Content
- 1 Description of rhododendron Fantastic
- 2 Winter hardiness of rhododendron Fantastica
- 3 Conditions for growing the rhododendron variety Fantastica
- 4 Planting and caring for rhododendron yakushimansky Fantastic
- 5 Reproduction
- 6 Diseases and pests
- 7 Conclusion
- 8 Reviews of rhododendron yakushimansky Fantastic
Rhododendron Fantastica has an interesting history. This is a hybrid of the Yakushiman species. Its natural form, the Degron shrub, grew on the Japanese island of Yakushima. About a century ago, the species was isolated by scientists and brought to England. In addition to Fantasy, many other hybrids have been obtained that have spread widely throughout the world.
The small spherical tree is loved by flower growers for its incredible beauty and unpretentiousness of maintenance. Despite the unpretentiousness of the plant, it is worth knowing the subtleties and features of caring for it.
Description of rhododendron Fantastic
Rhododendron Fantastica is an evergreen shrub belonging to the heather family. The plant is short, the height of the bush in adulthood is 1 m. The width of the crown reaches 1.5 m. According to the description with the photo, rhododendron Fantastica has a spreading, cushion-shaped shape.
Young shoots of the plant are green, flexible, and later turn brown.
The leaves are dense, leathery, 6 cm wide, oblong, bright green in color, reaching a length of 12 cm. Their lower part is brown, slightly pubescent.
The buds of the plant are scarlet in color; after opening they lighten. Rhododendron Fantastica flowers - in the form of bells, variegated colors in pink tones, 7 cm in diameter. The petals are wavy, with a bright pink border. Dotted patterns are visible on all petals. The bells are collected in spherical inflorescences of 10 - 12 flowers each. There is no aroma.
The bark of the plant is gray and scaly.
The roots of the crop are fibrous, lie shallow, and are distributed compactly over the soil surface.
The flowering of rhododendron Fantastic begins in May and ends in June. The annual growth is small - 10 cm, so the plant is considered slow-growing and reaches its maximum height only after 10 years. With proper care, the life expectancy of the Fantastic rhododendron reaches 200 years.
Winter hardiness of rhododendron Fantastica
The winter hardiness of the Yakushiman rhododendron Fantastica is high, it can withstand frosts down to -30⁰oC. Young and recently planted bushes require preparation for successful wintering. They must be tied with twine, insulated inside and outside with spruce branches and burlap. If there is a high probability of abnormally low temperatures, it is worth covering the bush with leaves from above. A thick layer of peat and pine needles mulch will help protect the root system from freezing.
Conditions for growing the rhododendron variety Fantastica
The plant prefers shaded areas and does not tolerate direct sunlight.The photos taken by gardeners about planting and caring for the Fantastic rhododendron show that it feels good under conifers - not very dense pine and spruce trees, in the shade of forest areas. Territories exposed to winds and drafts are dangerous for culture.
Plants tolerate drought and excessive waterlogging equally poorly; they need regular watering.
The soil should be acidic, fertile, loose, sandy loam.
The best time to plant rhododendron Fantastica is in mid-spring, after the soil has thawed and warmed up, or in September, before frost sets in.
Do not bury the root neck, otherwise the plant may rot.
It is possible to arrange rhododendrons of the Fantastica variety on the site in individual bushes or in the form of group plantings.
Planting and caring for rhododendron yakushimansky Fantastic
Planting in the ground is carried out in the spring before the buds open. The best place for rhododendron Fantastica is the southwest of the site, in partial shade. Its size must correspond to the parameters of the bush.
As soil, you can use a soil mixture composed of sawdust, acidic peat and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1. It is not recommended to use manure, humus, or fresh leaves as top dressing. The use of mineral fertilizers is allowed.
After planting, caring for the Fantastic rhododendron consists of timely watering, protection from diseases and pests, eliminating weeds, mulching the soil, and preparing for wintering.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
To select a location, several conditions must be met:
- no stagnation of water;
- wind protection;
- sufficient air humidity;
- presence of shadow.
Despite the love of the Fantastic rhododendron for moisture, it can get sick from stagnation in the soil.In this regard, the plant requires drainage of planting holes.
In order for the wind to dry out the plants as little as possible, bushes should be planted near walls, fences, and under the protection of trees. Conifers and oak are the best neighbors for rhododendron. The roots of these crops go deep, without interfering with the seedlings receiving nutrition from the soil. The worst neighbors are birch, linden, chestnut, poplar. They have shallow roots and take away nutrients from the Fantastic.
The danger for the Fantastica rhododendron is the spring sun - under its influence the buds can dry out and the leaves can burn. To prevent this from happening, you need to protect the seedling from the south and west with shields.
To maintain moderate air humidity, plantings should be located near bodies of water.
The choice of location should be guided by the conditions of the plant’s natural habitat and be as close as possible to them.
The natural acidity of the soil for rhododendron Fantastica should correspond to pH 5. This is achieved by using high-moor peat, pine litter, and clay. Thanks to loam, the soil remains moist for a long time, peat contributes to its looseness. It is recommended to use mineral fertilizer in an amount of 70 g per pit. You should also avoid getting ash and other alkaline substances into the soil near the bushes.
Seedling preparation
The success of growing Fantastic rhododendron depends on where the seedling is purchased. It is better to buy it at a nursery and get advice on cultivation and winter preparation rules there.
