Rhododendron: planting and care, useful properties

Rhododendrons are beautiful ornamental shrubs and shrubs of the Heather family. Due to the lush and long flowering, variety of shapes and colors, these plants are widely used for decorative purposes, landscape design, and when creating flower arrangements. Planting and caring for rhododendrons in the open field require certain skills from the grower, since most of our country is not included in the natural distribution area of ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthis plant.

This article describes the planting process and the main measures for the care of this shrub, shows photos of rhododendron flowers.

Where does rhododendron grow in Our Country

The word “rhododendron” in translation means “rose tree”. In wild forms, this plant is found in Southwest Asia, Japan, China and Korea, as well as in North America and Europe. On the territory of modern Our Country, you can find about 20 species of rhododendrons, including:

• Daursky.
• Adams.
• Smirnova.
• Caucasian.
• Yellow.
• Pontic.

The main habitat of wild rhododendrons is the Caucasus. In addition, under natural conditions, these plants are found in the south of Siberia and the Far East, as well as in Altai.

Useful properties of rhododendron and contraindications

In addition to decorative purposes, rhododendrons are also used as medicinal plants. A decoction of the leaves of this shrub has a number of healing properties:

• Increases perspiration, promotes the removal of excess fluid, toxins, heavy metals from the body.
• Normalizes the work of the heart, reduces arterial and venous pressure.
• It has a calming and expectorant effect, stops asthma attacks.
• Serves as a pain reliever.
• It has a bactericidal effect, is effective in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Baths with rhododendron remarkably calm the nervous system, stop neuralgic pains, attacks of sciatica. A decoction of flowers is indicated for nervous disorders as a sedative and hypnotic. And also it can be used to treat gastritis, enteritis and diuretic.

Despite the mass of positive effects, it is necessary to use decoctions or infusions of flowers and leaves of rhododendron with great care. The plant contains in its composition andromedotoxin – a substance that depresses the central nervous system. In large quantities, this neurotoxin can lead to dizziness, loss of coordination, convulsions, and in especially severe cases, even death is possible. It is not recommended to use rhododendrons for the treatment of people with kidney diseases, allergic reactions, and pregnant women should not use decoctions or infusions from this plant.

How to plant a rhododendron in spring

For planting on the site, seedlings of the type you like can be purchased at specialized stores or nurseries. They are sold in special containers.

Until the right time for planting, you can continue to keep the seedling in them.

When to plant rhododendrons in spring

The best time to plant rhododendrons outdoors in spring is April or May, depending on the region. At the time of disembarkation, there should be no possibility of return frosts, and the ground should be completely warm to a temperature of + -8-10 ° C.

Where to plant rhododendron

For planting rhododendron, it is very important to choose the right place. If the site is inappropriate, the plant will constantly get sick and may die. These shrubs do not like bright light. The sun’s rays burn the foliage, brown dots and spots appear on it. The optimal place for planting rhododendrons is partial shade or shade. The site should be closed, the shrub does not like the cold wind. When planting, attention should also be paid to the depth of groundwater, it should be at least 1 m. Otherwise, the bed will have to be poured, increasing its height. When planting rhododendrons, wetlands and places where water stagnates should be avoided. Excess moisture causes root rot in these plants.

soil for rhododendrons

Ordinary garden soil is not suitable for planting rhododendrons. The soil for growing these plants should be loose, pass water and air well, and also have a pronounced acid reaction. Such a nutritious soil can be prepared on your own before planting by mixing equal parts high-moor peat, river sand, earth from under coniferous trees and ordinary garden soil. A ready-made substrate can also be purchased at a specialized store, most often it is sold as a ground for azaleas, which are a subspecies of rhododendrons.

