Rhododendron adams planting and care in the open field in the suburbs

Once having seen this luxurious flower, almost everyone wants to grow it in their front garden. However, it is not at all easy to settle an exotic inhabitant in the suburbs. Accustomed to tropical conditions, rhododendron has low frost resistance and may not take root in the harsh conditions of central Russia. And some types of rhododendron have beneficial properties. How to plant and then care for a plant near Moscow - we will tell you in this article.

Rhododendrons in the Moscow region: is it possible?

At the moment, breeders have bred many varieties of rhododendrons that are able to withstand both winter temperature drops and high humidity. Observing some rules, you can admire the views of a beautiful flower from your window, even in the Moscow region, even in the Leningrad region.

Open ground planting technique

In order for a rhododendron to feel good, it is necessary to thoroughly prepare for its planting. The optimal month for planting a rodendron is April. Closed-rooted flowers can be replanted from mid-spring to autumn.

Flowering rhododendron

1. Seat selection

It all starts with determining the permanent residence of the rhododendron. This is an important point, since the plant will die if the conditions close to its native habitat are not met. Most of all, it prefers places where it is observed:

• lack of wind and drafts;
• shading from sunlight;
• elevation (for water drainage).

It is preferable to plant from the northeastern side of the house - this will provide the necessary protection. In lowlands with the presence of stagnant moisture, the plant begins to wither and gradually dies. When planting in open ground in the fall, it is better to cover new seedlings so that they do not freeze in winter.

2. The soil

Rhododendrons are demanding on the soil. Land for planting should be acidic. It is also desirable to have peat in it.

If the soil does not correspond to the recommended one, then you need to change it. To do this, a mixture consisting of peat, leafy earth (or sawdust) and river sand is added to the pit prepared for planting. Sulfur is added to it to acidify the soil and complex fertilizers.

3. Planting process

Before planting, it is required to thoroughly water the seedling, so that he is nourished with water.

The flower has a compact root system, so you should not dig a hole too deep. Optimum depth: no more than 40 cm. The diameter is slightly larger: about half a meter.

Alley decorated with rhododendron bloom

Further, it is necessary to fill it with a substrate (the composition of which is described above) and tamp it. Then dig a small hole again and place the rhododendron roots in it.

The root collar of the plant must not be buried. On the contrary, it will be better if it is slightly raised above the ground.

Caring for a new resident

For this exotic plant, soil moisture is very important, but waterlogging should not be allowed. The optimal amount of water for each bush is at least one and a half liters, and in hot weather, frequent spraying of the leaves is recommended. By the end of summer, watering is sharply reduced so that the rhododendron begins to prepare for winter rest.

The root system of the flower may suffer from lack of air, so it is necessary to periodically loosen the ground around the plant. This should be done with caution, since roots located near the surface can be affected.

Three dressings are enough for the rhododendron per season:

• the first is carried out in early spring, as soon as the snow melts;
• the second - immediately after flowering;
• the third, final top dressing - at the beginning of August.

No pruning required for the plant... The only thing that should be removed is dried inflorescences.

If the sun's rays touch the flower, then it should be covered with any matter.

Preparing a shelter for the winter

Some types of rhododendrons are able to withstand temperatures as low as -30 °. For example, deciduous varieties survive the winter without shelter. Before a cold snap, they need to be prepared: tilt to the ground and fix in such a position that after a snowfall the flower is under a snowdrift.

Rhododendron flower close up

Those gardeners who do not want to risk such a gorgeous flower first tie it with straw or hide it under a film. This creates a kind of wind protection. From above, the rhododendron is covered with spruce branches or matting.

Before wintering, the plant should be recharged with moisture by pouring at least 20 liters of water under each bush.

Popular varieties of rhododendrons for the Moscow region

1. Daurian rhododendron or Ledum

Shrub with a spreading crown. It can grow from one to two meters in height. It blooms from the third decade of April to the end of May. The flowers are pink. Life expectancy is half a century. Withstands severe frosts, but dies from frequent thaws.

2. Azalea Pontic

Poisonous shrub, reaching a height of two to four meters. The crown diameter is two meters. Flowering lasts a month: from May to June. The flowers are yellow, forming inflorescences. Lives over 60 years. Able to survive the winter without shelter.

