Content
Spiraea Cantonese Lanziata is a plant whose successful cultivation requires a combination of several factors, such as a suitable climate, temperature conditions, and the presence of shelter for the winter.
Description of Spiraea Canton Lanziata
This decorative short shrub - reaches one and a half meters in height - belongs to the group of spring-flowering spireas. The main feature of spring-flowering plants is that their flowers begin to form only in the spring of the second year of the shoot's existence. As with all species belonging to this group, they are characterized by the presence of many flowering shoots. The branches are thin, arched.
Spiraea Lanziata differs from the usual Cantonese spirea in the shape and size of the inflorescences - double white flowers reaching 5–7 cm in diameter are typical for it.
Planting and care
In order to grow Cantonese spirea Lanziata, you need to know the basic subtleties of planting and caring for it.
Preparation of planting material and site
Choosing a suitable planting site largely depends on the climate.Since Lanziata is a heat-loving plant, it is worth choosing a warm place in advance or taking care of shelter for the winter period.
In general, Cantonese spirea is practically no different from other plants of its species - it is light-loving, prefers a well-lit space, but if necessary, tolerates partial shade well. It is suitable for neutral soil with a low acidity level, which accepts moisture well. For example, sandy loam or light loamy.
Seedlings for transplantation can be sold either with an open root system, or together with a part of the soil, with closed roots. Despite the fact that in the second case it is difficult to determine in what condition the plant is, such spirea take root much better.
If we are talking about a seedling with bare roots, then when choosing it is necessary to check their condition. The roots of a healthy plant are flexible, do not break when bent, and do not look dry. If the root system is poorly developed, you can trim off its lower third before planting.
Landing rules
Spring-flowering spirea are planted in open ground in the fall, around the end of September - beginning of October, before the foliage completely falls off. However, this only applies to seedlings with open rhizomes, and plants in containers can be replanted at any time. In rainy regions, it is better to plant spirea in late spring or early summer, after the ground has warmed up.
For planting, it is better to use a soil mixture: combine 2 parts of turf and one part each of humus and sand. Sand can be replaced with another part of humus.
The planting hole should be about a third larger than the root system of the bush.The minimum distance for young seedlings is approximately 60 cm between bushes, however the recommended distance between plants is 1 m.
Plant this way:
- First, dig a hole. The minimum depth is about half a meter, diameter is 60 cm.
- If necessary, make a drainage ditch.
- Leave the hole for 2-3 days before planting.
- Prepare the soil mixture.
- Pour out the mixture, install the seedling, straighten the roots.
- Cover with the rest of the mixture, slightly trampling the soil around the bush. The stem should start from the ground, and not sink into it.
- Water the spirea generously.
- Mulch the soil if desired.
Watering and fertilizing
It is recommended to water spirea abundantly, but infrequently, 5-6 times per season is enough. The amount of water should be significant, at least 15–20 liters.
In dry and hot weather, the frequency of watering can be increased.
Fertilizers are applied during planting - then the soil is fertilized with wood ash (500 g per 1 square m) and superphosphate (300 g per 1 m). Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers are fed to the soil in the spring, and potassium fertilizers are applied once every 2-3 years, shortly before covering for the winter.
Trimming
Since Spiraea Lanziata reproduces by shoots, regular pruning becomes a necessity. It comes in two types:
- annual pruning of the ends of the shoots;
- removing stems.
Annual pruning is carried out in the spring, its purpose is to remove frozen ends of the stems.
Entire shoots are removed after they stop blooming. As a rule, this happens once every 7–10 years.
The spirea is also pruned to give it the desired shape - for this purpose the branches are shortened. Such pruning can harm a very young plant, so it is better to refrain from the procedure in the first 2–3 years.
There is anti-aging pruning: the branches of old plants, that is, those that are more than 14–15 years old, are cut off, leaving 5–10 cm.
Annual pruning of Lanziata is carried out in the spring, but the spirea is shaped closer to autumn, when flowering is over.
Preparing for winter
Preparation for winter depends on the climatic conditions of the region. In the southern regions, if the temperature does not drop below zero, special preparation is not needed - the spirea will not freeze. In other cases, the bush must be covered.
Small seedlings are covered in any case. To do this, they are covered with any breathable coating, after which it is secured. You can use both specialized materials and natural remedies.
Be sure to cover the root part of the spirea - cover it with a layer of mulch, and then cover it with leaves or lay branches.
If the winter is snowy, then the upper part of the spirea is not touched - the snow cover will serve as a natural shelter. Cover the bush if there is little snow. To do this, the branches are collected, bent to the ground, fixed and covered with foliage or special breathable material.
Reproduction
Spiraea Cantonese Lanziata can reproduce in several ways:
- cuttings;
- seeds;
- dividing the bush.
In general, the growing technology is standard, but each method has its own characteristics.
When propagating by cuttings, it is important to remember that:
- For the initial planting of cuttings, a soil mixture of peat and river sand in a 1:1 ratio is well suited;
- During one season, you can take a cutting twice: when pruning in spring and summer, after flowering;
- mineral and organic fertilizers in the soil are not suitable for growing spirea from cuttings;
- Spiraea is planted in open ground in a permanent place only a year after cuttings, in the fall.
When dividing a bush, it is important to remember that:
- The sprout formed during division is transplanted either in early spring or in autumn, closer to mid-September.
When propagating Spiraea Cantonese Lanziata by seeds, it is worth remembering that:
- you can either buy seeds or collect and prepare them yourself;
- When grown from seeds, spirea does not bloom immediately, but after 3–4 years;
- the seeds are not immediately planted in open ground; before that, they are kept in containers using specially prepared soil;
- after germination, the sprouts are treated with fungicidal preparations to prevent possible disease;
- Spiraea is planted in open ground only for the second season.
For growing Lanziata from seeds, a soil mixture of turf and peat in a 1:1 ratio is suitable.
Diseases and pests
Although Cantonese spirea is resistant to pests, it can also become susceptible to disease.
The most dangerous for her, especially at an early age, are fungal infections, for example, the occurrence of gray mold. Since spirea does not have any specific features, standard fungicides are suitable to combat infection.
Lanziate pests are dangerous:
- spirea aphid;
- leaf roller;
- spider mite etc.
To combat them, various acaricides and insecticides are used.
Conclusion
Since Spiraea Cantonese Lanziata is a purely ornamental plant and at the same time extremely heat-loving, it is easiest and most convenient to grow it exclusively in warm climates. Otherwise, there is a possibility that the spirea will die in unsuitable conditions. However, with the exception of its heat-loving nature, this bush is surprisingly unpretentious and disease-resistant in care.So if during the first few years the Cantonese spirea did not die, you can be sure that Lanziata will delight the gardener with its beautiful appearance for the next decade.
