Flower rhododendron - a fairy tale of nature

The rhododendron flower is one of the largest representatives of the heather family. His ancestors adorned the earth 50 million years ago. If you at least once see this plant blooming, then you will have an irresistible desire to have in your garden this beautiful fantasy of nature.

Today, in natural conditions, rhododendron flowers grow in southern China, Japan, the Himalayas, southeast Asia and North America. Also they can be found in Australia and New Guinea. In Russia, this flower you will see in the Far East, the Caucasus and Siberia. There are about 1300 species growing in the wild and more than 8000 varieties that are used by flower growers and landscapers. Among them there are deciduous, evergreen, semi-leafy shrubs and even trees. By the way, house plants also have representatives of rhododendrons - these are all known azaleas.

Flowers rhododendrons (photo) - enough heat-loving plants, so severe Russian winters suffer badly. But now, more and more people want to have this plant in their garden. Buy seedlings should be only in local nurseries, because it is there that cultivate species suitable for the local climate. There you can get advice on how to take care of the variety you have chosen. When choosing a seedling, pay attention to its bushiness, it is desirable that it begins to branch at the root of the neck. There should be no swellings and spots on the leaves, and knots and wet inclusions are unacceptable on the roots. You should know that the rhododendron flower is a shade - loving plant. If you plant it in an open area, then you will wait for the flowering for years, you can not wait.

In addition, next to this plant should not be neighbors who have a superficial root system. They can leave the flower without the necessary nutrients. Bad neighbors for him are such trees as maple, birch, oak, willow. But pine, pear, apple, larch and spruce are excellent for encircling the rhododendron. Although there are varieties that are suitable for open areas - it is "Kamchatka", "Daurian" and "Canadian".

Before planting, you must shake the roots with your hands to make them straightened. The root neck should remain on the surface. In summer, rhododendron flower does not require special care. It is enough to water regularly, spray in hot weather and remove inflorescences that have already faded. Do not use tap water and hard water. Rain, flowing or melt water is best suited.

The rhododendron flower perfectly responds to top dressing. You need to do this shortly before flowering, after it and at the end of summer or early autumn. For fertilizing, there is a special fertilizer for rhododendrons, which quickly dissolves.

1 liter of water takes 30 grams of fertilizer, you can add up to 10 grams of nitrogen fertilizer. For autumn feeding nitrogen is better not to use, and replace it with 30 grams of superphosphate.

Particular attention should be given to winter plant preparation. If the autumn is arid, then rhododendrons need to be watered abundantly (10 liters for each adult shrub). As soon as the first frosts come, the plants are covered with burlap, while the branches are slightly tied with a rope. The sacking is removed in the early spring, as soon as the snow comes down (this is necessary to ventilate the bushes). It is better to do it on a cloudy day, otherwise the spring sun will harm the plant that has not yet woken up.