and if in the fall, then 2-3 months before planting.
Plant rhododendron better in cloudy and wet weather.
When planting a seedling in a container, you need to carefully cut off the outer roots (“felt”), which have died off due to prolonged contact with the walls of the container. Otherwise, it will be difficult for young roots to break through their layer to the soil.
You can make 3-4 cuts across the root ball, and then straighten the roots down and to the sides. It is not necessary to completely destroy the com! At the same time, many flower growers note that there is no difference, and you can plant a whole lump from the container without manipulation.
2-3-year-old seedlings are best planted in a quiet and shady place so that they do not suffer from moisture deficiency. The width of the pit is 30 cm, and the depth is 20-25 cm. For the 4-6th year, transplant the bush to permanent place according to basic instructions. This method is especially important to apply if the permanent place will be located in a windy and sunny area of \u200b\u200bthe garden.
If a bush planted in a permanent place has buds, then it is better to remove them (except for 2-3 pieces to evaluate beauty) so that it takes root better.

Care after planting a rhododendron

In the first year after planting or transplanting, the seedling needs regular watering. It is especially important to water and spray frequently in the heat from April to August, because the seedling has a small root ball and dries quickly.

Every 2-3 days, water with 4-6 liters of water, and it is advisable to spray every day.

There is no urgent need for top dressing, timely watering is much more important, but it is advisable to apply a complex mineral fertilizer after rooting (15-20 days after planting). Use 30% of the recommended doses for an adult plant.

The compositions of dressings are given in the article on plant care - see the bottom of the page.

In autumn, be sure to mulch and cover for the winter with spruce branches or covering material (lutrasil, agrofibre). Drive stakes around the perimeter of the bush and wrap around them.

When is the best time to plant a rhododendron? Spring or autumn?

Experts believe that it is optimal to plant a "rose tree" in spring (April - mid-May) and autumn (September - mid-November). At the same time, a categorical ban on planting and transplanting only for the flowering period and two weeks after it.

In the Moscow region, Siberia, the Middle lane, Leningrad region and in the Urals (cold winters), it is better to plant a rhododendron in the spring so that the plant adapts and successfully overwinter by autumn.

Deciduous species are also best planted in the spring before flowering and leafing out, since "autumn" seedlings often die in the first winter.

Rhododendron transplant in spring and autumn

The plant tolerates transplanting well. The main reason for it is the annual unsatisfactory condition of the bush: the absence or weak flowering, poor wintering (severe freezing).

Often the reason lies in an unsuccessful landing site and with the help of a transplant it is easy to breathe a “second life” into the rhododendron. Since the transplant to a new one is more appropriate place, gives it strength for growth and flowering.

Rhododendron transplant: timing

It is better to replant the "rose tree" in early spring (late March - early April) or late summer and early autumn (mid-August - October). When the weather is cool and high humidity air.

In general, the main thing is that the earth can be dug, it was not very wet (liquid mud) and the bush did not bloom.

Some flower growers prefer to transplant two weeks after flowering (June).

Instructions for transplanting rhododendron

If the soil is dry, then water the small bush abundantly so that the clod of earth does not crumble. old bush it is better not to water, as it will be difficult to get and carry.
Mark the branches of the plant in the cardinal directions: north - south or west - east, so that later the bush can be placed correctly in a new place. A similar orientation to the sun will help the plant settle in and take root faster.
Start digging into the soil with your forks. Since the root system grows more in breadth than in depth and is located close to the surface (20-30 cm), then dig carefully.
Depending on the age (height) of the specimen, make the necessary indent from the base of the bush: 4-5 year old bush - 50-60 cm, old bushes - 80-100 cm.
We give approximate figures with a small margin, since in order to prevent damage to the root system, it is better to retreat more than less.
Carefully remove the bush with a clod of earth. Evaluate the root system, if there are old or rotten roots, then cut them off, and sprinkle the slices with powder charcoal and preferably treat with a fungicide.
Then transfer (transport on a wheelbarrow) a bush to a pre-prepared landing pit. Next, transplant the rhododendron with a clod of earth according to the instructions for planting.

Adviсe

There is an opinion that in order to obtain a more symmetrical shape of the bush, it is necessary to plant the less developed side facing the sun - to the south. We do not recommend changing the orientation of the flower - this will create unnecessary stress and complicate adaptation.

Gardeners often produce successful transplants even of adult plants (10-12 years old), 70-80 cm high and with a crown diameter of more than 100 cm. For example, the Japanese species.

ADDITIONS TO THE ARTICLE:

wish successful landing and transplants, let the "rose tree" grow beautiful and healthy!

In order for the rose tree to bring only positive emotions, so that all care for it is minimized, and the bushes grow healthy and beautiful, proper and timely planting of rhododendron is needed. Of course, plant care is also very important, but mistakes made during planting are very difficult to correct in the future, so it is very important to carefully follow the recommendations of horticultural scientists and experts, which we have tried to combine for our readers in this article.