The best option is three-year-old plants with a closed root system. It is acceptable to use two- or four-year-old seedlings. It is worth paying attention to their bushiness and leaves.The best rhododendrons of the Fantastika variety branch immediately near the root collar. There should be no swelling or spots on their leaves, and no knots on the roots.
Immediately before planting, inspect the root system and remove dead, rotten roots with a sharp knife. Wipe the stem of the plant to determine the location of the root collar. After this, the root system of the rhododendron is lowered into the water and kept there until air bubbles stop coming out.
Rules for planting rhododendron Fantastic
To plant rhododendron Fantastic in a permanent place, you should follow a number of sequential steps:
- Prepare a hole 40 cm deep and 70 cm wide.
- Create drainage from broken bricks with a layer of 15 cm.
- Soak the root system of the seedling in water for 30 minutes.
- Pour soil mixture into the hole.
- Place the Fantastica variety rhododendron in the center of the hole strictly vertically, deepening it to the root collar.
- Water the plant.
- Remove buds, if any.
- Mulch the soil around the trunk with peat, pine needles or pine bark.
If the purchased seedling has a closed root system, then it is planted using the transshipment method.
Watering and fertilizing
Judging by the reviews, rhododendron Fantastica loves moisture. It is necessary to ensure regular hydration of the plant:
- in spring and summer, the crop is watered at least 3 times a week;
- use about 10 liters of water for each bush;
- for young plants the rate is reduced by half;
- to maintain humidity, it is worth spraying rhododendrons in the morning;
- in preparation for winter, even before frost arrives, the plant is shed with plenty of water and the soil is mulched.
In the year of planting, you should not feed the Fantastic rhododendron.It grows slowly, and at first it only needs the microelements added for digging. Subsequently, fertilizing is carried out three times a year - in early spring before flowering and immediately after it, as well as at the end of summer, for the maturation of the bark and shoots.
You cannot fertilize with ash, as it reduces the acidity of the soil, which has a detrimental effect on the condition of the plant. In this case, rhododendron leaves turn yellow due to impaired photosynthesis.
Trimming
Rhododendron Fantastica does not require constant pruning.
It is sometimes necessary for sanitary purposes - to remove dry branches. For more widespread flowering next year, it is recommended to cut off what has already faded.
After removing the old branches, the cut areas are treated with oil paint or garden varnish.
Preparing for winter
Despite the frost resistance of the Fantastica rhododendron, the plant, especially the young one, needs careful preparation for winter.
In the fall, it is worth fertilizing with potassium fertilizers so that the last growths have time to ripen.
Even in winter, moisture evaporates from the leaves, so additional watering is necessary in the autumn, before the onset of frost. After moistening, the soil around the plant is additionally mulched with peat and pine needles to protect the roots and retain moisture in the soil.
In the first two years, a shelter is built for the young plant using a frame, non-woven material, spruce branches, and dry foliage. It is installed as soon as the temperature drops to – 8 oFrom and below. It is important that the branches of the rhododendron Fantastica and the material do not touch, and that the air gap between them is 20 cm. Otherwise, the plant may rot or break under the weight.The shelter performs another function - it protects leaves and bark from sunburn.
It is necessary to remove cover from young bushes gradually so that adaptation to weather changes occurs slowly. In mid-March, ventilation is carried out, leaving holes for ventilation. After the soil thaws, in mid-April, the cover is removed, but shading from spruce branches is maintained. If the leaves of the Fantastic rhododendron, curled up for the winter, straighten out, it means that the plant has overwintered and the growing season has begun.
Reproduction
Rhododendrons Fantastica can be propagated by seeds or vegetatively. The plant seeds are small, they are sown in February, on the surface of fertile soil, without covering. After a week, shoots appear. At first they are very small. After they grow up, they are picked, grown, and hardened. Seedlings are planted in a permanent place only after a year. Plants obtained in this way bloom in the 5th to 10th year.
The vegetative method involves preparing cuttings for planting. Semi-lignified branches with 4 internodes, 5 cm long, are cut at the end of June. There should be an oblique cut at the bottom. The lower leaves are removed from the cuttings, leaving 2 - 3 at the top. It is worth treating the cut with a growth stimulator for better rooting. Rhododendron Fantastica cuttings are placed in a mixture of peat and sand, watered and covered with film to create a microclimate. The optimal temperature is – 24 oC, the humidity should be high. After a month, rooting occurs and the first leaves appear. Growing of seedlings is carried out in containers at a temperature of 10 oC. Planting in a permanent place is carried out in the spring. A new plant can bloom within a year.
Diseases and pests
The plant is susceptible to many diseases:
- late blight rot – the leaves turn yellow, fall off, the roots rot and the plant dies;
- gray rot – dark spots appear on the buds, the disease progresses quickly;
- fusarium – the root and trunk rot, the leaves turn yellow.
To combat late blight, a solution of Bordeaux mixture is used. Spraying with Fundazol is used to treat gray rot and fusarium.
Rhododendron pests include:
- mealybug – sucks juice from young stems, buds, buds;
- spider mite – affects the foliage, it turns gray and falls off;
- rhododendron bug – yellow dots appear on the leaves, later they turn pale and fall off.
Diazinon, Karbofos, and Keltan emulsion are used to kill pests.
Conclusion
Rhododendron Fantastica is an exotic plant that requires attention. Proper agricultural technology and care ensure its normal development and abundant flowering. The pleasant impressions of the magnificent appearance of an ornamental shrub more than compensate for the time and effort spent caring for it.
Reviews of rhododendron yakushimansky Fantastic
