Cultivation and Management of large Rhododendron cultivated in Pot

Wuxi Rhododendron Garden where the author is located is mainly potted rhododendrons. There are a number of large rhododendrons over fifty or sixty years old in the garden. It is difficult to manage them. In addition, it undertakes the annual rhododendron exhibition every year. The rhododendrons after the exhibition generally grow 20 days late, and then face the hot summer which is extremely unfavorable to the growth of rhododendrons. To enhance the growth of rhododendrons, we did some thinking on the culture soil. Rhododendron root shallow, thin, high requirements for pot soil. In the past, we have been using orchid mud as culture soil for turning pots. In recent years, we have found that some orchid mud on the market has decreased in quality, no fertility, easy hardening, and the growth of rhododendron has stagnated or even died after use. We have used sawdust, but found that peat soil, yellow sand, chaff mixed effect is better (other areas can be determined according to local actual conditions), not only permeability, drainage smooth, easy to fertilize, easy to buy and other advantages, but also better than pure coconut shell, pine needle soil fixed, is an ideal culture soil. We have compared, where this soil pot of Rhododendron growth is obviously better than other Rhododendron, after exhibition easier to restore growth. However, the newly turned cuckoo pot should pay special attention to watering, can not be dry and then watered, so that it is not easy to irrigate thoroughly later.

Rhododendron has a strong ability to sprout new shoots and grow long branches. To maintain the beautiful tree shape and restore the growth of potted Rhododendron can be controlled and adjusted by pruning. In recent years, we gradually pruned some large potted rhododendrons, in addition to conventional pruning, but also boldly re-cut. The specific method is to cut off thin long branches, partial old branches, too dense branches in the bore, and let the thick branches left germinate again, so that the new buds will be more and stronger, and the flowers will be large. Operation must pay attention to, re-cutting time is best in May, June growth season. Dormancy period can not be carried out, outdated forced heavy shear, easy to bud death. Weaker plants should be replaced with soil before pruning and pruned again the following year after they have grown strong. Pay attention to the direction of bud when pruning.

Rhododendron likes to grow in a semi-yin and semi-yang environment, easily infected with diseases and insect pests, especially horticultural varieties, weak resistance to diseases and insect pests, the whole growing season should be timely control. Rhododendron often appear pests have red spider, army with insects, diseases have brown spot disease, small leaf disease, occasionally leaf swelling disease. Prevention is the key to pest control, especially diseases. When the disease spots appeared on the leaves, the spraying effect was not good, the light ones would lose leaves, affecting the ornamental effect and the flowering quality of the next year, and the serious ones would wither until the whole plant died. In addition, attention should be paid to improving the ventilation conditions of the site, increasing the illumination in winter, increasing the application of potassium fertilizer, improving the disease resistance, and burning the collected diseased leaves in time.