Beauty that pleases the eye

In order to ensure a good existence for rhododendrons on your site, several conditions must be met, each of which is very important.

Choice of species and variety.

Placement layout according to the selected variety.

Seedling selection.

Correct landing time.

Landing hole preparation.

Filling the pit with soil with the correct mechanical composition and acidity.

Covering the soil under seedlings with mulching materials.

It would seem that what is easier is to plant a bush, and as many as seven factors need to be considered for correct execution this most important event in the life of a plant.

Preparing for landing

The choice of species and varieties

To begin with, it is necessary to carry out activities during which we are preparing for the main thing - planting rhododendron in the spring in the ground. And we start with a theory, with a study of what rhododendrons are and what varieties will be suitable for planting them on our site.

To describe the entire rich spectrum of rhododendrons, you need a very thick tome. Those who wish can familiarize themselves with the characteristics of the varieties in the place where they want to purchase this or that seedling. We will only say that rhododendrons are divided into three large categories.

deciduous;

evergreen;

semi-evergreen.

Of course, for each territory, their own species are selected, for example, it is irrational to plant evergreen without a special year-round greenhouse, and in the hot south a deciduous variety.

We list below the types of rhododendrons most often grown by gardeners in our country.

Daursky.

treelike.

Kamchatsky.
Canadian.
Short-fruited.
The largest.
large-leaved.
Katevbinsky.
Ledebour.
Small-leaved.
Smirnova.
Schlippenbach.
Yakushimansky.
Japanese.

All these types of rhododendrons are the closest relatives, and some of them interbreed perfectly, thanks to which breeders bring out new extraordinary forms.

A palette of rhododendrons in one area

Location layout

The second stage of preparatory activities is creative. Before planting a rhododendron in the spring on the site, it is still winter evenings think about its location. Armed with a pencil, you need to draw a plan of your site on a piece of paper, and schematically place future rosewood seedlings on it. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account varietal features copies of your choice.

Some rhododendrons in nature grow on the slopes of the mountains, and all daylight hours are lit by the sun, others grow well as an undergrowth in a coniferous forest. In accordance with this, you need to place the selected bushes. In addition, when placing, it is worth considering the height and volume of adult plants grown in the future.

It is worth considering that rhododendrons have fibrous superficial roots, so placing them next to trees that have the same root systems is undesirable. Trees with powerful deep roots, on the contrary, will protect young bushes at the initial stage of development.

Unwanted neighbors of rhododendrons

good neighbors

Regardless of the height of the bush and its volume, all types of rhododendrons do not like dampness and close groundwater. Therefore, if possible, it is desirable to place them in dry places. If your site is flooded with spring waters, then to plant "pink trees" you should pour an artificial mound or make a raised bed.

Seedling selection

Spring came, and we went to choose a seedling in a nursery, a gardening store or a market. What you need to know when buying a rhododendron?

First of all, we advise you to choose a seedling with a closed root system. Such a plant will take root perfectly when transplanting rhododendron in the spring from a pot to a permanent place. Seedlings with an open root system are cheaper, but their survival rate is low.

Excellent seedling

The photo shows a powerful seedling of four years of age, ready to bloom. It can be grown in a pot culture, but it can also be planted in the ground. The seedlings shown in the following picture vary in size and represent different types and varieties of rhododendrons. Although by age they are three years old, if you count from sowing seeds.

Rhododendron seedlings

Landing time

All experts point out that best time planting of rhododendrons occurs in the spring in quiet cloudy weather. It is good if it is cloudy in the days following planting, while the plants will be less affected by the bright rays of the spring sun.

During summer planting, high sun activity and elevated temperatures can significantly affect the survival rate of seedlings. During the autumn planting, there may not be enough time for good rooting before the harsh winter.

Planting bushes

landing pit

First of all, when planting at the intended point, we dig a fairly spacious hole, at least half a meter deep and up to one meter in diameter, depending on the size of the soil coma of our seedling. At the bottom of the pit we pour some kind of drainage material.

landing pit

For drainage when planting rhododendrons, the following materials are used.

gravel crushed stone;
pine bark;
broken red brick.

Attention! When planting rhododendrons and other plants of the heather family, manure, ash and crushed limestone should not be used. These substances raise the pH level, which leads to the oppression of seedlings!

The upper cut of the drainage layer must be higher than the maximum elevation of spring waters, and the layer thickness must be at least ten centimeters.

soil

Before lowering the seedling into the hole and filling it up, it is necessary to prepare the soil mixture. This mixture should be fairly light in texture. Below we offer you a list of components from which you can make soil soils for planting rhododendrons.

High and low peat.
Pine bark.
Leaf land.

You can simply dig up land in a coniferous forest and bring it in the amount necessary for planting rhododendrons to your site.

After compiling the mixture, it is necessary to check its level of acidity. Heather plants love acidic soil with a pH value of 4.5-5.5 units. This indicator is easy to check with ordinary litmus paper. When checking the acidity, you need to mix the prepared soil in water, and then lower the litmus paper there. Its color should be orange or light orange.

