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Planting and caring for a rhododendron in Siberia is of interest to many summer residents and gardeners living in a harsh climate. It is generally accepted that rhododendron is not suitable for growing in a strip with cold winters, but in fact this is not at all the case.
Does rhododendron grow in Siberia
The rhododendron plant is a small shrub of deciduous, evergreen or semi-deciduous type from the Heather family and has more than 600 species in its genus. By default, it is assumed that beautiful rhododendrons are poorly suited for growing in regions with a sharply continental climate and prefer warmer and more humid places.
In fact, the rhododendron in Siberia can be grown with great success. The plant requires little more care than any other ornamental shrub. And most importantly, there are many cold-resistant varieties of rhododendron that can easily endure even very harsh and long Siberian winters.
Varieties of rhododendrons for Siberia
Winter-hardy rhododendrons for Siberia can be found in many varieties, among them there are deciduous and evergreen varieties, shrubs with purple, purple and yellow flowering. A variety of varieties allows you to choose truly beautiful and harmonious rhododendrons for a garden in Siberia and it is interesting to design a plot.
Daurian rhododendron
Daurian rhododendron is a deciduous shrub that can reach 1 m in height. The leaves of the plant are oblong and rigid, the flowers are large, purple, white or pink. The flowering of the variety occurs twice a year, in early spring, even before leaves appear on the branches of the shrub, and closer to autumn, from August to September.
For Siberia, the Daurian variety is ideal, because it has increased frost resistance and can tolerate winters with temperatures up to -34 ° C.
Rhododendron Ledebour
Another variety of semi-evergreen type, suitable for growing in the harsh climate of Siberia. Rhododendron can grow up to 2 m in height, has a dense crown and upward branches, olive green oblong leaves.
The flowering of the variety occurs between April and May, sometimes in August or September the shrub blooms again. In the photo of a rhododendron in Siberia, you can see that the flowers of the Ledebour variety are large, pale lilac.
Rhododendron, which partially sheds its leaves in winter, withstands the severe frosts of Siberia. With proper care, it tolerates a decrease in temperature to -30 ° C and below calmly.
Canadian rhododendron
Ornamental shrub Canadian rhododendron belongs to compact varieties, it rarely grows more than 1 m in height. The leaves of the variety are small, green with a slight bluish tint, the flowers are small, only about 2,5 cm in diameter, may have white, lilac, pink or purple. At the same time, the flowers are usually collected in inflorescences, so they seem much larger.
The variety blooms in the spring before the foliage appears, flowering lasts about a month in time. The frost resistance of the plant is very high – the variety can withstand colds down to -32 ° C and even down to – 40 ° C, although during extreme frosts in Siberia, the buds and tops of the shoots can freeze over.
Rhododendron of Schlippenbach
Schlippenbach’s rhododendron is a frost-resistant variety of deciduous shrubs that can reach 2 m in height. The leaves of the plant are dark green and ovoid, the flowers are a pale pink hue with purple spots in the middle. Individual flowers reach 8 cm in diameter, during flowering are collected in inflorescences.
Schlippenbach’s rhododendron blooms in May, and for the first time this variety blooms only for 6-8 years of life. The plant transforms very beautifully in the fall, before falling off, its leaves change color to bright red or rich crimson.
The variety is considered one of the most beautiful, and it is doubly pleasant that it is well suited for growing in Siberia. The frost resistance of the variety allows it to endure prolonged frosts down to -25-30 ° C and severe freezing of the soil. With elementary care and shelter for the winter, Schlippenbach’s rhododendron retains good health in the Siberian climate and pleases with beautiful flowering.
Rhododendron Golden Lights
A very beautiful frost-resistant plant variety – Golden Lights, capable of growing up to 2 m in height and having a wide and dense crown up to 1,5 m in diameter. The leaves of the plant are elongated and rather large – up to 10 cm long and 6 cm wide. Shortly before the leaves fall in autumn, the Golden Lights rhododendron acquires a rich crimson color, which makes it very decorative.
The flowering of the bush occurs in mid-May – the Golden Lights rhododendron produces medium-sized bright orange flowers with a slight pinkish tinge. Flowers are collected in inflorescences of 8-10 pieces, in marked contrast with the olive-green foliage of the plant.
Golden Lights feels completely comfortable in the climate of Siberia. The shrub is able to tolerate frosts below -40 ° C, although it must be covered for the winter to prevent excessive freezing of the roots.
