Content
Hosta Christmas Tree, thanks to the unusual coloring of its wide leaves, is an excellent decoration for any garden plot. With this variety you can create various group landscape compositions or single plantings. In addition, “Christmas Tree” retains its decorative effect throughout the entire season, which is why it is popular among gardeners. However, in order for the hosta to feel good, you should choose the right place for planting, follow agricultural cultivation techniques and correctly combine it with other inhabitants of the site.
Description of Christmas Tree hosts
Hosta "Christmas Tree" is a perennial herbaceous plant, a member of the Asparagus family, as well as one of the most popular and famous varieties of the species. Although not so long ago, many scientists began to classify it as a member of the lily family. “Christmas Tree” received its varietal name in honor of the Christmas tree, thanks to its bright green foliage.
The shrub prefers to grow near ponds and rivers
The round leaf blades are moderately corrugated, with a sharp tip and a heart-shaped base.There is an uneven creamy white border along the edge, with a slightly yellowish tint in early spring. Hosta leaves measuring 21x16 cm are matte, smooth, covered with a whitish coating on the reverse side. The short petioles are dark green, and the basal rosette has a thin white outline. The Christmas Tree bush reaches 40-50 cm in height and grows up to 90 cm in width.
Hosta has a green, stable color that practically does not change, regardless of the planting location or time of year. That’s why “Christmas Three” always retains its decorative quality throughout the entire season.
Hosta blooms in July-August, producing white, lavender-tinged, bell-shaped flowers collected in racemes on peduncles 35-45 cm long.
"Christmas Tree" is a frost-resistant variety and can tolerate temperatures down to -40 degrees. Therefore, hosta can be planted in the northern zone of Russia, in the Urals and the Caucasus.
Application in landscape design
Hosta "Christmas Tree" is great for planting along borders, alleys and garden paths. It is also often used to create a green background in flower beds with brightly flowering crops. Having neat rosettes and not distinguished by rapid growth, it retains its decorative effect for a long time.
The plant is used to decorate lawns and flower beds
Hosta can be combined with a huge number of garden flowers. The only thing that needs to be taken into account when planting is the spreading nature of the bushes. As Christmas Tree grows, it can block its neighbors from sunlight. Hosta looks good against the background of tall plants: peonies, gladioli, ferns, hibiscus and arabis. They create light shading for the hosta, which protects its foliage from sunburn.
In addition to light-loving plants, low-growing groundcovers cannot be planted next to “Christmas Tree,” since its wide leaves will prevent moisture from penetrating to their roots. It is also undesirable for the host to be placed next to crops that have an aggressive root system: phlox, lavender, primrose, bergenia.
Reproduction methods
Hosta "Christmas Tree", like many herbaceous plants, can be propagated vegetatively (i.e. with the remainder of a piece of the mother plant) and by seed.
There are three main methods:
- dividing the bush;
- cuttings;
- sowing seeds.
Before planting, planting material can be stored in the dark at a temperature of +10 ° C
Propagation of hosta by dividing the bush is more preferable because, firstly, young plants fully inherit the characteristics of the variety. And secondly, this method is the simplest and least labor-intensive.
Landing algorithm
Seedlings should be planted in open ground only after the threat of spring frosts has completely disappeared. Hosta is usually planted in late April-early May. It is important to choose the right site for the plant’s permanent residence. "Christmas Tree" prefers loose, well-drained and highly fertile soils. It is necessary that the soil has good moisture permeability and is breathable. Sandy loam soils with neutral or slightly acidic pH values are most suitable for this purpose.
Before planting, the bed should be dug to the depth of a spade, simultaneously adding organic fertilizers (humus, compost).
In order for the “Christmas Tree” hosta seedlings to take root better and not get sick, it is necessary to choose high-quality planting material. Young plants must be healthy and have at least 3-4 buds.It is necessary that the root system is well developed with roots at least 10-12 cm long. They must also have a healthy appearance, be resilient and elastic to the touch.
If planting material is sold in pots, you should pay attention to the condition of the soil. The soil should be clean, slightly moist and free of mold.
Landing algorithm:
- In a pre-prepared area, make holes 30 cm deep at a distance of 80-100 cm from each other.
