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Rhododendron Nova Zembla is very popular with gardeners due to its decorative properties and unpretentious care. It can be grown almost anywhere.
Description of rhododendron Nova Zembla
Hybrid rhododendron Nova Zembla is a perennial evergreen shrub of the heather family. The plant has excellent decorative qualities and good frost resistance. The height of the Nova Zembla rhododendron bush reaches 2 m, while in width it grows the same distance. The shape of the crown is domed, branches are spreading. Sometimes it blooms twice a season - in summer and autumn.
The leaves are large, slightly elongated, dark green on the outside, and gray on the back. The main detail in the description of the Nova Zembla rhododendron is its flowers. They are bright ruby color with brown dots in the center and yellow anthers, they resemble a bell in appearance. Their diameter ranges from 6 to 10 cm, collected in inflorescences up to 12 pieces. The bush has a powerful trunk covered with gray bark and highly branching shoots. The root system is superficial.
Rhododendron Nova Zembla is shown in the photo:
In landscaping, the shrub is not planted in a small space. The plant is located near water bodies or near the house. Also, the shrub is used in group plantings. Description of the variety of rhododendron Nova Zembla, his photos and reviews of flower growers indicate that the plant is quite common both in landscape design and as single plantings in summer cottages.
Winter hardiness of rhododendron Nova Zembla
The Nova Zembla variety perfectly tolerates low and high temperatures. The shrub survives at temperatures ranging from -32 ° C to + 35 ° C. Comfortable conditions for him - from - 10 ° С to + 25 ° С.
Therefore, in cold regions such as Siberia or the Urals, the plant must be covered in winter. The same applies to young, not yet matured shrubs. Rhododendron Nova Zembla after winter can be black, as a rule, this indicates the reproduction of a fungus on a plant under cover.
Growing conditions for the hybrid rhododendron Nova Zembla
Rhododendron Nova Zembla is well adjacent to pine, oak, larch, and fruit trees. The shrub is not planted next to shallow-rooted plants or they will compete for nutrients.
When growing rhododendron Nova Zembla, it is recommended to adhere to the following conditions:
- planting is best done either in the spring in April-May, or in the fall in September-November;
- if it is necessary to plant rhododendron in other periods, then it is worth waiting out the flowering time and two weeks after it;
- they have shrubs on the north side of the buildings; slight shading is possible.
Planting and caring for the Nova Zembla rhododendron
Planting a hybrid Nova Zembla rhododendron and caring for it is not difficult. The plant has adapted well to various climatic conditions.The shrub will do great in both northern and southern areas.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
It is better to choose a site for a rhododendron in partial shade. You should not place shrubs in windy, low places. The soil is acidic, loose, containing enough nutrients. The groundwater should be low, otherwise you will have to raise the flowerbed with the Nova Zembla rhododendron. The plant does not like high humidity and wetlands.
If the soil on the site is not fertile enough, it should be improved. For this, a mixture of peat, sand, sod land, compost, coal, humus, perlite is introduced. All components are added in equal proportions, and charcoal is added in a small amount.
Seedling preparation
It is better to purchase the rhododendron hybrid Nova Zembla in specialized stores, thus reducing the risk of taking a diseased plant. When the seedling is removed from the container, it should be well saturated with an earthen ball with water. It is immersed in a liquid and waited for the release of air bubbles to stop.
When planting, the bush is immersed in the soil to the same depth as in the container.
If the roots are very long, they are slightly pruned, then straightened in the planting pit. In this case, one must try not to severely injure the plant.
Landing rules
The best time to plant the Nova Zembla rhododendron is spring. The following recommendations should be observed:
- the seedling hole should be about 50 cm deep and 80 cm wide or more;
- at the bottom, drainage is made from a layer of sand and crushed brick about 20 cm thick;
- the bush is deepened to the level where the root collar is located;
- the root is spread in the center of the pit and covered with soil;
- for a rhododendron, a near-stem hole is made, the plant is watered, and its foliage is sprayed with water;
- the final stage is mulching with peat, needles or bark.
Watering and feeding
Watering the Nova Zembla rhododendron requires compliance with the following conditions:
- the shrub needs a lot of water, in hot weather, up to 12 liters are poured per plant up to 3 times a week;
- if there is a lack of moisture, expressed in lethargy or browning of the leaves, then watering is increased;
- soft water with a low salt content is suitable for rhododendrons;
- the foliage of the shrub needs spraying, especially during the period of active development;
- after watering, the soil is loosened without fail, this must be done carefully so as not to damage the root system at the surface;
- weeds removed by loosening are recommended to be used as mulch.
