Content
Rhododendron Lachsgold is a perennial, frost-resistant hybrid from the Heather family. The plant is slow-growing, by the age of 10 it reaches a height of 110 cm and a width of 150 cm. The hybrid forms a small, sprawling bush, which, in combination with conifers, will decorate the garden plot.
Description of rhododendron Lachsgold
Hybrid rhododendron Lachsgold is a perennial, unpretentious plant that forms a spherical crown of flexible and strong shoots. The variety has a feature that attracts flower growers - it changes the color of flowers as they bloom. At the end of May, soft salmon flowers appear on the shrub of pink buds, as they bloom and until the end of flowering, the flowers turn yellow-cream. The flowering of the hybrid is beautiful and long, the inflorescences adorn the garden plot for 20-30 days. Description of rhododendron Lachsgold and easy care, allow growing the variety and novice growers.
Winter hardiness of rhododendron Lachsgold
Rhododendron Lachsgold is a cold-resistant variety that can withstand temperatures as low as -25 ° C. Thanks to these indicators, the hybrid can be grown in Central and Central Russia. An adult plant does not need shelter, but for a safe wintering it is abundantly shed, fed and mulched by the trunk circle.
Planting and caring for the Lachsgold rhododendron
Rhododendron Lachsgold is an unpretentious perennial plant. Subject to agrotechnical rules, the shrub will decorate the personal plot for 10-15 years.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
Rhododendron Lachsgold is a light-loving plant, but when planting a seedling in an open, sunny area, the foliage can get burned, and the flowers can be faded.
It is better to give preference to an area located in partial shade with diffused light and protected from gusty winds. The best neighbors will be apple, pear, pine, oak and larch, since the root system of these species goes deep into the ground and thus, they will not take away nutrients from the rhododendron.
The soil for a rhododendron must be nutritious, well breathable and permeable. The shrub does not tolerate drought and stagnant moisture, therefore, when planting a young seedling, it is necessary to find a middle ground. It must also be remembered that the acidity of the soil should be in the range of 4-5.5 pH. If the soil is acidic, then the plant can get chlorosis.
If the soil is heavy, then for the Lachsgold rhododendron, you can independently prepare a nutritious soil: sour peat, sod land and pine bark are mixed in a ratio of 3: 0.5: 1. If the soil is acidic, then slaked lime or dolomite flour can be added to the mixture.
Seedling preparation
Rhododendron seedling Lachsgold is best purchased in nurseries, at the age of 2-3 years. When buying, you need to pay attention to the root system. It should be well developed, free from rot and disease. A healthy seedling should have good bushiness of cuttings and healthy, well-developed buds.
When purchasing a seedling with an open root system, the plant is recommended to be kept for about 2 hours in warm water with the addition of a root formation stimulator before planting.
Planting rules for rhododendron Lachsgold
The best time for planting the Lachsgold rhododendron is spring, since before the cold weather comes, the plant will grow its root system and get stronger. Seedlings with a closed root system can be planted in spring, summer and autumn. A landing hole must be prepared 2 weeks before planting. To do this, a hole 40 cm deep and 60 cm wide is dug in the selected area.When several specimens are planted, the interval between the planting holes is maintained at 1-1.5 m. Landing technology:
- The bottom of the hole is covered with a 15 cm layer of drainage, then with nutrient soil.
- If the rhododendron is purchased with a closed root system, then the seedling is carefully removed along with a lump of earth from the pot and planted in a prepared hole.
- I fill all the voids with soil, making sure that no air voids remain.
- The top layer is tamped and spilled abundantly
- Since the rhododendron has a shallow root system and it is located in the upper, fertile layer of soil, mulch is laid around the planted bush. It will retain moisture, save the roots from overheating, stop the growth of weeds and become an additional organic fertilizing. Wood bark, sawdust, dry foliage or rotted compost are used as mulch.
After planting a seedling, it needs to be properly cared for. It includes:
- watering;
- top dressing;
- spraying;
- bush formation;
- sanitary pruning.
Watering and feeding
High-quality and regular watering affects the laying of flower buds. Irrigation is carried out with settled, warm water in the morning or evening. Watering should be abundant so that the soil is moistened to a depth of 20-30 cm. For an adult plant, 10 liters of water are consumed after the top layer of water has dried. A young plant is watered more often, spending up to 500 ml of water per bush. Since rhododendron Lachsgold does not tolerate drought and stagnant water, in hot, dry weather, the shrub must be sprayed after sunset.
After watering, the near-trunk circle is superficially loosened, trying not to damage the surface roots. To retain moisture, the trunk circle is mulched with rotted humus, straw or dry foliage.
