Rhododendron is translated as “rose tree”, which is quite fair, because these plants are not inferior in beauty to the queen of flowers. Lush bright flowers attract attention, and sometimes hide most of the leaves.

Among the representatives of the genus there are small shrubs and trees, miniature and rather large, deciduous, semi-deciduous and evergreen plants. Some species slightly exceed 10 cm in height, while others resemble small trees. Flowers with bright corollas of yellow, purple, pink and violet tones are collected in small inflorescences.

Features of growing rhododendron

Rhododendrons are rapidly gaining the sympathy of gardeners, but not everyone dares to plant them on the site. Plants have gained fame as whimsical and even capricious, partly due to this low frost resistance and the lack of information on their cultivation in the middle lane. However, the abundance of varieties and hybrids allows you to choose plants for any conditions, and caring for them is no more difficult than for any other garden plant. A correctly chosen rhododendron is able to successfully grow and bloom even in the conditions of the Moscow region.

Planting rhododendron in the ground

Proper posture is one of the most important factors influencing further plant growth. With an unsuccessful choice of location, the rhododendron refuses to bloom and the need arises for a transplant.

Landing methods

For landing, you need to prepare in advance landing pit 50 cm deep and 70-80 cm wide, because the root system of the plant is superficial. The bottom of the pit is laid out drainage from broken bricks, rubble and sand. The thickness of the drainage layer must be at least 15 cm.

Roots should not be too deep. They should be at a depth of about 4 cm from the soil surface. To protect the root system from drying out and freezing, it is recommended to mulch the soil around the plant with a layer of needles or sawdust at least 5 cm thick. This method of planting imitates natural conditions as much as possible.

Optimal landing time

Rhododendrons are recommended to be planted in the spring. autumn planting permissible, but undesirable, especially in cold regions. Plants with a closed root system can be planted in the summer, but only after flowering and subject to abundant watering.

soil for the plant

Rhododendrons love acidic or slightly acidic, loose, breathable soil. Pour into the planting hole a soil mixture consisting of:

• Peat;
• Leaf land;
• rotted manure;
• Well-decomposed compost (matured for at least 2-3 years);
• Pine needles;
• heather land;
• Mineral fertilizer (optional).

The soil mixture does not have to include all of the listed components. The combination may differ

Planting in the spring

The optimal time for planting is the end of April May. Plants should be planted before the start of active growth or at the very beginning. Flower buds must be broken out so that the plant does not waste energy on flowering and takes root better.

The subtleties of planting container plants

Most often, gardeners buy rhododendrons in containers and plant them on the site without destroying the earthen clod. When kept in a container, the roots that come into contact with the walls of the pot often die off, forming a dense felt, through which young roots simply cannot germinate. It turns out that the planted plant does not get rid of its “live pot” and frost takes root in the open ground.

When planting, you need to try to untangle the roots and remove the old dried ones. If this cannot be done, then you need to cut the resulting lump several times across.

Features of caring for rhododendron in the garden

Rhododendron care is not difficult, but you need to know the characteristics of different species and varieties, because the conditions necessary for them can vary greatly.

Location and lighting for the plant

The choice of location and neighbors for rhododendron should be given special attention. Evergreen species grow best in light partial shade, deciduous species feel good in the sun, but in regions with too hot summers, it is better to choose a light openwork shade for them.

Particular attention should be paid to neighboring plants. The environment of conifers, such as larch or pine, will favorably affect the growth and development of rhododendron. They will provide the bush with the necessary light shade, and coniferous litter will acidify the soil and mulch the root system. Plants with a shallow root system are not suitable as neighbors, since the rhododendron will not be able to withstand competition for nutrients.

Air humidity

Rhododendron loves high humidity and responds well to spraying, which is simply necessary in hot weather. However, spray water should be soft, free of chlorine and hardness salts.

How to water correctly

Soil moisture is as important to a plant as air humidity. In hot weather, it is necessary to water the bush abundantly several times a week, and if there is a suspicion of a deficiency, then more often. Watering should be carried out with soft, and ideally acidified water. To do this, you can insist it with sour peat. When watering, water should soak the soil well to a depth of at least 20 cm.

Interesting! You can determine the lack of moisture by the state of the leaves, which wilt and become dull.

Flower nutrition and fertilizer

The plant needs mineral and organic fertilizers, because a large amount of resources is spent on flowering. In spring and in the first half of summer, it is recommended to feed rhododendrons with organic fertilizers. For these purposes, a weak infusion of mullein or mulching is suitable. trunk circle a mixture of compost and well-rotted manure. In the second half of summer, after flowering, you can fertilize with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers with a concentration of the main elements of 2: 1.

Interesting! Top dressing with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers helps not only to prepare for winter, but also stimulates the laying of new flower buds.

Young plants are best fed with complex mineral fertilizers containing the main elements in equal concentrations. If secondary growth of shoots is observed in autumn, it is recommended to spray the plants with a solution of potassium sulfate or phosphate.

On a note! You do not need to be too zealous with the introduction of superphosphate, as it impairs the absorption of iron, which leads to leaf chlorosis.

pruning rhododendron

Plants have a regular shape. It looks beautiful and natural and usually does not need to be adjusted. You have to resort to pruning very rarely and even a beginner can do it.

Trimming methods

Sometimes you have to prune overgrown bushes that are too old, the branches of which begin to fall apart or protrude too much onto the path. It is better to prune in March-April before the start of an active growing season. Slices must be covered with garden pitch.

On a note! Radical pruning of old bushes for the purpose of rejuvenation is carried out in 2 stages. The first year they cut one half of the bush, in the second - the other.

If shaping is necessary for young seedlings, then it is better to resort to pinching growth points. This stimulates branching and promotes the formation of a compact and dense bush.

In winter, some shoots may freeze or break under the weight of snow. In this case, sanitary pruning may be necessary in the spring. In summer, to preserve the decorative effect, you can remove the dried inflorescences, but this is easy to do without a pruner.

Rhododendron transplant

Sometimes a plant needs a transplant if the planting site was initially chosen incorrectly. In most cases, rhododendrons tolerate this procedure well and may not bloom the next year. It is not difficult to dig them out due to the compact development of the root system.

The transplant can be done in early spring, before bud break, or after flowering. It is categorically impossible to postpone the procedure until late autumn or transplant the plant in the flowering and budding phase.

Transplant methods

For better survival, the plant must be dug up with big ball to keep the maximum number of roots. It is important that the top of the earthen coma is located at ground level, and the root neck is not buried.

Before transplanting and after the bush is well watered to force air out of the voids. At least 5 liters of water are poured under young plants, and 1012 liters under adults.

Plant propagation

To obtain new specimens of wild species or cultivars, resort to different ways breeding. Getting new plants is easy and quite affordable.

Reproduction methods

For reproduction, 2 main methods are used:

• Seminal;
• Vegetative.

The seed method is used to propagate natural species, and vegetative methods help to obtain new specimens of varietal plants or hybrids.

Reproduction by cuttings

Cuttings allow you to get a large number of plants and at the same time preserve their varietal qualities. It is recommended to use apical cuttings or semi-woody. The highest percentage of rooted plants can be obtained in a mixture of peat soil and sand when treated with rooting stimulants. Deciduous rhododendrons form roots within 1.52 months, while evergreen species take 34.5 months to root.

