Rhododendrons in the Urals: care and landing

A huge variety of decorative cultures allows flower growers to realize the most daring ideas for arranging their flower garden. Moreover, in the list of preferred plants, almost everyone can find rhododendron. This decorative flower has a bright appearance and lush flowering. Some mistakenly believe that this culture is not suitable for cultivation in the Ural climate, but this is a fallacy. In fact, rhododendrons grow in the Urals no worse than elsewhere in the region, most importantly, to know the nuances of agricultural culture.

Varieties of rhododendron for growing in the Urals

In total, about 800 species of rhododendrons are isolated. Suitable for cultivation in harsh climates are just a few of them.

Types of rhododendrons suitable for growing in the Urals:

• Daurian. The habitat is Siberia, Primorsky Krai, China and Korea. Places of growth - coniferous forests, rocks. Plant height up to 3 m. Small oblong oval leaves of green-brown color reach a length of 2 cm. Flowering period is about 20 days from the time of foliage. Funnel-shaped flowers have a bright pinkish-purple hue;

Rhododendrons in the Urals: care and landing

• Ledebour. Habitat - areas of the subalpine zone and Altai. Places of growth - coniferous forests and undergrowth. The height of a semi-evergreen shrub is about one and a half meters. The plant has dark thin and ovoid or oval dark green leaves and purple-pink flowers. Flowering period May-June (about 30 days);
• Schlippenbach. Habitat - Korea, China, Primorye and Japan. A one and a half meter deciduous tree has medium-sized green leaves. Beautiful, large, fragrant flowers are bell-shaped. The beginning of flowering occurs at the end of spring.

The Ural climate is also suitable for the cultivation of other types of rhododendrons, whose names are less known. Here is some of them:

• Ketevbinsky;
• golden;
• Japanese;
• Canadian.

How to Propagate Rhododendron

Rhododendron can be propagated by layering, seeds and cuttings.

Rhododendron layering in the Urals

This method involves the following procedure:

1. Choose one of the shoots (easily snuggled to the ground).
2. Its middle must be dug, having previously scratched the bark in that part of the stem that will be underground (this is necessary for faster formation of roots).
3. Secure with a hairpin and pour.
4. Next year, carefully separate and dig out the seedling.

Seed propagation

This method of reproduction is considered the most difficult to implement. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. Purchase seeds at a specialized flower shop.
2. Prepare a container and substrate, which should include dry peat (3 parts) and fine sand (1 part). Pour the resulting mixture.
3. Sow the seed, sprinkle with sand (fine) and cover the container with a glass lid.
4. Put in a bright warm room. Organize daily ventilation, condensed water cleaning and humidification.
5. You can expect the first shoots in 25-30 days. After the formation of the first leaves, the plants are transplanted into the greenhouse. Seedlings should be at least 2 cm apart.
6. Landing in open ground is carried out after two years.

Propagation by cuttings

Another method of propagation is cuttings. For its implementation it is necessary:

1. In July, cut half-lignified shoots into 10-centimetric cuttings. At the bottom, the slice should be oblique, at the top, leave a few leaves.
2. Treat the prepared material with a growth stimulator. The procedure lasts about 11-13 hours.
3. Place the cuttings (obliquely) in a sand-peat mixture, the temperature of which should be about 25 ° C.
4. Water and cover the pot with film or glass. Make sure that the soil does not dry out and does not deteriorate due to lack of air.
5. Roots will begin to form in 1.5-5 months (depending on grade).
6. Cuttings will need to be transplanted into a container and grow in it.

How to plant rhododendron in open ground

With proper planting and care of the rhododendron in open ground, even in the Urals, the plant can become a long-liver. In one place, a flower can live up to 30 years. Some of the species are grown in bulk containers and transferred to the premises in winter.

Rhododendrons in the open ground

In open ground, rhododendrons are planted at partial shade or in a place with variable lighting. A large amount of sunlight can contribute to the burnout and dimming of flowers. Deciduous species require more sunlight than evergreens.

Site selection and soil requirements

The place of planting should be chosen depending on the size of the plant, the variety's lighting requirements, as well as on neighboring crops. Rhododendron should not be planted next to plants with a superficial root system.

You need to choose soil with an acid reaction. Plant decorative shrubs should be in groups of crops that have similar requirements for soil acidity. Coniferous corners are suitable for combining rhododendron with arborvitae, juniper and hosta. Landing should be carried out at a distance of about a meter. To prevent stagnation, the bottom of the pit should be equipped with a drainage layer, the height of which should be at least 20 cm. Expanded clay or pebbles can be used as drainage.

Clay soil should be checked for drainage. If the water stagnates during testing, a pipe should be installed at the landing site, which will drain excess moisture.

The composition of the soil mixture should include coniferous litter or horse peat mixed with garden soil removed from a hole dug for planting. The seedling should be lowered into the recess in an upright position, deepen the neck of the rhizome. After planting, water the plant abundantly. When the soil settles, add another substrate so that the neck of the spine is set just above ground level (up to 2 cm).

Seedling Selection

The seedling must have a closed root system. It should not be any damage. Also excluded are signs of disease and pest activity.

Rhododendron Planting

Agricultural technology

Rhododendron is no harder to grow than other crops. The only thing in the winter is the plant will need a cover for heating. For frost-resistant varieties, it will be enough to organize regular watering, top dressing and protection from pests.

Loosening and mulching

Since the roots of rhododendrons are closely adjacent to the upper soil layer, it is recommended to avoid loosening. To combat different types of weeds, soil mulching is used, in which dry peat, needles or pine bark are used.

Watering and feeding

Since the acidic soil dries quickly, the flower needs to be watered on time. The soil should be moderately moist, there should be no stagnation. To increase air humidity, the plant should sometimes be sprayed.

For watering, use soft, warm water. To soften and acidify it a day before adding water to the liquid, you need to add horse peat (a few handfuls).

As fertilizing should use liquid fertilizers. Fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers is also welcome. Manure and ash are not recommended for use.

How to prepare a shelter for the winter

In winter, the root system of rhododendrons needs warming. In small frosts (10 ° C), shelter is not necessary, as this can lead to rotting of the root neck, which is very undesirable. The optimal period for warming is November. You can open the plant after complete thawing and a slight warming of the soil by the spring sun. This is best done in cloudy weather.

Shelter for the winter

Diseases and Pests

Caterpillars and slugs are usually fought by mechanical removal. If plants suffer from the activity of aphids, scale insects, ticks and weevils, then insecticides should be used.

Most often, rhododendrons suffer from spotting or are affected by rot. In the first case, fungicides should be used. If the plant begins to rot, then it is usually destroyed.

If you choose the right variety and carefully care for the plant, you can grow lush beautiful homemade rhododendrons even in cold Ural climates. Although agricultural technology has some features, in any case, subject to the rules, the shrub will be able to please the owners with abundant flowering.