3. Rhododendron Ledebour

Semi-evergreen shrub that grows up to one and a half meters. For the winter, the leaves curl, and in the spring they open, but after a while they fall off. Blooms in late spring for a month. The flowers are pink-lilac with a scent of resin.

4. Rhododendron Schlippenbach or Royal Azalea

One of the most beautiful views. The shrub forms a tree shape, 1.5 meters high. Possesses high frost resistance. Flowers of pale pink color appear before foliage. Blooms from late April to early summer.

5. Rhododendron Adams

An evergreen shrub with medicinal properties. Height is a maximum of 25 centimeters. The flowers are white, with a pink tint, collected in inflorescences. The flowering period lasts all summer. Winter hardy, but during severe frosts it is recommended to cover.

Rhododendrons are able to captivate any grower with their beauty. These exotic plants require special care, but the result exceeds all expectations. And even in the unusual climate of the Moscow region, you can grow these stunning flowers, putting a piece of your soul into taking care of them.

Ornamental flowering shrubs are ideal for decorating your garden. With the help of luxurious shoots, it is possible to hide not the most beautiful corners of the garden or to decorate the front of the house.Summer residents or owners of household plots in the southern regions can safely plant shrubs, spending a minimum of effort on caring for them. However, planting and caring for rhododendrons in the Moscow region has a number of its own characteristics.

The nuances of growing rhododendrons in the Moscow region

Growing rosewood in the Middle Lane has a number of subtleties. There are a large number of species in culture, but not all of them can withstand the harsh climate of the Moscow region - significant changes in daily and seasonal temperatures, uneven precipitation, return frosts in spring and early onset of cold weather in autumn. In the zone of risky agriculture, to which the Moscow region is attributed due to climatic features, a competent approach to plant cultivation is required, starting with the correct selection of seedlings of an Asian representative.

Suitable species and varieties of plants

The most commonly used species in temperate continental climates are the hardy rhododendrons, but this is not the only characteristic to choose from.

Rhododendron Ledebour

He is a maral - a semi-evergreen shrub, the height of which ranges from half a meter to two. Small glossy leaves, covered with a forest edge, winter on the shoots, and are renewed after flowering, which occurs twice during the growing season - in May and September. Asymmetric bell-shaped flowers of pink color are collected in racemose inflorescences. The species withstands lowering the thermometer to -32⁰C.

Rhododendron Daursky

It is known as wild rosemary and looks very similar to the previous species, but the foliage falls off after the arrival of autumn. Most attractive from mid-spring to mid-summer. The flowering phase lasts 20 days, when the pink bell-shaped flowers with a purple tint bloom. The botanical species is much more resistant to frost than cultivars.

Rhododendron Katevbinsky

The height of the species with an average duration of 100 years can reach 4 m. Large shiny leaves up to 15 cm in length, painted in a dark green color with prominent veins and a pale underside, have an elliptical shape. It blooms in late spring or early summer with white or lilac flowers, sometimes interspersed with green. The most popular varieties are Album, Boursault, Grandiflorum, Nova Zembla, Alfred.

Rhododendron Smirnov

An evergreen shrub 1.5 m tall, native to Turkey. Large oblong elliptical plates reach 15 cm in length and 4 cm in width.Purple-pink petals of flowers, collected in a dense inflorescence, are strewn with yellow specks. On the basis of the variety, cold-resistant varieties were bred: "Dorothy", "Laika", "Gabriel".

Rhododendron Kashkar

A slow-growing inhabitant of Siberia and the Far East, half a meter high, is able to form impassable thickets. The evergreen foliage is very dense. Yellow flowers, collected in umbellate inflorescences, are observed at the beginning of the summer season. Resistant to frost at -26⁰C.

Important! In gardens and flower beds, the species takes root very poorly.

Rhododendron Schlippenbach

A beautiful deciduous variety with spreading shoots up to 2 m high, covered with small leaf plates and large flowers 8 cm high. Fragrant pink or white flowers form inflorescences in early May.

Rhododendron canadian

A low-growing bush, not exceeding a meter, is a native of the North American region. Medium-sized greenish-blue leaves densely cover the shoots. Odorless pink-purple flowers are collected in corymbose inflorescences.

