Content
Kolkvitsia, a member of the Honeysuckle family, is characterized as a monotypic flowering culture. In its natural habitat, it is found in China and only in mountainous regions. Kolquitsia adorable Pink Cloud is a varietal representative of a deciduous shrub that is suitable for ornamental gardening in temperate climates.
Description of the lovely colquation Pink Cloud
Perennial, flowering, deciduous colquitia Pink Cloud (pink cloud) adorns European Botanical Gardens. In Russia, the lovely colquicia is grown from the European part to the South. The plant feels comfortable in a temperate climate.
Cultivar Pink Cloud is a variety with high frost resistance. Resists temperature drop down to -28 0C. Freezing of young shoots is often noted, but this negative factor does not affect the abundance of flowering, colquification completely forms a substitution until the moment of budding. Every year, up to 4 years, the plant adds in height and width within 30 cm. When the maximum height of 1.8-2.2 m is reached, the growth stops, the growing season is aimed at budding and the formation of shoots.
Description of the habitus of the adorable Pink Cloud colquation:
- Sprawling shrub with a dense crown formed by numerous thin, drooping shoots. Old stems are dark red, rough, with partially peeling bark. Shoots of the current season are one tone lighter than perennial ones, their surface is densely covered with fine pile.
- Leaves of various lengths from 4 to 8.5 cm. The largest are formed at the beginning of the branches, the size decreases towards the top. The plate is in the form of a narrow elongated oval with a sharp top. They grow oppositely, in pairs. In the spring-summer period, the color is dark green, in October it is bright yellow with an orange tint.
- Mixed roots, central deep, superficial fibrous. The accessory buds of the root system give numerous shoots.
- The fruits are dry, the surface is small-bristled, small in size with two seeds. Ripen in early autumn.
The planting material after the opening of the seed pod scatters, germinates the next spring.
How the pleasant pink cloud blooms
The decorativeness of the Pink Cloud colquity is fully manifested only during the flowering period. The timing of budding in a shrub depends on the climate. In the South, it blooms at the end of May, in the Moscow region - in early June, in Siberia 2 weeks later. The flowering period does not depend on the region, its duration is 28 days. The flowers dry, turn yellow, the shrub looks untidy. Therefore, the inflorescences with the tops of the shoots are cut off.
This feature of the culture is fully compensated for by the flowering period. The bush is completely covered with numerous corymbose inflorescences. The flowers are bell-shaped, five-petal, light pink outside, inside in the throat area orange with yellow longitudinal stripes, fragrant. In the photo, the lovely Pink Cloud is at the peak of flowering.
A flowering shrub is used in ornamental gardening as a tapeworm, included in compositions with dwarf conifers, and grown to create an unformed hedge.
Breeding features
According to gardeners, there are no problems with the reproduction of the Pink Cloud colquia. Seedlings quickly form a root system and take root well on the site. An adult plant responds calmly to the transfer, many gardeners practice the method of dividing the bush for reproduction. This method is inconvenient in that a plant that is at least 6 years old is suitable for division. It can be propagated generatively, the disadvantage of this method is the unsatisfactory germination of seeds. Vegetative propagation is more often used: by cuttings and layering.
Planting and caring for the lovely Pink Cloud colquation
Normal vegetation of the Pink Cloud colquation depends on proper planting and subsequent maintenance. The plant tolerates frosts well, which cannot be said about the drought resistance of the culture; the plant cannot do without watering for a long time. In a constantly open area, leaves burn and turn yellow. In order for the flowering to be full, the kolkvitsiya are fed.
Recommended timing
The plant winters well and takes root quickly. Kolkwitzia (kolkwitzia) Pink Cloud is planted on the site in spring and autumn: in the South - at the end of April, in a temperate climate, depending on regional weather patterns. You can start working after warming up the soil to +12 0C if there is no threat of frost. In autumn, in a warm region, kolkvitsiya is planted in mid-September. In areas with a cold climate, the timing is calculated in such a way that 2 months remain before frost.
