Azalea "Mandarin Lights": a description of the Japanese rhododendron, the history of occurrence, features of flower care and other information

Azalea Mandarin Lights is a particularly popular and widespread variety among lovers of exotic flowers.

The variety is distinguished by a special decorative bush and expressive flowering brightness, which will allow the plant to become an ornament of any garden.

From this article you will learn about the subsorts of this azalea, the rules for caring for it, get acquainted with the method of reproduction and methods of combating diseases.

Brief definition

Azalea (rhododendron) lights series Mandarin Lights belongs to the genus deciduous azaleas of the Vereskov family. This series of hybrid Japanese varieties is considered frost resistant.

Reference! These varieties of azaleas were bred in America, Minnesota.

Detailed description of rhododendron

Azalea Mandarin Lights - deciduous shrub.
The height of the adult bush reaches 2 - 2.5 m. The crown extends to a width of 2 m, the shape of the crown is round.
The leaves are large, long, grow up to 10 cm, oblong, sharp at the ends, wedge-shaped at the base. In summer, the foliage is saturated olive color, in the fall they become deep burgundy.
The flowers are red - orange in color; an orange spot "burns" on the central petal. In shape, the flowers are narrow, bell-shaped, with wavy edges, medium in size, with a diameter of 5 - 6 cm.
The root system is superficial; when planting, it does not require much deepening.

History of occurrence

In the United States, work on a breeding series of super resistant rhododendrons began in the mid-20th century. The first hybrid varieties were developed in 1978 by the University of Minnesota..

Variety Mandarin Lights launched in 1990. Selection discoveries include about 20 varieties - hybrids that are successfully distributed among lovers of exotic azaleas.

What is the difference from the rest of the species?

Flowering begins before leaves appear.
Azalea Mandarin Lights stands out for its exquisite aroma.
The variety is distinguished by its special endurance, winters well, is less whimsical than the varieties of evergreen shrubs.

Subcort

Golden Lights

The decorative bush grows to 1.5 - 2 m. It blooms from mid-May. The bush is compact, the form is straight and loose, growing in the hemisphere. The crown is wide, in diameter reaches 1 - 1.5 m. The leaves are oblong, wide, up to 6 cm, pointed at the ends, 10 cm long. The color of the leaves is olive green, in autumn the leaves change color, become bright bard.

Stems - shoots branch well. The flowers are salmon-orange, funnel-shaped, medium in size, up to 5 cm in diameter. The throat of the flower itself is lighter than the edge of the petals, they have a pink hue. Inflorescences - large bouquets, in each inflorescence gathers up to 8 - 10 flowers.

Speaks Orange

Fast-growing and frost-resistant variety. The leaves are oblong, saturated green. In the fall they turn orange - yellow. The bush is thick, sprawling, grows to a height of 1, 5 m. The flowers are gently - orange, double, large flowers - cups in shape. Flowers are collected in inflorescences of 10 flowers each. The diameter of the flower is average, up to 7 - 8 cm. It blooms in mid-May, blooms for 3 weeks.

Bloom

When and how?

Azalea Mandarin Lights blooms profusely from late May to early June. Long flowering - 3 to 4 weeks.

Features

Azalea Mandarin Lights is hygrophilous; during flowering, good abundant watering and sufficient humidity are required; irrigation of bushes is required.
During bud formation, the temperature should be lowered to 12 ° C.
After flowering, too elongated shoots are pruned for further cuttings. Old wilted inflorescences are recommended to be cut.

What to do if it does not blossom?

It is important to use fertilizers with superphosphate to prolong flowering and the formation of new flower buds.
Azalea Mandarin Lights does not start flowering due to lack of minerals in the soil.
It is necessary to check the bush for parasites and fungal infections of the root and stems.

Use in garden design

Azalea Mandarin Lights looks harmonious in coniferous compositions. This bright variety is used to create mixborders - mixed rocky gardens in oriental style. Bushes are planted along the fences, forming spectacular compositions with other decorative and deciduous shrubs - barberry, lilac, plantations of hydrangea and peonies.

Step-by-step care instructions

Seat selection

For planting, you should choose places that are protected from draft and gusty wind. Azalea Mandarin Lights grows in light scattered partial shade. It can be planted on sunny slopes, but direct midday sun should be avoided.

What should be the soil?

Planting azalea Mandarin Lights is recommended on acidic, loose, well-drained, fertile soils.

The composition of the substrate for the variety Mandarin Lights:

Sheet earth.
Peat.
Coniferous litter.
The ratio is 3: 2: 1.
Drainage layer.

