Roseum Elegans is a charming representative of evergreen rhododendrons. The variety is a hybrid of the Katevba group. Received in England in the middle of the 19th century by Anthony Watererer. The plant is very popular in the northeast of the United States of America due to its frost resistance. The article introduces the complete description of the Roseum Elegans, its use in landscape design, planting and propagation of shrubs, as well as its inherent diseases.
Grade description
A decorative hybrid variety stands out for its characteristics.
Its botanical description:
- spherical crown;
- bush height - up to 3 m;
- width - up to 3.5 m;
- leaves are elliptical, dense, with shine, first reddish, then dark green;
- inflorescences (120 × 90 mm) are collected by flowers of 12–20 pcs .;
- pink flowers without aroma, 45 × 60 mm, with wavy edges;
- flowering period - 3 weeks, beginning in June;
- the fruit is a box;
- the bark is dark green;
- the root system is superficial.
Rozeum's special attitude to conditions:
- shade tolerance;
- preference in slightly acidic fertile soils;
- excellent winter hardiness (-32 ° C) when protected from winds;
- moisture lovingness.
Important! In order for rhododendron to bloom actively and abundantly next year, all inflorescences must be removed after flowering.
Landing
The bush of the described species is decorative all season. Not only pink tender inflorescences of large size distinguish it, but also foliage, which changes over time to a dark green hue. Planting varieties Roseum Elegans is carried out in the spring. The correct time for planting seedlings should correspond to suitable conditions - the location and quality of the soil.
Site selection and soil preparation
On the existing garden, park or summer cottage, you need to choose its open northern side - it is, first of all, characterized by the fact that it is not illuminated for long. Penumbra is normal for rhododendron, he does not like constant sunlight, but also very dark. It is good to plant the described variety along the hedge, fence or next to the building. So it will be protected from the winds.
All representatives of the plant genus prefer mild soil acidification. A good planting option is the proximity to conifers. If in the country or in the garden there are no such, you can use mulch from a stick of needles, which will provide the necessary pH level (from 4.5 to 6.5). An important condition is the presence of drainage in the soil. It can be done on its own - put crushed stone or expanded clay on the bottom of the holes.
Important! The most profitable place to grow is the shore of a pond.
Dates and rules of landing
The instruction for planting a shrub of this variety contains all the necessary information:
- Landing time is the end of April or May.
- The distance between the seedlings is 2 m.
- Planting holes are wide and shallow, twice as large as the root system.
- Mix of soil: peat, pine bark, leaf soil.
- Mulch after planting - compost from the bark of pines and leaves of doom or peat with pine bark and needles.
- Planting with the distribution of roots on the sides of the pit.
- Watering the planted plant (up to 5 buckets of water are required for normal irrigation during the season for shrubs)
Follow-up care
The most important thing is watering, pruning and removing old inflorescences. Fertilizer is applied alternately of a different type, and the very first is done immediately after planting. The intricacies of care are discussed below.
Watering
From 30 to 50 liters of water is required for rhododendron for normal development. Water the bush should be about 2 times a week. When the variety Roseum Elegans begins to bloom, then it should be irrigated more often. Humidity and coolness are the best conditions.
In the autumn period, the plant requires moisture already in smaller quantities, but with a certain frequency. Do not overfill, it is dangerous to overdry. Nutrients should not be washed out before winter, so recharging in the autumn is very important.
Important! If brown spots appear on the edges of the foliage, it is necessary to water the rhododendron more.
Fertilizing, fertilizer
Immediately after planting, it is important to introduce a special tool for this culture. In garden shops, there is a wide selection. The second top dressing is carried out after a period of flowering with phosphoric agents. Organic mulching and constant maintenance of the mulch layer is beneficial for all rhododendrons.
The composition of such fertilizers includes:
- ammonium sulfate, magnesium, potassium, calcium;
- potassium nitrate and phosphate;
- superphosphate.