A set of litmus paper with a scale-determinant

If your soil mixture does not meet the pH requirements, it should be acidified. This can be done using organic mineral acids, For example:

electrolyte for batteries;
tincture of needles or sorrel;
lemon acid;
colloidal sulfur.

Mulch

Before starting the process of planting rhododendrons, you need to make sure that there is a sufficient amount of mulching materials. They can be used as:

sawdust conifers;

pine and spruce shavings;

cut grass.

Grass should be applied from plants that like to grow in acidic soil, for example:

plantain;

daisy;
white-bearded protruding;
Ivan da Maria.

Planting seedlings

When all the preparatory activities are carried out, we begin to plant rhododendrons in a permanent place. At the same time, seedlings with a closed root system are pre-watered so that they easily come out of the pot in which they were.

Hello dear friends!

This article will be quite voluminous, since in it I have collected a maximum of information about the cultivation of rhododendrons in the garden.

I'll probably start with short description this beautiful plant and tell you about its main types, which are most adapted to the conditions middle lane.

So, rhododendron is one of the highly ornamental woody plants. The richness of the colors of its flowers, the shape, grace and splendor of flowering can easily compete with roses. Sometimes it is called that - "pink bush".

There are several main types of this plant of the heather family:

Ornamental evergreen rhododendron
Rhododendron semi-evergreen ornamental
Rhododendron deciduous

Usually it is a shrub about 2 meters high, less often - a small tree from 50 centimeters to 2 meters high.

During flowering, rhododendrons are unusually spectacular. Their flowers, bell-shaped or funnel-shaped, are collected in umbellate many-flowered or corymbose inflorescences, which are located at the tips of the branches. In such a lush inflorescence there can be up to 20 - 25 flowers, and such a branch looks like a bouquet. And against the background of leathery glossy leaves, the flowers look simply amazing.

Many consider rhododendrons to be thermophilic. exotic plants which cannot be grown in our gardens. I can tell you, based on my own experience of growing rhododendrons, that this is not entirely true. There are some types of these plants that can be successfully grown in the middle lane, but what is there in central Russia, even far in the north, the handsome rhododendron can become the first of the other brightly flowering shrubs in your yard or garden.

I live in the middle Volga region and I can say that the following types of rhododendrons take root best in our zone: Canadian and Daurian. The same species are suitable for the conditions of central Russia. I'll tell you briefly about them:

My favorite. Is a deciduous undersized shrub. In height, it grows no more than one meter. Its leaves are up to 6 centimeters long. On short branches are up to 5 beautiful purple-pink flowers. The plant tolerates winter well and therefore can be successfully grown even in more northern areas.

Dahurian rhododendron- also amazing. He's over taller than the "Canadian" (up to 2 meters and even higher). Its branches are directed upwards. Leaves are leathery and small. For the winter, this species does not shed all the leaves, leaving a part on the crown. When spring comes, the Daurian rhododendron blooms even before the leaves bloom. The flowers are large funnel-shaped, up to 4 centimeters in size, purple-pink in color. This beauty can be observed within a month, but sometimes these rhododendrons bloom again in the fall. The plant tolerates very well winter period, slowly growing, easily propagated by green cuttings.

Until I forgot! For those who keep bees, I would not advise growing rhododendrons. But if you still want to combine these two interesting things, then during flowering, cover the rhododendrons during the day (up to 18 hours) with a light covering material. Their nectar is poisonous to bees.

It is best to plant rhododendrons in the light shade of trees, although, in principle, they grow well in the open.

A favorable environment for rhododendrons is created by growing nearby coniferous plants, so the neighborhood with them is very good. If you plant rhododendrons in groups, both monophonic and differently colored, an amazing decorative effect is created. Good combinations of rhododendrons with, barberry,. In general, here you can rely on your imagination. I think that the effect will still be wonderful.

Growing rhododendrons and caring for plants

A distinctive feature of all rhododendrons is their slow growth, but it is offset by the fact that one hundred plants are very durable and have the property of for decades to maintain its decorative effect. The soil for their successful growth must be acidic, with a pH value of 4 - 5 (). Also, our soil should be loose, water and breathable, rich and nutritious. But in areas where water stagnates, rhododendrons will not grow, since stagnant water has a detrimental effect on them. Rhododendrons growing on peat soil feel great. They do not tolerate neutral and even more so soils with an alkaline environment, they do not like the presence of lime and chlorine in the soil.

Now a little about the root system of these plants: it is compact and shallow, so loosening should be carried out with great care, excluding digging the trunk circles. To protect the soil in the trunk circles from drying out, I mulch it with a layer of tree bark mixed with chopped peat. If possible, you can also use coniferous litter, which has an acidic reaction, which is what we actually need.