How to grow rhododendron in Siberia
Growing and caring for rhododendrons in Siberia is not particularly difficult. When breeding this beautiful shrub, certain rules must be observed, but in general, any gardener can safely plant one of the frost-resistant varieties on his site and enjoy bright flowering every year.
Terms of planting
In warm and temperate climates, rhododendron tolerates well not only spring, but also autumn planting. However, Siberia has its own characteristics – the first frosts begin here very early, sometimes winter comes already at the end of September.
Therefore, it is recommended to plant a bush in Siberia only in the spring, in which case the bush will have time to take root properly. When planting in the ground in autumn, even frost-resistant varieties can be severely damaged during the first frosts, which will lead to inevitable death.
Site preparation
Rhododendron is not too picky about lighting and soil, but some features of the shrub need to be taken into account. In particular:
- for planting a plant in Siberia, it is recommended to choose bright places, but protected from direct sunlight;
- the soil for rhododendron should be loose, with good aeration and an increased level of soil acidity;
- it is better not to plant rhododendron in the area in the immediate vicinity of which groundwater passes, the shrub does not tolerate waterlogged soil and may die;
- the shoots of the rhododendron are flexible, but rather thin, so it is better to plant the plant under the cover of a wall, fence or taller plants, otherwise a strong wind can break the branches of the shrub.
If the site does not fully meet the requirements of the rhododendron, it can be further prepared – mix sand and peat in equal amounts, add dry needles and crushed pine bark and replace the ground at the rhododendron landing site with such artificial soil. At the bottom of the dug planting hole, it is necessary to lay a dense layer of drainage – a layer of at least 20 cm. It is recommended to fill the hole with complex mineral fertilizers, they will help the plant take root faster and contribute to its healthy growth during the first years.
Rules of landing
In open ground, rhododendron in Siberia is planted according to the standard scheme, which looks like this:
- in the selected area, they dig a hole about 0,5 m deep and up to 0,7 m wide;
- drainage is poured to the bottom of the hole, and then 2/3 of the hole is filled with prepared soil from peat, sand, needles and crushed bark;
- a rhododendron seedling is carefully lowered into the hole and its roots are sprinkled to the surface of the earth.
Immediately after planting, the rhododendron is watered abundantly, and then the soil around the shrub is mulched with a dense layer of needles or bark. At the same time, the mulch should not fall into the place where the rhododendron bush forks – this will harm the seedling and can provoke its death. The mulching layer should cover only the soil around the bush, in which case it will prevent the evaporation of moisture and the growth of weeds.
Watering and top dressing
Despite the fact that the rhododendron is sensitive to waterlogging of the soil and can die from stagnant moisture, the plant also reacts negatively to drought. Rhododendron in Siberia needs to be watered regularly, especially in spring, during the period of budding and flowering, and in summer, during the driest months.
The frequency of watering is determined individually – the fact that the plant needs moisture is evidenced by the slight drooping of the leaves and the disappearance of the glossy sheen on their surface. However, in the midst of the summer heat in Siberia, it is worth prophylactically pouring 10 liters of water under the bush every week, in which case the rhododendron will definitely not dry out. It is also recommended to spray the crown of the plant once every couple of days.
As for feeding a plant in Siberia, for the first 2-3 years it has enough fertilizers applied to the soil during planting. In early spring, you can add a little citric acid diluted with water to the soil – this will raise the level of acidity.
Adult rhododendron is fed more often, several times per season. In March, it is recommended to apply fertilizers containing nitrogen to the soil, and in the summer and until the beginning of autumn, feed the shrub with superphosphate and potassium sulfate. Such procedures will make the flowering of shrubs in Siberia more lush and generally strengthen its vitality.
But lime and chloride fertilizers, like manure or bird droppings, are better not to use for rhododendron, they alkalize the soil, which harms the shrub.
Trimming
Sanitary pruning is required for rhododendron in Siberia annually, it is aimed at removing all dried, broken or diseased branches of the shrub. If such prevention is not carried out, the plant’s immunity will noticeably drop, and the risk of a fungal or viral disease will increase.
As for the decorative pruning of the crown, it is usually carried out no more than once every 3 years. Any haircut injures the plant a little, and since the natural forms of the bush are correct and aesthetic, it should not be stressed unnecessarily.
