Seeding, cutting and grafting are commonly used for propagation, and layering and branching are also feasible. Sowing, evergreen azaleas are best sown with harvest, and deciduous azaleas can also store seeds until the next spring sowing. When the temperature is 15 ~ 20℃, the seedlings will emerge in about 20 days. Cutting: Generally, semi-lignified branches of the current year are selected as cuttings from May to June, and a shed is set up for shade after cutting. They can take root in 65438 0 months at about 25℃. Rhododendron occidentalis takes root slowly, which takes about 60 ~ 70 days. Grafting, the propagation of Rhododendron occidentalis is widely used, often with twigs splitting, and the grafting time is not limited. The rootstock is mostly two-year-old Rhododendron, and the survival rate is over 90%. Wild rhododendrons and cultivated varieties from Mao Juan, Dong Juan and Xia Juan can be potted or planted in the shade. Xi Juan is potted all over the country, and the cultivated soil is mostly black mountain soil. Culture soil made of peat soil, Huangshan soil, humus soil, pine leaf soil, coal cinder and sawdust can be used as long as its pH value is between 5.5 and 7.0, its drainage is good and it is rich in humus. Pot filling is usually carried out in April or June 165438+ 10. Rhododendron roots expand slowly, so it is advisable to use 3-inch pots for 1 ~ 2 years, 4-inch pots for 3 ~ 4 years, change pots 1 time every 3 ~ 5 years, and trim roots at the same time. Water, according to the weather, plant size. Pot soil is dry and wet, which needs to be mastered flexibly. The water quality should be alkaline. When tap water is used, it is best to store 1 ~ 2 months in the water tank. Going out in mid-April is at the peak of growth, and the water demand is large; During the rainy season, water should be prevented; In the high temperature season from July to August, the evaporation is large, so it should be watered with the sun, and water should be sprayed on the ground and leaves at noon and night to cool down; 165438+1entered the room in early October. If there is heating in the room, the growth is still vigorous and the water demand is still large, especially when flowering and topping. If it is not heated indoors and grows slowly, it can be watered once every 3 to 5 days. Be thin, be fat and be diligent. For 2-4-year-old seedlings, in order to accelerate the formation of plants, the formation of new branches is often promoted by coring and bud picking. After the plant is formed, the diseased branches, weak branches and overlapping branches are mainly cut off, and thinning is the main method.
Key points of propagation: sowing, cutting, grafting and layering can be used for propagation.
[Edit this paragraph] Maintenance points
1. environmental conditions: it is best to cultivate azaleas indoors and indoors. Use indoor environment in winter. In the Yangtze River valley, as long as there are certain lighting and ventilation conditions indoors, there is generally no need for heating. The northern winter is extremely cold and dry, so it is suitable for cultivation in a greenhouse with moderate temperature (about 15℃). Outdoor venues, used in summer and autumn, with mud as the best, avoid cement. The venue should be spacious, ventilated and cool, with a shade shed, a reed curtain or a natural tree-lined shelter, and the light transmittance should be around 30%. It is forbidden to bask in the sun at night.
2. Potted soil requirements: Rhododendron likes loose, porous, well-drained, humus-rich acidic soil with PH value of 5.0-6.0. If clay or alkaline soil is used, it is difficult to survive. Especially Xia Juan and Yang Juan, they must be mountain soil. Mountain soil needs to be improved. At present, three kinds of cultivated soil are usually used. (1) It is prepared by mixing 7 parts of mountain soil, 1 part of dry moss sheet, 2 parts of dry humus soil and 1 part of dry fertilizer. (2) Stack 3 parts of mountain bark soil (topsoil), 3 parts of horse manure, 3 parts of deciduous weeds and 1 part of human manure in layers, and sieve after 1-2 years. (3) Mix 3 parts of mountain soil, 3 parts of humus soil, 4 parts of garden soil and 2 parts of sandy soil, and add 50g of sesame sauce residue and bone meal to each pot.
Third, the choice of flowerpots: flowerpots for planting azaleas can generally choose pottery pots and purple sand pots according to their uses. Clay basin has good ventilation and water permeability, which is beneficial to root growth. It is used for the cultivation of production units. Molded azaleas, especially those that have been molded, are generally planted in elegant purple sand pots for indoor and outdoor display. The teapot is exquisite in texture, rich in color and beautiful in shape, which can increase the ornamental value. The permeability of purple sand basin is not as good as that of clay basin. When planting, broken tiles (old tiles) should be placed around the basin wall to facilitate drainage. The size of the flowerpot depends on the age of the plant. Generally speaking, 5-inch flowerpots are used for 4-6 year-old plants. 6-inch flowerpot for 7- 10 annual plants; 11-15 8-inch pot for reproductive plants.