Planting and transplanting rhododendrons

I would like to note right away that these plants tolerate planting and transplanting well. It is best to hold this event in the spring. Make the depth of the pits for planting at least 50 centimeters, but the width must be made larger, about 70 - 80 centimeters. The soil mixture for planting must be specially prepared in advance. To do this, we need high-moor or sfang peat with low acidity. Just do not add lime to it. With this peat, you need to mix coniferous compost, soil litter from those places where pine grows. It is even better if you find a place in a pine forest where blueberries grow. In addition to these components, you can also add organic matter from manure or vegetable humus - 1 - 2 kilograms per pit and half a bucket of river sand. Of course, this composition can be simplified based on your capabilities, but, in my opinion, this composition of the soil mixture is ideal for planting rhododendrons.

The root neck when planting should be placed slightly above ground level. The soil located next to the root collar must be carefully compacted. Then we need to water our plant abundantly and mulch the soil with well-chopped bark, or peat, or fallen pine needles. A layer of mulch should be made about 5 - 6 centimeters. After 1 - 2 years, in the spring you need to add to the soil trunk circle a bucket of compost and peat or humus and peat, covering this bedding to a shallow depth. Oh, yes, you must first add dry mineral fertilizers to the bedding: potassium sulfate, superphosphate, ammonium sulfate. All these components should be taken in 1 tablespoon.

In open ground conditions, it is quite difficult to constantly maintain an acidic environment, but by following these steps, you can achieve this.

From the site of the required area, you need to select the earth to a depth of 40 centimeters. After that, pour on the bottom drainage layer from large pebbles about 15 centimeters high. Instead of pebbles, you can take broken brick or rubble. Next, you need to pour acidic soil on top of our drainage, consisting of a mixture of pine needles, rotted needles, crushed bark and peat. Then it is necessary to scatter mineral fertilizers on top: one tablespoon of potassium sulfate, urea or ammonium sulfate, and. Now all this must be mixed, leveled, watered and planted. With this method, the roots of rhododendrons are constantly in an acidic environment, and our favorite plants grow successfully and delight us with their flowering.

top dressing

Top dressing No. 1 is carried out in early May: one tablespoon of potassium sulfate and urea per ten liters of water. Consumption - three liters per bush.

Top dressing No. 2 is carried out at the end of May: one tablespoon of potassium sulfate and "agricola for flowering plants for ten liters of water. Consumption - four - five liters for each bush.

Top dressing No. 3 is carried out after the flowering of rhododendrons: one tablespoon of superphosphate and potassium sulfate per ten liters of water. Consumption - five liters per bush.

How to propagate rhododendrons by layering

Although the best way to propagate these plants is cuttings, which I will discuss below, there is also a way to propagate by layering. Let's talk a little about him.

On the branch that is closest to the soil surface, an incision should be made without splitting the branch to the end. So that our incision does not close, we must insert into him some small pebble or a small sliver. Now this branch must be bent to the ground, digging a small groove under the branch. We lower a part of the branch into the groove at the place of the cut, fix it with a wire or wooden hairpin, fill the groove with the branch with a loose soil mixture, but it is better to fill it with peat.

Closer to autumn, small roots should form in the section. In the spring of the next year, the rooted seedling can be carefully separated from the main (mother) plant.

Now about how to cover layering for the winter. It is better to do this with dry leaves and spruce branches. In the early years, these plants grow very, very slowly. They begin to bloom in the fifth or sixth year. In order for fragile young rhododendrons to grow better and form shoots, fading inflorescences should be regularly removed.

Well, now, as promised above, I will tell you how to propagate rhododendrons with cuttings.

The best time for cuttings is June - July.

thin sharp knife cut off the stalk about 10 - 15 centimeters long.
Remove the bottom leaves.
We place the cutting in a solution - a growth stimulator. For 10 liters, you need to take 2 tablets of the drug. The temperature of the solution should be 20 - 22 degrees. Soaking time - 20 hours.
Next, you need to plant our cuttings in a special soil substrate. On sale you can find ready substrate, which is called "Rhododendron land". If it is not possible to purchase such a substrate, then we ourselves prepare an “acidic” soil substrate, consisting of a mixture of coniferous soil, sand and peat.
From above you need to cover the cuttings with a film or glass. It is necessary to constantly moisten the substrate so that under the glass there is a special humid microclimate that contributes to the most rapid formation of roots. The temperature should also be constant, at least 25 - 27 degrees.

A well-developed root system is usually formed after two to three months.

Pink: Renata, Mark, Panenka

White: "Alena", "Jackson"

Golden and yellow:"Norm"

Purple and lilac: Boursault, Sapphire, Blue Pete

Reds: "Scarlet", "Elizabeth", "Albrecht"

That's all about growing rhododendrons in the garden. I hope that the article will be useful for you and help you grow beautiful plants. I welcome your comments, feedback, and additions. Don't forget to subscribe to site news Private house garden".

See you, friends!

The rhododendron plant is represented by a wide variety of species - it can be a shrub, a semi-shrub and even a tree. Their dimensions can be quite different: from small, creeping shrubs to tree-like varieties growing up to 30 meters in height. There are representatives with leaves falling for the winter and evergreen specimens. This genus also includes indoor azalea. The distribution area is also very extensive: from Asia to North America.