Pruning
When the luxurious inflorescences of the Roseum Elegans bloom, it is important to remove them. In this case, the shrub will have enough strength to grow shoots and ripen the buds. During this period, you can engage in shaping pruning, which will give compactness and accuracy to the appearance of the culture.
Winter preparations
Varieties are not afraid of frosts around -10 ° C, but the preventive warming of a young bush will be very useful. It is best to cover the root zone before winter with a layer of peat and foliage, and put a spruce branch on top. Many gardeners use frame structures for wintering rhododendrons: they arrange a support, which is wrapped in roofing felt or kraft heavy paper. When spring comes, it is dangerous to open the shelter sharply in order to avoid sunburn and sudden cold snap.
Did you know? In the genus of rhododendrons, there are very high species. Katevbinsky reaches 6 meters.
Breeding
Suitable methods for breeding rhododendron varieties are cuttings and propagation by layering. Seeds can also be used. In this case, you can achieve a large number of seedlings. This method is long and complex, it requires accuracy and endurance. Small planting material should be sown in wet sand with peat, avoiding deepening. Then spray the soil with a spray gun and cover with a film. Check out vegetative methods.
Cuttings
Instructions breeding cuttings:
- Time is the second half of June.
- From the tops of the shoots, 8 cm pieces should be cut.
- An oblique cut is carried out.
- Then the material is dipped into a growth stimulator.
- Next, immerse in a mixture of peat with sand.
- It is important to maintain high humidity and a temperature of about + 25 ° C.
- Rooting occurs after 3 months.
- Now you need to transplant each instance into a separate container.
- They contain sprouted cuttings in cool until the upcoming season.
- In the coming spring, they land in open ground.
Layering
This method is very simple:
- spring should bend the shoot, growing closer to the ground;
- in this case, you need to make a scratch or incision;
- it is important to sprinkle the branch fixed in a way convenient for you;
- then it is important to water the cuttings well and often.
After a year, the finished plant is separated from the mother.
Diseases and Pests
Among the diseases of Roseum Elegans, there are such:
- necrosis (due to a sharp change in temperature);
- fungal diseases (such as mosaic, spotting, chlorosis);
- sheet deformation (due to lack of fertilizer).
Gardeners struggle with fungi by spraying with a Bordeaux mixture. The solution (1%) is carried out in dry, cool weather, irrigation during the period of active development of the plant. In spring and autumn, preventive irrigation is done with 3% liquid. All treatments should not be more than three per season. For 10 m² use 1.5 liters of the finished mixture.
Did you know? You can water rhododendrons with acid and lemon juice to acidify the soil.
Pests of culture are:
In order to prevent rotting, due to which rhododendron succumbs to fungal diseases, it is important to water the plant abundantly, regularly, but only so that there is no stagnation of liquid. Pre-created drainage usually helps to avoid this. If the culture is affected by fungi, it can only be saved with fungicides. Otherwise - especially in case of a profound defeat - shrubs should be destroyed and the soil must be treated. Shrubs like to overcome slugs, but they do not create big problems, and removing them yourself is easy. It is necessary to collect gastropods by hand.
The use of varieties in landscaping
There are many varieties of rhododendrons that can be combined with each other, for example, standard forms with lower shrubs. Usually, culture is used as a hedge to create alleys. Solitaire Roseum Elegance in a private garden can be wonderful. Against the background of undersized perennial grasses, it looks like the main detail. It goes well with conifers. Moreover, their cane needles feed the soil as it is useful for a representative of the Vereskovye family.
Large pink inflorescences in harmony with greens of different shades, brightly look on the canvas of a lawn or lawn. Planting in front of bushes of this variety of stepped rows of flowering plants allows you to create a unique picture.
The winter-hardy vigorous perennial Roseum Elegans is an excellent decoration of the garden space. It is well suited for planting in regions with cold winters, but grows poorly in dry air. Planting a crop is not difficult, vegetative propagation is also not. But rhododendron requires careful care: you need to water it abundantly, while not allowing overmoistening, to feed it, maintaining the mineral balance and acid of the soil. In order for the flowering of this variety to please you for several weeks, it is worth a lot of effort.
