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Planting and caring for rhododendron in Siberia is of interest to many summer residents and gardeners living in harsh climates. It is generally accepted that rhododendron is not suitable for growing in areas with cold winters, but in fact this is not at all true.
Does rhododendron grow in Siberia?
The rhododendron plant is a small deciduous, evergreen or semi-deciduous shrub from the Ericaceae family and has more than 600 species in its genus. By default, it is generally accepted that beautiful rhododendrons are not suitable for growing in regions with a sharply continental climate and prefer warmer and more humid places.
In fact, rhododendron can be grown in Siberia 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 withstand even very harsh and long Siberian winters.
Rhododendron varieties for Siberia
Winter-hardy rhododendrons for Siberia can be found in many varieties, among them there are deciduous and evergreen varieties, shrubs with lilac, violet and yellow flowering. The variety of varieties allows you to choose truly beautiful and harmonious rhododendrons for your garden in Siberia and interestingly design the area.
Daurian rhododendron
Dahurian rhododendron is a deciduous shrub that can reach 1 m in height. The leaves of the plant are oblong and hard, the flowers are large, purple, white or pink. The variety blooms twice a year, in early spring, even before leaves appear on the branches of the bush, and closer to autumn, from August to September.
The Daurian variety is ideal for Siberia because it has increased frost resistance and can withstand winters with temperatures down to -34 °C.
Rhododendron Ledeboura
Another semi-evergreen variety, suitable for growing in the harsh climate of Siberia. Rhododendron can grow up to 2 m in height, has a dense crown and upward-pointing branches, and olive-green oblong leaves.
The variety blooms from April to May, sometimes in August or September the shrub blooms again. In the photo of rhododendron in Siberia you can see that the flowers of the Ledebura variety are large and pale lilac in color.
Rhododendron, which partially sheds its leaves in winter, can withstand the harsh frosts of Siberia. With proper care, it tolerates temperature drops to -30 °C and below calmly.
Canadian rhododendron
The ornamental shrub Canadian rhododendron is a compact variety; 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, and can be white, lilac, pink or purple color. At the same time, the flowers are usually collected in inflorescences, so they appear much larger.
The variety blooms in the spring before the leaves appear; flowering lasts about a month. The frost resistance of the plant is very high - the variety can withstand cold temperatures down to -32 ° C and even down to - 40 ° C, although in extreme frosts in Siberia its buds and shoot tips may freeze.
Rhododendron Schlippenbach
Schlippenbach rhododendron is a frost-resistant variety of deciduous shrub that can reach 2 m in height. The leaves of the plant are dark green and ovate, the flowers are soft pink with purple spots in the middle. Individual flowers reach 8 cm in diameter; during flowering they are collected in inflorescences.
Schlippenbach rhododendron blooms in May, and this variety blooms for the first time only at 6-8 years of age. The plant transforms very beautifully in the fall, before falling off, its leaves change color to bright red or deep crimson.
The variety is considered one of the most beautiful, and it is doubly pleasant that it is well suited for cultivation in Siberia.The frost resistance of the variety allows it to withstand prolonged frosts down to -25-30 °C and severe freezing of the soil. With basic care and shelter for the winter, Schlippenbach's rhododendron maintains good health in the climate of Siberia and pleases with beautiful flowering.
Rhododendron Golden Lights
A very beautiful frost-resistant plant variety is 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 quite large - up to 10 cm in length and 6 cm in width. Shortly before the leaves fall in the fall, Golden Lights rhododendron acquires a rich crimson color, making it very decorative.
The bush blooms in mid-May - Golden Lights rhododendron produces medium-sized bright orange flowers with a slight pinkish tint. The flowers are collected in inflorescences of 8-10 pieces, noticeably contrasting with the olive-green foliage of the plant.
Golden Lights feels completely comfortable in the climate of Siberia. The shrub can tolerate frosts below -40°C, although it must be covered in winter to prevent excessive freezing of the roots.
How to grow rhododendron in Siberia
Growing and caring for rhododendron in Siberia is not particularly difficult. When growing this beautiful shrub, certain rules must be followed, but in general, any gardener can safely plant one of the frost-resistant varieties on his plot and enjoy bright flowering every year.
Landing dates
In warm and temperate climates, rhododendron tolerates not only spring but also autumn planting.However, Siberia has its own characteristics - the first frosts begin very early here, sometimes winter comes as early as 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 suffer severe damage during the first frosts, which will lead to inevitable death.
Preparing the landing site
Rhododendron is not too demanding when it comes to lighting and soil, but some features of the shrub need to be taken into account. In particular:
- for planting plants 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 a high level of soil acidity;
- It is better not to plant rhododendron in an area in the immediate vicinity of which groundwater flows; the shrub does not tolerate waterlogged soil and may die;
- The shoots of 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 bush.
If the site does not fully meet the requirements of rhododendron, it can be further prepared - mix sand and peat in equal quantities, add dry pine needles and crushed pine bark, and replace the soil where the rhododendron is planted 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 pour complex mineral fertilizers into the hole; they will help the plant to take root faster and contribute to its healthy growth during the first years.