Fourth, improve water quality: it is best to use rainwater for watering azaleas, followed by river water and pond water. If tap water is used, it is best to store the water for 1-2 days, so that chlorine gas can be volatilized and then reused. When it is used, 0.2% ferrous sulfate is added, and it is poured every 7- 10 days in the growing season, and it is frequently used to ensure that the soil is acidic.
Five, fertilizer and water management: azaleas like wet, not too dry. More water is especially needed during flowering. In winter, azaleas have entered the dormant period, and the water demand is not much. Generally, water should be poured 1 time every 4-5 days, and around noon on sunny and warm days. According to the dryness of the basin soil, appropriate amount of water can be applied. In March, the roots of rhododendron germinated and the water demand increased. The growth and development of summer rhododendron is a little late, and the watering amount is less than that of spring rhododendron. Generally, water every two days in the afternoon 1 time. From April to June, azaleas bloom one after another, and the branches and leaves begin to sprout, which requires a lot of water. Generally, water 1 time every morning and evening. During the high temperature and drought season from July to early September, water 1 time in the morning and evening, and the amount of water should not be too much. At noon, water should be sprayed on the leaves and the ground to maintain a humid environment. From mid-September to165438+1October, the weather gradually turns cold, which is the adaptive period for the growth of rhododendrons. In order to prevent the autumn shoots from pulling out and enhance the cold resistance in winter, the watering amount should be reduced appropriately. Generally, water 1 time every other morning to keep it moist. Rhododendron prefers fertilizer. Generally, water with decomposed cake fertilizer, fish meal, broad bean or Chinese milk vetch, and human excrement and urine are prohibited. Apply 1 thin fertilizer every 10 day, with the concentration of 15%, and apply * * * 2-3 times, so as to promote the old leaves to turn green and sprout new roots. Fertilize 5-6 times from mid-May to early July to promote the growth of branches and leaves after flowers wither. If it rains continuously, dry fertilizer can be applied. Fertilize 1-2 times before entering the house and before the growth of azalea is about to stop.
6. Outdoor shading: it is advisable to see more sunshine before going out and flowering; At noon in flowering period, it should be shaded for a short time, with a light transmittance of 60%; The plum rain period from June to early July is the flowering period of azaleas, so try to see more sunshine. However, in the case of strong sunshine, it should be shaded from 9: 00 am to 4: 00 pm to avoid burning new leaves. From mid-July to early September, we should shade the sun from 8 am to 5 pm every day to prevent the sun from exposure. In the autumn growing season after September, the shading time can be shortened. Generally, it can be shaded from 10 to 4 pm, and it is advisable to see more sunshine after 10. Cut off long branches, weak branches, deformed branches and damaged branches after plastic surgery.
Seven, shaping and pruning: Rhododendron grows slowly, generally let it grow naturally, only after flowering, shaping, cutting off long branches, diseased branches, deformed branches and damaged branches.
[Edit this paragraph] Pest control
Pest control: During the hazardous period, the military pest control (also known as Wang Guan Bug) is sprayed with 40% dimethoate 1500 times, and sprayed with 1 times every 7 days for 3 times in a row. The control methods of leaf roller in terminal bud stage mainly rely on manual capture and killing, and larvae or pupae can also be killed by spraying 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate or 1500 times dichlorvos.
Dicofol solution 1000 times can control red spider. Using 1500 times dimethoate or dichlorvos can control the cobia. The most common disease is brown spot, which can be controlled with 800 times Tobuzine or the same amount of Bordeaux mixture.
