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The garden becomes very festive when the magnolia Cobus from the rhododendron family settles in it. The plot is saturated with a tropical atmosphere and pleasant aroma. The tree or shrub is covered with large flowers and intense green foliage. Some types of magnolia belong to winter-hardy crops that can withstand temperatures down to -30 ° C.
Magnolia Cobus Description
In 1794, Thunberg first studied the magnolia Kobus, the description and photos of which are presented below. In 1817, the culture finally got its current name. A deciduous tree in the wild can grow up to 25 m in height, and in cultivated form up to 10 m.
In the very early years, the Kobus magnolia has a narrow pyramidal shape, and over time it becomes round or oval. The crown of the tree is spreading, reaching 6 m in diameter. In the northern latitudes, the culture develops in the form of a wide bush. The trunk is dark gray in color with small cracks, over time it acquires a brownish tint.
Deciduous buds have a small silky edging with villi. The leaf plate is ovoid with a sharp apex. She wedges to the base. Leaf length 8-13 cm.
How Magnolia Kobus blooms
Magnolia flowers Kobus are milky white in color with a pleasant aroma. They are 10 cm in diameter. Each of them has three small sepals and six petals. When opened, the flowers show purple veins and many stamens. There are many carpels in the gynoecium.
Magnolia Kobus blooms in the Moscow region in the middle of spring, the foliage has not yet fully blossomed, and flowering lasts about two weeks. This is usually the end of April.
Curiously, magnolia flowers are sensitive to the pollination process when they are in the form of buds. Upon opening, they already lose this ability. Currently, the magnolia Kobus is pollinated by small bugs that carry pollen with their paws along still closed buds, and not by bees and other insects. Beetles are attracted by the pleasant smell of flowers.
Reproduction methods
The culture is distinguished by natural regeneration in the form of self-seeding. Also, lower young shoots can root themselves in shrubs. Magnolia Kobus can successfully reproduce by seed. After collecting, they are immediately sown in the ground so that they undergo natural stratification.
Propagation by cuttings shows that they are poorly rooted. Most of the crops are with an average degree of winter hardiness.
The best breeding option for Kobus magnolia is considered to be grafting. The plant grows well, begins to bear fruit early, and has increased endurance. Although, this method cannot be called easy. Grafting is done in the spring with a lateral incision or application method.
Planting and caring for Magnolia Kobus
The tree feels more comfortable in regions where a warm and humid climate prevails. When placing the Kobus magnolia in the garden, you need to think about a place with comfortable conditions for it in advance. It can be adversely affected by the north and east wind.
It is advisable that there are no drafts where the magnolia Kobus grows. In the Moscow region, planting and care is the same as in other nearby regions. The Kobus magnolia planting site is sunny. Shady areas should be avoided.
Recommended timing
The most favorable time for planting outdoors is autumn. Good survival rate at the Kobus magnolia at the end of October, since at this time the culture is dormant. In spring, the tree can be planted in early April.
It is worth focusing on the weather conditions so that there are no frosts, otherwise they will cause irreparable harm to the culture. Indeed, after planting, the plant has not yet had time to fully get stronger.
Site selection and soil preparation
When choosing a place for the Kobus magnolia, you need to take into account that the tree has a well-developed root system. The diameter of the hole is equal to three volumes of the seedling root. It is noteworthy that young roots with a thin structure can be easily damaged. Therefore, special care must be taken when landing.
Around the trunk circle, you do not need to be zealous with tamping the earth. So that the moisture does not evaporate quickly, the hole covered with soil is sprinkled on top with the planed bark of coniferous trees.
Before planting Kobus magnolia, you need to study the composition and acidity of the soil. A slightly acidic soil enriched with organic and mineral fertilizers is suitable for the normal development of the culture.
The composition should include sod soil - 2 parts, peat layer - 1 part, rotted compost - 1 part. Don't forget about drainage. If the soil is dense, then it is loosened with part of the coarse sand.