Japanese rhododendron

The Asian representative is used in Central Russia as the most decorative species, combining unpretentiousness and frost resistance. As a rule, it reaches one and a half meters in height and is distinguished by exuberant flowering from the end of spring, which lasts for a month. Bell-shaped corollas of red flowers with yellow blotches are collected in lush inflorescences.

Short-fruited rhododendron

An evergreen shrub from Asia has the highest height of 6 m and large leathery leaf plates. The shield-shaped inflorescences consist of 15 pink or white flowers. Flowering occurs in July after the plant reaches the age of 18-20 years.

Landing in open ground

To grow a rose tree and get bright flowers and its natural attractiveness, you will need to make an effort to properly organize the planting, choosing the right place.

Preparing the site and soil for planting

To minimize the stress of the plant, the location for the exotic representative is chosen taking into account its natural growing environment.

Characteristics of the optimal plant location:

• A northbound plot in shade during the day.
• Lack of buildings from the roofs of which snow can fall on the plant.
• Deep bedding of groundwater.
• Lack of drafts, which can cause a minimum amount of snow cover, which acts as a protection against frost.

Under natural conditions, rhododendrons often develop in the shade of trees, which makes it possible to plant a plant by analogy in the garden. But neighboring trees must have a tap root system that goes deep into the depths - pine, apple, larch, pear, cherry, oak. If there is a birch, linden or alder nearby with a fibrous root system located at the same level as that of a rose tree, this can lead to the death of both plants due to a lack of nutrition and space.

To ensure normal growth, the shrub requires an acidity of 4.5-5.5. In the case of lower acidity, a loose and light substrate of loam, sour peat and pine litter in equal parts is used for planting.

Attention! When replacing loam with clay, components such as humus, manure, sawdust, ash and black soil are added to the soil mixture.

How and when to plant a rhododendron correctly?

Landing will take place without difficulty if you use the following algorithm:

• On the prepared site, a 60x60 landing pit is dug with a depth of 40 cm.
• The bottom is lined with a drainage layer of 20 cm from broken brick or expanded clay.
• Part of the pit is filled with a substrate so that the root collar is at ground level.
• A seedling with straightened roots is placed on the compacted soil mixture.
• The well is completely covered with a substrate, which is compacted at the end.
• The near-trunk zone is abundantly watered and mulched with peat, needles or leafy soil.
• If necessary, a temporary support is installed.

Important! Rhododendron planting is carried out during the entire growing season, except for the flowering phase. But early spring is the optimal time.

Care in the suburbs

When planting a rose tree in compliance with agrotechnical requirements, care will not take much time and effort.

Watering

Exotic shrubs require frequent, but not abundant watering with settled water, to soften which several handfuls of peat are added a day before the procedure. The soil should be saturated with water by 25 cm. The lack of moisture leads to oppression of the plant, in which drooping foliage is observed, losing its luster. With the arrival of autumn, watering is minimized so that the bush stops active growth and begins to prepare for wintering.

Attention! In the conditions of the Moscow region, a dry autumn is possible, in which watering is carried out in small portions.

Top dressing

Top dressing of the rosewood is carried out until the end of June twice a month. The shrub is fertilized with mineral complexes purchased in specialized stores according to the instructions, on the package, or with superphosphate and nitroammophos with an application rate of 50 g per 1 m2.

Important! Fertilization is not allowed from the beginning of July, otherwise the plant will grow green mass instead of preparing for winter.

How to prune a rhododendron?

The rhododendron practically does not need pruning, forming the correct crown on its own.The plant is pruned for sanitary and anti-aging purposes before the juice begins to move: damaged shoots are removed and half of the branches are shortened to rejuvenate up to 40 cm.If you want to have a shrub with a more compact crown, a corrective haircut is carried out after flowering.

Features of care in the fall, preparation for winter

Caring for rhododendron in the fall consists in carrying out measures to protect the shoots from freezing during severe frosts. When the first frosts pass, the branches, between which the spruce branches are placed, are pulled together with twine. The shrub is wrapped in a covering material that is removed in spring after the snow melts.

Diseases and pests

The crop is considered resistant to diseases, among which rot and spotting are the most common. To combat such fungal diseases, treatment with Bordeaux liquid or other copper-containing preparation is carried out. Of the pests on the rhododendron, there are aphids, spider mites, slugs, and scale insects. As a protective measure, spraying with an insecticide "Actellik", "Confidor" or another analogue is organized according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Plant propagation

Growing rhododendrons is possible both from seeds and using a vegetative propagation method.