Drainage is formed from coarse sand and broken brick or gravel. You can not use calcareous crushed stone, which alkalizes the substrate.

Landing

Seedlings grown from seeds can be planted all summer. Saplings - layering is usually planted in the spring.

Azalea Landing Procedure Mandarin Lights:

It is required to dig out a landing hole 60 - 70 cm wide and half a meter deep.
At the bottom of the hole, a drainage layer 20 - 25 cm thick is smoothed.
The seedling is placed vertically in the hole.
The bush is covered with a substrate on the root neck so as not to deepen the root.
The soil is mulched around a seedling.
The seedling is watered abundantly.

Advice! The composition of the mulch includes chilled needles, moss, peat, medium-sized pieces of pine bark.

Temperature

Azalea Mandarin Lights is a frost-resistant variety that can withstand temperature drops of up to -34 C. In a temperate climate, in a snowy winter, shelter is not necessary, you need to mulch the trunk circle. This variety prefers a humid cool climate, the optimum temperature during the growth and development of buds is 12 - 15 ° C. In summer, with heavy watering and daily spraying, it can tolerate heat up to 30 ° C.

Watering

Azalea Mandarin Lights is a very moisture-loving variety, therefore, drying of the substrate should not be allowed. Good moisture is required, close to the natural conditions of the tropics during the period of active growth of young branches and ripening of leaves.

In autumn, in wet weather, watering needs to be reduced. Watering should only be done in dry, steady weather.

It is imperative to mulch the near-stem circle of the soil, this is necessary to preserve moisture and protect the roots from frost.

Top dressing

Fertilize the azalea Mandarin Lights in the spring - nutrient mixtures, compost are added to the trunk circle.

During the ripening of buds, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is recommended.:

superphosphate;
ammonium;
potassium.

Important! Fertilizers are applied not at the root, but at a distance of 20 - 25 cm from the center of the bush.

Pruning

Pruning is usually carried out 2 to 3 weeks after the flowering of Azalea Mandarin Lights. Old branches are cut, damaged shoots. In order for the crown to develop luxuriantly and correctly, the entire bush is cut, on the entire surface. Strongly branched shoots are removed so that the bush develops freely and evenly.

To prevent disease, the slices after trimming are treated with paint on varnish.

Transfer

Transplantation is carried out in early spring, can be transplanted before and after flowering.. Azalea Mandarin Lights quickly adapt to new conditions, if you keep the old, well-soaked earthball.

How to propagate?

The simplest and most effective way of propagating Mandarin Lights azaleas is by propagating low-growing branches by layering:

Adult shoots are used, a small incision is made on them - cleansing from the bark by 1 - 1, 5 cm.
The stems are pulled by wire, dig in.
In the ground layering slings or special hooks are fixed.
Necessarily good soil moisture during rooting of layering.

Important! Once a month, watering is combined with top dressing - the root growth enhancer.

Separation from the mother bush is carried out next year, in the fall. Seedlings bloom in 1 - 2 years.

Diseases and Pests

With improper watering and fertilizer, fungal infections and pests of azalea Mandarin Lights may appear:

Root rot is determined by leaf wilting, damage to the root neck. The bush and root substrate requires treatment with Bordeaux fluid. Heavily infected bushes must be destroyed along with the roots.
The rot of buds affects non-blooming flowers, the bud branches turn brown and fall off. Spraying azalea with copper-containing preparations.
Florists treat various leaf spotting, septoria, rust and mosaic viruses by spraying with a solution of Bordeaux fluid. Affected leaves are cut off.
From spider mites, false shields, phytoverms or kalbofos solution will help; spraying bushes with an interval of 10 to 12 days is necessary. The procedure is repeated 3 to 3 times.
Rhododendral mites and bugs infect leaves. Pests are collected manually, and the bushes themselves are treated with tincture of tobacco and soap. Mandatory pruning of heavily infected shoots.

Prevention of various problems

If the substrate is constantly wet, swampy, there is no water flow, and it contains a lot of salts, chlorosis appears, acidify the substrate, and feed the flower with iron chelates.
If the azaleas of Mandarin Lights do not have enough light, the shoots are pulled out, flowering slows down, the lush freshness of the inflorescences is lost. It is better to transplant the flower to a brighter place.
If the bushes are planted in direct sunlight, on the south side, the leaves may suffer from sunburn. Shading or sheltering of bushes is required.

Azalea Mandarin Lights is a rather whimsical tropical flower, but with proper care it can grow into a beautifully flowering orange shrub.