Reproduction by seeds

Seedlings are much better adapted to new conditions, and the amount of planting material obtained can be very impressive. Unfortunately, it takes at least 34 years to wait for flowering (and in some species up to 10 years), while in the first years it is better to break out the buds.

Seeds are sown superficially or lightly sprinkled with earth and covered with a film to maintain high humidity. Shoots appear in 3-4 weeks. For the first few years, leaving young plants for the winter in the open field is not recommended.

Air layers

Propagation by air layering helps to obtain strong self-rooted plants in cases where rooting cuttings is problematic. This method is suitable for obtaining single specimens of honeycomb and hybrid plants. It is more suitable for indoor or warm regions, as the cuttings may freeze slightly or have to be separated from the mother plant too early.

Horizontal layering

This method allows you to achieve rapid rooting. By August, pinned shoots have few roots. The following year, at the end of summer or early autumn, the plant can be separated from the parent.

By dividing the bush

Strongly overgrown bushes can be quite divided into several plants, but this method is used quite rarely and the number of plants obtained is small.

Graft

Vaccination helps to propagate varietal plants, which is especially important for greenhouses that are engaged in their cultivation and cultivation. Seedlings of species plants are used as rootstock. For successful grafting, it is necessary to have the skills and keep the plants in conditions of constant high humidity.

Flowering rhododendron

Abundant and spectacular flowering is the main advantage of rhododendrons, for which plants are grown.

When a plant blooms, the shape of the flower

Rhododendrons prepare for flowering in advance by laying flower buds at the end of the previous year. In the spring, it is the flower buds that begin to grow first. In some species, flowers appear before leaves. The flowering time of most species falls on the end of April - the beginning of June. Flowering is short, but very lush.

flowers Not correct form, various colors and size, collected in corymbose or racemose inflorescences, rarely solitary.

Features of care during and after flowering

During the flowering period, the plant needs abundant watering. After flowering, it is recommended to remove all inflorescences so that the plant does not waste energy on seed maturation and can lay new buds.

Problems, diseases and pests in a flower

The number of diseases and pests that affect the plant is impressive. Most often occur different kinds rot (roots, buds, root neck), fungal diseases(spotting, chlorosis, rust), bacterial cancer and galls.

Rhododendron is affected by the following pests:

• Rhododendron mite;
• Various types of whiteflies;
• thrips;
• Snails and slugs;
• Acacia false shield;
• Crows.

Popular species (varieties)

Genus Rhododendron ( Rhododendron) has more than 600 species, most of which grow in the temperate zone.

Note! Using the term garden rhododendron, they mean not one specific species, but frost-resistant varieties, hybrids and species that can be grown in the garden. It is better to buy plants with the specified name of the variety or species.

Deciduous rhododendron has a significant advantage over evergreen species in terms of frost resistance. Evergreen rhododendron tolerates negative temperatures worse and only single species are suitable for growing in the middle lane.

Rhododendron Daursky (Rhododendron dahuricum)

Naturally found in Far East, Siberia, Northern Mongolia and other cold regions, therefore it perfectly withstands the conditions middle lane. The leaves are leathery, smooth, evergreen, oval in shape. The flowers are large, pink-purple, can stay on the plant for about 3 weeks. Sometimes blooms 2 times a year.

Japanese rhododendron (Rhododendron molle subsp. japonicum)

It is considered one of the most beautiful representatives of the genus. Thanks to this, the Japanese rhododendron is popular with both gardeners and breeders. Refers to deciduous species. Flowers can reach 8 cm in diameter. The color of the corollas varies from orange to scarlet. Flowering time is about a month. The shrub looks no less decorative in autumn, when its leaves turn red.

Yakushiman rhododendron (Rhododendron yakushimanum)

This species came to culture from the highlands of Japan. Evergreen with leathery, dark green leaves. The height of the bush is approximately equal to the width and can reach. 2 m. The flowers are pale pink with noticeable green dots. Varieties with flowers of a more saturated generic color are known.

Schlippenbach's Rhododendron (Rhododendron schlippenbachii)

A large deciduous shrub that can grow into a compact tree. Little known and widespread in culture, but very promising, due to its high frost resistance and relative unpretentiousness. Flowers up to 10 cm in diameter, fragrant, pale pink.

Rhododendron catawbiense (Rhododendron catawbiense)

Evergreen shrub 1.52 m high (in nature up to 4 m), with a tendency to grow in breadth. Each inflorescence can have up to 20 large flowers up to 15 cm long. The color of the corollas is lilac-purple, but varieties with white, yellow and violet-red flowers are known. Flowering lasts about a month.

This species became the ancestor of the winter-hardy Marjatta Hybrid hybrid series, bred by Finnish breeders.

The main problems are related to the low winter hardiness of many species. Most rhododendrons need shelter for the winter and you need to properly prepare for wintering. Deciduous shrubs with flexible branches are pinned to the ground so that they are completely under the snow. Evergreen species are covered with spruce branches, and sometimes covering material, such as lutrasil, is pulled over the spruce branches. Shelter is removed in March-April.

Advice! Do not completely remove the shelter from evergreen rhododendrons. It is better to leave part of the spruce branches so that the plant gradually adapts to the sun and does not get burned.

Answers to questions from readers

plant life span

Some species, such as the Ketevbinsky rhododendron, can grow up to 100 years. Most species in culture can live for more than 30 years.

Why doesn't the flower bloom?

Rhododendron may not bloom for several reasons:

• The plant is grown from seeds and has not yet reached flowering;
• The place for landing is chosen unsuccessfully;
• Flower buds have suffered from spring frosts or have been pecked by birds.

Why do the leaves turn yellow (dry)?

In deciduous rhododendrons, the leaves turn yellow in autumn for natural reasons. At other times, yellowing of the leaves may be due to insufficient watering or, conversely, to the bay of the plant and rotting of the roots. The reason for the drying of the leaves may be damage by pests.

Flower care in winter

Most rhododendrons hibernate under cover. It is advisable to monitor its integrity, rake snow or throw it on branches pinned to the ground.

I have long wanted to acquire such a blooming beauty as a rhododendron. I searched on the Internet, read literature, went to the markets where seedlings are brought from nurseries.

From all the preliminary knowledge, I learned a few things - this is that a beginner should start with breeding a specific rhododendron (it is better to “tame” fancy varieties later), get acquainted with the composition of the soil and choose a place.

I then planted a Ledebour rhododendron bush and a Dahurian species. I fulfilled all the necessary requirements and took into account the advice, my plants did not die, although they grow quite slowly. These two shrubs are similar to each other, now I'm thinking of buying a couple more seedlings.

In the article I want to introduce you to the beautiful rhododendrons. You will learn when they bloom, how to properly grow them, and love them as much as I do.

Shrubs and trees of rhododendrons (Rhododendron) belong to the Heather family, they are evergreen and deciduous. In translation, they mean rosewood, indeed, most species have different shades of pink. And varieties bred by breeders can be of all kinds of shades: from white to purple.

Flowers in the form of a bell and a funnel, a tube and a wheel, their diameter is from one centimeter to 10. The leaves are elongated and hard, in autumn some bushes have an extremely decorative appearance.

More than 1000 species of this plant differ both in the shape of flowers and crown coverage, and in height (from creeping shrubs to thirty-meter tall trees).