When decorative pruning rhododendron adhere to the following rules:
- the procedure is carried out in the spring until the beginning of April, until the buds begin to swell on the branches of the rhododendron;
- shoots are cut about 1 cm above the growing point, which looks like a small pinkish thickening on the branch;
- all cuts are treated with garden pitch or other antiseptic solutions to avoid infection.
After decorative pruning during the period of bud swelling and flowering, the rhododendron in Siberia should be observed especially carefully. Particular attention should be paid to regular watering and high-quality top dressing.
Protection against diseases and pests
Despite its hardiness and resistance to cold, Siberian rhododendron remains susceptible to fungal diseases. Especially dangerous for shrubs are:
- rust – an ailment that manifests itself as bright orange spots on the leaves of the plant;
- leaf spot – the disease is expressed in the appearance of brown spots on the leaves of rhododendron;
- chlorosis – with this disease, young shoots and leaves turn yellow and fade;
- bacterial cancer – the disease affects the root system of the plant and leads to its death.
Most often, shrub diseases in Siberia occur due to the insufficient presence of oxygen in the soil, as well as due to waterlogging and poor sanitary conditions of the soil. For the purpose of treatment, high-quality sanitary pruning is carried out for rhododendron, during which all damaged parts of the plant are removed, and the bush is also treated with fungicides and copper sulfate. As a preventive measure, it is necessary to clean the soil from weeds and fallen leaves in time, annually carry out sanitary cutting of shrubs and monitor the level of soil moisture.
In addition to fungal diseases, the plant is often affected by pests – weevils, scale insects, spider mites and other insects. To get rid of pests and prevent their further appearance, in spring and autumn, shrubs in Siberia must be treated with insecticides and Bordeaux liquid, paying attention not only to the crown, but also to the soil at the roots.
How to cover a rhododendron for the winter in Siberia
For frost-resistant plant varieties, heavy snowfalls and strong winds are more dangerous than direct cold. Therefore, the main task of the gardener in preparation for winter is to make sure that the thin branches of the shrub do not break under the wind and the weight of snow.
Usually, sheltering rhododendrons for the winter in Siberia involves the installation of a protective frame.
- If the shrub is low, but sprawling, its branches must be carefully bent to the ground, fixed and stretched over the plant covering material, fixed on several supports.
- For tall shrubs, a different method of protection is used – firstly, their branches are tied together, and secondly, they dig a high support into the ground next to the bush and stretch a hut of covering material on it. The hut will reliably protect the shrub from snow and wind, and at the same time, the snow will not lie heavily on the covering material, but will roll down its walls.
Preparing a rhododendron in Siberia for winter also includes careful mulching of the soil before the onset of frost. Under the bush, it is necessary to pour peat, pine needles or heather earth with a layer of at least 15-20 cm.
Reproduction of rhododendrons in Siberia
On the territory of Siberia, the plant is propagated in two main ways – layering and cuttings. Growing a new bush from a cutting is carried out according to the following algorithm:
- in the middle of summer, several cuttings 10-15 cm long are cut from the lateral shoots of rhododendron, they are cleaned of leaves in the lower part and placed in water for a day with a root growth stimulator;
- after that, the cuttings are placed in small containers filled with suitable soil – a mixture of peat, sand and coniferous earth;
- the cuttings are watered, the containers are covered with a film and put in a warm place for 3-4 weeks – this is how much time the cuttings will need to form roots;
- periodically remove the film – the cuttings must receive enough oxygen, in addition, the earth needs to be re-moistened from time to time.
By September, the cuttings will be ready to be transplanted into larger containers. For the winter, they must be removed to the basement or cellar, and with the onset of next spring they should be planted in open ground.
Reproduction of rhododendron by layering is suitable for those who do not want to deal with numerous transplants of cuttings. All you need to do in this case:
- find a healthy young shoot of a shrub, located low to the ground;
- make a small incision on it;
- lay the shoot in a small groove dug in the soil, leaving the top of the branch on the surface.
To prevent the shoot from straightening, it is fixed with a bracket or wire and sprinkled with earth. With regular watering, by the fall, the layers will give the first roots. He must endure the winter while still connected with the mother plant. And with the onset of spring, a stronger layer can be separated from the main bush and transferred to a new permanent place.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for rhododendrons in Siberia look quite simple – even novice gardeners can cope with growing shrubs. Contrary to popular belief, many varieties of rhododendron tolerate severe frosts well and can successfully take root in the climate of Siberia.
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