Landing rules
In open ground, rhododendron in Siberia is planted according to a standard scheme, which looks like this:
- in the selected area, dig a hole approximately 0.5 m deep and up to 0.7 m wide;
- drainage is poured into the bottom of the hole, and then the hole is filled 2/3 with prepared soil from peat, sand, pine needles and crushed bark;
- The rhododendron seedling is carefully lowered into the hole and its roots are sprinkled to the surface of the ground.
Immediately after planting, the rhododendron is watered abundantly, and then the soil around the bush is mulched with a dense layer of pine needles or bark. At the same time, mulch should not fall into the place where the rhododendron bush branches - this will harm the seedling and may cause its death. The mulch layer should only cover the soil around the bush, in which case it will prevent moisture evaporation and weed growth.
Watering and fertilizing
Despite the fact that rhododendron is sensitive to waterlogging of the soil and can die from stagnant moisture, the plant also reacts negatively to drought. Rhododendron in Siberia requires regular watering, especially in the spring, during the period of bud setting and flowering, and in the summer, during the driest months.
The frequency of watering is determined individually - the fact that the plant needs moisture is indicated by slight drooping of the leaves and the disappearance of the glossy shine on their surface. However, in the midst of the summer heat in Siberia, it is worth pouring 10 liters of water under the bush every week as a preventative measure, in this 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 the plant in Siberia, for the first 2-3 years it only needs the fertilizers added to the soil during planting. At the beginning of spring, you can add a little citric acid diluted with water to the soil - this will raise the acidity level.
Adult rhododendron is fed more often, several times a 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 shrubs with superphosphate and potassium sulfate. Such procedures will make the flowering of shrubs in Siberia more lush and generally strengthen its vitality.
But it is better not to use lime and chloride fertilizers, like manure or bird droppings, for rhododendron; they alkalize the soil, which harms the bush.
Trimming
Sanitary pruning is required for rhododendron in Siberia annually; it is aimed at removing all dried, broken or diseased branches of the bush. If such prevention is not carried out, the plant’s immunity will noticeably decrease, and the risk of contracting a fungal or viral disease will increase.
As for decorative pruning of the crown, it is usually carried out no more often than once every 3 years. Any pruning slightly injures the plant, and since the bush’s natural forms are correct and aesthetic, it should not be subjected to stress unnecessarily.
When decorative pruning of 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 growth point, which looks like a small pinkish thickening on the branch;
- All cut areas are treated with garden pitch or other antiseptic solutions to avoid infection.
After decorative pruning during the period of swelling of buds and flowering, rhododendron in Siberia must be observed especially carefully. Particular attention should be paid to regular watering and high-quality fertilizing.
Protection from diseases and pests
Despite its hardiness and resistance to cold, rhododendron in Siberia remains susceptible to fungal diseases. Particularly dangerous for shrubs are:
- rust - a disease 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, diseases of shrubs in Siberia occur due to insufficient oxygen in the soil, as well as due to waterlogging and poor sanitary conditions of the soil. For treatment purposes, 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 preventative measure, it is necessary to promptly clear the soil of weeds and fallen leaves, annually carry out sanitary trimming of the bushes 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 occurrence, in spring and autumn, shrubs in Siberia need to be treated with insecticides and Bordeaux mixture, 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 pose a greater danger than the cold itself. Therefore, the main task of the gardener when preparing for winter is to make sure that the thin branches of the bush do not break under the wind and the weight of the snow.
Typically, sheltering rhododendrons for the winter in Siberia involves installing a protective frame.
- If the shrub is short but spreading, its branches must be carefully bent to the ground, secured and a covering material attached to several supports should be pulled over the plant.
- 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 made of covering material on it. The hut will reliably protect the bush from snow and wind, and the snow will not fall heavily on the covering material, but will begin to roll down its walls.
Preparing rhododendron in Siberia for winter also includes thoroughly mulching the soil before frost sets in. Under the bush it is necessary to pour peat, pine needles or heather soil in a layer of at least 15-20 cm.
Reproduction of rhododendrons in Siberia
In 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 mid-summer, several 10-15 cm long cuttings are cut from the side shoots of rhododendron, they are cleared of leaves in the lower part and placed in water with a root growth stimulator for a day;
- after this, the cuttings are placed in small containers filled with suitable soil - a mixture of peat, sand and coniferous soil;
- water the cuttings, cover the containers with film and place them in a warm place for 3-4 weeks - this is exactly how long it will take the cuttings to form roots;
- The film is periodically removed - the cuttings must receive enough oxygen, and the soil needs to be re-moistened from time to time.
By the time September arrives, 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, planted in open ground.
Propagation of rhododendron by layering is suitable for those who do not want to deal with numerous transplants of cuttings. All that needs to be done in this case:
- find a healthy young shoot of a bush located low to the ground;
- make a small cut on it;
- Place 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, the cuttings will produce their first roots by autumn. It must endure the winter while still being connected to the mother plant. And with the onset of spring, the stronger cuttings can be separated from the main bush and moved to a new permanent place.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for rhododendron in Siberia looks 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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