IN natural conditions grows in temperate climates, preferring moist air and partial shade. Therefore, rhododendron is so often found in the undergrowth of pines and other conifers, on mountain slopes, as well as along the banks of rivers and seas, in swamps and in forest tundra.

The Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, the Far East and Altai, the Himalayas and Japan - this is not a complete list of places where you can see natural rhododendron thickets. In landscape design, the use of shrubs is very diverse, these are single plantings and group plantings;

Types and varieties of rhododendron

Anyone who has ever seen this plant in bloom will never forget it - a beautiful shrub. More than two dozen species of this crop and varieties derived from them are common in Russia.

Attention! Deciduous rhododendrons are most suitable for our latitudes, they winter quite well, bloom for a long time, do not require special care. Every gardener can grow them.

Dahurian

A strongly branched plant with pink-purple flowers grows in Siberia and Primorye, East Asia in coniferous forests, on rocky slopes. Suitable for cultivation in the middle lane and in the Urals, as well as in the north of Russia.

An evergreen shrub grows up to 4 meters in height (it grows very slowly), some of the leaves do not fall for the winter. Inflorescences funnel-shaped, up to 4 cm in coverage. Flowering begins in early May and lasts three weeks, sometimes it can bloom again in the fall.

Winter-hardy species, loves light areas and takes root well, blooms very beautifully, has brightly colored leaves, Dahurian rhododendron is spectacular all season.

Rhododendron arborescens

Grows in nature North America in the highlands. Suitable for growing in the middle lane and other regions of Russia. This is a deciduous shrub with a wide crown (up to 6 meters), grows up to 3 meters.

Oblong green leaves turn purple in autumn, bloom fragrant white or pink flowers(coverage 50 mm.) in early July. This fragrance lasts almost a month. It grows up to 7 centimeters per year.

Likes slightly acidic soils, loose and drained, prefers to be in a bright place. It tolerates winter well, planted in parks, along roads, in single bushes.

Ledebourg rhododendron

Another name Maralnik, grows in Altai and the Sayan Mountains, forms thickets on the slopes of the mountains and in the undergrowth.

Protected in nature reserves. It blooms in May for 2 weeks (sometimes for a month), then beautiful pink-purple inflorescences appear again in the fall. They are quite large (up to 5 cm), and the shrub up to 150 cm tall looks very colorful during flowering.

This species is winter-hardy, it does not completely shed its leaves for the winter, but in the spring after flowering they will still fall off, making room for fresh shoots. Growth per year up to 7-8 cm, crown diameter more than a meter.

Rhododendron Schlippenbach

Large deciduous shrub with woody shoots. As a garden culture, it grows up to 150-160 cm, in nature up to 4 meters. Winter-hardy, but requires shelter. One of the most beautiful rhododendrons with pale lilac flowers with speckles, the coverage of the inflorescence reaches 10 cm.

The leaves are soft, grow on the shoot at the end (5 pieces per tassel), in autumn green color changes to ocher red. Blooms in May-June, quickly gaining popularity among flower growers.

Countless varieties have been obtained by breeders around the world.

April Snow

White double flowers bloom in early spring, the foliage of the bush is strong, height is 160 cm.

Cunningham

Scottish hybrid one and a half meters tall has white flowers with brownish patches.

Blue Peter

Height 1.5 meters, crown coverage more than 2 meters. The flowers are large (6 cm), blue, lavender hue.

Liesma

Bred on the basis of Japanese rhododendron (up to 2 meters high). Large salmon, orange-yellow flowers have a shiny surface.

Narcissiflora

The bright yellow flowers are fragrant and star-shaped. The shrub grows up to 180 cm.

How to plant a garden rhodedendron

Advice! So that you do not suffer disappointment from the death of an expensive seedling, try to get as much information as possible about the plant you are purchasing. You should not completely rely on eloquent sellers, it is better to prepare for the purchase in advance.

Take the trouble to make sure that the rhododendron is winter-hardy and adapted to our latitudes. Landing does not take much time, and care can be quickly learned.

You can plant a plant in the fall (almost all buds are removed) or in the spring, when the ground thaws.

We choose a place protected from the wind, in light partial shade. It is important that there are no direct sun rays. Plant in an area that is visible to the eye to observe flowering.

• We spill the plant in a pot before planting so that the root system is prepared for transplantation;
• The hole under the plant should be dug 2 times larger than the coverage of the roots;
• We completely remove the natural land from the hole, lay drainage on the bottom: broken brick, or crushed stone and sand;
• We pour soil for heather, or such a mixture: peat, leafy soil, humus, fallen needles;
• We put the tree in a hole and sprinkle it on top (up to the root neck) with the same mixture of earth;
• Water abundantly, press the soil around and mulch the surface with peat.

Worth knowing! No wonder the main ingredient in the soil for rhododendrons is peat. This plant loves slightly acidic or acidic soils flavored with humus.

shrub care

Since the plant is moisture-loving, it is necessary to water it abundantly with acidified water (vinegar or lemon), spray the crown in hot weather. It is necessary to mulch the trunk circle to retain moisture.

Important! The root system of rhododendrons is quite superficial and tender, so loosening is undesirable.

Also, the bushes need to be regularly cut, removing diseased and dry branches, to form a beautiful habit.

flowering shrub needs sustenance. In the first year, the fertilizer is applied very metered, in subsequent years, you can water the rhododendron with mullein infusion, diluting it in accordance with the instructions.

Irrigate every 14 days throughout the summer complex fertilizers containing phosphorus. In addition to root injections, crown spraying is welcome.

How to propagate rhododendron

You can grow a plant through seeds, layering, cuttings and grafting, as well as dividing the bush. Since the culture grows very slowly, the seed method is not the best option, and such a bush will bloom no earlier than in 3-4 years. With this method of reproduction, all varietal characteristics of the plant are preserved.

Vegetative propagation is more common:

• We root layering by pinning to the ground in early spring, like other shrubs;
• We also cut the cuttings in spring or autumn from young shoots and dig them in a greenhouse or in a pot with nutrient soil (most of the peat, less sand);
• You can divide the bush when it grows, carefully separating parts of the root, sprinkling slices with crushed charcoal and a quick transplant.

The easiest, of course, is to buy a ready-made seedling that professionals have grown for you.

What causes rhododendron

Failures in care - overflows and underfilling, a change in the composition of the soil from acidic to alkaline, the bright sun can contribute to disease. These are rust, chlorosis and spotting, fungal diseases and pests.

If there are problems, we get rid of them with the help of insecticides, adjust the watering and fertilizing regime.

Place in landscape design

Favorite neighbors of rhododendrons are ferns, hostas, and other flowering shrubs. Plants are good in Japanese gardens among stones, in the shade of conifers.

Rosewood bushes are planted alone and in the alley, on the banks of the reservoir and near the gazebo, in rock gardens and mixborders. Everywhere the rhododendron will look elegant and spectacular.

There is an opinion that caring for a rhododendron is quite complicated, and the shrub itself is capricious, so not everyone undertakes to grow it in a temperate cold climate. And only when you get to know this amazing and beautiful plant better, you understand that the matter is not in complexity, but in the specifics of culture. Rhododendron is not complicated - it's just not like everyone else.

Rhododendron bush in bloom - such a handsome man is worth the effort!

