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Rhododendron Nova Zembla is very popular with gardeners due to its decorative properties and unpretentiousness in care. It can be grown almost everywhere.
Description of rhododendron Nova Zembla
Rhododendron hybrid 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 to the same distance. The shape of the crown is domed, the branches are sprawling. 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 Nova Zembla rhododendron is its flowers. They are a 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 strongly branching shoots. The root system is superficial.
Rhododendron Nova Zembla is shown in the photo:
In landscape design, shrubs are not planted in a small space. The plant is located near water bodies or near the house. The shrub is also used in group plantings. The description of the Nova Zembla rhododendron variety, its 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
Variety Nova Zembla perfectly tolerates low and high temperatures. The shrub survives at temperatures 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 during the winter. The same applies to young, not yet mature shrubs. Rhododendron Nova Zembla after winter can be black, as a rule, this indicates the reproduction of the fungus on the plant under cover.
Growing conditions for hybrid rhododendron Nova Zembla
Rhododendron Nova Zembla is well adjacent to pine, oak, larch, and fruit trees. The shrub is not planted next to plants with a shallow root system, otherwise 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 spring in April-May, or in autumn in September-November;
- if it is necessary to plant a rhododendron in other periods, then it is worth waiting for the flowering time and two weeks after it;
- shrubs are located on the north side of the buildings, slight shading is possible.
Planting and caring for Nova Zembla rhododendron
Planting and caring for Nova Zembla hybrid rhododendron is not difficult. The plant has adapted well to various climatic conditions. The shrub will feel great in both northern and southern regions.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
A plot for rhododendron is better to choose in partial shade. It is not necessary to place the shrub on windswept, low places. The soil is acidic, loose, containing enough nutrients. Groundwater must be low, otherwise you will have to raise a flower bed with 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. To do this, make a mixture of peat, sand, sod land, compost, coal, humus, perlite. All components are added in equal proportions, and charcoal is added in a small amount.
Seedling preparation
It is better to purchase rhododendron hybrid Nova Zembla in specialized stores, thus reducing the risk of taking a diseased plant. When the seedling is taken out of the container, it should be well soaked with earthen clod with water. It is immersed in a liquid and wait for the air bubbles to stop emitting.
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 trimmed, then straightened already in the planting hole. In this case, you must try not to injure the plant much.
Rules of landing
The best time to plant Nova Zembla rhododendron is spring. It is worth observing the following recommendations:
- the pit for the seedling 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 straightened 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 top dressing
Watering the rhododendron Nova Zembla requires the following conditions:
- the shrub needs a lot of water, in hot weather pour up to 12 liters 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;
- shrub foliage needs spraying, especially during the period of active development;
- after watering, the soil is necessarily loosened, this must be done carefully so as not to damage the root system near the surface;
- weeds removed during 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 the spring, complex agents are introduced under the bush, as well as mineral elements: ammonium sulphate, potassium sulphate, superphosphate;
- the second top dressing is needed for the plant after flowering: phosphate and potash mixture;
- young seedlings are fed with fertilizers in liquid form.
Trimming
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. Basically, sanitary and anti-aging pruning is used.
The bush is relieved of dried, weak and diseased shoots. When injuring thick branches, the cut points are treated with garden pitch.
The old bush is rejuvenated in two stages. In one year, branches up to a size of 30 cm are harvested 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 shrub is cyclicality – lush flowering in the next season is replaced by a more moderate one. To preserve the decorative effect, the inflorescences are removed, preventing the fruit from setting. Thus, they achieve abundant flowering every summer.
Preparation for winter
Before the winter period, the Nova Zembla rhododendron should 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 fading 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. Planting material is treated with a growth stimulator and placed in a mixture of peat and sand for germination. It is necessary to ensure that the lower cut of the shoots is oblique at an angle of about 45 °. Ideal rooting conditions can be created in a greenhouse – it is easy to maintain the desired humidity and temperature there.
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 with layering – in the spring you need to dig in one of the lower branches, fixing it with a bracket on the ground. The shoot must be carefully cared for, in no case allowing the soil to dry out. For better rooting, you can use special tools. The following autumn, 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-shaped body and a brown color. The larvae pierce the bark and attach themselves to the plant. The bush becomes weaker and eventually dies. An effective measure against acacia false shield is treatment every 10 days with organophosphorus fertilizers.
- furrowed weevil – a small beetle, has a black color. Able to destroy the plant, if you do not take timely measures to protect. In summer, the pest is especially active, therefore, during this period, the soil and bush are treated with Furadon, Bazudin.
- aphid – a small insect that, uniting in colonies, drinks the juice of a plant and is able to destroy it in a short time. Preparations designed to kill weevils will save you from the pest.
- 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 next to the bush of rhododendrons of substances that repel slugs.
Rhododendron Nova Zembla is susceptible to the following diseases:
- Tracheomycosis or vascular wilt – caused by a fungus. Leaves and stems quickly wither, becoming covered with a gray coating. If signs of the disease are found, the dead parts are removed, and the bush is treated with Bordeaux mixture.
- 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 falling buds. Infected parts are burned, and with a strong spread of the disease, the entire bush is destroyed.
- Septoria spotting – 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. The leaves turn yellow, dry up and fall. The disease is common among plants in the greenhouse. All physiological processes are disturbed, flower buds are not laid. 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 lose ground, remaining a favorite of summer residents. Care for him is available even to beginners in gardening. The only thing to consider is that you need to allocate enough space for a sprawling bush.
Reviews of Rhododendron Nova Zembla
