Deciduous rhododendron: varieties, planting and care

Rhododendron is a beautifully flowering shrub native to the warm subtropics of Southeast Asia. Bushes with the widest range of shades quickly became popular among gardeners and decorators. But the exotic handsome man refused to winter in frost and cold conditions. Thanks to the hard work of breeders, many hybrid species of rhododendron have been bred. They are already frost-resistant and can withstand the harsh weather conditions of late autumn.

Deciduous rhododendrons are short shrubs (1-1.5 m) that are capable of densely covering the entire crown with bunches of flowers. Flowers of all shades (except pure blue) are bell-shaped, large, can be decorated with colored spots, blotches, wavy edges. During flowering, the shrub complements its beauty with a pleasant aroma.

During flowering, this exotic has no equal

Types and varieties

Varieties of deciduous rhododendrons have become the basis for breeding many hybrids. But, despite this, species beauties can still be found in gardens and garden shops.

• Deciduous yellow rhododendron is the father of the majority of hybrid varieties. Small flowers are collected in bunches of 7-12 pcs. Striking with the brightness of a juicy yellow color. One of the most unpretentious varieties.
• The Canadian variety has delicately gray petals of small (up to 3 cm in diameter) flowers. The average height of the shrub is 1 m, the annual growth is no more than 15 cm.

The Kamchatka variety is the most unlike its counterparts.

• The Kamchatka variety is a cushion dwarf bush. But its frost resistance helped in obtaining many hybrids. The small bush grows to only 30 cm in height. Large flowers are collected in three pieces and have a bright crimson color.
• Japanese rhododendron is another frost-resistant exotic variety. A tall two-meter shrub boasts an active growth of up to 25 cm per year. Large flowers (up to 8 cm in diameter) are painted in delicate cream, pink and salmon shades.

• Deciduous Lights or Light. Flowers are large white, white-yellow, pink, salmon, red. Tall shrubs are incredibly hardy - up to -40 ° C.
• Klondike is a popular variety. Flowers of an unusual shape, fiery yellow with a red tint, red buds. A spherical shrub, up to a meter in height and width.

Bright Klondike

• Fireworks. Bright red bunches of large flowers will not leave anyone indifferent. An incredibly beautiful bush of a deciduous variety, surprises with a palette of leaf shades with the onset of autumn. It grows up to two meters in height with a dense crown and shiny long leaves.
• Rhododendron Rosie Lights. A fragrant shrub with juicy pink bunches of large flowers. The shrub reaches a height of up to 1.5 meters. In the autumn, the foliage becomes burgundy.

How to identify a deciduous variety

One of the differences from evergreen varieties is more abundant flowering. Deciduous varieties have more flower branches than semi-deciduous or evergreen varieties. Another difference is the riot of autumn colors on the leaves of deciduous varieties.

Autumn colors riot on deciduous varieties

With the arrival of autumn, the leaves change color from fiery yellow to crimson red. The decorativeness of the bush from spring to late autumn remains at a height.These exotic plants do not grow too quickly, they lend themselves very well to pruning and decorative crown formation. The frost resistance of the bush also affects the choice towards deciduous.

Deciduous varieties are less picky about the conditions of detention and are more hardy, therefore they are suitable for novice gardeners, future lovers of rhododendrons.

Choosing seedlings

Young seedlings are best purchased from trusted sellers so as not to get a sad breeding experience.

The most successful will be seedlings grown in pots or outdoors in the same climate where the future bush will grow.

Saplings of deciduous rhododendron

To increase the likelihood of good rooting and growth of the future bush, the seedling should be:

• age 2-4 years;
• well bushy, and the shoots should move away from the very base of the trunk of the bush;
• with smooth, healthy leaves of a dark green color (when purchased in the fall, color in yellow, red tones is possible);
• with healthy roots, no signs of rot and dark spots.

Young bushes grown in the right conditions will be short:

• grown from seeds - 12-15 cm in height;
• obtained by cuttings - 20-25 cm.