General requirements for the growing environment

It so happened that the rhododendron belongs to the elite of the flower-decorative kingdom. By purchasing such a valuable specimen, many strive to allocate the best place in the garden for it - in the sun, with fertile soil, generously seasoned with humus. Stereotypes are triggered that have nothing to do with the real needs of culture, and in this main mistake inexperienced gardeners.

Under natural conditions, most species of rhododendrons grow in the undergrowth, that is, in a special microclimate under a tree canopy, where they are reliably protected from the scorching sun, piercing winds, and drafts. When planting rhododendrons in the garden, they need to create growing conditions, focusing on the principles of life in the natural environment.

1. The light needs intense, but diffused. It is this lighting in the lower tiers of the forest, and it is this intensity of solar radiation that determines the structure of the leaves and the type of photosynthesis. Evergreen species are more sensitive to excess sun - in open space they get leaf burns.
2. Acidic and well-drained soil. Under natural conditions, most of the root system (and in rhododendrons it is superficial) is located in deciduous forest litter, consisting of rotted and fresh litter, humus, and podzolic soil. This environment is not very nutritious, has an acidic pH, but is saturated with air, which is important given the structure of the plant's roots.
3. Symbiosis with fungi is the basis of plant nutrition. Rhododendron roots, like other representatives of the heather family, do not have root hairs. The role of the supplier of nutrients from the soil to the tissues is performed by the mycelium of mycorrhiza - the simplest fungi that live directly in the cells of the plant. So that the mycelium does not suffocate, you need constant inflow air, so dense clay soils for heather crops are absolutely not suitable.
4. Increased soil and air moisture. Rhododendrons have a special relationship with moisture - they suffer from both a lack of water and an excess, especially in case of stagnation or flooding. The problem is solved by a properly selected structure of the planting substrate, which should not only be filled with moisture and retain it, but also have sufficient aeration.
5. Protection from winds and drafts. Many, including winter-hardy, species that tolerate temperatures of -30⁰ C and below, suffer from winter piercing winds and drafts. For protection, agricultural practices are used - a protected place, shelter for the winter, planting in groups.

Thus, if rhododendrons are grown taking into account biological features, they will not create any problems and will delight the owners with magnificent flowering for decades.

Evergreen rhododendron in bloom

The right choice and planting is the key to the longevity of the plant

So that the acquired rhododendrons do not become a culture of one season, you should thoroughly prepare for the reception of the plant. Agrotechnical measures preceding planting are conditionally divided into several stages - the choice suitable variety, storage of components for the substrate, site selection.

plant selection

Agrotechnics of planting and caring for rhododendron largely depends on the species. If you are new to gardening, or if you are not sure about the temperature in your area, it is best to start with deciduous varieties. Firstly, they are more adapted to a cold climate; they do not require crown shelter for the winter; secondly, they are not so demanding on moisture and can grow in the open sun.

Of the deciduous shrubs, R. Canadian, Japanese, Dahurian, Schlippenbach, yellow, and pink are suitable for the middle lane. Moreover, it is better to start with species rather than varieties - they are more viable and resistant to adverse conditions.

If, nevertheless, the choice was stopped at evergreen rhododendrons, start with the Katevbinsky, Caucasian, Yakushiman species or varieties and hybrids created on their genotype.

Important! When choosing planting material, give preference to plants from local nurseries. Although they are not as attractive as those grown in the mild climate of Europe, they are hardened and adapted to the conditions of the region. The optimal age of the seedling is 3-4 years.

Properly selected variety winters well even without shelter

Location selection

The most problematic areas of the garden, unsuitable for light-loving crops, are often suitable for growing rhododendrons - in the shade of trees, on the north, north-west side of buildings. The main thing is that it be secluded, protected from the winds prevailing in the region and midday sunlight.

When placing a shrub under the trees, you need to choose varieties of the latter with a deep root system in order to delimit the plant nutrition zones. Rhododendrons prefer growing next to pines, junipers, oaks, maples, apple trees.

Substrate preparation

In our gardens, soils suitable for growing rhododendrons are quite rare, so the planting substrate should be prepared in advance. Necessary components for the soil mixture:

• riding (red peat) with an acidic pH;
• coniferous litter, consisting of semi-decomposed needles, twigs, cones, mixed with humus and other plant residues;
• river sand or sandy soil (top fertile layer);
• rotted sawdust of coniferous trees.

The substrate is prepared from peat and coniferous litter in equal proportions with the addition of one part of garden soil or river sand. Needles can be replaced with sawdust, acidify ordinary lowland peat by adding sphagnum moss, acidic fertilizers, such as potassium sulfate or ammonium. The main thing is that the substrate is light, breathable and acidic. If there is nowhere to take suitable ingredients for the substrate, you can purchase targeted soil for azaleas.

Important! One of the reasons why the rhododendron does not bloom may be alkaline soil. Such an environment has a depressing effect on the plant - in addition to not blooming, it weakly adds to growth, is affected by pests, leaf chlorosis develops.

Landing technology

Container-grown seedlings are planted both in spring and autumn. In the spring, it is advisable to do this before the start of active vegetation, approximately in April. The autumn month of planting is September, so that the plant has time to take root and adapt before the cold weather.

A mandatory agrotechnical requirement when planting a shrub is the preparation of a deep (at least 50 cm) and wide (60–70 cm) planting hole, which is filled with a prepared substrate. It is carefully compacted and spilled with water.

Before planting, the seedling is lowered into the water so that the earthen lump becomes limp, the roots are straightened and placed in the prepared hole. Another requirement is that in no case should the root neck be deepened, it should be at the same level as before transplantation.

After planting, the root zone must be mulched. For these purposes, coniferous needles, rotted sawdust, leaves, straw are suitable. Their layer should be at least 5–7 cm thick. Mulch not only retains moisture, but also serves as a light organic fertilizer for rhododendrons.

The shrub loves group plantings - natural thickets reliably protect shoots from winds and freezing. The distance between seedlings depends on the height of an adult shrub, but not less than 1 meter.

The planting hole is much larger than the size of the root ball - this is a reserve for growth and nutrition for many years to come.

Seasons: seasonal worries

For rhododendron, the specifics of care are determined by seasonal changes: in spring - withdrawal from winter sleep and preparation for flowering, in summer - care for growth and laying flowering buds for the next year, in autumn - preparation for winter.

Spring chores

When positive temperatures are established and there are no strong night frosts, the covering material is removed. This should be done in cloudy weather, it can be done in several steps, gradually opening the bush, first from the north, and a little later from the south. Leaves overwintered without access to light are sensitive to the bright spring sun and can get burned.

The leaves of the rhododendron in the spring remain twisted for some time, without receiving an impulse from the roots, so the first thing to do is to start the root system. To do this, rake the mulch so that the soil thaws faster. If after a week the leaves are still twisted, then they have lost a lot of moisture and the root zone should be watered with warm water.

After the buds swell, the shrub is inspected and frozen shoots and dried branches are removed. If the weather is dry, the plant must be watered at least 2-3 times a week before flowering. Watering rate - 10-15 liters per adult bush.

Important! Water for irrigation of rhododendrons should have a pH level in the range of 4-5 units, otherwise it will alkalize the soil, which is undesirable. To acidify the water, 3-4 g of citric, oxalic, acetic (70%) acid or 15-20 ml of electrolyte for batteries are dissolved in 10 liters of liquid.