This plant belongs to the Heather family. The flowers that adorn the rhododendron shrub are tiny or very large, up to 20 cm in diameter. Color pleases with a variety of shades. Petals most often fold into a pipe, forming funnel-shaped flowers, collected in lush inflorescences. In beauty, they are not inferior to the queen of flowers - the rose. The leaves also vary greatly in shape and arrangement on the stem.

Types and varieties of culture

pink rhododendron tree

Pink rhododendron has incredible beauty: planting and caring for it does not cause any problems. This species has become one of the most favorite among gardeners. It is often referred to as rosewood, as it can reach two to three meters in height and is lavishly decorated with bright, pink-purple flowers that form beautiful inflorescences of 5-9 pieces that exude a wonderful aroma. It grows slowly, during the year the shoots grow only 5-8 cm. It sheds foliage for the winter, winters well, tolerates frosts down to -30 ° C.

Varieties of pink rhododendron

The beautiful pink-colored Amoena rhododendron, planting and caring for which will allow you to get a whole cloud of pink flowers, is characterized by the fact that it belongs to the evergreen varieties. An equally remarkable variety from this category is the Pierce American Beauty rhododendron: planting and caring for which does not differ from the standard approaches to keeping other members of the genus.

This shrub grows up to 1.8 m, and in breadth it will grow up to 3 meters. During flowering, it is covered with raspberry-pink balls of inflorescences, in which you can count up to 18 beautiful, bell-shaped flowers. The diameter of each of them is about 7 cm, in shape they resemble a wide funnel. The upper petals are decorated with dark brown dots. The bush blooms for a long time and plentifully, for 20 days delighting the soul with its magnificence.

Rules for planting rhododendron at their summer cottage

In order for the care of the rhododendron to give good results, it is necessary to approach the choice of a site for its placement with all responsibility.

Correctly carried out planting of rhododendron and caring for it in the future, in compliance with simple rules, will ensure lush bloom shrub. Russian climatic conditions not suitable for all types of plants. Therefore, you should choose cold-resistant varieties suitable for temperate latitudes. There are a great many of them, and some of them have been mentioned above.

Site selection and neighbors

It all starts with the selection of a site in the garden, where long years bushes will grow. Here you need to take into account several points. Firstly, the roots of the plant spread almost at the very surface of the earth. Therefore, the garden rhododendron is demanding of its neighbors: planting and caring for it include a mandatory item - a careful selection of the environment. It depends on this whether the shrub will develop normally, whether it will not burn out, as well as the quality of its flowering.

Which neighbors are best?

It is categorically contraindicated to plant rhododendron next to trees with superficial roots - spruce, linden. It is not recommended to place shrubs near birch, maple, aspen, chestnut. They will leave no chance for the rhododendron to get water and useful material in in full. It is best to plant it next to a pine or oak, as their rhizomes go deep underground. You can plant seedlings in the vicinity of fruit trees, but in such a way that they are not in constant shade from the crown.

Choosing a suitable site

Regarding the choice of site, it must be reliably protected from the wind and the scorching sun. It is advisable to protect the branches of the plant from the aggressive effects of sunlight in the summer at noon and daytime. You can plant a plant next to a fence or wall of a house facing north or northeast. No matter how strange it may seem, but it is these cardinal points - the best choice for rhododendron.

Why north or northeast?

The fact is that the plant has a property that everyone who is going to plant it needs to know about, so as not to ask later the question: why does the rhododendron not bloom, and its leaves burn? The bush forms buds in late summer and during autumn. They produce the most beautiful flowers in spring. During last days winters are the first spring days the kidneys under the influence of the bright sun begin to actively lose moisture. With sunny February and March, they may become completely dehydrated.

Before the roots wake up (and this will happen no earlier than April), the embryos of future buds may completely lose their ability to bloom. For the same reason, the foliage burns. Therefore, it is very important to protect the shrub from the early, active exposure to the sun's rays in the spring. Otherwise, it will be possible not to wait for flowering from the bush, or it will bloom its flowers - bluebells only on the north side.

Planting rules

It is best to plant rhododendrons in the spring. The root system of the bush does not differ in large dimensions, so it will be necessary to prepare a hole for it, 0.5 m deep, with a diameter of 0.7-0.8 m. If it is planned to plant several bushes, then, depending on the variety, it is necessary to leave a distance of 0.8-2m so that the plants do not overlap each other with a crown in the future.

Plants of this genus love watering, but do not live in permanently waterlogged soil. This must be taken into account and lay out drainage at the bottom of the dug hole. Its layer should be about 18 cm. After that, the soil is laid, consisting of peat, deciduous forest land and coniferous litter. All components are taken in a ratio of 2:3:1 and thoroughly mixed. A bush is planted in the prepared hole. Its neck should not go deep into the ground, it should rise a few centimeters above the ground level. The soil surrounding the planted bush needs to be pressed down a little and watered thoroughly.

Features of care in the open field

It will not require a lot of work and effort from the gardener rhododendron: planting and care in open field involves a classic set of techniques.