Rhododendron Lachsgold begin to feed in the second year after planting. Fertilizers should be applied in small portions, in liquid form. Nutrient deficiencies can be identified by the appearance of the rhododendron:
- foliage brightens;
- growth and development stops;
- bud formation does not occur;
- the shrub loses its decorative appearance.
Optimal feeding mode:
- at the beginning of the growing season - nitrogen-containing fertilizers;
- after flowering - add ammonium sulfate, superphosphate and potassium sulfate;
- in early August - the bush is fed with superphosphate and potassium sulfate.
Pruning
An adult rhododendron Lachsgold does not need a crown to form, since the plant is able to independently form a regular, spherical shape. But there are times when you need to remove frozen, dried and overgrown branches. When pruning, use a clean, sharp tool.
Pruning is carried out in early spring, before bud break. The cut site is treated with garden pitch. 30 days after pruning, dormant buds will begin to awaken and the renewal process will begin. Old bushes are pruned to a height of 30-40 cm from the ground. Rejuvenating pruning, so as not to weaken the shrub, is carried out gradually. In the first year, the south side is renewed, in the second year - the north.
The rhododendron Lachsgold has one feature: in one year the shrub shows lush and long flowering, and in the second year, flowering is poor. In order for a lush flowering to be every season, all faded inflorescences must be broken out so that the rhododendron does not waste energy on the maturation of the seeds.
Preparing for winter
Rhododendron Lachsgold is a cold-resistant variety that can withstand frosts up to -25 ° C without shelter. It is better to cover young plants in the first 2-3 years after planting. For this:
- In dry autumn, the plant is shed abundantly. Under each bush spend up to 10 liters of warm, settled water.
- The frost resistance of Lachsgold rhododendron can be increased by covering the near-trunk circle with mulch from foliage, peat or rotted compost.
- After the first frosts, the crown is covered with burlap, after having overlaid the branches with spruce branches and slightly tightened with twine.
- The shelter is removed in cloudy weather, after the snow melts.
Reproduction
Rhododendron Lachsgold can be propagated by seeds, dividing the bush, branches and cuttings. Since rhododendron Lachsgold is a hybrid, then when propagated by seeds, you may not get varietal characteristics.
Cuttings are an effective breeding method. Lignified cuttings 10-15 cm in size are cut from the bush. The lower leaves are removed, the upper ones are shortened by ½ the length. The prepared planting material is soaked for 2 hours in a root formation stimulator and planted at an acute angle in a nutritious soil. To speed up the emergence of roots, the plant is covered with a jar or plastic bag. The process of root formation is long, lasts about 1.5 months, therefore, when propagating by cuttings, you need to be patient.
After rooting, the cuttings are transplanted into a larger pot and rearranged in a bright, warm place. The next year, the rooted seedling can be transplanted to the prepared place.
Reproduction by branches is the simplest and easiest way, therefore it is suitable for novice florists. In the spring, a strong, healthy shoot is chosen from the plant, located next to the ground. The selected branch is placed in a pre-dug trench to a depth of 5-7 cm, leaving the top above the surface. The moat is filled up, spilled abundantly and mulched. After a year, the rooted shoot can be detached from the mother bush and transplanted to a permanent place.
Dividing the bush - the method is used after anti-aging pruning. Rhododendron Lachsgold is carefully dug out, trying not to damage the surface roots, and divided into sections. Each part should have well-developed roots and a healthy growth bud. A year later, subject to agrotechnical rules, the young plant will begin to form young shoots, grow and bloom at the end of spring.
Diseases and pests
Rhododendron Lachsgold has a strong immunity to diseases. But if the rules of care are not followed, the following diseases and pests may appear on the plant, such as:
- Rhododendron bug Is the most common pest that begins to manifest itself in the summer. In an infected plant, the leaf plate is covered with snow-white spots. Without treatment, the foliage dries out and falls off. To combat the bug, the bush is sprayed with the drug "Diazinin".
- Mealybug - the insect can be found on foliage, buds and young shoots. After settling, the pest begins to suck out the juice, which leads to the death of the bush. For prophylaxis against the pest, the bush is sprayed in spring and autumn with Karbofos.
- Chlorosis - the disease appears when growing a plant on acidified soil, with a lack of nitrogen and potassium, as well as with stagnant moisture. When a disease appears, yellow or red spots appear along the edges of the foliage and near the veins, which grow without treatment. You can get rid of the disease only if you follow the rules of care.
Conclusion
Rhododendron Lachsgold is a flowering perennial plant.Subject to agrotechnical rules, a lush-flowering shrub will become a decoration of a personal plot for a long time. Due to its unpretentiousness and frost resistance, the hybrid can be grown in the Central and Central Russia for novice growers.