Spring is the only time of the year when rhododendrons can be fed with organic fertilizers. Only well-rotted manure can be used, if possible, riding peat is added to it. A bucket of this mixture is poured into the trunk circle instead of mulch and watered abundantly.

How to feed rhododendrons in the spring, if there is no organic matter? At the end of flowering, top dressing with Kemir's targeted complex fertilizers for azaleas (rhododendrons) is effective. It is fully balanced and, in addition to containing necessary elements nutrition, acidifies the soil.

Evergreen rhododendron is about to bloom bright buds

Summer care

After flowering, rhododendron care is aimed at replenishing the strength for the growth of young shoots and laying flower buds. The plant needs the following agrotechnical measures.

• Regular, plentiful watering and spraying the crown with summer temperature water during the hottest hours.
• Removing seed pods so that the shrub does not expend energy on seed maturation, but directs them to young growth. This should be done in hot weather so that the injured shoot dries up immediately.
• If the plant was not fertilized with Kemira during flowering, June top dressing is needed with nitrogen-containing fertilizer, for example, ammonium nitrate (25–30 g per 10 l of water). Nitrogen is needed for the growth of green shoots. Irrigation rate - 2 buckets of solution per adult bush.
• In addition to fertilizing rhododendrons in spring and June, some gardeners recommend fertilizing in the second half of July. By this time, the shoot completes its growth, its leaves become dense, leathery, and a flower bud appears at the top. Top dressing at this time with a phosphorus-potassium composition is a guarantee of abundant flowering next year.

Advice! For top dressing in three doses - in early spring (100 g / m²), during flowering (100 g / m²) and in mid-July (50 g / m²), use the following universal composition of acidic fertilizers. Mix superphosphate (10 parts) and sulfates - ammonium (9), potassium (4), magnesium (2).

By the end of summer, a flower bud is formed at the top of each shoot - now, the main thing is to keep it until spring.

Preparing for winter

An important element of rhododendron care is proper preparation for winter.

An evergreen shrub should be very well saturated with moisture in winter so that it is enough for long months of cold weather, so it is recommended to water it abundantly in autumn. Deciduous shrub needs watering only in case of dry weather.

Both deciduous and evergreen species need to cover the root system with a thick layer of mulch (up to 20 cm). The soil is covered in the near-stem circle to the radius of the crown.

For shelter, a frame of wire or wooden slats is built around the bush - a kind of impromptu wigwam. It is covered with spruce branches or covered with 2 layers of breathable covering material (burlap, lutrasil). Low-growing varieties fall asleep with fallen leaves, needles.

Shelter of an ornamental shrub with spruce spruce branches

When growing rhododendrons, the main thing is to understand their nature, learn to recognize problems and needs according to the state and appearance shrub. The plant is responsive not only to the correct agricultural technology, but love and care and will definitely reciprocate.

Video about preparing rhododendrons for winter:

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ECOgardener

Everything about garden rhododendron: planting, care, application in garden design

This attractive flowering shrub wants to have literally every flower lover. Garden rhododendron fascinates with the variety of its species and varieties, as well as flowers that are painted in various shades. Let's figure out what the requirements for planting and care are for garden rhododendron, and also go over the types and varieties (with photo).

Garden rhododendron: planting and care, photos of popular species and varieties

Rhododendron (Rhododendron) - genus flowering plants Heather family (Ericaceae). Some of them are tropical sissies ( indoor azaleas), others can withstand harsh climates well. About 18 species are found in Russia, and for growing in gardens, we have made a selection of frost-resistant rhododendrons.

Rhododendron: description of some species

This ornamental culture is a shrub or small tree that can be evergreen, deciduous or semi-evergreen. Bare or slightly pubescent branches are covered with harsh and dense leaves.

Quite large flowers resembling bells are located one by one or in inflorescences such as a shield or umbrella. The color of the inflorescences can vary from snow-white and yellow to brownish-purple. Below are frost-resistant types of garden rhododendrons that are used in landscaping and landscape design.

Rhododendron yellow

Deciduous look. Under natural conditions, it can be seen in the North Caucasus. Cultivated since 1972. The height of this sprawling beautiful bush varies from 2 to 3 meters. Dense elongated leaves, painted in bright green tint, with the onset of autumn become dark red or orange-red.

Yellow very fragrant flowers bloom at the tops of the shoots in many-flowered inflorescences such as a corymb or umbrella. Flowering takes place from April to May, at the time when the leaves bloom. It lasts three to four weeks.

This species has a large number of varieties, the flowers of which are painted in a variety of attractive shades. Hybrids with terry inflorescences have also been created.

Rhododendron yellow reproduces both by seeds and by layering. It is most spectacular during the lush spring flowering and autumn, when the leaves change color of the leaves.

pontic rhododendron

Under natural conditions, it grows on the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea. Beautiful elongated harsh leaves with a glossy surface are painted in dense green. They are located at the ends of the branches of this evergreen shrub in the form of cuffs.

Violet-pink large flowers with spectacular yellow dots can reach a width of almost 5 cm. They bloom in corymb-like inflorescences, consisting of a large number flowers. During the flowering period, which lasts almost 4 weeks, it is simply impossible to take your eyes off this original shrub.

This species is propagated by seeds, cuttings and layering, but the simplest method is considered to be propagation using leafy cuttings.

Ledebour's rhododendron (maralnik)

In nature, it grows among heaps of stones and screes. It can be found in the Sayan Mountains and Altai. The crown of this semi-evergreen shrub (about 2 m high) is formed by numerous thin branches. Small oval leaves mostly hibernate on shoots.

Attractive pinkish-lilac flowers with open petals (about 5 cm wide) are located almost at the very tops of the branches, one or several pieces together. Annual abundant flowering occurs in the month of May. At this time, the bushes are almost completely covered with flowers.

This fast-growing species of rhododendron tolerates transplanting well at a young age. With the help of seeds, it can be easily propagated.

Caucasian rhododendron

On the territory of our country, only high in the mountains of the Caucasus, you can find this type of garden rhododendron. On the northern sides of the mountains and on the slopes, shrubs quite often form continuous thickets. Bushes of Caucasian rhododendron about one and a half meters high are formed by thin shoots, some of which lie on the ground.

Leathery leaves, painted in dense green color, have an oblong shape. Creamy-white flowers with a greenish tint in the form of a funnel bloom in inflorescences, consisting of 5-7 pieces. By the end of flowering, they acquire a pinkish color.

Daurian rhododendron (ledum)

Many forms of this species are difficult to distinguish from Ledebour's rhododendron. It grows in Asia east of Altai to Korea, the Far East and Japan. In Siberia, on gravel soils, there are whole thickets, creeping with a pink carpet. The shoots are densely branched, directed upwards, the bush reaches 0.7-2 m.

Leathery leaves are first painted green, then turn brown. By autumn, they curl up and fall off. The corolla is lilac-pink or white, flower buds are located at the ends of the shoots. Shade-tolerant and super-frost-resistant: it tolerates frosts down to -45 ° C well. Propagated by root suckers and seeds.

Rhododendron spiky

Under natural conditions, it grows in the Far East. The bush, whose height varies from one to three meters, is formed by a large number of branched shoots.

Green oval leaves have a glossy upper surface. Pinkish-lilac flowers (3 to 4 cm wide), resembling a wide bell, are located on the branches one or several pieces. Abundant flowering, lasting almost three weeks, falls on the period of leaf appearance (April). Sometimes the pointed rhododendron blooms a second time in August, but this flowering is much weaker than the first.