How to plant a rhododendron in spring

Before planting a rhododendron in the spring, planting pits are prepared in advance so that the soil has time to settle and soak in air. Drainage is necessarily laid at the bottom with a layer of 15-20 cm. Building expanded clay is best suited for this purpose, you can use broken brick, crushed stone, coarse sand. On the day of planting, the seedling in the container is plentifully watered in advance. So it will be easier to extract it along with a clod of earth on the roots. A carefully pulled seedling is placed in a hole, holding it vertically, and gradually fill the recess with a nutrient substrate. The root collar of the plant does not deepen when planting, it should be on the same level with the surface of the earth.

After the pit is completely filled, the root zone of the seedling should be watered abundantly. If the earth settles, it is necessary to add soil. After planting, the ground around the bush is mulched with peat or coniferous litter. Mulching retains moisture well in the soil, preventing its evaporation. In addition, the mulch inhibits weeds and retains the loose soil structure of the root zone longer, normalizing air exchange.

How to transplant rhododendron to another place

A mistake with choosing a place to plant a rhododendron can only be corrected by transplanting it. The bush tolerates this procedure quite easily, the main thing is that it does not coincide in time with the flowering of the plant. The best time to transplant rhododendrons is from mid-April to early May, as well as late August, September and early October. Bushes should be transplanted on a cool and cloudy, but not rainy day.

Transplantation should be carried out only together with a clod of earth on the roots. The older the bush, the more developed its root system, so more land will need to be done. For adult rhododendrons, you need to retreat from the middle of the bush by 80-100 cm. The bush is dug in from all sides and carefully removed from the ground. It must be carried or transported to another place carefully, trying to keep the earth lump intact.

The preparation of planting pits and the procedure for planting bushes is carried out in the same way as when planting a seedling. If rotten roots were found during transplantation, then they must be cut off, and the sections should be treated with a fungicide solution.

How to care for rhododendron in the garden

Many gardeners consider these ornamental shrubs whimsical, but the problems with growing and caring for rhododendrons are largely exaggerated. With the right choice of variety, planting site and well-done preliminary work, anyone can cope with the cultivation of these plants.

The scheme of picking seedlings of rhododendrons

Rhododendrons are quite often propagated by seeds, getting them from their own plants. This method is quite viable, however, it may take up to 10 years from the moment the seeds are planted to the beginning of the flowering of the bush. The advantage of the method is that seed material can be obtained free of charge and in sufficient quantity. Sow the seeds of rhododendrons in wide containers filled with identical nutrient soil or substrate for azaleas. After germination, seedlings dive, planting young plants in larger containers and increasing the distance between neighboring seedlings.

The complete scheme for picking rhododendron seedlings is as follows.

How often to water a rhododendron

Rhododendron loves moisture, but is very sensitive to its excess. Therefore, after planting, watering should be frequent, but moderate. The lack of moisture is easy to determine by the leaves of rhododendron, at this time they become dull, lose their natural luster and sag. For irrigation, you need to use softened water, preferably rain or settled. It is advisable to acidify it a little, adding 10-1 tsp to 2 liters of water. citric acid or a few handfuls of high-moor peat. Watering is done under the root of the bush, the root zone should be evenly irrigated.

Feeding rhododendron

The lack of nutrients very quickly affects the appearance of rhododendron bushes, fast-growing and abundantly flowering bushes “pump” them out of the soil quite intensively. Deficiency of some trace elements leads to yellowing and wilting of leaves, weak flowering, and a decrease in frost resistance. Therefore, rhododendrons are fed several times per season. To do this, you can use both organic and mineral fertilizers that acidify the soil:

• urea;
• potassium sulfate;
• ammonium nitrate.

Of the organic fertilizers, rotted manure has proven itself well, which is applied to the root zone of the bushes during the loosening of the soil. All fertilizers are usually used in the form of aqueous solutions. Before using them, the root zone should be plentifully watered.

A good result is also given by universal fertilizers for ornamental bushes, for example, Kemira-Universal, Pocon, Agrecol. Apply them in accordance with the instructions.

The scheme for applying mineral fertilizers for rhododendrons is as follows.