• Seed method. In the conditions of severe winters, the generative breeding method is laborious, unproductive and rarely used.
• Cuttings. It is also a rather complicated technique, in which the rooting of cuttings cut from semi-lignified shoots occurs within 4 months in a greenhouse. In open ground, seedlings obtained in this way are planted only after 2 years.
• Reproduction by layering. Ideal for rosewood. With the arrival of spring, young shoots are buried in grooves up to 15 cm deep, and the top is tied vertically. In the fall or next spring, the layers are separated and transplanted to a permanent place.

So, subject to agrotechnical measures for planting and care, an exotic shrub is able to fully develop in the climatic conditions of the Moscow region and give a lot of positive to its owners.

Read the content of the article!

Rhododendron: photo, varieties, description, planting and care. In order for a rhododendron to grow beautiful, planting and care must be followed exactly with the requirements that it needs. Such a flower has a fairly wide genus, which includes a deciduous, evergreen, semi-evergreen species, and even trees are found, not shrubs.

An amazing picture of the flowering of the rhododendron bush in early spring.

Rhododendron was brought to us from the Northern Hemisphere. It is in the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, Japan (Japanese rhododendron) and North America that this plant grows perfectly, since all climatic conditions are acceptable for it. Now the flower rhododendron can be found even in the Leningrad region, since it is not as whimsical as it might seem at first glance. The main thing is to choose the right plant for yourself and know how to care for it.

Rhododendron: plant varieties

This plant has more than 18 species that have managed to take root in our country. Some of them look like neat bushes that will decorate any room, while others have more weighty dimensions, which means that growing them will require open space.

Let's get acquainted with the variety of rhododendron, which can be represented by the following species:

• Daurian rhododendron.

This type can reach heights of up to 2 m, has short leaves and a May flowering time. Rhododendron Daurian has a sedative effect on the central nervous system and stimulates cardiac activity if infused from it. Suitable for planting in a garden or greenhouse.

Blooming wild rosemary in the Transbaikal taiga. For Transbaikalia, this amazingly beautiful shrub is a symbol of the region.

• Rhododendron Adams.

This type has a strawberry aroma that even persists after the leaves are cut and dried. That's why rhododendron Adams is actively used in the form of herbal soothing teas, and young shoots are considered an excellent remedy in the fight against cholera, diphtheria and streptococci.

The beginning of flowering of Adams' rhododendron.

• Caucasian rhododendron.

This type of plant is not just a decorative garden decoration, but also a source of nutrients. Rhododendron Caucasian perfectly saves from rheumatism of various forms, in addition, it has a therapeutic effect on the respiratory system for colds.

Caucasian rhododendron on the slopes of the mountains.

• Rhododendron is deciduous.

This plant is an excellent solution for garden decoration, as it has a lush bloom.... Planting and caring for a flower in the open field is not difficult.

Japanese rhododendron shrub with delicate cream flowers. The shrub reaches a height of 0.5 - 1 meter.

• Indoor rhododendron.

This flower must be planted in pots with a wide diameter, as it has a fairly wide root system. In the summer, and in warm autumn, this plant should be removed in the shade, but do not forget to regularly spray its leaves and fertilize the soil.

And this is not the whole list of these plants that can be planted in our latitudes, even in the Moscow region, planting and care will not require a scrupulous approach. Either rhododendron Adams, or any aspiring gardener, can handle such a task. The only thing worth mentioning is the different flowering times. Therefore, in order for the garden to look gorgeous at any time of the year, whether in autumn or summer, it is worth taking a closer look at the flowering time of rhododendron for better care.

Indoor rhododendron.

Choosing a landing site

Let us dwell in more detail on plants that grow in gardens, for example, Daurian or Caucasian rhododendron. Such a flower requires not only acidic soil, but also a place that will receive a minimum of direct sunlight. Besides the flower rhododendron afraid of strong drafts, so this moment is also worth taking care of. In nature, it grows in the shade of large trees, therefore, if there are pines or dense spruces on the site, then it is best to plant there rhododendron Japanese, or another of its varieties. Also, one of the important points is the absence of stagnant water.