Selection

Of course, the specificity of flowering gives impetus to the development of more and more new forms, many hybrids have been obtained that are superior in their decorative qualities to natural species:

Rhododendron hybrid Nova Zembla
rhododendron hybrid roseum elegans

rhododendron hybrid Libretto
rhododendron hybrid Midnight Mystic

Place and time for planting, soil requirements

The best place for planting rhododendrons are slightly shaded areas located under the crowns of tall trees, where there is no excess moisture and high level ground water. But it is worth remembering that some varieties and varieties of deciduous rhododendrons are well planted in well-lit areas, but the soil must be moistened. A sufficient amount of light allows the plant to show its spectacular flowering in full glory.

But it is advisable to plant evergreen rhododendrons so that some shade falls on them during very hot daytime hours. The best neighbors for this shrub are various coniferous plants.

You can not plant rhododendrons next to tree crops that have a superficial root system. These are trees and shrubs:

It is also undesirable to choose a place for planting next to maples and lindens, which quickly braid the root system of rhododendrons and take all the moisture.

It is also worth noting that rhododendrons grow well along walls facing north. Most often, in such places, the bushes are protected from strong winds and do not fall under direct sunlight at noon, but are only illuminated in the morning and afternoon.

The planting site of this ornamental shrub must be protected from strong air currents, not to mention winds, as they can quickly dry the leaves of plants. Evergreen species are especially damaged in winter time.

soil for rhododendrons

One of the main factors affecting the growth and development of bushes is the composition and acidity of the soil. The optimum pH level is between 4.5 and 5.5 units. Also, the earth should be loose, breathable and sufficiently moist.

It is possible to determine quite accurately the pH level of the soil by various crops that grow on it. Plants-indicators of acidic soils are field mint, horse sorrel, popovnik, Ivan-da-Marya and creeping ranunculus. On lands with neutral and slightly acidic pH, nettle, field bindweed, quinoa and coltsfoot are most often found.

If, where the rhododendrons will grow, the land is of unsuitable quality, then it must be replaced with a mixture that consists of high-moor peat with sand. Moreover, peat is taken in two parts, and sand is only one.

The following organic fertilizers must be applied to nutrient-poor soil in autumn: rotted manure, straw, fallen needles and leaves, sphagnum peat and hay. And next year, in spring or summer, you can already plant rhododendrons.

Rhododendron: planting and care in the open field

best time planting is in the spring, before the vegetation begins, or when the buds just burst. This period falls on the second half of April - the first decade of May. It is possible to plant in September, but the seedlings for this must be grown in the open field, thereby preparing them for wintering. In case of urgent need, rhododendron bushes can be planted at any time, but this cannot be done during flowering and immediately after it, since shoots begin to grow intensively. Container plants can be planted throughout the warm season.

A pit for planting is dug about 40 cm deep, and the length and width should be from 50 to 60 cm. If the soil is very damp, contains a lot of clay or lime, then a drainage layer (about 10 cm) consisting of gravel or gravel. Where there is a lot of sand in the ground, a layer of clay is poured into the bottom of the pit to retain moisture.

To fill the pit, they usually prepare a mixture of peat (horse), sand, and completely decomposed manure (cow). If peat is not at hand, then you can use a combination of heather and sod land, as well as coarse sand. At the same time, 2 parts of soddy land are taken, heather - 2 parts, and sand - one part.

When planting, the bush is placed so that the place where the roots begin at the stem is slightly above the soil surface, since then it will settle and be at ground level. After planting, a hole is made around the plant and watered with plenty of water. It is advisable to mulch the land near the bush with rotted manure, leaf humus, peat or tree bark.

For planting, container plants are usually chosen at the age of three years. Also use bushes at the age of one or two years or 4 years and older. Water the rhododendrons before planting. In this case, the plants tolerate the transplant better. If the earthen ball with roots is dry, then it is placed in water so that it is completely saturated.

If the acquired bushes have flower buds, then before planting, most of them must be removed so that unrooted rhododendrons do not spend all their strength and nutrients on flowering. Plants can be transplanted at any age, but these works are carried out only in spring or autumn. At the same time, it is worth knowing that large evergreen varieties after transplantation must be covered from strong sunlight during some time.

Rhododendrons in landscape design (photo compositions)

Rhododendrons that form groups look amazing, especially if they are planted along the edges of the lawn or near houses. They also go great with pools, ponds, and look beautiful near decorative garden fountains. After all, plants are not only moisture-loving, humidified air is useful to them.

Due to the variety of species, you can make a magnificent array by combining plants in height:

• plant the highest ones in the center, lower ones from the edges. Then you get a comprehensive review group;
• plant high ones in the background, and low ones in the foreground. This will result in a composition in the form of a pulpit with a one-way view.

The garden rhododendron looks bright on a festive basis against a dark background of conifers. In addition, the dense crown of conifers will protect these sissies from cold, withering winds and spring sun.

Joint landing rhododendrons with coniferous trees facilitates care - coniferous litter will naturally acidify the soil without our participation. In addition, rhododendrons are constant participants in Japanese-style gardens, as well as beautiful accents on heaths.

In our experience for recent years 10, many summer residents were disappointed in this amazing flower - they ran into non-hardy hybrids. But the market is becoming more literate, and more and more frost-resistant varieties. So if you choose a place with good drainage on your site, then feel free to plant a garden rhododendron, although planting and caring for it requires maintaining moisture and soil acidity, you can easily cope with these requirements if you wish, right?

Highly ornamental shrubs, abundantly planted with lush inflorescences, are widely used in the design of landscape areas, landscaping garden and park areas in many countries of the world. But you can grow a shrub on your own, in your garden. It is enough to know the features of planting, care and reproduction of this culture, unusual for our latitudes. And in order for the shrub to easily withstand the harsh snowy winters, it is important to choose the appropriate winter-hardy rhododendron variety. All the nuances of agricultural technology for growing this exotic crop and practical advice gardeners - read this article. A selection of photo and video lessons will complement the general idea of ​​the process of growing rhododendron in the open field.

Rhododendron, botanical description

• Rhododendron is a typical representative of the Heather family, which combines various types of shrubs, trees and even houseplants.
• Garden rhododendron is presented as undersized varieties, the bushes of which literally creep along the ground, and giant lush shrubs, reaching a height of up to 3-7 m.

• In culture, both evergreen and deciduous varieties of woody rhododendrons are grown.
• This shrub genus is distributed in temperate latitudes of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The growth area in Russia varies depending on the type of plant: from the warm Crimea to the harsh Siberia and the Far East.
• Under natural, natural conditions, rhododendrons can grow in single crops or entire shrubs. They are found near forests, swamps, on mountain slopes, in the tundra and forest-steppes.
• The plant got its interesting name due to its spectacular appearance during the flowering period. Rhododendron, translated from Greek, means "rose - tree". A flowering shrub densely covered with large flowers resembling roses.

• flowers rhododendrons are collected in lush inflorescences of a brush or shield, with corollas of yellow, pink, purple and red hues. The size of an individual flower can be from 5 to 25 cm in diameter, the shape resembles a disproportionate bell with long and graceful stamens. By combining flowers into dense inflorescences, the branch looks like a real bouquet. Flowering begins in early spring and continues, in some species, until the very cold. The fruit is represented by a multi-seeded box.
• shoots are smooth or pubescent. But the leaves of rhododendrons are very diverse. Depending on the species or variety, they can be perennial or annual, with or without a petiole, ovoid or elongated.
• root system in culture - fibrous, compact, located close to the surface of the earth. This property important to consider when caring for rhododendrons.