The most important of them is top dressing, since the root system is very close to the soil surface and cannot get nutrients from the deep bowels of the earth. Ash should immediately be excluded from the list of suitable dressings for the plant. It lowers the acidity of the soil, due to which the foliage on the bushes may turn yellow. What is the best fertilizer for rhododendrons?

Regular plant nutrition

Speaking about how to feed the rhododendron, you should first of all pay attention to the not completely rotted coniferous land, similar to peat with the remains of needles. It will not only even out the acidity of the soil, give useful substances to the plant, but also act as a mulching agent. You can also use ordinary peat, which, like coniferous humus, must be laid out around the bush, trying not to sprinkle the rosette from which the branches grow. From industrial preparations, to feed the vital forces of the plant, Kemira-universal granular top dressing or any liquid mineral fertilizers suitable for this species are used.

Rules for watering and irrigating crops

The plant loves watering, it is especially important to ensure that the soil around the bush does not dry out in the first year of life. Plain tap water not suitable for rhododendron. Its composition is too heavy for him. It is better to use rain or river water, as it is softer. From time to time, the irrigation liquid is acidified with the help of preparations that can be purchased at specialized stores. However, if top dressing is used, made specifically for rhododendrons, and constant mulching with coniferous humus is carried out, it is not necessary to acidify the soil.

Spraying and loosening the bush

Rhododendrons prefer moist air. It has been noticed that more lush inflorescences open where there are water bodies nearby. If such "natural moisturizers" are not available, then once every 7 days it is necessary to spray the plant. Water requirements remain the same as for irrigation. It is better to spray the plants in the morning or evening hours, when there is no scorching sun. The earth near the shrub does not loosen, because nearby, superficial roots can be damaged. It is better to carefully manually remove the weeds, so as not to hurt the root system of the shrub.

Propagation of a rhododendron plant

There are several ways to propagate rhododendron. Before propagating rhododendron, it is necessary to determine the purpose of breeding. If the grower plans to get a new plant that completely matches the original variety, then the bush should be propagated vegetatively using layering or cuttings. When breeding wild varieties of shrubs, you can use the seeds of the mother plant.

Breeding using seeds

In the spring, seeds are planted in separate containers or containers with soil. The soil is prepared from two components - peat and sand. They are taken in equal proportions. It is not necessary to deepen the seeds, they are simply scattered on the surface of the substrate and crushed with a small amount of river sand. Then the earth is watered in boxes. Tap water should be slightly acidified with oxalic acid. It is bred in a minimal amount - only 3-4 grams per ten-liter bucket. The boxes are wrapped in foil and placed in heat.

Seedling care in spring and summer

After 20 days - 1 month, the first shoots of seedlings will appear. The film is removed, and the boxes are placed in a cool room (t- + 8 ° С - + 12 ° С). Watering is done in pallets. When the soil mixture is completely saturated, the water from the pallets is drained. For the summer, containers with young seedlings are taken out to Fresh air by placing them out of direct sunlight. For the first time, seedlings dive in June. At the same time, they are placed, retreating 1.5 cm from the previous sprout.

Seedling care in winter

For the winter period, they are brought into the house and arrange wintering for them at t- + 18 ° С. At this time, they need supplementary lighting with fluorescent lamps. Light day for normal seedling growth lasts at least 16 hours a day. At the end of winter, the plants dive for the second time. Now the distance between the seedlings should expand to 3-4 cm. After three years, the shoots move to a permanent place of growth.

Cuttings of rhododendron at home

When cuttings, flowering will come already on next year. Cuttings are cut from stems that are half lignified. Their length is 5-8 cm, the lower edge is cut obliquely. The foliage located below is cut off, and 2-3 leaves on top are not removed. Seedlings are placed in containers with a mixture of sand and peat (equal proportions), or from three parts of sawdust of tree species and 1 part of river sand. At the same time, they are not buried directly, but at an angle, the angle of which should be within 30 ° C. The earth around them is a little tamped and a polyethylene shelter is built.

The temperature during rooting should be about +24 ° C. Do not forget about additional lighting and maintaining good humidity. Rooted cuttings are transplanted into boxes with a soil mixture of peat and coniferous litter (2: 1) and kept at a temperature of + 8 ° C - + 12 ° C until spring. 14 days after transplanting into boxes, they are fertilized with urea (solution concentration -2%). With the onset of stable spring heat, the finished seedlings are planted in the ground.

Indoor rhododendron: why is the azalea whimsical?

The azalea flower is sometimes called the indoor rhododendron: planting and caring for it at home often fails, as all the conditions necessary for it are not met. In most cases, it grows in mountainous areas, which determines its love for moist and cool air and acidic soil. In apartment conditions, it is difficult to find a room with t + 10 ° С -15 ° С, where azaleas will be comfortable. Besides being dry warm air destructive to the flower in itself, it also causes some diseases of the domestic rhododendron, such as, for example, spider mites. Therefore, choosing this capricious flower, you must immediately make sure that the plant lives "with convenience", otherwise all efforts will be reduced to zero.

clouds from flowering bushes delicate pastel and bright colors decorate any place, be it a park, alley, slopes alpine slides or garden in a private courtyard. The rhododendron plant belongs to the heather family and was first cultivated by English homeowners, some in deference to beautiful flower call it alpine rose.