When planting a plant on your site, it is worth asking about how much sun it needs. If it is an evergreen flowering type, then it should be located as much as possible in the shade. Otherwise, it simply will not bloom.

Useful advice! The best option for a shrub would be to grow it near a natural or artificial reservoir.

In this case, the air will constantly have optimal moisture content.

In fact, any flower, be it rhododendron Adams, or the deciduous type, require certain rules. But as is clear from all of the above, there is no particular difficulty in their implementation.

How to plant a plant?

For those who decided to add a new flavor to their garden, for example, rhododendron Daurian, it is worth knowing how this bush is grown correctly. It has its own characteristics and rules of care. But let's start with the correct fit:

1. Japanese rhododendron is best planted in the spring.
2. This will allow the shrub to quickly get used to the new conditions, and its roots will adhere well to the new soil. But if the plant is chosen with a closed type of system, then the planting time can be chosen later.
3. In nature, this flower grows in soil that is rich in humus, loose, acidic, and even the Caucasian rhododendron finds just such conditions.
4. Accordingly, before placing the seedling in the ground, prepare a substrate in which leafy soil, litter of conifers, peat and, of course, fertilizers should be present.
5. The root system of these plants is quite sensitive, therefore, as soon as the bush is planted, mulching material is strewn around it.

For such purposes, pine bark and coniferous litter are considered the best options. The layer should be equal to 5 cm, but not less.

In order for the cultivation of rhododendron to be successful, you also need to know the rules for caring for such a plant. And there are not so many of them, and they are not so complicated:

1. In the summer, it is required to devote constant time to soil moisture. But it is important not to overdo it here, since the plant will rot from excess moisture.
2. If this is a Caucasian rhododendron, then air humidity is very important for it. Therefore, it must be constantly sprayed, and not only the leaves, but also the flowers when they appear.
3. River or rainwater is used for irrigation. If you use ordinary tap water or an artesian well, then you should be prepared for the fact that the bush does not bloom. This is due to the fact that such a liquid contains too high a concentration of calcium and magnesium, which makes the soil saline.
4. When wilted inflorescences begin to appear on the plant, they must be broken off in such a way that the axillary buds are preserved. This is the only way to improve the splendor of flowering next year.

All these moments allow you to create incredible beauty in the garden. The only thing worth speaking about is the region. For example, if rhododendrons are in the suburbs, planting, or rather, the place for planting should be chosen from such a position that a minimum of sunlight falls on the flower. And if this is an area of ​​St. Petersburg, then there should be no problems with humidity. Therefore, in order not to blunder, even at the time of purchase it is worth choosing a bush not for decorative flowering, but according to its requirements for climatic conditions.

Wintering plants

Winters in our region are not always pleasant and mild, so your garden needs to ensure proper wintering. But it all depends on what kind of plant grows on the site:

1. If they are deciduous plants, then they do not require shelter. The maximum that is required here is to sprinkle the planting sites with dry leaves.
2. For evergreen species, shelter will be needed, but not so much for protection from frost, as so that they do not dry out.
3. If the temperature outside, for example in autumn, does not drop below 10 ° C, then rhododendron Japanese, or other, you do not need to cover, since they are quite resistant to such frosts. The most optimal shelter time is November.

As for the opening of the plant, it is best done by the end of March-early April, so that the roots have time to gradually adapt to the warming soil.

All these moments will help to decorate the garden with an unforgettable color, while, if there is a desire to diversify the site, you can think about how the rhododendron transplant is carried out, because it reproduces by cuttings. This means, after a certain time, whole living walls can be created from one bush.

Flowering of rhododendrons in the Moscow region. Video

In landscape design, at the peak of popularity, ornamental shrubs blooming with lush inflorescences. The most interesting thing is that a beginner grower is quite capable of growing such a riot of colors. To do this, it is enough to know the basic rules of planting and caring for plants.

Rhododendron fully belongs to the number of unpretentious in care and outwardly attractive bushes. Planting and care in the open field of this plant will be described in detail in the material below.

Description of the plant and photo

Rhododendron is a plant of the Heather family, while garden plants can be both lush shrubs several meters in height, and undersized bushes creeping along the ground. Grow rhododendron can be found in temperate latitudes, since in nature the plant grows in forests, swamps and even the tundra.The name of the flower was given by two Greek roots - a tree and a rose, so the literal translation sounds like "rose tree". Indeed, the flowering shrub is covered with amazingly beautiful pink buds that resemble a rose.