A useful video about feeding rhododendrons can be viewed below:

Trimming and shaping

Pruning rhododendrons after planting is usually done only for sanitary purposes. In spring and autumn, the bushes are inspected, cutting out damaged, diseased and dried shoots. Adult bushes are periodically rejuvenated by removing some of the old shoots in the spring and growing new ones instead. For 1 time, you can remove no more than ¼ of the crown. rhododendrons have a regular rounded compact crown. It is quite decorative in itself, so the formation is most often not performed. To increase the density of the bush, the stems in the first years after planting are sometimes pinched at a height of 0,25-0,3 m, this contributes to increased lateral branching.

Protection against diseases and pests

Violations in planting and caring for rhododendrons quite often lead to diseases of this shrub.

Most often, plants are affected by the following diseases:

Rhododendrons are often attacked by insect pests. Here are the most common ones.

When to open rhododendrons after winter

Caring for rhododendrons in the spring after winter begins with the removal of winter shelter. It can be removed gradually, when severe frosts are no longer expected. You can’t do this too early, if temperatures drop below -10 ° C at night and a cold wind blows, then the bushes may suffer. It is possible to slightly open rhododendrons already at a temperature of – 5-7 ° C. At the same time, protection is left on the sunny side, since the foliage can get burned from bright spring sunlight. It is imperative to open rhododendrons when the air temperature reaches positive levels, otherwise the bush may be warmed up.

Video about the care of rhododendrons in spring 

How fast does a rhododendron grow?

Most rhododendrons grow quite slowly, their annual growth after planting can be only 10-15 cm. However, the growth rate of these plants directly depends on the type of plant, the quality of care and the place of growth. If the rhododendrons are planted correctly, the soil meets all the requirements and is fertile enough, then the annual growth of the bush after planting can be from 20 to 40 cm. Deciduous species of rhododendrons grow faster, the growth of evergreens is slower.

What to do if the rhododendron does not grow

The rhododendrons on the site grow only in the shade, so excess sun is often the only reason why the bushes refuse to grow. Weak annual growths indicate an incorrectly chosen planting site and poor soil. The problem is solved by transplanting the bush to a more suitable place, as well as by introducing a complex of dressings. It is also recommended to analyze the soil for composition and acidity. Rhododendrons grow only on acidic soils, so it is recommended to regularly acidify the soil in the root zone of the bush.

What to do if the rhododendron turns brown after winter

There may be several reasons why rhododendron leaves turn brown after winter:

• disease;
• improper planting (if the plant was planted or transplanted the day before in the fall);
• early opening of the bush after wintering.

Diseases in the spring are quite rare. The other two causes are much more common. This is due to the fact that the root system of the bush has not yet fully restored its performance in the frozen ground, while the aerial part of the plant has already begun to grow under the influence of solar heat. In this case, the rhododendron will experience an acute shortage of nutrients, which will lead to browning of the leaves.

Sunburn can be another cause of leaf browning. This is also due to a violation of the care of rhododendrons after winter, namely, with too early disclosure.

What to plant next to a rhododendron

Rhododendron, after planting, coexists well with many types of trees and shrubs, if they are at a sufficient distance and do not compete for nutrients in the soil. Close proximity is possible with those trees whose roots go deep into the ground: pine, larch, apple tree. In this case, the superficial root system of the rhododendron does not experience discomfort. But when planted next to a willow, chestnut or linden, the shrub will feel oppressed, since the roots will be in the same tier and more powerful trees will simply suffocate the rhododendron, depriving it of nutrients.

Conclusion

Planting and caring for rhododendrons in the open field is a fairly voluminous set of activities. However, you should not be afraid of this. A serious argument in favor of planting these plants is that quite a few varieties have now been bred that grow well in various climatic conditions, which means that you can choose the right one for any region. Subject to all the requirements for the planting site, soil composition and competent agricultural technology, these ornamental shrubs with lush rhododendron flowers will become a real decoration of the garden and the pride of its owner.