Where to plant deciduous rhododendron

When choosing a place where a shrub grows, you should consider:

• Rhododendron does not like sunny open areas. The terrain should be partially shaded. An option is possible when half of the day the bush is lit, and the rest of the day is in the shade. In winter, shade should also be in order to avoid diaper rash on the branches and root collar.
• It is important to shield the bush from the wind, but a fresh air stream is essential for full growth.
• The shrub will quickly die in a place where stagnant water will periodically form. Breeders recommend planting the bushes slightly on a hill so that water does not linger at the roots during rains and melting snow.

Landing in open ground

Planting and further care of the deciduous rhododendron will ensure quality growth and flowering. Before planting in open ground, it is important to prepare the soil, the seedling and the future hole for planting:

• The soil needs slightly acidic. A mixture of peat, sand, leafy soil and coniferous humus is an excellent composition for healthy seedling growth. Before planting, the mixture is moistened and enriched with mineral fertilizers.
• A seedling purchased in a pot acquired a layer of dead roots along the perimeter of the pot during its growth. Dry roots must be removed, but the native soil will only help to grow and adapt to new conditions.
• The hole for planting 50 cm deep and 80 cm wide should have a layer of broken brick or expanded clay 15 cm thick. After rooting, it is important to leave the root knot above the ground.

To preserve moisture and nutrients, around the shoot, you need to mulch the soil with needles or peat.

A layer of mulch around the flower

Subtleties of care

The following factors will affect active growth and flowering:

• Top dressing. Mineral or organic complementary foods, once every three weeks from spring to autumn.
• Periodically renew the mulch layer and remove weeds. Loosening the soil must be approached as carefully as possible, since the roots of the rhododendron are superficial and very fragile.
• After flowering, it is important to remove any dried flowers in order to stimulate the budding of the next year.
• Spring and fall pruning is equally important and different in nature. In the spring, the plant is prepared for flowering by stimulating the active growth of the branches. Also, all damaged branches are removed during the wintering period.Autumn pruning prepares the bush for bed. Here, too long shoots are removed, and the crown of the bush is formed.

Preparing for winter

Before wintering, deciduous varieties are watered abundantly throughout the fall.

Young seedlings need good shelter for the winter. Cover the roots and root collar with a thick layer of mulch. The branches are protected from wind and frost with lutrasil or spandum.

The roots of an adult plant require an additional layer of needles from 5 to 20 cm in height. For the branches, a frame is constructed from boards or rods, which will not fit snugly against them.

From above, the frame is covered with a spandum, leaving a hole for ventilation.

Rhododendrons sheltered for the winter

With the onset of spring, it is important to monitor the weather - if the air has warmed up enough, and the soil is still frozen, then you need to turn on warm watering to actively awaken the root system of the bush.

Growing problems

With an incorrectly selected growth site, the shrub will not bloom. The reasons can be different - lighting, watering, soil, wind. If the reasons were not found, you need to transplant the shrub to a more prepared place and take care of it more carefully.

Weak bloom. It is necessary to remove the faded inflorescences so that the plant does not waste energy on the formation of the seed pod.

During wintering, the leaves and buds dried up. The reasons are poor protection of the bush from the wind in winter.

During wintering, non-covering varieties can suffer from a large layer of snow and ice on the branches. To avoid this, a frame should be built even for deciduous varieties. Such structures take the bulk of the snow on themselves, saving the flower.

Diseases and pests

Comfortable living conditions do not allow the shrub to get sick, they are rarely susceptible to pest attacks.

• Diseases are most often fungal in nature. For prevention, every spring the shrub is treated with copper sulfate.
• Shoots should be inspected periodically for pests. Among them you can find spider mites, bedbugs, mealy worms. When pests are found, the shrubs are treated with special agents (bred according to the description of the drug).

Deciduous varieties are great as the first rhododendron shrub in the garden. They are more hardy and winter hardy. The most beautiful exot decorate the garden with lush color in spring, in summer it is a wonderful gardening of the garden, and in autumn a riot of colors on the foliage makes you admire the beauty of the deciduous rhododendron again.