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Golden rhododendron, or, as it is called in Siberia, kashkara or black-mane, belongs to perennial, frost-resistant, low shrubs from the Heather family. Due to the beautiful and long flowering, the plant has found wide application in the design of a personal plot. In addition to being highly decorative, golden rhododendron has medicinal properties. A decoction of the leaves and medicinal tea are used in the treatment of infectious and pulmonary diseases.
Description of golden rhododendron
Golden rhododendron is an evergreen, perennial plant that grows in the Far East and Siberia. Prefers moist soil, rocky slopes and areas under the canopy of cedar forest.
Golden rhododendron is a small plant, no larger than 1 m. The spreading crown is formed by brown shoots covered with leathery, dark emerald leaves. At the beginning of summer, large flowers up to 5 cm in diameter appear at the ends of the shoots, collected in 3-5 pieces. Cherry red or orange stigma surrounded by pale lemon mottled petals. This combination of colors gives the golden rhododendron even more decorative. Flowering is long, lasts 30-45 days.
After flowering, seed pods appear on the golden rhododendron, with small seeds. To prolong the flowering period, faded inflorescences must be removed in a timely manner so that the plant does not waste energy on seed maturation. All the beauty of golden rhododendron can be seen in the photo:
What is useful golden rhododendron (kashkara)
Golden rhododendron has medicinal properties, it is widely used in home life:
- rhododendron petals help get rid of barley on the eye and eliminate diaper rash on the legs;
- leaf tincture is recommended for migraine, insomnia and neuroses;
- essential oils with a pleasant aroma are obtained from the plant, which are used in aromatherapy;
- golden rhododendron is used in the shoe industry as a tannin;
- in the household, flowers are used as a remedy for moths.
The use of golden rhododendron
Golden rhododendron is used in folk medicine. But before using a healing medicine, you need to know the medicinal properties and contraindications of golden rhododendron.
For the preparation of medicinal infusions, tinctures and decoctions, the collection of flowers and leaves is carried out from a 2-3-year-old plant, from late May to mid-June. The blank is carefully removed from the bush and dried in the fresh air under a canopy. Raw materials are laid out in 1 layer, stirring occasionally for uniform drying.
Preparations prepared on the basis of rhododendron have bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and tonic properties. Infusions, tinctures and decoctions are recommended for the following diseases:
- hypertension;
- stomatitis and gum disease;
- with erosion of the cervix;
- colds;
- skin diseases;
- colitis, enterocolitis and enteritis.
In homeopathy, golden rhododendron is used:
- with severe symptoms of gout and rheumatism, which appear in hot weather before a thunderstorm;
- with headaches and joint pains, which are aggravated in cold and rainy weather;
- with hearing loss with ringing in the ears;
- with trigeminal neuralgia, toothache, inflammation of the gums;
- with stabbing pains in the region of the spleen, which are aggravated by fast walking;
- with pain in the joints, which is aggravated by walking or by changes in the weather.
Recipes for the use of golden rhododendron in folk medicine:
- Infusion for colds and infectious diseases – 1 tbsp. l. crushed dried leaves are poured into a glass of boiled, hot water and infused for about 1 hour. Apply 1 tsp. 4 times a day for 3-5 days. The same infusion can treat purulent wounds, treat boils and carbuncles.
- Tincture for sciatica – in 500 ml of vodka, 3 tbsp. l. dry leaves. The bottle is removed in a dark place and infused for about 2 weeks. Take 3-4 times a day after meals, diluting the tincture with water in a ratio of 1:4.
Contraindications to golden rhododendron
Despite the large number of useful properties, we must not forget that the golden rhododendron is a poisonous plant and therefore has a number of contraindications.
Honey obtained from rhododendron flowers is very toxic, so when using 2-3 tbsp. l. diarrhea, vomiting, fever and heart failure may develop, up to loss of consciousness.
The medicine from golden rhododendron is contraindicated:
- pregnant and lactating women;
- hypotonic;
- people with chronic kidney and liver diseases;
- children under 15 years old.
With an overdose of a natural medicine, a headache, nausea and vomiting may appear, a decrease in blood pressure, a violation of cardiac activity, shortness of breath and suffocation are characteristic. When one of the symptoms appears, it is urgent to call an ambulance team. Before the arrival of the doctors, the patient must be put down, unbuttoned tight clothes, opened the windows for fresh air, give activated charcoal at the rate of 1 tablet per kg of weight.
Growing golden rhododendron
In order for the golden rhododendron to grow and develop well, not to be subjected to diseases and pest attacks, you need to know the rules of planting and care. Subject to the rules, undersized golden rhododendron will be perfectly combined with coniferous crops, in rock gardens, in rocky gardens, in single and group plantings.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
Rhododendron golden prefers to grow in fertile, well-drained soil without stagnant water, in a shaded area with diffused light. Rhododendron will grow well among apple and pear trees, as fruit trees have a tap root system and will not take away nutrients and moisture from the shrub.
Seedling preparation
Golden rhododendron seedling is best purchased at 2-3 years of age. When buying, you need to pay attention to the root system, it should be well developed, without signs of rot and mechanical damage. When purchasing a seedling with open roots, before planting, it is soaked for 2-3 hours in warm water with the addition of a root formation stimulator.