Distinctive signs the plants are as follows:

• The root system is fibrous, located in the upper layers of the soil, which is important to consider when caring for the plant.
• Shoots are pubescent or smooth.
• Leaves can be elongated or ovoid, without or with a petiole. It all depends on the type and variety.
• Inflorescence brush or scutellum.
• The size of the flower can be either small (5 cm) or large (20 cm or more).
• The shape of the flower is an irregular bell with elongated stamens.
• The color of the corolla may vary depending on the variety: pink, purple, yellow, red.
• The fruit is a capsule with a lot of seeds.

Flowering begins in the first weeks of spring and, in many species, continues until frost.

Varieties and types of rhododendrons

It is customary to divide all types of rhododendrons into 3 categories.

Evergreen... They are characterized by the following features:

• foliage is not shed even in winter;
• dark green leaves;
• large flowers.

For such plants, the optimal soil is drained, saturated with peat, and it is best to plant them in shaded areas. For such plants it is better to prepare a shelter for the winter.

Semi-deciduous... By winter, most of the foliage of these shrubs falls off, only whorls remain.

Deciduous... In winter, foliage is completely shed and hibernated like that. They are frost-resistant and do not need shelter for the winter.

The species diversity of rhododendrons is amazing. We list only the most popular types of this plant, which have earned the love and admiration of flower growers:

• Daursky... It is an evergreen shrub with a height of 2 meters. You can recognize the plant by such external signs: branches are directed upwards, small glossy leaves, large flowers (from 4 cm in diameter) of a violet-purple tone. Often, with good care, the variety blooms twice a year. It tolerates winter frosts well, and propagation by cuttings will not cause difficulties even for a novice gardener.
• Japanese... As the name suggests, this flower is native to Japan. This is a very beautiful variety, characterized by bright red saturated flowers more than 8 cm in diameter. The bush itself reaches a height of 2 m, has slightly pubescent green leaves.
• Adams... It is a low-growing evergreen shrub with oval leaves and spreading branches. It differs in small flowers, but they are collected in lush inflorescences, which makes the flowering plant look elegant.
• Pink... Belongs to the deciduous group, the height of a compact shrub often reaches 3 meters. It begins to bloom in May, blooming with bright pink flowers.
• Caucasian... It is an evergreen plant of low height with oblong leaves. The flowers are bell-shaped, smell delicious, the color palette is very diverse: yellow, pink and purple flowers will delight the eye. And some varieties have unusual blotches, which is why they blow up quite brightly and exotic.

Hybrid plants are also of particular interest. They were bred artificially, so they often have very beautiful large inflorescences of unusual shades:

• Blue Peter. Large blue corrugated flowers of this variety will become a real decoration of any garden area.
• Alfred. An unusual variety, the owner of pink flowers with soft light green intersperses.
• Rose Marie. A plant with pale pink inflorescences.

The breeders managed to breed several varieties that are highly frost-resistant and survive well even the most severe frosts. Winter-hardy includes such varieties:

• Nova Zembla (ruby inflorescences).
• Grandiflorum (lilac flowers).
• Caractacus (corrugated flowers are colored deep pink).
• The Hague (compact shrub with pink flowers).
• Pohjola's daughter (undersized bush with lush purple inflorescences).

These varieties are able to withstand frosts down to -30 ° C without any problems and hibernate without any additional insulation.

Rhododendrons in the Moscow region: planting and care

Planting a plant

Planting is most often done in the spring. This helps protect the plant from frost, although in some cases planting in the fall is also possible.

For a rhododendron, you should choose a bright, slightly shaded place, since the plant does not like both the rays of the sun and the shade. Therefore, the best option for him is the north side of the site. It is better to pick up the soil well-drained, light, acidic, rich in peat. The shrub will grow poorly in neutral or alkaline soil, as well as in heavy clay substrates.

The planting hole should be shallow but wide. Optimal dimensions:

• 60 cm deep;
• 40 cm wide.