Site selection and soil preparation
The lovely colquation Pink Cloud grows on any soil composition, the main thing is that the soil is light, fertile, with satisfactory aeration. Lowlands with stagnant moisture and areas with close subsoil waters are not suitable for colquation. The area should be partially shaded. The crown of tall crops will protect from burns and from the north wind.
The place reserved for the Pink Cloud is dug up, weeds are removed. A fertile mixture is prepared, consisting of compost, sand, peat, taken in the same volume.
Landing algorithm
The root of colquicia adorable is treated with an antifungal agent and placed in a growth stimulant. Use drugs according to the instructions. They dig a hole with a diameter and depth of 65 cm.
Landing:
- The bottom is covered with a drainage pad.
- Pour part of the nutrient mixture on top.
- A sapling of kolkvitsiya is placed in the center, the roots are evenly distributed.
- Pour the rest of the prepared soil, compact.
- Water and mulch.
To prevent root decay, the neck is left above the surface (about 3 cm above the ground).
Growing features
According to gardeners' reviews, the agricultural technology of the lovely Pink Cloud is no more difficult than growing any flowering shrub. The decorativeness of the plant depends on timely feeding, watering and cosmetic pruning. The plant is frost-resistant, but the measures taken in the fall will protect the culture from unnecessary stress.
Watering and feeding
The irrigation regime for the Pink Cloud colquation depends on seasonal precipitation, waterlogging of the soil will have a worse effect on the shrub than drying out the topsoil. If it rains once a week, the plant is not watered. In drought, watered at the time of bud formation and during the main flowering.
Top dressing is given by the lovely Pink Cloud colquies three times during the growing season:
- in early spring, after swelling of the buds, urea is scattered around the perimeter of the root circle;
- superphosphate is added during budding;
- after flowering, watered under the root with an organic solution.
Top dressing is carried out in the second year after planting and all subsequent years.
Mulching
Mulch the Pink Cloud colquation immediately after planting, use sawdust mixed with peat, needles, tree bark or chips. The covering layer carries a multifunctional load: it retains moisture, prevents weeds from growing, protects the root from overheating in summer and hypothermia in winter. In the fall, the mulch layer is increased, in the spring it is completely renewed. This measure will save the gardener from constant weeding and give the site an aesthetic appearance.
Pruning
Pleasant colquation Pink Cloud forms inflorescences on last year's shoots, this feature of the plant is taken into account during pruning. After flowering, the tops of the stems are cut off along with dry inflorescences, the shoots of the current year are not touched, flowers will appear on them next season. Along the way, weak, twisted stems and several old branches are removed. In the spring, before sap flow, sanitary cleaning is carried out, dry and frozen areas are removed.
Preparing for winter
Prepare for winter colquition Pink Cloud 2 weeks before the onset of frost. Sequence of work:
- Water the bush with plenty of water.
- Increase the layer of mulch, you can throw dry leaves on top.
- The branches are pulled together with twine in a bundle.
- Wrap spunbond on top.
- The seedlings can be covered with spruce branches.
In the South, a layer of mulch is sufficient for wintering kolkvitsiya.
Pests and diseases
Pink Cloud does not get sick, the only problem that occurs when the soil is waterlogged is root decay. Watering is reduced or transplanted to a dry area.
Parasitic insects and means for their control are presented in the table.
Pests | Drugs |
Thrips | "Aster" |
Aphid | Fitoverm |
Leaf roll | "Inta-Vira" |
Shield | "Actellik" |
A variety of ticks | "Kleschevit" |
For preventive purposes, in the spring, before the leaves appear, the plant is treated with copper sulfate.
Conclusion
Kolkvitsiya adorable Pink Cloud is an ornamental shrub. The perennial blooms densely in early June with pink flowers. The frost-resistant plant is used in landscape design of homestead and summer cottages, it is found in botanical and private gardens. The culture is undemanding to the composition of the soil and care. It multiplies easily, takes root well.
