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Clematis Little Mermaid belongs to the Japanese selection. The author of the variety in 1994 was Takashi Watanabe. In translation, the variety is called “mermaid”. Belongs to the class of large-flowered, early-flowering clematis. Light-loving, climbing plant is used for vertical landscaping.
Description of clematis Little Mermaid
Clematis Little Mermaid belongs to the group of vines. Shoots reach a length of up to 2 m. For cultivation, it is necessary to install supports along which the plant will climb.
Little Mermaid flowers are pale pink with a salmon hue. Anthers form a bright light yellow center. According to photos and reviews, Clematis Little Mermaid forms large flowers, with a diameter of 8 to 12 cm. Flowering is long and abundant. During the warm season, there are two waves of flowering, the first – from May to June on the shoots of last year, the second – in August-September on the shoots formed in the current year.
The frost resistance of the variety belongs to 4-9 zones. The root system of the plant is able to withstand frosts down to -35°C. But the shoots remaining above the ground, on which flower buds are laid at the end of the current season, must be covered.
Clematis pruning group Little Mermaid
Clematis grandiflora Little Mermaid belongs to the second pruning group. Shoots are pruned twice a season. The first time cut last year’s stems after flowering. Remove the faded part or, if the shoot is weak, cut it off completely.
The shoots that appeared this year are pruned weakly, leaving 10-15 nodes each. Completely remove diseased or weak stems. If the shoots of the current year of the Little Mermaid plant are cut off completely, flowering will begin only at the end of summer and will be few.
Planting and caring for Clematis Little Mermaid
Clematis Little Mermaid is planted in a warm sunny place, in a site without a tendency to waterlogging and drafts. For planting, loose soil with good water permeability, neutral acidity is required.
When planting, Clematis Little Mermaid is buried 5-10 cm below the soil level. During the season, the soil is gradually poured into the formed funnel. The soil under clematis must be mulched. The root neck is covered with sand. The base of the plant must be shaded. To do this, from the side where the sun’s rays fall on the soil, annual flowers are planted, for example, marigolds.
Watering the culture is necessary regular, so that the soil does not dry out. Moisture is necessary to maintain a large volume of leaf mass and thermoregulation of the plant.
In the fall of the first year of planting, Clematis Little Mermaid is cut back to the first true leaf. In the future, the vines are cut according to the 2nd group.
According to the photo and description of Clematis Little Mermaid, for abundant flowering, he is shown top dressing at least 5 times per season.
Feeding scheme:
- At the end of April, the plant is fed with ammonium nitrate. For an adult bush, fertilizer is dissolved at the rate of 2 g per 10 liters of water or a handful is scattered around the plant. Dry fertilizer close up in the soil.
- A week after the first feeding, organic fertilizers are applied in liquid form, for example, an infusion of mullein or grass in a ratio of 1:10. In the absence of organic top dressing, a urea solution is used at the rate of 10 g per 10 liters of water.
- 2 weeks after the second top dressing, a complex fertilizer is used, for example, “Kemiru wagon” at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. for 10 liters of water.
- During the budding period, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used without the inclusion of chlorine.
- After the first abundant flowering and pruning, top dressing is carried out using a full complex fertilizer.
When feeding Clematis Little Mermaid, it is important to alternate mineral and organic fertilizers. Do not apply top dressing during flowering. At the beginning of the season, the climbing plant is watered with milk of lime, and at the end of the season, several glasses of ash are added.
Preparation for winter
Preparation is carried out at the onset of sub-zero temperatures. Mulch and sand from the root neck are carefully raked and the base of the bush is sprayed with a solution of iron sulfate. Pour new pre-disinfected sand. To insulate the root neck, peat or well-rotted manure is poured onto it.
Cut off and removed from the support, the shoots are twisted into a ring and pressed against the soil. From below and from above, spruce branches are applied and the structure is covered with non-woven material.
In spring, clematis is opened gradually, the plant starts to grow very early at a temperature of + 5 ° C. At this time, the shoots must be lifted, inspected, weak and damaged cut off. Overwintered bare shoots have nothing to cling to the support, so they should be independently distributed and tied to the support. The sand in the root part is replaced with a new one. The soil, as in the autumn period, is sprayed with a copper-containing preparation.
Reproduction
For hybrid clematis Little Mermad, a vegetative propagation method is used. Methods are used: cuttings, rooting layering and dividing the bush. Cuttings and propagation by layering are one of the main ways to obtain new planting material. The method of dividing the bush is used for plants up to 7 years old, because older clematis do not tolerate the violation of the root system and subsequent transplantation.
Diseases and pests
Clematis Little Mermaid does not have specific diseases, but is often subject to fungal infections. To prevent the occurrence of diseases, clematis is planted in places that can be ventilated, but without strong gusts of wind. Plants for prevention are sprayed with fungicides and preparations containing copper.
One of the most serious pests of clematis is the nematode. Delicate roots and young shoots of the plant damage mice, bears. In dry weather, spider mites may appear on the plant. Insecticides and acaricides are used against insects.
Conclusion
Clematis Little Mermaid is a picturesque, climbing perennial. Clematis decorate pergolas and lattices, giving them a different shape, allowed along the fences and along the walls. Observing the features of planting, care and shelter, Clematis Little Mermaid will delight for a long time with its delicate abundant flowering.