A drainage mixture of crushed stone and pebbles is laid at the bottom of the hole (you can also use small pieces of slate). Then the hole is sprinkled with peat and loam, the mixture is compacted. The seedling is placed in a hole, covered with soil, while the root collar should be on the surface. The soil after planting is compacted, the plant is watered. A young plant should be well monitored, sheltered from the rays of the sun and sprinkled daily. As you can see, planting a rhododendron is not difficult at all.

Watering

Plants belong to hygrophilous, but excess moisture is harmful to them. It is better to water the rhododendrons with settled acidified water, which is easy to do: for this, peat is placed in a container with liquid and left for a day. To retain moisture, the soil can be mulched.

Loosening the soil

The roots of the plant are located almost at the very surface, which is why you should be extremely careful to loosen the soil and remove weeds.

Top dressing

For feeding shrubs, they are best suited fertilizerskeeping the soil acidic:

• potassium nitrate and sulphate;
• superphosphate;
• ammonium;
• magnesium sulfate.

Organic fertilizers can also be used. This is primarily rotted cow dung diluted with water in a ratio of 1:15. Ash cannot be used for feeding, since it reduces the acidity of the soil.

For lush flowering, plants should be fed 2-3 times a season.

Pruning

This procedure is carried out only if the bush has an irregular shape, has grown too large, and has dry branches. Pruning is carried out in the spring.

Rhododendron: shelter for the winter

The bush should be covered in late autumn, for this it is wrapped film, burlap or roofing felt. Low-growing plants can be covered with coniferous branches or dry foliage. It is very important to cover the evergreen rhododendrons. Caring for these plants in the fall means, first of all, preparing for winter.

In spring, the material is harvested, but it is very important to wait until the end of the frost.

Reproduction

There are several ways to breed a rhododendron:

• seeds;
• cuttings;
• dividing the bush;
• layering;
• vaccinations.

Let's consider each method in detail.

Seed propagation

This is a rather lengthy method and requires some experience to implement it. It should be preliminarily to prepare seed by soaking the seeds in water for 24 hours. Planting in containers begins at the very beginning of spring, it is better to use fertile soil, peaty-earthy with the addition of sand. Seeds are placed on the surface of the soil; it is not required to bury them in the ground.

After planting, the seeds are covered with glass or a thick film to form a greenhouse effect. Every day, the seedlings should be ventilated and the condition of the soil should be monitored - it should be moistened all the time, therefore, when it dries, you should carefully spray the ground with a spray bottle. The container with seedlings should spend at least half a day under the light, so if daylight does not allow this to be achieved, you will have to use fluorescent lamps.

Seedlings can be observed after 18-20 days. After 30 days, when the seedlings have grown, they are dived and transplanted into separate containers. Transplanting into open ground is possible only next year in the spring, so in the summer you can take flower pots to the balcony or outside. It is necessary to expect flowering from a plant planted with seeds after 5 years.

Cuttings

Shoots 10 cm long are carefully cut, the cut should be oblique. Experts recommend using apical shoots as cuttings. Next, the shoots are placed in a solution that stimulates root growth for half a day, then planted in soil, which is a mixture of peat and soil. From above, to maintain the temperature, the cuttings are covered with jars.

Now you need to wait from 3 to 5 months, by this time at various varieties, roots appear, after which the shoots can be planted in pots for growing. The room temperature should be reduced to 10 ° C. Spring is the time for planting plants in the ground. This is done together with the containers. After a few years (the period also depends on the variety), the plant is transplanted to a permanent place.

Layers

This is the easiest way to propagate a shrub, which even a beginner can handle. In the spring, the lower process of the shrub is selected, under which a small groove is pulled out into which the selected branch is placed. To make rooting faster, the layers are pinned with a staple or wire, sprinkled with earth on top, except for the top. It should be tied to a peg.

It is important not to forget about regular watering layering. In this case, by the fall, it will take root. After that, the young plant should be separated from the mother bush and transplanted to the chosen place. If the layering remains to winter, cover it with dry leaves or spruce branches.

Dividing a bush with a root system is practiced in the fall or spring. Reproduction by grafting is a difficult way to implement. It is used only by experienced growers for varieties that have a slow growth rate.

Rhododendron is a real decoration of any garden. This is an unpretentious plant to care for, which will delight its owner with stunningly beautiful lush inflorescences and a real riot of colors. The plant can also be used in landscape design, creating exquisite compositions.