- Moisten each hole and place a layer of drainage 4-5 cm high on the bottom to prevent stagnation of water at the roots of the plant.
- If you purchase seedlings in pots, you need to fill them with water to better extract the earthen clod. If the hosta root system is bare, carefully inspect it and remove damaged and dry roots.
- Two-thirds of the planting hole should be filled with a substrate of peat and humus (1:1).
- Place the seedling in the center of the hole, lay the roots, straightening them in a horizontal plane.
- Fill the hole with soil, lightly compacting it with your hand so that there are no voids left.
- Water the hosta seedlings generously with settled water and mulch the flowerbed with peat to retain moisture.
Precise adherence to the sequence of actions when planting “Christmas Tree” has a beneficial effect on the survival and adaptation of young plants in a new place.
Growing rules
Caring for the Christmas Tree hosta is not difficult and does not take much time, so even novice gardeners can do it. It is enough to regularly water the bushes, loosen and rid the soil of weeds, and also adhere to the fertilizing schedule.
"Christmas Tree" likes the soil in which it grows to always be slightly moist. Typically, flower beds are watered 3-4 times a week, as the top layer of soil dries out. During periods of drought, watering should be done almost every day. It is advisable to do this in the early morning or evening, before sunset, watering the hosta at the root. Getting on the leaves, moisture will flow into the center of the rosette, which will lead to rotting of the bush.
If the hosta planting rules have been followed (applying organic fertilizers to the flower beds and a special substrate to the planting hole), the plant does not need additional feeding for the first 3-4 years. Next, “Christmas Tree” should be fertilized 3 times per season:
- In spring - during active growth.
- In summer - before flowering.
- Closer to the beginning of autumn, after flowering.
The plant grows best in partial shade
At the same time, complexes with a high content of superphosphates, ammonium nitrate and potassium sulfate are added. You need to try not to overfeed the bushes.
Since the hosta "Christmas Tree" loves breathable soil, the flower beds must be loosened regularly to ensure a flow of fresh air to the root system. Twice a season, fresh mulch should be added under the bushes, removing the old one. This is done so that the soil does not compact and remains moist longer.
Preparing for winter
In order for the hosta “Christmas Tree” to overwinter safely, you should take care of this in the autumn. Preparation for winter consists of pruning the bush and timely shelter from frost.
Pruning is not a labor-intensive process and boils down to removing flower stalks. This is necessary so that the host does not waste its energy on producing seeds. It is not recommended to touch the foliage, as this will be stressful for the plant.You cannot remove dried leaves in the fall - they will serve as a natural covering material; this is usually done in the spring.
In regions with harsh winters, withered leaves are not enough to provide shelter from the piercing frosty winds. Therefore, the bushes are mulched with a layer of dry mown grass, rotted sawdust or peat.
Christmas Tree bushes can be additionally covered with a special covering material by simply throwing it on top and pressing the edges to the ground with stones.
The plant does not need winter feeding; the last time fertilizer is applied is in August. Hosta "Christmas Tree" naturally prepares for the winter.
Diseases and pests
Most often, “Christmas Tree” is affected by various diseases in the spring, being weakened after winter. It could be:
- sclerotinia – affects the root system;
- gray rot – the leaves of the plant suffer;
- phylostricosis – appears as yellowish spots on the leaves.
All these diseases are fungal in origin and are treated by spraying with fungicides or dichlorane.
For the Christmas Tree hosta, the most dangerous pest may be the slug. A sign of damage are holes in the leaf blades.
Diseases often appear due to excess moisture
Another, no less dangerous, enemy is nematodes. Their presence can be identified by characteristic spots on the leaf. And if you can easily get rid of slugs by simply leaving an open container of beer under the hosta bush, then a plant infected with nematodes will have to be removed and burned.
Conclusion
Hosta Christmas Tree is an ornamental foliage plant, which is one of the most striking inhabitants of the garden plot. Hosta is a perennial, slow-growing plant that does not require special conditions or special care. The right location and a well-organized watering regime and fertilizing schedule will allow you to easily grow a lush and variegated bush in your garden, pleasing the eye with lavender flowers.
