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Clematis Blue Explosion is a flowering vine used as an ornamental plant. Clematis of this variety belong to large-flowered specimens, the vine of which beautifully braids the walls of the gazebo or supports and blooms for a long time throughout the warm period of the year (from May to September). The plant is used for vertical gardening.
Description of Clematis Blue Explosion
Clematis Blue Explosion (pictured) was bred by the Polish breeder S. Marchinsky in 1995. The plant belongs to the early large-flowered varieties.
Flowering is long, plentiful. From mid-May, last year’s shoots begin to bloom, the second wave occurs in mid-June and lasts until mid-September, at which time flowers form on young shoots.
Clematis Blue Explosion flowers are large double or semi-double on old shoots, simple – on young branches, reach 15 cm in diameter, semi-open shape, petals are blue with pinkish tips.
The height of Clematis Blue Explosion reaches 2,5-3 m, therefore, when growing, it is necessary to install a support or any other structure along which the plant can crawl up.
Growing conditions for Clematis grandiflora Blue Explosion
Blue Explosion clematis love sunny areas, but areas with occasional shading can also be used.
Blue Explosion belongs to the heat-loving varieties of clematis, so the southern regions are suitable for its cultivation. The long flowering of clematis suggests a long and warm summer. In winter, the temperature in the region should not fall below minus 15 ° C, otherwise the culture will freeze.
Planting and caring for clematis Blue Explosion
The spring period is suitable for planting young clematis seedlings, when the threat of frost has passed. If the Blue Explosion seedling is purchased in the fall, it is planted 1,5 months before the first frost.
Clematis loves warm, wind-sheltered, well-lit areas. There are some soil requirements: seedlings prefer neutral soils, but can grow in alkaline and slightly acidic areas.
For the seedling, a landing pit is preliminarily prepared. Standard well dimensions:
- on heavy lands – at least 70x70x70 cm;
- on light soils, 50x50x50 cm is enough.
Clematis Blue Explosion does not like dense stands, so the minimum distance between bushes should be 0,7 m. It is advisable to increase the gap to 1 m so that plants do not have competition for nutrients.
Waterlogged soil and stagnant water can lead to the death of clematis of this variety, so watering should be strictly rationed.
The drainage layer should be at least 15 cm.
For backfilling in the planting pit, a nutrient soil mixture is prepared, consisting of the following components:
- sod land – 2 buckets;
- humus – 1 bucket;
- superphosphate or nitrophoska – 100 g.
Blue Explosion seedlings must be deepened into the ground by 6-8 cm, a small hole should be formed around the plant. On different soils, the degree of deepening will vary. On heavy soil, the depth should be small, and on light soils up to 10-15 cm.
After planting, the plant needs pruning. On the shoots of Blue Explosion, from 2 to 4 buds are left from below, the rest of the shoot is cut off. Pruning is necessary for young plants, it allows you to strengthen the root system and improve root formation. If the seedling is planted in the ground in the spring, re-pruning is carried out after a few weeks.
After planting, the plant must be moistened. A hole formed around the trunk will help retain moisture.
After watering, it is necessary to carry out mulching work. Sawdust or peat are used as mulching materials. Mulching the hole solves several problems at once: less water is required for irrigation, in addition, weed grass cannot grow under a layer of mulch.
During planting work or in advance, care must be taken to support Blue Explosion Clematis. These flowers are quite tall, so you can not do without supporting structures. They can be purchased at the store or built on their own, the main thing is to make them not only durable, but also beautiful, because clematis will not grow instantly. The optimal height of the supports should be in the range of 1,5–3 m.
In the first days after planting, Blue Explosion seedlings must be shaded from bright sunlight.
Clematis can be fed with mineral compounds, wood ash, mullein diluted with water. Fertilize the bushes no more than 1 time in 14 days. If mineral fertilizers are used, then dilute 30 g in 10 liters of water. This volume should be enough for 2 m² of area. Wood ash will need 1 cup for each seedling. If you plan to use mullein, then 1 part of manure is diluted in 10 parts of water.