How to plant correctly
If the seedling originally grew in a container, then when transplanting into open ground, care is required so that the Kobus magnolia is not damaged. The winter hardiness of the culture is average, so additional shelter will be required for the winter. If the root system is poorly covered, this can lead to the death of the plant.
For planting, the hole is prepared in advance, the earth lump is carefully removed from the container and placed in it in the center. It is advisable to fill the hole with a good soil mixture, which is prepared when planting seed.
The dimensions of the pit for a half-meter magnolia seedling: depth - 50 cm, width - 80 cm. When the seedling develops, it does not need to be repotted repeatedly, this will delay the beginning of flowering. It is better to devote due time to choosing a permanent place for culture. Do not forget about watering, feeding, mulching.
Growing rules
For a culture to thrive, it needs to be cared for properly. Although there are no special differences from other types of fruit trees. Magnolia Kobus has a root system located near the surface of the earth, so you need to loosen the soil carefully. The permissible depth is up to 10-15 cm.
When the magnolia reaches the age of three, it is recommended to add mulching material under the tree trunk circle. Rotten manure mixed with hay, sawdust, planed coniferous bark, peat are suitable. On the one hand, mulch is a heater, and on the other, it is a source of nutrients.
Watering
Young seedlings of magnolia Kobus are especially in need of good watering, and adult plantings - in a dry hot summer. For the normal development of the culture, it is required to water it once a week.
When watering, one tree takes 2-3 buckets of water. If the soil is sandy, then the amount and abundance of irrigation can be slightly increased. For long-term preservation of moisture in the soil, mulching is used.
Top dressing
After planting in the third year, the Kobus magnolia begins to be fed with fertilizers and nutritional complexes.
- In early spring, you can add the following composition to the soil: a liquid mixture of mullein - 1 kg, urea in crystals - 15 g, ammonium nitrate - 25 g.
- In autumn, the culture is fertilized with the following composition: nitroammophoska powder is added to 10 liters of water - 20 g.
- When watering, one tree takes 40 liters of liquid.
As a fertilizer, ready-made fertilizer "Kemir Universal" has proven itself well. For 10 liters of water, you need to dilute 1 tbsp. l. liquid solution. You can also use specialized formulations designed for magnolias. In case of overdose, foliage may dry out.
Pruning
It should be noted that magnolia Kobus has a negative attitude towards pruning. Therefore, this process must be resorted to in extremely rare cases. For example, pruning is allowed in 1-2 years of culture development to give shape and decorativeness to the seedling.
Only sanitary pruning of old and damaged branches is recommended. You can thin out the crown if it is heavily thickened. Sections are required to be processed with garden pitch.
Preparing for winter
Many species of adult Kobus magnolia trees are capable of withstanding frosts down to - 25-30 0С in winter cold. But you need to take care of young bushes at first. For the first three years for the winter, you need to cover the trunk circle to protect the root system from the cold.
As a heater, you can use a special agrotechnical material - lutrasil, burlap, chopped straw, sawdust, peat or spruce branches. With the age of the culture, its winter hardiness increases.
Pests and diseases
Unlike many horticultural crops, Kobus magnolia is rarely affected by disease. But some species can still overshadow the joy of gardeners who are passionate about breeding this beautiful and fragrant planting. For instance:
- On foliage, the appearance of a yellowish spot indicates chlorosis. Excessive lime in the soil can lead to the death of the root system.
- The alkaline environment is also harmful to the roots of Kobus magnolia. The tree may dry out.
To correct the situation, an acidified peat layer, earth from the near-trunk circle of coniferous trees and other special means must be added to the soil. They will help regulate acidity.
Thrips, peach aphids, mealybugs can cause harm to an exotic culture. In the hot season, the tree can be attacked by spider mites and other types of mites. They feed on the juice of the leaf plate.
Conclusion
Magnolia Kobus is an exotic tree or shrub, distinguished by the aroma and beauty of flowers. Better to plant it next to other types of fruit crops. In this case, you can fully experience the paradise in your garden. With the joint planting of fern bushes, the ginkgo corner will acquire an archaic look, where you can enjoy blooming "white bows".
