This plant of the heather family, a genus of rhododendrons, is also called Dahurian azalea, but even more often - wild rosemary, thus, which "somewhere on the hills blooms," exactly where "cedars pierce the sky."
However, wild rosemary Daurian rhododendron not related: except that a similar form of leathery leaves could lead to such a "popular" name.
This plant is found on rubble, stony placers and rocks to the east of the Altai. His homeland - Siberia, Transbaikalia, Far East.
Long flowering begins in April and may continue until the first decade of June. Flowers located at the ends of the branches have a funnel-bell-shaped form, characteristic of rhododendrons-azaleas, and very bright, saturated lilac-pink color. Occasionally in nature there are instances. with white flowers, and a hybrid variety of such April Snow ("April Snow") is bred in culture.
The original source itself, with a lilac-pink bloom, is Daurian rhododendron. In landscape gardening conditions, its flowers became lush, in the upper part of the shoots umbellate, corymbose inflorescences formed.
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Planting and care in garden culture
The choice of location. Rhododendron feels good in the middle zone and more northern areas. Requires a shaded place.
Landing time. The best time for planting - spring time, before flowering.
The soil. The main requirements for the composition of the soil: good air and moisture permeability, sufficient nutritional value, acid reaction.
To provide such characteristics, peat, composted needles and coarse river sand are mixed in equal quantities.
Landing. At the bottom of the landing pit have a fifteen-centimeter drainage layer (crushed stone, small pebbles, brick battle).
Then, filling the pit with the prepared soil mixture, place the plant, making sure that its root neck protrudes slightly from the ground.
After planting, they irrigate and sprinkle the soil around the “new home” with pine needles, or with peat, sawdust, or tree bark.
To loosen the soil should not be, because the root system is shallow and thin roots are easily damaged.
Preparing for the winter. In areas with frosty winters, seasonal shelter is prepared from dry foliage and spruce paws.
Growth and bloom. Daursky develops slowly, leaves partially overthrows by winter, blooms, as a rule, in the fifth or sixth year of life.
Formative pruning is sometimes carried out in May, but this operation additionally slows down the overall development of the bush.
To prolong flowering and optimize growth, flowering inflorescences should be removed.
Watering and spraying. The plant needs high humidity, so it is necessary to water and spray it regularly, with soft water, preferably thawed or rainwater. During the flowering season, water splashes should not fall on the flowers, otherwise dark spots will appear on their delicate bright petals.
Top dressing. General fertilization is carried out annually or every two years (depending on the condition of the plant): a compost bucket and a peat bucket are brought shallowly around the bush.
The main phases of development are supported by the following dressings:
In early May, in the midst of flowering: tablespoon of potassium sulfate and the same amount of urea dissolved in a bucket of water. On one bush there are three liters of such solution.
In late May, to the end of flowering: one plant - three to five liters of a solution of this concentration: a tablespoon of potassium sulfate and the same amount of fertilizer for flowering plants in a bucket of water.
At the end of flowering, in June, a tablespoon of superphosphate and the same amount of potassium sulfate are stirred in a bucket of water. Dose of introduction - 3-5 liters per bush.
Breeding
The plant can be propagated by laborious seed, as well as easier vegetative way - cuttings and layering.
Seeds
Sowing substrate consists of peat and sand in equal quantities. In the spring, small rhododendron seeds are scattered over its moist surface and covered with plastic wrap. Greenhouse contain at 20 degrees, air and moisturize the substrate. The time of emergence of seedlings, as a rule, is 3-4 weeks.
After that, young plants contain at a temperature of from 8 to 12 degrees and a light bottom from 16 to 18 hours, which is created by half-brightness. Watered through the pan.
By June, seedlings dive at a distance of 1.5 cm from each other and grow.
Winter temperatures should not rise above 18 degrees. In the spring, small rhododendrons are seated a distance of 3-4 cm from one another, and in the third year they are ready for planting in the ground.
Cuttings
For this method of reproduction, summer apical cuttings are used, which take root in the greenhouse for about a month. Then they are planted in a container with a typical "rhododendron" soil mixture: peat with needles, leaf soil and sand. Cuttings overwinter indoors, at a temperature of about 5 degrees, and are planted in open ground next summer. A year later, they may bloom for the first time.
Layering
A branch of Dahurian rhododendron is bent to the ground, fixed, instilled and watered, avoiding stagnant moisture. When new resistant shoots appear, the layers are finally separated.
Diseases and pests
In a favorable environment, the disease does not affect the plant.
If there is not enough nitrogen and potassium, when moisture stagnates, mixed chlorosis - leaves turn yellow with spots. In this case, eliminate excessive moisture, provide drainage and spray the plant with ferrous sulfate solution: 7.5 g per liter of water.
Red spots along the veins on the leaves appear with a lack of soil nutrition. Fertilization with ammonium fertilizers or potassium nitrate will correct the situation.
In the open ground on rhododendron can settle such insect pests:
Rhododendron bug, spider mite, Asian garden wormfish. Control measures - spraying diazinon.
Mealybug. From it relieves spraying karbofosom.
Furrowed weevil. Against it helps karbofos, as well as basudin, diazinon and furadan.
Narrow-winged mole-miner. In this case the bushes are fumigated with sulfur.
If properly groomed Daurian rhododendron on your site pleases with abundant April flowering - know that at the same time throughout the Far East, on Siberian taiga races, in the Korean mountains and on the hills of Manchuria, its wild brothers bloom in the same way, confirming: here it is, Spring!
Useful information
You can read other materials on the topic and learn more:
- Winter decoration windowsill
- Caucasian - healing properties and extraordinary beauty!
- Green beauty in your house
- Gentle clouds land in June: rhododendrons (azaleas) in garden culture
