Rhododendron - beautiful decorative woodythe plant that constitutes the most numerous genus of the heather family. It is a deciduous, evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub, growing on average to 2 meters in height, rarely of a low tree. In the genus there are up to 1300 wild species. About 600 species and up to 8,000 varieties are used in gardening. The decoration of this beautiful shrub are not only flowers that are collected in lush inflorescences at the ends of the shoots, but also rich greens. The flowers can be very diverse in shape - funnel-shaped, bell-shaped, tubular. The color of flowers, the number of which in the inflorescence reaches 20-30, varies: it can be white, pink, golden yellow, creamy yellow, red, dark purple, blue-purple, lavender-blue, etc. Against a leathery glossy leaves, flowering plants branch looks very nice - like a bouquet.
Indoor rhododendron is often called azalea,although in fact, it is the same rhododendron, only azalea leaves are smaller and thinner and have five stamens in flowers, while rhododendron has ten leaves. The plant has a superficial root system and therefore it is better to grow them in wide rather than deep pots and pots. When planting, it is impossible to deepen the root neck of a plant, it is better to slightly mumble it with decayed oak leaves, pulp needles or small fraction pine bark. Room rhododendron, like all rhododendrons, is a lover of acidic soils. For good growth and well-being, they need an acidity index pH 4-5. Prefer drained, rich in humus and potassium soil.
Some plants require regular pruning.It is produced in May, when the plant has faded. At the same time, all diseased, dry and overgrown shoots are removed. Young shoots of azaleas pinch, leaving only 4-5 leaves - this contributes to a more lush flowering. With a strong thickening of the crown flowering will not be abundant. With the appearance of buds and buds, the plant stepson, removing excess shoots and leaving only flower buds on the main shoot.
Up to 3 years old rhododendron is desirableReplace annually. Transplanting can be done a month after the plant has faded. It is important that the soil for planting is moisture permeable, saturated with nutrients, sufficiently acidic, without chlorine and lime. In summer, the plant will feel great in a shady corner on a balcony or an open veranda, without drafts and subject to regular watering. For irrigation, if possible, use soft (without chlorine) water. Rhododendron leaves are preferably sprayed regularly.
Комнатный рододендрон растет очень медленно - за 10 years growth may not exceed 50 cm. This tender plant is often affected by various types of fungi, in which the leaves turn brown and dry out. Azaleas are also affected by spider mites, mealybugs, azalea aphids. The lack of nutrients is characterized by a change in the color of the leaves (their luster decreases, they become light), flower buds are not laid, and the leaves begin to fall heavily in August-September.
The plant rhododendron is considered to be thermophilic.and exotic, however, many of its species have successfully adapted to survival even in the conditions of severe snowy winters. Some species of plants need light shelter in winter; these are: Forchun's rhododendron, Pontic, wrist, Atlantic, stiff-haired, etc. The short-fruited rhododendron, treelike, limpid, sea buckthorn-like, pink, Dahurian, Japanese and many others are able to hibernate without any shelter.
According to the flowering period, the plants are conventionally divided into 2 groups:
- early flowering, in which flowers begin to appear from mid-spring;
- late flowering, beginning to bloom in early summer.
Different plants and light-loving.Diffused, soft, but intense light is preferred by rusty, golden, dense, Japanese, yellow, Kamchatka, equal tall and Atlantic rhododendrons. To photophilous can be attributed rhododendrons of Shlippenbach, Kochi, Albrecht. For shaded areas, it is better to choose shade-tolerant varieties: Dahurian, Caucasian, Pontic, Sea-buckthorn, Smirnova, Holotsvetkovy, the largest and Forchun's rhododendron.
