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Clematis Blue Explosion is a flowering vine used as an ornamental plant. Clematis of this variety are large-flowered specimens, the vine of which beautifully entwines the walls of a gazebo or support and blooms for a long time throughout the warm period of the year (from May to September). The plant is used for vertical gardening.
Description of clematis Blue Explosion
Clematis Blue Explosion (pictured) was bred by Polish breeder S. Marchinski in 1995. The plant belongs to the early large-flowered varieties.
Flowering is long and abundant. From mid-May, last year's shoots begin to bloom, the second wave occurs in mid-June and continues until mid-September, at which time flowers form on young shoots.
The flowers of clematis Blue Explosion are large, double or semi-double on old shoots, simple on young branches, reach 15 cm in diameter, semi-opened in shape, the color of the petals is blue with pinkish tips.
The height of clematis Blue Explosion reaches 2.5-3 m, so when growing it is necessary to install a support or any other structure along which the plant can crawl upward.
Conditions for growing Clematis grandiflora Blue Explosion
Clematis Blue Explosion loves sunny areas, but areas with periodic shading can also be used.
Blue Explosion is a heat-loving variety of clematis, so the southern regions are suitable for its cultivation. Long flowering of clematis implies a long and warm summer. In winter, the temperature in the region should not fall below minus 15 °C, otherwise the crop will freeze.
Planting and caring for clematis Blue Explosion
The best time to plant young clematis seedlings is in the spring, when the threat of frost has passed. If a Blue Explosion seedling is purchased in the fall, it is planted 1.5 months before the onset of the first frost.
Clematis loves warm, wind-protected, well-lit areas. There are some soil requirements: seedlings prefer neutral soils, but can grow in alkaline and slightly acidic areas.
A planting hole is first prepared for the seedling. Standard hole sizes:
- on heavy soils - at least 70x70x70 cm;
- on light soils 50x50x50 cm is enough.
Clematis Blue Explosion does not like dense plantings, so the minimum distance between bushes should be 0.7 m. It is advisable to increase the gap to 1 m so that the plants do not have competition for nutrients.
Waterlogged soil and stagnant water can lead to the death of clematis of this variety, so watering must be strictly regulated.
The drainage layer must be at least 15 cm.
To fill the planting hole, prepare a nutritious soil mixture consisting of the following components:
- turf soil - 2 buckets;
- humus - 1 bucket;
- superphosphate or nitrophoska – 100 g.
Blue Explosion seedlings must be buried 6-8 cm into the ground; there should be a small hole around the plant. The depth of penetration will vary on different soils. On heavy soil, the depth should be small, and on light soil up to 10-15 cm.
After planting, the plant needs pruning. On Blue Explosion shoots, 2 to 4 buds are left at the bottom, and the rest of the shoot is cut off. Pruning is necessary for young plants; it helps strengthen the root system and improve root formation. If the seedling is planted in the ground in the spring, re-pruning is carried out after a few weeks.
After planting, the plant must be moistened. A hole formed around the trunk will help retain moisture.
After watering, it is necessary to carry out mulching work. Sawdust or peat are used as mulching materials. Mulching a hole solves several problems at once: less water is required for irrigation, and weeds will not be able to grow under a layer of mulch.
During planting or in advance, it is necessary to take care of the support for Blue Explosion clematis. These flowers are quite tall, so they cannot do without supporting structures. You can buy them in a store or build them yourself, the main thing is to make them not only durable, but also beautiful, because clematis will not grow instantly. The optimal height of the supports should be in the range of 1.5–3 m.
In the first days after planting, Blue Explosion seedlings must be shaded from bright sunlight.
You can feed clematis with mineral compounds, wood ash, and mullein diluted with water. Fertilize the bushes no more than once every 14 days. If mineral fertilizers are used, then dilute 30 g in 10 liters of water. This volume should be enough for 2 m² of area. Wood ash will require 1 cup for each seedling. If you plan to use mullein, then 1 part of manure is diluted in 10 parts of water.
To protect the roots of clematis Blue Explosion from overheating, the soil in the planting hole and around it is planted with annual flowering plants; perennials can also be planted, but with a shallow root system. Calendula, marigolds, and chamomile are the best options for landscaping the area around clematis.
Preparing for winter
Hybrid clematis Blue Explosion is a heat-loving plant, therefore, in the process of preparing the garden for winter, it is necessary to provide shelter for the seedlings from bad weather and frost.
The best time for the procedure is the autumn period (immediately before the onset of frost). Trimming height – 100-150 cm from the ground. You can prune a little more if the branches are damaged or need rejuvenation. All weak and diseased shoots are cut off completely. After the procedure, the shoots are removed from the support and carefully laid on the ground, then covered with insulation and available means: spruce branches, peat, sawdust.
The first pinching of Blue Explosion clematis is carried out at a level of 30 cm from the soil surface. The procedure is repeated the second time at a height of 70 cm, the third time the pinching is done at a level of 100-150 cm.
Reproduction
Clematis is propagated in various ways: by cuttings, layering, and dividing the bush. The seed propagation method is the most unreliable and time-consuming.
Cuttings are harvested at the beginning of flowering plants. They are cut out from the middle part of the vine, with at least 2 cm remaining at the top of the node, and a little more at the bottom - 3-4 cm. To quickly form roots, the cuttings are placed for a day in a solution of heteroauxin, which is prepared as follows: diluted in 1 liter of water 50 g of the drug. Cuttings are planted obliquely in boxes. A mixture of sand and peat in equal parts is used as soil. Cuttings take root well in greenhouse conditions at a temperature not lower than plus 22-25 ºC. To create such conditions, the container with the cuttings is covered with film. Rooting takes from 1 to 2 months, then they are transplanted into individual pots. In winter, containers with seedlings are kept at a temperature no higher than plus 3-7 °C. Water occasionally, the main thing is that the soil does not dry out. In spring, these seedlings are suitable for planting in a flower bed. Clematis grown by cuttings will bloom in the fall.
The layering method is as follows: the young shoot is bent to the ground and placed in a groove. To prevent it from being pulled out of the ground, it is pinned with metal wire at the internodes and sprinkled with soil. The top with the leaves should remain on the surface. Layers are watered regularly. As they grow, new internodes are also covered with soil, leaving only a small top with a few leaves on the surface. For the winter, this layer is not dug up, but left to overwinter along with the adult bush.
To divide a bush, you can use two methods:
- dig up the bush completely and divide it into 2-3 parts, leaving at least three shoots on each root;
- dig up the roots of an adult plant on one side, separate part of the rhizome with shoots.
You can use any method you like.
Diseases and pests
Clematis Blue Explosion does not like waterlogged soil. If the soil is too wet, the roots are susceptible to fungal diseases. Withering of leaves and the appearance of spots on them indicate the development of a fungus. To prevent the death of the plant, treatment of the roots with foundationazole is necessary. A 0.2% solution is poured under the root, this helps slow down the growth of pathogenic fungi.
The appearance of orange spots on leaves, shoots and petioles indicates the development of rust. To combat the disease, copper-containing solutions are used (Bordeaux mixture, copper oxychloride, polychome).
Pests that can parasitize clematis:
- aphid;
- spider mite;
- root-knot nematode.
Mole crickets and mice can gnaw the roots, which is dangerous for the plant and can lead to its death.
Slugs and snails can also harm young clematis seedlings, so it is necessary to combat them. Mulching the tree trunk with spruce needles can prevent the problem of slugs and snails.
Conclusion
Clematis Blue Explosion can decorate any garden area. With the right choice of planting site and appropriate care, clematis will delight you with abundant flowering every year.
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