An exotic guest for your dacha
Like a large proportion of lushly flowering crops, rhododendron is rarely found in Russian wildlife, but grows only around the observation of gardeners.
Some future get accustomed and feel amazing only in southern latitudes, therefore their frankness is allowed to grow in Crimea, Krasnodar Territory or for the Stavropol Territory. All sorts of varieties, for example, Daursky or Canadian, develop well in a temperate climate, so if you live in the suburbs, for the Urals, or even in the Siberian outback, the rhododendron can also decorate your dacha part with its beautiful flowering. In the literal translation from Latin,"rhododendron"means"rosewood"- and truly, with its external appearance, the plant very much recalls the rose, although it refers not to rosaceous, but to heather
With one of the species of rhododendron you, of course, are familiar - this is all popular home azalea, often decorating the windowsills of city apartments. It is distinguished by a lush bloom and a variety of colors.
Order and features of watering
The news of the rhododendron to moisture is very fascinating. On the one hand, it completely does not tolerate overmoistening, on the other hand it asks for unchanged spraying and watering with deliberately prepared water.
Again, during the choice of a place for the sake of planting, check whether the groundwater is not close to the surface. Lesson in the book, which is a large amount of water in the soil roots, a simple"drown"and the plant will die. That's why we need a discharge drain for the removal of excess water. It is mostly proud to perform the order of irrigation and atmospheric irrigation in the development of buds and flowering - the better the watering, the brighter and more splendid the inflorescence
Watering produces an accurate, acidifying water in advance - for this reason from 12-20 hours before watering in a container of water put 2-3 handfuls of sphagnum peat. It is better not to extract water from the tap, in the latter case, it must be protected. The best option is rain cooking. The regularity of watering depends on the state of the plant: how the leaves lost the glossy glow and changed the turgor - it's time to water.
If it's better to trim the plant
The representation is very conditional. Usually, the plant develops moderately and forms a good good bush of regular shape, therefore, lovers of lush flower beds do not need pruning. However, sometimes it is required to thin the bush, to perform it slightly below or to simply rejuvenate.
The pruning is carried out in the early spring, until the sap flow begins. Choose strong, thick branches with a diameter of 3-4 cm, neatly cut off the ends with garden scissors and process slices deliberately prepared garden gum or resin. Approximately through the moon, the renewal will be launched, continuing throughout the age - new shoots will shoot and the sleeping buds will begin to unfold. Special skill asks for pruning of frozen or old bushes: thick branches should be answered for a distance of 35-40 cm through the ground alternately in the course of 2 years: a share this year, the second - in the future
Rhododendrons are characterized by uneven flowering. If this year they have amused you separately with a wild color, then wait for more moderate results. So that this does not happen, wilted buds remove infestations after flowering, then the plant will have enough strength to type as many kidneys as possible and for the second year.
Defense through pests and diseases
Branched bushes with curdled leaves and an abundance of buds - a beautiful place of residence for insects, the wife of which is able to kill the beauty grown by you in the course of the fog of weeks, therefore, for the sake of protecting the shrubbery, you must take the system of measures.
Thick trunks and branches are a favorite place for shellfish. Slugs and snails are collected by hand. Beware of scabbards, bedbugs, spider mites, rhododendron flies, mealy worms. Trunks and branches are treated with an 8 per cent fungicide"Tiram","Carbophos"helps. It is more difficult therefore bugs, ticks, and mostly - weevil, for the sake of disposal through which diazonin is used. Remember, in order to always leave with a harmful guest, not only the plant itself, but also the high level of earth near it must process
Together with insect pests, rhododendrons are threatened with fungal diseases - rust, chlorosis, spotting. The root cause lies in the insufficient aeration and non-compliance with the irrigation regime. Yellowness, which appeared as a result of the disease with chlorosis, is cured with the iron chelate substance. If there is rottenness, the affected shoots should be answered all. For the sake of prevention, seasonal treatment with Bordeaux fluid is carried out in late autumn or early April.
Feeding and selection of fertilizers
The rhododendrons should be fed from planting and during only the flowering period. For the sake of preserving the principle for the culture of an acidic environment, superphosphate, potassium sulfate, potassium nitrate, magnesium sulfate or calcium, ammonium, but in low concentration, are used. Early spring fertilizing is made of fertilizers containing nitrogen (for 1 cubic meter of water 40-50 g of magnesium sulphate or ammonium), it is vital and in the interval after flowering. In July, the fertilizer dose should be lowered before 20 g.