Russia allowed itself to be decorated with an airy and cloudy flower only in the 18th century. The harsh climate of the country frightened off gardeners, but over time it became clear that the plant develops and grows without any problems if conditions are created for it to exist.

Decorative compositions from rhododendron

Group landings

To decorate recreation areas, parks, alleys, planting flowers in a group arrangement is suitable, spectacular plants emphasize the edges of paths, lawns. The flower loves wet places, so along the banks artificial reservoirs bred rhododendrons in the suburbs. Planting and care does not require much effort, and a majestic atmosphere appears in the park. The original enclosing borders are created by a mass of flowering plants.

While creating decorative groups do not mix evergreen bushes with colored specimens. In the center of the composition are tall plants, at the edges they are emphasized undersized species. A favorite technique of designers is the combination of conifers with bright rhododendrons. When decorating slides, hedges, they try to combine a variety of color shades similar in scale. Violet, pink and white colors beautifully shade each other. The arrangement of yellow, orange and red bushes next to each other, which perfectly complement the interior, creates a feeling of a bright holiday. Photos of rhododendron flowers are given below.

Single landings

Beautiful spreading bushes planted alone for lawn decoration or underlining tall tree. Such a luxurious bush looks great near a bench, table, gazebo, breath into the house. good design technique it is considered the cultivation of rhododendrons in separate large flowerpots or containers that move, as necessary, for decoration various parts yard or garden.

The most commonly grown varieties of compact bushes in separate pots, for example, the Cousin rhododendron and various evergreen species. Some varieties are bred for industrial pruning, cut branches are stored for 20 days without losing the decorative effect.

Some types of flowers are useful for the human body. These include types:

Dahurian;
Caucasian;
Golden;
Yellow;
Schlippenbach.

The high content of ascorbic acid in the leaves of rhododendron allows use decoctions of herbs to restore immunity. But the leaves of the plant are used with caution, as they contain toxic substances that are harmful to the human body. For the treatment of heart disease, vascular abnormalities, epilepsy, articular rheumatism, an infusion of a tablespoon of herbs in a glass of boiling water is prepared. This drug, with constant use, removes fluid from the body, normalizes the heartbeat, reduces shortness of breath, and helps to overcome the common cold.

Contraindications for taking the drug inside

There are some reasons for taking the drug the plant cannot be used for medicinal purposes:

the children's body does not tolerate drugs from the plant;
pregnant women react poorly to decoctions and infusions of the flower;
people suffering from kidney disease and having necrotic changes in body tissues are treated by other means.

Before using medicinal infusions from the herb of rhododendron, they consult a doctor for advice, even if the above deviations from the standard state are not visually detected.

Technology of growing rhododendron

Soil for planting

They start breeding a flower in the spring, early planting in the ground gives the plant time to adapt and root. If the variety has a closed root system, then the flower landing at a later time. To do this, prepare beds with acidic, loose soils rich in humus. As a substrate, a mixture of peat, leafy soil, fallen needles is used, mineral fertilizers are added. Photos of the plant can be viewed on the Internet.

The plant is planted in pits up to 70 cm wide to a depth of 40 cm. In heavy clay soils, the plant is buried less, by only 20 cm, while the pit expands to 1.2 m. Before that, the planting site is filled with peat or a substrate prepared in advance, the pH of which is 4.0-5.0. For cultivation, mixtures are recommended:

acidic peat, soil with needles and leaves, coastal sand in a ratio of 3:3:1;
sawdust, sour peat, river sand in solution 1:2:1;
acid peat, compacted needles, sawdust, river sand in a consistency of 2:1:1:1.

All mixtures are enriched with mineral fertilizer (170-220 g per cubic meter), sulfur is added to them in the amount of 50-60 years. If the acidity of the soil is insufficient, then it is acidified with undiluted sulfuric acid, which is added in an amount of 1 ml per 10 liters of water. Apply acetic, citric, oxalic and other acids (4 g per 10 liters of liquid).

As an oxidizing agent, the use of electrolyte from batteries is justified, which is added in an amount of 20 ml per 10 liters of water. The electrolyte, in addition to acid, contains sulfur, which further enriches the soil. Do not plant plants in pure peat or a mixture of peat and needles. This mixture is a poor conductor of moisture to the root system. Before planting in the soil, the lower part of the plant is placed in a vessel with water and wait until the air bubbles stop rising to the surface, after this procedure the bush is ready for planting.

Drop off location

Representatives of the varieties of Yellow, Japanese, Schlippenbach in the strong sun in the middle and southern areas burn, so they are covered with shields from the side of direct rays. Varieties that are resistant to heat, but afraid of the wind - Sticky, Pink and Canadian after summer, in early autumn, they must be protected by artificially constructed huts from penetrating currents of cold air. Optimal location for planting bushes plants are the northeastern and northern slope surfaces in Russia and Ukraine.