When fertilizing rhododendron, the content of nutrients in the soil is taken into account. Fertile land is fertilized 2 times a year. In this case, it is worth observing a number of rules:
- in spring, complex agents are introduced under the bush, as well as mineral elements: ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, superphosphate;
- the plant needs a second feeding after flowering: phosphate and potassium mixture;
- young seedlings are fed with fertilizers in liquid form.
Pruning
Rhododendron Nova Zembla does not need formative pruning, the bush itself grows quite neatly. All procedures are carried out in the spring before sap flow begins. They mainly use sanitary and anti-aging pruning.
The bush is relieved of dried, weak and diseased shoots. When thick branches are injured, the cut sites are treated with garden pitch.
The old bush is rejuvenated in two stages. In one year, branches are removed to a size of 30 cm on one part of the plant, in another - on the second part. When freezing with rhododendron, they do the same.
A feature of the flowering of the shrub is the cyclical nature - the lush flowering in the next season is replaced by a more moderate one.To preserve decorativeness, the inflorescences are removed, preventing the fruit from setting. Thus, they achieve abundant flowering every summer.
Preparing for winter
Before the winter period, the Nova Zembla rhododendron must be well watered so that the plant has time to accumulate a sufficient supply of moisture. The height of the mulch layer is increased to 15 cm. It is recommended to cover the bush with spunbond to protect it from burning out under the bright winter sun.
Reproduction
Rhododendron Nova Zembla is propagated by cuttings or layering. Both methods are quite effective.
Cuttings are harvested in the second half of June. Their length should be about 8 cm. The planting material is treated with a growth stimulator and placed in a mixture of peat and sand for germination. It is necessary to make sure that the lower cut of the shoots is oblique at an angle of about 45 °. Ideal rooting conditions can be created in a greenhouse, where it is easy to maintain the desired humidity and temperature.
When 3-4 leaves are formed on the handle, they are divided into containers. The seedling will move to a permanent place in a year.
It is a little easier to propagate the Nova Zembla rhododendron by layering - in the spring you need to dig in one of the lower branches, fixing it with a bracket on the ground. Careful care must be taken for the shoot, in no case allowing the soil to dry out. For better rooting, you can use special tools. For the next fall, the bush can be planted in a permanent place.
Diseases and pests
Rhododendron Nova Zembla is attacked by such pests:
- Acacia false shield - a small insect with an oval body and brown color. The larvae pierce the bark and harden on the plant. The bush becomes weaker and eventually dies. An effective measure against acacia false shield is treatment with organophosphate fertilizers every 10 days.
- Furrowed weevil - a small beetle, has a black color. It is capable of destroying the plant if you do not take timely protective measures. In summer, the pest is especially active, therefore, during this period, the soil and the bush are treated with the preparations "Furadon", "Bazudin".
- Aphid - a small insect that, uniting in colonies, drinks the sap of the plant and is able to destroy it in a short time. From the pest, drugs designed to destroy weevils will save.
- Snails and slugs mainly damage the leaves of plants, actively eating them. The main control measure is the manual collection of the pest and the location of substances that repel slugs next to the rhododendron bush.
Rhododendron Nova Zembla is susceptible to the following diseases:
- Tracheomycosis or vascular wilting - caused by a fungus. Leaves and stems wither quickly, becoming covered with a gray bloom. If signs of a disease are detected, the dead parts are removed, and the bush is treated with Bordeaux liquid.
- Root rot - affects roots and stems. The plant rots and then dies. The disease is manifested by yellowing and drying of the leaves, as well as the fall of the buds. The infected parts are burned, and with a strong spread of the disease, the entire bush is destroyed.
- Septoria spot - the causative agent is a fungus. It appears as red spots, the middle of which turns white over time. Then black dots appear - fruiting bodies. Leaves turn yellow, dry up and fall. The disease is common among greenhouse plants. All physiological processes are disturbed, flower buds are not set. Control measures - in the spring the bush is sprayed with preparations containing copper, and in the summer with fungicides.
Conclusion
Rhododendron Nova Zembla has proven itself well and does not give up, remaining a favorite of summer residents. Caring for him is available even to beginners in the gardening business. The only thing to consider is that you need to allocate enough space for a spreading bush.
Reviews of the rhododendron Nova Zembla
