Content
Clematis Taiga is an exotic flower of extraordinary beauty, one of the latest developments by Japanese breeders. The agricultural technology for caring for the plant is quite simple, so even a novice gardener can grow it. The main thing is to choose the right place for planting and provide the shoots with support.
Description of clematis Taiga
Clematis Taiga is a perennial climbing plant belonging to the Buttercup family. This is a popular new variety bred by Japanese breeders; in 2016 it received a silver medal at the Planetarium exhibition in the Netherlands.
Clematis Taiga is characterized by rapid growth and lush flowering. The height of the bush reaches 2 - 2.5 m, width - 0.7 - 1 m. The climbing shoots are decorated with unusual double flowers, which have a rich lemon-violet color and throughout life change their shape from simple to more complex. The description and photo of clematis Taiga allow us to conclude that the flowers of the plant are quite large in size (12 - 15 cm).Abundant flowering lasts from June to September.
As can be seen from the photo of clematis Taiga, its flowers attract attention with their bright two-tone color. The petals located at the edges are colored a solid purple, while the others are only half purple. The rest of them have a lemon tint. The tips of some petals are turned inward.
The leaves are dark green in color, have smooth edges, and can be individual, heart-shaped or trifoliate. The tails located on the leaves help clematis cling to supports.
Winter hardiness of clematis Taiga
Reviews from gardeners confirm that the frost resistance of clematis Taiga is average. It can be grown in subtropical and temperate climate zones of level 6 - 9. This means that the average winter temperature in the region should not fall below -23 oC. Up to -15 oC clematis does not need to be covered.
Optimal growing conditions
Prolonged exposure to shade negatively affects the development of the plant, so the planting site should be sunny or in partial shade. Clematis does not tolerate extreme heat. It needs fertile, well-drained, moist soil with slightly acidic to neutral acidity levels. Stagnation of water is detrimental to the root system of clematis.
Planting and caring for the clematis variety Taiga
If you follow agricultural techniques, growing clematis of the Taiga variety is not difficult. First of all, it should be taken into account that the vine needs a strong support, for which you can use various screens, arches or other plants.
In the first couple of years, clematis roots will actively develop. As a rule, several shoots are formed, from 1 to 3. Experienced gardeners advise picking the flowers that appear on them. In this case, after 5 - 6 years a large number of new shoots with hundreds of exotic flowers will develop.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
Since clematis Taiga is a perennial plant, the planting area should be spacious and the soil should be good. Add to the soil dug from the planting hole:
- humus (2 buckets);
- sand (1 bucket);
- peat (1 bucket);
- lime (150 g);
- mineral fertilizers (150 g);
- superphosphate (100 g);
- ash (100 g).
Seedling preparation
When planting in autumn, clematis should have vegetative buds, in autumn - at least 1 shoot. Seedlings should also have 3 roots about 10 cm long. It is best to buy clematis Taiga seedlings with a closed root system: such plants tolerate replanting better.
Before planting, seedlings are stored at a temperature from 0 to +2 oC, and immediately before planting, together with the containers, they are soaked in water for 10 - 30 minutes.
Landing rules
The size of the hole for planting clematis should be at least 60 cm in diameter. Planting, depending on climatic conditions, is most often carried out in May or late April. Planting is also possible in the autumn.
The distance between clematis bushes, other plants, walls and buildings should be at least 30 cm. A distance of 1.5 - 2 m should be maintained between different clematis. This will avoid competition between plants for space and nutrients.
Description of the algorithm for planting clematis variety Taiga:
- dig a planting hole and place a drainage layer about 10 cm thick at the bottom, consisting of crushed stones and stones;
- pour rotted manure or compost and part of the fertile earth mixture on top;
- place the seedling in the hole so that it is located in the soil 5 - 10 cm deeper than it was located in the container;
- water.
The base of the clematis should be slightly shaded after planting. To shade the base, you can plant annual flowers around, but perennial plants should not be placed close to the root system.