Rhododendron, varieties and species diversity

The species diversity of rhododendrons can be conditionally divided into 3 groups:

• evergreens

Such shrubs do not shed their foliage, even in winter. The leaves, as a rule, are dark green shades, and the flowers are large, of different shades. Prefer light partial shade and well-drained, peat-rich soil.

• Semi-deciduous

An intermediate group of plants, represented by low shrubs, wintering well under snow cover. Most of leaves fall off during this period, leaving whorls only at the tips of the branches.

• Deciduous

Familiar, for the middle zone of the country, shrubs shed their leaves during the onset of cold weather. The plant is perfectly adapted to the winter climate.

A huge variety of species of rhododendrons allows you to choose a specific variety that is most adapted to certain climate conditions and growing environments. Consider the most famous of them.

Dahurian rhododendron

Evergreen woody shrub, with branches directed upwards, reaches a height of 2-4 m. The leaves are small, with a glossy surface. The flowers are large (4 cm in diameter) and purple-violet. This species blooms profusely for 3-4 weeks. May re-bloom in autumn. The species is easily propagated by cuttings, has high winter hardiness.

Rhododendron Adams

Hardy, evergreen and undersized bush arnica is characterized by widely spreading branches. Green matte leaves have an elongated - oval shape. The flowers are small, but due to the lush inflorescences, collected in 10-15 pieces, they look very beautiful and impressive.

Japanese rhododendron

The homeland of the species is Japan. Deciduous branched shrub, reaches no more than 2 meters in height. The leaves of the rhododendron are green, slightly pubescent; in autumn they turn colorful orange hues. Large (up to 8 cm in diameter) bell-shaped flowers are fragrant with a pleasant aroma. The color scheme of the inflorescences is carmine-red shades. Japanese rhododendron is one of the most attractive and magnificent representatives of this genus.

Caucasian rhododendron

Originally from the Caucasus, the species belongs to evergreen, low shrubs, with branches creeping along the ground. The leaves are dark green, oblong in shape. Flowers are bell-shaped and fragrant, color palette, depending on the variety. These can be pink, yellow or purple-white corollas. A variety of colored blotches (green, red) allow the flowers to look very original and unusual.

Rhododendron pink

Deciduous ornamental shrub, reaching a height of 1.5 to 3 m. At home (in North America) it can grow up to 5 m. The shape of the shrub is compact, with erect branches. It blooms profusely in the month of May, with bright pink fragrant inflorescences.

Rhododendron hybrid

Represents an extensive group of hybrid rhododendrons. The most popular cultivars of this type of hybrids are:

• variety "Alfred"

Evergreen and compact shrub 1-2 m tall, with large (up to 6 cm) flowers collected in dense and fluffy inflorescences. Whisks - Pink colour, with light green splashes.

• variety "Blue Peter"

Srednerosly shrub (1.5-2 m), with a wide spreading crown, different, unusual for the species, the color of the corollas. A delicate blue shade of a corrugated flower, with a bright pink spot on the upper petal, attracts attention with its beauty and expressiveness.

• variety "Rose Marie"

The shrub reaches a height of no more than 1.5 m, the same amount, approximately, is the girth of the crown. The leaves are oblong, with a waxy coating. Flowers, delicate pink shades, are collected in inflorescences of 10-15 pieces.

Winter-hardy varieties of rhododendron

It is a mistake to consider rhododendrons as a heat-loving exotic crop that cannot grow in a cold climate. Currently, a lot of frost-resistant varieties of rhododendrons have been bred, perfectly adapted to cold and harsh winters. Many of them are able to winter without additional shelter and withstand very low (up to -30 °C) temperatures.

• "Grandiflorum" (compact shrub with purple inflorescences),
• "Nova Zembla" (differs in bright, ruby ​​​​color, inflorescences),
• "Caractacus" (medium tall bush with burgundy-pink corrugated inflorescences),
• "Album Novum" (spherical bush with pale pink flowers),
• "Elite" (spreading bush with inflorescences, contrasting shades, withstands -35 ° C),
• "The Hague" ( small shrub, with corollas, pink color),
• "Helsinki University" (named after the University of Helsinki, withstands -40 ° C),
• "Daughter of Pohdzhola" (sprawling undersized shrub with purple flowers).

Where to buy rhododendron

• To purchase a specific variety of rhododendron, it is best to contact specialized nurseries (for example, the Botanical Garden) or stores. It is there that you can get high-quality and necessary planting material. Besides, experienced growers willingly share the secrets and features of growing this crop.
• In the case of purchasing rhododendron seedlings in spontaneous markets, there are risks of purchasing an inappropriate variety or one not adapted to cold climatic conditions.

Reproduction of rhododendron

You can grow a culture on your site yourself, knowing how to propagate it. Rhododendron, like most shrubs, propagates by seeds, cuttings, layering, grafting and dividing the bush.

What is the most efficient and easiest way to do it?

Seed method of propagation of rhododendron

Propagating a crop with seeds is a long and difficult task. As a rule, this method is practiced by breeders to develop new varieties. Amateur flower growers will also be able to grow rhododendron from seeds, following a certain technology.

• In early spring, the seeds are sown in containers with a fertile peat-earth mixture (with the addition of sand), covered with glass and placed in a lighted place.
• Sowing is carried out superficially, without planting the seeds deep into the soil.
• Seeds can be soaked in water in advance and kept for a day, which will provide a greater percentage of germination.
• The soil in the container must be constantly moistened. It is better to spray water to avoid stagnant moisture or waterlogging of the soil.
• Overdrying, as well as waterlogging of the soil, can lead to the death of seedlings.
• Planted in a container and covered with glass or film, the seeds are aired regularly (daily). During ventilation, you need to wipe the glass, removing the condensation that has appeared.
• Lighting of the container should be at least 12 hours a day. If daylight is not enough, use fluorescent lamps.
• The first shoots appear in 2.5-3 weeks. After a month, the grown seedlings can be planted (dive at the same time) in separate pots. At the same time, the temperature in the room is lowered to 10-12°C.
• In summer, it is better to take the pots outside, placing them in partial shade.

• Seedlings are planted in open ground only next spring.
• Rhododendron grown from seeds will bloom in about 4-5 years.

Reproduction of rhododendron cuttings

• Prepare cuttings by cutting semi-lignified shoots (preferably apical), about 8-10 cm long. The lower cut is made oblique.

• Having cut off the lower leaves from the shoots, it is recommended to keep the cuttings in a solution of a root growth stimulator for about 12-15 hours.
• Place the cuttings in a soil-peat mixture (as when sowing seeds) at an angle of about 30º, compact the ground and cover with glass or plastic jars. Maintain the temperature in the room around 20-25ºС.
• After their primary rooting (from 2 to 5 months, depending on the variety), plant the cuttings in separate containers for growing and hardening, reducing the room temperature to 10ºС.
• In the spring, plant the cuttings in the soil along with the container and grow them, thus, for a few more years.
• Rooted developing cuttings, after 2-3 years, are planted in a permanent place.