In northern conditions harsh winter planted frost-resistant plant varieties: Pointed, Ledebour, Daursky, Sikhotinsky, capable of enduring temperatures up to 40 degrees below zero without freezing.

It is impossible to have a rhododendron next to growing lindens, maples, chestnuts, birches, willows, such plantings adversely affect the development of flowers. These trees actively suck moisture out of the soil, the bush, without receiving enough moisture, will die. The neighborhood of coniferous plantations or fruit-bearing trees is optimal, but their crowns should not obscure the rhododendron.

Flowers grow well in moist soils, but excess moisture, for example, in swampy areas, is removed with drainage system. Bushes are planted on high beds if there is a threat of spring floods and partial flooding of the site. The elevation above the liquid level should be at least 15 cm, the edges of the beds are fixed with stones, among which flowering bushes look very picturesque.

Implementation of care

If the planting is technologically correct, then caring for the plant will not be difficult. The main one is ensuring proper watering. Soft water is used a large number dissolved salts. Removal of weeds around the bush is carried out carefully, they are pulled out. Loosening tools are not used so as not to damage nearby roots.

The bush is fed in May, June, solutions of liquid mineral fertilizers intended for this type of plant are used for irrigation. The use of the popular Kemira-universal top dressing is effective, the dry granules of which are placed under a bush. At the end of the feeding season, in the last decade of June, the plant is watered with a prepared solution of potassium sulfate. On a bucket of water at room temperature dissolve a tablespoon of fertilizer. This amount is enough to irrigate a square meter of planting area for young plants. Adult plants are watered with 2 tbsp dissolved in it. l. potassium sulfate. This completes the fertilization period.

Pruning a rhododendron to improve cultivation is optional, but it is done to create decorative form bush immediately after the start of flowering. In the first days of June, they get rid of unnecessary root processes and too elongated shoots; in the process of care, dried and damaged branches of the plant are cut off. decorative pruning bush delays the period of appearance of the first flowers, and somewhat slows down growth. Fast-growing species tolerate pruning best. faded buds plants are removed, keeping the axillary buds, the operation accelerates growth and preserves lush flowering in subsequent years.

Irrigation water quality

Natural wet conditions in the highlands indicate that the plant loves to spray the bush with leaves and flowers. Rhododendron should be watered carefully, but in moderation. Important role plays the acidity of irrigation water, which does not exceed the value of 4-5. Good for these purposes river water room temperature or collected moisture after rain. The use of artesian or tap fluid enriched with magnesium and calcium salts will gradually clog the soil, and the bushes will lose their attractive appearance.

In order for the rhododendron to develop and delight the eye with beautiful flowering, use acidified water for irrigation:

citric acid is diluted in an amount of 3-4 grams per 10 liters of water;
half a glass of vinegar is diluted in a bucket of water;

The intensity of watering is increased during the flowering period. In a dry autumn without rain, the plant is watered abundantly, which will be a decisive factor for a good wintering. In dry and hot summer weather, the rhododendron is sprayed with drip irrigation, trying not to let the sun's rays fall on the leaves at this time.

Highly unpretentious plant in terms of reproduction, it is performed by seeds, branches, grafting, division, cuttings. The seeds of the plant are sown on the surface of the soil, if it falls even a centimeter deep, the plant will not grow. Shoots appear on the bush in 12-20 days, which depends on the variety of seeds, which differ in different rates of rising and germination.

After the appearance of the shoots, the seedlings are transplanted into separate containers, drainage is performed to the root system for constant air access. Watering is carried out through a grid or by spraying, subsequently covering glass vessels to keep the soil moist room conditions. Glass caps are removed several times a day to prevent rotting. Containers with seedlings are placed in a bright place, but without scorching sunlight. During the period of the first year of growth, seedlings rise to 5 cm in height, some varieties give branching.

Long-awaited flowering starts 3-10 years after planting, the time of appearance of buds depends on the variety. If we talk about vegetative division, then flowering is observed already in the second - third year, the root system of the cuttings develops in 1.5-2 months. Rooting cuttings and active growth provided with proper watering, spraying, heating and care. Transplantation of developed cuttings is carried out in autumn period. Cuttings hibernate at room temperature about 5ºС, for example, in covered verandas or greenhouses.

In the spring they dive into the soil, using the land familiar to rhododendrons. Layering gives a small number of bushes, also a limited amount is obtained by dividing the bush. Therefore, if you want to decorate a large surface of a garden or park, then reproduction using seeds is preferable. After the plants have been grafted on the same bush, you can often see blooming flowers of different shades.

wintering plants

Some deciduous species of rhododendron classified as winter hardy and do not require additional shelter for the winter. Wrap only the neck of the bush. Evergreen rhododendrons cover, in winter they do not freeze as much as they dry out, therefore they require protection from wind and sun. Plants open after warming and thawing the soil.

Categories

Popular