Watering and fertilizing
In the summer heat, clematis variety Taiga is watered abundantly, sprinkling the foliage with water. Watering is required 2 - 3 times a week. The best time for watering is in the evening hours after sunset. Lack of moisture makes flowers small and shortens flowering time.
In the first year after planting, fertilizing is not recommended. Starting from the second year, clematis Taiga needs to be fed in summer and spring, 1 or 2 times every month. It is important to constantly alternate mineral and organic fertilizers. It is prohibited to use fresh manure for fertilizing.
Mulching and loosening
Immediately after planting, the soil around the clematis must be sprinkled with a thin layer of pine or deciduous bark, pine litter or wood chips. This is done because the plant does not tolerate overheating of the soil. With the onset of winter and the onset of the first cold weather, the thickness of the mulch layer is increased by 10 cm.
To prevent a crust from forming on the surface of the earth after watering, the soil must be loosened periodically.
Trimming
The clematis variety Taiga belongs to the third (strong) pruning group, which means that during cold weather, all dead shoots must be removed, and living ones must be cut almost to the end.Up to 50 cm, or 2 - 3 buds, should remain above the ground. This procedure promotes good growth and vigorous flowering of clematis.
Preparing for winter
The plant is highly frost-resistant. It needs shelter only if the temperature in winter drops below -15 oC. When covered with a cap, frost resistance increases to -25 oC. To build such a shelter, you need to sprinkle the bush with a mixture of dry leaves and foam chips, then cover it on top with a wooden container, which, in turn, needs to be wrapped in film and sprinkled with earth.
Damping off in the spring is no less dangerous for clematis than severe winter frosts. It is important to remove the shelter in time with the onset of thaws. However, if you do this too early, the plant may freeze. The main thing here is the golden mean.
Reproduction of hybrid clematis Taiga
In case you don’t want to buy ready-made seedlings, there are several ways to propagate clematis yourself. Which one to choose, each gardener must decide for himself, since they all have their pros and cons. For example, propagation by layering is carried out only in the fall, and for cuttings and division the plant must reach a certain age.
Cuttings
With the help of cuttings you can immediately get many new plants. Cuttings are taken only from adult clematis that have reached the age of 3 - 4 years. The cutting technology is quite simple:
- before flowering begins, cuttings 5-6 cm long, growing in the middle of the shoot, are cut at an angle of 45o;
- after which they are treated with a special agent to accelerate root formation;
- cuttings are planted in a mixture of peat and coarse sand up to the first node;
- subsequently, the cuttings require periodic watering and protection from direct sun;
- In the spring they are transplanted to a permanent place, and for the winter the cuttings are covered with a cap.
Layerings
One of the most effective methods is propagation of clematis Taiga by layering. This procedure is recommended to be carried out in the fall. Algorithm of actions:
- dig small ditches about 10 cm deep around the bush;
- place faded shoots in ditches, securing them with wire;
- sprinkle with soil so that about 2.5 cm of the top protrudes from the ditch;
- Water and fertilize regularly.
After the top grows, this process is repeated, and with the onset of spring, the mother bush is separated from the new plant.
Dividing the bush
This propagation method is only suitable for plants over 5 years old. To divide the clematis Taiga, dig it up on one side and separate a part using a kitchen knife. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that a balance is maintained between the shoots and the root system.
Diseases and pests
The most common problem for clematis variety Taiga is fungal diseases. The flower is most prone to fusarium infection and wilting. The cause of these diseases is high humidity in the air and soil.
The roots of the plant are often damaged by moles, nematodes and mole crickets, while the shoots are often damaged by aphids, slugs, scale insects, snails or spider mites.A preventative measure to protect against pests is the addition of mineral fertilizers containing ammonia to the soil. You can also cope with pests with the help of protective plants; to do this, just plant calendula, marigolds, parsley or dill nearby.
Conclusion
Clematis Taiga is an unusual climbing plant that can transform the appearance of any summer cottage. As it grows, it clings with its shoots to free-standing and wall supports, thereby creating a real flower carpet. Designers often use this variety of clematis to decorate balconies and terraces.