Rules of landing
Rhododendron golden can be planted in spring and autumn. Spring planting is suitable for regions with an unstable climate, since during the summer season the rhododendron will grow its root system and endure the cold winter better.
14 days before planting a young rhododendron, it is necessary to prepare a planting hole. To do this, they dig up a place on a spade bayonet, bring in rotted compost, bark of coniferous trees and soddy soil. With increased acidity, slaked lime or dolomite flour is added during digging. If several specimens are planted, the interval between the holes is kept 1-1,5 m. Planting golden rhododendron:
- A 60 cm drainage layer (expanded clay, broken brick or small pebbles) is laid out in a landing pit measuring 40×15 cm.
- Drainage sprinkled with nutrient soil in the form of a mound.
- The root system of the seedling is carefully straightened and placed on the prepared mound, so that the root neck is at ground level.
- The rhododendron is sprinkled with earth, ramming each layer so that there is no air space left.
- The planted plant is abundantly shed and mulched. Mulch will retain moisture, save the root system from overheating and stop the growth of weeds.
Without timely care, beautiful and lush flowering cannot be achieved. Care lies in timely watering and top dressing, sanitary and formative pruning, as well as in the implementation of preventive measures against diseases and pests.
Watering and top dressing
To lay flower buds, rhododendron needs enough moisture to moisten the soil by 20-30 cm. Irrigation is carried out in the morning or evening hours. For each adult plant, up to 10 liters of warm, settled water are consumed. In order for the foliage to shine and look decorative, the bush must be sprayed in a dry summer, after sunset.
To obtain lush flowering, golden rhododendron needs nutritious soil. To do this, in the second year after planting under a bush, liquid fertilizers are applied 2-3 times per season:
- in the spring, before bud break, nitrogenous top dressing is used;
- during flowering – complex mineral fertilizers;
- 2 weeks before frost – phosphorus-potassium top dressing.
Lack of nutrients, as well as an overabundance, negatively affects the growth and development of golden rhododendron. Lack of nutrition can be determined by the appearance of the shrub:
- the leaf plate is discolored;
- growth and development slows down;
- bud formation is minimal;
- shrub loses its attractiveness.
Trimming
Golden rhododendron does not need forming pruning, as the plant can independently form a spherical crown. But so that the bush does not lose its decorative appearance and fungal diseases do not join it, it is necessary to carry out sanitary pruning. In spring and autumn, they get rid of frozen, dry and overgrown shoots.
In order for the golden rhododendron to show lush flowering from year to year, all faded inflorescences must be broken out in a timely manner so that the plant does not waste energy on seed maturation.
Preparation for winter
Kashkara chernogriva or golden rhododendron is a frost-resistant plant that can withstand cold temperatures down to -25 ° C. But in order not to lose a beautifully flowering specimen, a young plant must be covered for 3 years after planting. For this:
- 2 weeks before frost, the rhododendron is abundantly shed and fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
- To protect the root system from frost, the trunk circle is mulched.
- After the air temperature drops to a minus mark, the branches are shifted with spruce branches and pulled together with twine.
- The crown is covered with burlap or agrofiber.
- Shelter is removed after the snow melts, in cloudy weather.
Reproduction
Golden rhododendron is often propagated by cuttings, branches and dividing the bush.
Branches – in the spring, the lower branch is laid in a trench, leaving the top above the surface. Fall asleep with nutrient soil, shed abundantly and mulch. After a year, the shoot will take root, it can be separated from the mother bush and transplanted to a prepared place.
Cuttings – after flowering, shoots 10-15 cm long are cut from the top of the bush. Planting material is kept in a root formation stimulator and planted at an acute angle in nutrient soil. For quick rooting, cuttings need to create a greenhouse effect. When new foliage appears, the cuttings are planted in separate containers of a larger volume. For the winter, the plant is transferred to a cool room, not forgetting to regularly irrigate.
Division of the bush – after rejuvenating pruning, the plant is carefully dug up, trying not to damage the surface roots. The bush is divided into divisions, so that each part has healthy roots and a growth bud. Young plants are planted, and subject to agrotechnical rules, they will quickly grow and show themselves in all their glory at the end of spring.
Diseases and pests
Golden rhododendron is immune to diseases and pests. But if the rules of care are not observed, the following may appear on the plant:
- Rhododendron bug – the pest often appears on the inside of the leaf plate. Without treatment, the foliage dries up and falls off. Treatment consists of spraying bushes with broad-spectrum insecticides.
- spider mite – appears on the plant in hot, dry weather. The pest sucks the juice from the plant and covers the entire ground part with a thin cobweb. You can get rid of the insect by 2-3 single spraying with Aktar.
- Chlorosis – the disease appears when the rules of care are not followed and when the plant is grown on acidic soil. The first signs of the disease are the appearance of red or yellow spots on the leaf plate.
In order to prevent the bush, it is necessary to treat it 2 times a season with Bordeaux liquid, carry out timely care and sanitary pruning.
Conclusion
Golden rhododendron is a godsend for flower growers, as the plant will decorate the backyard and will help from many diseases. The shrub is unpretentious, frost-resistant and, due to its low height, looks great in rock gardens, rocky gardens and among coniferous and ornamental plants.