To protect the roots of Clematis Blue Explosion from overheating, the soil in the planting hole and around is planted with annual flowering plants, perennials can also be planted, but with a shallow root system. Calendula, marigolds, chamomile are the best option for landscaping the area around clematis.
Preparation for winter
Hybrid clematis Blue Explosion belongs to heat-loving plants, therefore, in the process of preparing the garden for winter, it is necessary to provide shelter for seedlings from bad weather and frost.
The best time for the procedure is the autumn period (just before the onset of frost). Pruning height – 100-150 cm from the ground. You can prune a little more if the branches are damaged or need rejuvenation. All weak and diseased shoots are cut off completely. After the procedure, the shoots are removed from the support and carefully laid on the ground, then covered with insulation and improvised means: spruce branches, peat, sawdust.
The first pinching of Clematis Blue Explosion is carried out at a level of 30 cm from the soil surface. The second time the procedure is repeated at a height of 70 cm, the third time the pinching is done at a level of 100-150 cm.
Reproduction
Clematis are propagated in various ways: cuttings, layering, dividing the bush. The seed method of reproduction is the most unreliable and lengthy.
Cuttings are harvested at the beginning of flowering plants. They are cut out from the middle part of the vine, while at least 2 cm should remain on top of the node, and a little more on the bottom – 3-4 cm. For the rapid formation of roots, the cuttings are placed for a day in a heteroauxin solution, which is prepared as follows: 1 g of the drug. Cuttings are planted obliquely in boxes. As a soil, a mixture of sand and peat in equal parts is used. Cuttings root well in greenhouse conditions at a temperature not lower than plus 50-22 ºC. To create such conditions, the container with the cuttings is covered with a film. Rooting takes 25 to 1 months, then they are transplanted into individual pots. In winter, containers with seedlings are kept at a temperature not higher than plus 2-3 ° C. Water occasionally, the main thing is that the earth does not dry out. In the spring, these seedlings are suitable for planting in a flower bed. Clematis grown by cuttings will bloom in the fall.
The layering method is as follows: the young shoot is bent to the ground and placed in a groove. So that it does not pull out of the ground, in the places of internodes it is pinned with metal wire and sprinkled with soil. The top with leaves should remain on the surface. Layers are watered regularly. As they grow, new internodes are also sprinkled with earth, leaving only a small top with a few leaves on the surface. For the winter, this layer is not dug up, but left to winter along with an adult bush.
There are two ways to divide a bush:
- dig the bush completely and divide it into 2-3 parts, leaving at least three shoots on each root;
- dig up the roots of an adult plant on one side, separate part of the rhizome with shoots.
You can use any method you like.
Diseases and pests
Clematis Blue Explosion do not like waterlogged soil. If the ground is too wet, the roots are exposed to fungal diseases. Withering of the leaves, the appearance of spots on them indicate the development of the fungus. To prevent the death of the plant, it is necessary to treat the roots with foundationazole. A 0,2% solution is poured under the root, this allows you to slow down the growth of pathogenic fungi.
The appearance of orange spots on leaves, shoots and petioles indicates the development of rust. To combat the disease, copper-containing solutions are used (Bordeaux liquid, copper oxychloride, polychom).
Pests that can parasitize clematis:
- aphid;
- spider mite;
- gall nematode.
Medvedki and mice can gnaw the roots, which is dangerous for the plant and can lead to its death.
Slugs and snails can also harm young clematis seedlings, so they need to be dealt with. Mulching the trunk circle with spruce needles can prevent the problem of slugs and snails.
Conclusion
Clematis Blue Explosion can decorate any garden plot. With the right choice of planting site and appropriate care, clematis will delight with abundant flowering every year.
Clematis Blue Explosion Reviews