Reproduction of rhododendron by layering

This type of reproduction is recognized by gardeners as the most convenient and simple, especially for deciduous representatives of rhododendron.

• In order to “pin” the shoots to the ground, in the spring they choose the lowest branch of the shrub, dig a small groove under it (up to 15 cm deep) and lay the selected process there.
• For better rooting, the layers are pinned in the middle with a metal bracket (hard wire), and the groove with the layer is sprinkled with earth on top. The top of the shoot is not sprinkled, but tied to a wooden peg.

• Layers provide regular watering, constantly maintaining a humid microclimate.
• When in autumn or spring, the layering is completely rooted, it can be separated from the mother shrub and planted in a new place.
• Leaving the layers to hibernate, it is better to provide them with shelter with dry leaves or spruce branches.

In addition to the methods described, rhododendron propagation is also practiced by dividing the bush along with part of the root system. The division procedure can be carried out in early spring or autumn.

Reproduction by vaccination is a complex process that requires some skill and experience. It is used for slow-growing types of rhododendron.

Rhododendron, planting features

Landing time

• You can plant a plant in spring and autumn, with the exception of the flowering period and 10-15 days after it.
• Most often, gardeners plant rhododendrons in the spring (to avoid freezing seedlings).

Landing place

• You need to give preference to a semi-shaded, calm place, preferably on the north side of the garden.
• The shrub does not really like direct intense sunlight or too shaded place.
• You should not plant a crop in places of stagnant moisture.
• It is also important to pay attention to the "neighbors" of the rhododendron: trees and shrubs with a superficial root system will become competitors on the site, which may affect the lack of moisture and nutrients.

The soil

• The soil should be acidic, loose, fertile and drained.
• Rhododendrons do not tolerate alkaline or neutral environments well.
• Heavy clay substrates inhibit plant growth. But the presence of peat in the soil will ensure the optimal development of the shrub.

Planting agrotechnics

• Given the superficial location of numerous rhododendron roots, it is necessary to dig a shallow (about 40 cm), but wide (up to 60 cm) hole.
• The pit should be twice the actual size of the seedling.

• At the bottom of the pit, pour a drainage layer (15-20 cm) of pebbles, crushed stone or pieces of slate, then sprinkle with a mixture of loam and peat (1: 2).
• Having rammed the soil mixture, the seedling is vertically placed in the hole. Cover it with soil up to the root neck and compact the soil.

It is important to position the root neck at the level of the soil surface! Otherwise, the plant will wither and may die!

• When planting in poor soil, organic and mineral fertilizers are added.
• Plentifully water the planted seedling with water.
• Additional mulching (by 5-7 cm) of the trunk circle will ensure moisture retention. Leaves, moss, needles or peat are used as mulch.
• In the case of planting a rhododendron with buds or inflorescences, it is better to remove them, directing all the efforts of the plant to the successful rooting of the shrub.
• When planting a crop in groups, an interval is left between shrubs, depending on the future size of the species (from 0.5 to 2 m) and the intended purpose of the crop. For example, if the cultivation of rhododendron provides for " hedge”, they are planted much more often (30-40 cm).
• In the first days after planting, the shrub should be covered from direct sunlight and more often sprayed with water.

The superficial root system of rhododendron makes it easy to transplant young shrubs without injuring the roots and quickly taking root in a new place.

Rhododendron, plant care rules

Growing rhododendrons in your garden, you need to know how to properly care for the plant so that it pleases with its lush flowering and beauty for as long as possible.

Watering

• Rhododendron is a moisture-loving plant, but, at the same time, does not tolerate excessive waterlogging. Although the lack of moisture adversely affects the culture.
• The need for watering is visually noticeable on the condition of the leaves of the shrub: if they become less shiny, turn yellow and wither, the rhododendron needs watering. In addition, the lack of moisture significantly reduces the flowering period of rhododendron.

• Favorably affects the bush watering with acidified soft and settled water. To prepare such water, it is necessary to put several handfuls of high-moor peat into the water a day before watering.
• In the case of a dry summer and autumn, additional winter watering is carried out. late autumn before frost sets in.

Loosening and mulching

• Given the superficial occurrence of roots in rhododendrons, it is necessary to carefully weed out weeds and loosen the soil near the shrub.
• Deep loosening or digging the site can damage the roots, after which it will be difficult for the plant to recover.
• To preserve moisture, the soil around the trunk should be mulched. As mulch, materials are used that increase the acidity of the soil.

Top dressing and fertilization

• Fertilizers that preserve the acidic environment of the soil are suitable for rhododendron: superphosphate, nitrate and potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, ammonium or calcium.
• Fertilizers are applied in low concentrations in liquid form.
• From organic dressings, an aqueous solution (1:15) of half-rotted cow manure is used. The solution is infused for several days. Pig and horse manure reduce the acidity of the soil, so their use is not recommended.
• Rhododendrons are fed 2-3 times per season, from early spring until the end of the growing season (in August).

pruning

• If the rhododendron bush is uniform and regular in shape, it does not need pruning.
• If the bush is too thick and overgrown, there are protruding, dry, damaged branches - they are cut in early spring. Thick sections (2-4 cm) are treated with garden pitch or paint to avoid infection.
• Gardeners recommend pruning off faded buds to ensure the same profuse flowering next season.

Shelter for the winter

• Most varieties of rhododendron grown in cold and harsh winters, need winter shelter. Young seedlings are necessarily prepared for wintering.

• They cover the bush in late autumn, wrapping it with roofing felt, burlap or film. Shelter is also practiced with spruce branches or foliage (in the case of a short rhododendron).
• In the spring, they remove the shelter when stable warm weather (+10 C) is established.

Pest and disease control

• Slugs or snails can settle on the bush, which are simply harvested by hand.
• If bugs, scale insects are wound up on the plant, spider mite, mealy worm or rhododendron flies - you can’t do without treatment with a special fungicide. In such cases, Tiram, Karbofos, TMTD, Diazin are used.
• If rhododendron is affected by fungal diseases (rust, spotting, chlorosis), attention should be paid to the irrigation regime and ensuring aeration of the plant roots. Chlorosis is exterminated with the help of iron chelate, rotten branches are completely removed, and for the purpose of prevention and treatment, the entire bush is treated with Bordeaux mixture in spring or autumn.

The use of rhododendron

• The main purpose of the shrub is decorative. Therefore, landscape designers have long chosen this unusual beautiful plant and use it to decorate and landscaping gardens, parks, house adjoining areas.

• Shrubs look spectacular, both in single plantings (as the central accent of the composition) and in groups (creating a hedge or flower frame). A good combination for a flowering rhododendron, any undersized coniferous plants, ferns, heather will become.

• Some varieties of rhododendron, due to their medicinal properties, are used in folk medicine. Medicinal substances contained in the plant: arbutin, andromedotoxin, rhododendrin, ascorbic acid have a calming, analgesic, antipyretic and bactericidal action. Given that many varieties of rhododendron are poisonous, in no case should the plant be used without consulting a doctor.

The main advantages of the plant are long and decorative flowering. The richness of colors of lush inflorescences, abundantly located on the shrub, impresses with sophistication and beauty. By observing the simple requirements for caring for rhododendron, you can grow this wonderful plant on your site.

Rhododendron, photo

Video: "Garden rhododendron: planting and care" part 1

Video: "Garden rhododendron: planting and care" part 2