[Edit this paragraph] bonsai making
Rhododendron can be propagated by layering, cutting, branching and grafting. Bonsai can also be made of old rhododendron piles that have grown for many years and have simple roots. Most of them should be excavated and transplanted before the flowers wither in late autumn and early winter or spring. When transplanting, they should bring more soil, trim the trunk and taproot properly, cut off the branches that affect the shape, and leave more lateral roots and fibrous roots. For larger branches, check carefully to ensure that the shape is not needed before removal. First plant it in a soil basin or underground for green cultivation, and the soil should be sandy soil with good drainage. After planting the piles dug in late autumn and early winter, all of them are buried with sand, only a few branches are exposed, and after watering, they are covered with plastic bags to keep warm and moist. Piles dug in spring should also be buried in the soil for 2/3. After planting, keep the soil moist without watering, and then gradually remove the sand from the trunk after the plants germinate. During blank cultivation, leaves and trunks should be sprayed with water frequently to increase air humidity, but the roots should not be too wet, especially to avoid water accumulation, otherwise it will cause rotten roots. Pay attention to shading in summer to prevent sun exposure.
Rhododendron can be made into various forms of bonsai, such as straight dry type, inclined dry type, curved dry type, double dry type, multi-dry type, exposed root type, cliff type, attached stone type, flood and drought type and so on. Seedlings propagated by cutting, layering and other methods can be shaped year by year after 3-4 years of growth, and the modeling time is mostly before spring germination or summer and autumn growing season. Pruning is the main thing, winding is the auxiliary thing. When modeling, we should follow the principle of coarse first and fine later, properly wrap the trunk and main branches, and trim other branches for modeling. Because the branches of rhododendron are fragile and easy to break, be careful when operating. In the growing season, if a branch breaks, you can put yellow mud on the wound and wrap it with plastic film, which will soon heal and recover. However, the old azalea pile should be shaped by pruning, but some branches can also be properly tied. In order to improve the ornamental value, Mao Dujuan Laodui, which has grown for many years and has strong branches and beautiful appearance, can be used as rootstock, and excellent varieties of Rhododendron can be used as scions for grafting through docking or cutting. According to the situation of the stump, you can gradually remove part of the soil and lift the roots out of the ground, so that the roots are exposed in the air, which is simple and energetic.
Rhododendron likes warm and humid semi-cloudy environment and needs good ventilation. Usually it can be maintained under strong light, and it should be shaded in summer and early autumn to avoid exposure to the hot sun. Otherwise, the strong light will burn the leaves, but it should not be too shaded, so as to avoid the plants growing white and affecting flowering. It can be maintained in a cool shed or shade. Keep the soil moist during the growing period, but don't accumulate water. Pay attention to drainage in rainy season. When the air is dry, sprinkle water on plants and the surrounding ground to increase the air humidity and prevent the leaves from drying up. You can also cover the surface of the pot soil with a layer of soft grass to prevent the fine fibrous roots on the surface of the pot soil from being burned by the hot sun. Apply decomposed dilute liquid fertilizer every 15 days. In order to prevent yellowing, a small amount of black alum can be added to the fertilizer solution to make the leaves dark green and bright in color. Adding 1 ~ 2 times of phosphate fertilizer such as bone meal and calcium superphosphate in bud stage can promote the flowers to be large and colorful. Move indoors to the sunny place in winter, keep the soil above 0℃ from freezing, and control watering to make the basin soil slightly moist. Prune once a year after flowering, cut off pests and diseases, dead branches, cross branches, overlapping branches, weak branches and long branches, and cut off short branches appropriately, so as to make the plant beautiful in appearance and reasonable in branch distribution, strengthen ventilation and light transmission in the inner room, which is beneficial to plant growth. In spring or late autumn, the basin should be turned once every two years, and the basin soil should be rich in humus, fertile and loose slightly acidic sandy soil.
Function of plant dyes: As a foil for flowers, the function of branches and leaves of rhododendron has not been paid attention to. It is actually a natural dye. Uses: branches and leaves.
In the domestic environment, potted azaleas are better. It is appropriate to choose early spring or late autumn as the time to go to the basin. Rhododendron roots expand slowly, so it is advisable to use 3-inch pots for 1 ~ 2 years, 4-inch pots for 3 ~ 4 years, change pots 1 time every 3 ~ 5 years, and trim roots at the same time. Water, according to the specific situation of flexible grasp. When the temperature is low, there is little water; In high school, you should water while drying, but you must not accumulate water. Fertilization should be thin and diligent. For 2 ~ 4-year-old seedlings, in order to accelerate the formation of plants, the methods of coring and bud picking are often used to promote the growth of new branches; After the plant is formed, the diseased branches, weak branches and overlapping branches are mainly cut off, and thinning is the main method.