Planting and maintenance of heather rhododendron

Morphological characteristics: the plant is multi-branched, the crown is plump, and the plant type is compact. Leaves alternate. Inflorescences are racemose umbrella-shaped, flowers terminal, usually 15-20 cm in diameter, rich in colors, including purplish red, pink, pink, orange, pink, purple blue, white, yellow and other colors. The natural flowering period is from March to May, the flowering time can be advanced to January-February by artificial flowering, and the flowering period per plant can reach 1 month.

Growth habits: heather rhododendron is a temperate alpine plant, likes cool and humid semi-shade environment, has a certain degree of cold tolerance, the suitable temperature for growth is 15 ~ 25 degrees, and the plant growth is inhibited when it exceeds 30 degrees. Plants will suffer different degrees of heat damage when the temperature exceeds 35 degrees. I can't stand early. I'm afraid of heat and sun exposure, and I'm also afraid of building blocks. It is appropriate to loosen the slightly acidic sandy soil with air permeability, rich calamity and good drainage.

Maintenance measures: the residual flowers can be cut off after the flower fade every year, and the branches can be truncated at the end of the flowering period to promote the growth of leaf buds. Watering should follow the principle of "no dry, no bromine, watering thoroughly" to avoid stagnant water in basin soil and too early drying. If the air is too dry, spray water to the plant and its surroundings to increase air humidity. During the growing period, the rotten alum fertilizer is applied every 10 seconds and 15 days, and the solid compound fertilizer can also be scattered on the surface of the basin soil, which can be slowly absorbed by the roots after shallow burial. Put it in a sunny place indoors in winter, it can withstand 0 degrees low temperature. Therefore, it is best to control the growth temperature below 15 degrees in winter. avoid excessive temperature. affect plant flower bud differentiation. Every 112 years, the potted heather cuckoo has to change the pot. The pot change is carried out after flowering, and the basin soil can be mixed with rotten leaf soil or peat soil plus vermiculite or river sand. The pH value of basin soil should be 5 Mel 6. In the environment of high temperature and humidity, heather rhododendron is prone to stem rot and leaf brown spot, which can be controlled by spraying carbendazim or topiramate. Soil iron deficiency and partial alkali can also lead to chlorosis, so black alum (ferrous sulfate) can be added to prevent neck disease when boiling water and fertilizing. Insect pests mainly occur in summer and autumn, and can be sprayed with 1500 times the liquid of 40% omethoate.

Warm reminder: when the new plant is on the pot, do not press the basin soil too tightly, let it breathable, and do not prune it, and prune it when the root system is developed and the terminal bud begins to grow, so as to promote fragmentation and make the plant type plump and compact.