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Clematis Red Star is a perennial loach from the Buttercup family. In Russia, the variety became known in 1995 and immediately won the hearts of flower growers. His presence transforms the backyard into a piece of paradise. And when blooming, the air is filled with a light, sweetish aroma that attracts butterflies. The variety is rare, unpretentious, cold-resistant, so it can be grown by both experienced and novice growers.
Description of clematis Red Star
The large-flowered clematis Red Star is a perennial deciduous vine. Long, 2-meter shoots are covered with luscious emerald foliage. 2 times a year, large flowers up to 15 cm in size appear on the plant. Wide petals are painted in a light scarlet color with a raspberry tint. The decorativeness of the flower is betrayed by a pale pink strip running exactly in the center of each petal.
Double or semi-double flowers have irregularly shaped lanceolate sepals. Surrounded by bright purple anthers, stamens stand out, which are located on creamy threads.
The duration of flowering depends on the climatic conditions. In warm summer, flowering occurs 2 times a year. The first buds open in the first half of summer, and the final ones in mid-September. Clematis Red Star is a frost-resistant hybrid. In the presence of snow cover, it can withstand temperatures up to - 35 ° C without shelter. Thanks to this, Clematis Red Star can be erected in all corners of Russia.
Clematis trimming group Red Star
Hybrid clematis Red Star is ranked in the second pruning group. Flowering occurs twice: the first flowers bloom in early summer on last year's shoots, the second bloom occurs in early September on young shoots. Given this factor, pruning must be taken with full responsibility. Correctly pruned clematis will bloom luxuriantly and for a long time.
Optimal growing conditions
Clematis Red Star, like many hybrids, is not picky about the place of growth and climatic conditions. But for a beautiful flowering, you need to choose a sunny area, nutritious soil and reliable support.
Clematis Red Star is planted on the south or southwest side without drafts and gusty winds. When growing, slight darkening is allowed, but the duration of daylight hours should be at least 6-8 hours.
Clematis Red Star grows well and blooms profusely on fertile loams with a high degree of friability. The soil must be drained and aerated.
When landscaping residential walls, at least half a meter recede from the brickwork. The plant should not be planted near a body of water, as this neighborhood can lead to flooding, which will lead to decay of the root system and the death of the plant.
Planting and caring for clematis Red Star
Planting and caring for Clematis Red Star is not difficult, but before purchasing planting material, you need to read the description, read reviews, view photos and videos. In order for clematis to please the eye with its flowers throughout the growing season, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommendations of specialists.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
A correctly chosen place will save the grower from a lot of problems in the future. Therefore, the selection and preparation of the site must be approached responsibly.
- The area should be bright, but not in direct sunlight, as prolonged exposure to the open sun affects the color of the flowers.
- Do not plant the plant in a draft, as gusty winds can damage the flexible, fragile stems.
- Landing next to buildings can damage clematis: the fence will not allow the liana to grow qualitatively, and water will flow from the roof of the house, which will lead to decay of the root system.
Seedling preparation
When buying clematis, it is better to give preference to 1-2 year old seedlings. A healthy plant should have a well-developed root system (at least 3 roots 10 cm long). The roots should be firm, without signs of disease, swelling and thickening. The seedling should consist of 2 strong shoots and 2-3 well-developed buds.
If the seedling is purchased with an open root system, then before planting the plant is kept for 2 hours in warm water with the addition of a root formation stimulator.
Landing rules
Saplings of clematis varieties Red Star are planted in spring and autumn. But in regions with an unstable climate, experienced flower growers recommend planting only in spring, since before the start of frost the plant will not have time to get stronger and will not form a strong root system.
To obtain abundant and lush flowering, you must follow the recommendations of experienced florists:
- In a sunny place, dig a hole 50x50 cm in size.When several plants are planted, the interval between the planting holes is kept within 1.5 m.
- A 15 cm layer of drainage is poured onto the bottom (broken brick, expanded clay, small pebbles).
- Nutrient soil made from leaf compost, garden soil, sand and rotted manure is poured into the pit in the form of a mound.
- In a clematis seedling, the roots are straightened and placed on a hill so that the root collar is 2-3 cm underground.
- The voids are filled with soil, compacting each layer.
- The top layer is spilled and mulched.
- The planted clematis is shaded. To do this, marigolds or perennials with a superficial root system can be planted next to the plant.
Watering and feeding
Photos and descriptions show that Clematis Red Star is an unpretentious hybrid, and even a novice florist can grow it. Caring for clematis is simple and consists of watering, feeding and regular pruning.
Watering clematis Red Star should be regular, abundant, but without stagnant water. During the summer drought, irrigation is carried out several times a week, spending at least 1 bucket of warm water for each plant. With a lack of moisture, the flowers become smaller, lose their bright color, and the flowering time is reduced. After irrigation, the soil is loosened, thereby creating aeration and drainage.
Without regular dressing, Clematis Red Star does not wake up luxuriantly and abundantly blooming:
- The first year Clematis Red Star is not fed.
- For all subsequent years, fertilizing is carried out every spring (nitrogenous fertilizers), during budding (potash fertilization) and in the fall (phosphorus-potassium fertilizers).
Mulching and loosening
To facilitate work, the soil of the trunk circle is mulched. Straw, sawdust, fallen leaves or rotted humus are used as mulch. Mulch will save moisture, stop growth weeds and will become an additional organic nutrition.
Pruning clematis Red Star
Clematis Red Star belongs to the 2nd pruning group. This means that the plant blooms 2 times a year. To obtain abundant and long-lasting flowering, pruning is done regularly and in moderation.
Pruning clematis Red Star:
- In the year of planting, they cut off all the buds and pinch the top. Also, cut off all shoots at the level of 30 cm, without touching the main shoot. This pruning will allow the plant to grow side shoots.
- Next, dry and damaged shoots are regularly cut.
- Last year's shoots are shortened, but not completely removed, otherwise the plant will not bloom in summer.
- Each branch is pruned at a level of 150 cm so that at least 12 developed buds remain on it.
- In an adult clematis, 14 healthy, well-developed shoots are left, this will be enough to obtain abundant flowering. The remaining shoots are cut at the root.
Preparing for winter
After pruning, Clematis Red Star is prepared for winter. To do this, before the onset of frost, the near-stem circle is spudded with garden soil or rotted humus to a height of 15 cm. This procedure will help the plant to endure early, light frosts.
The soil is generously spilled with warm water with the addition of any fungicide and sprinkled with wood ash. This will prevent diseases and will enrich the soil with potassium, which will help clematis survive severe frosts.
When the temperature drops to -5 ° C, the young plant is covered. For shelter, use a wooden box or agrofiber. Spruce branches, straw or fallen leaves are placed on top. Polyethylene is not used as a shelter, since under it the plant will resist and die.
Reproduction
Clematis Red Star can be propagated in 4 ways: by seeds, branches, dividing the bush and cuttings.
Division of the bush. For reproduction by dividing the bush, a plant aged 5-7 years is suitable. This is due to the fact that young clematis does not withstand transplantation well, and in mature age the bush builds up a powerful root system, which can be damaged when excavated.
Reproduction is carried out in early spring, before sap flow. Before digging out the bush, all the stems are pruned, leaving 2-4 buds on the stumps. The bush is dug up with a large clod of earth, in every possible way avoiding damage to the roots. The dug out bush is divided in the center with a sharp, sterile instrument. Each delenka must have a growth bud and a developed root.
Seed reproduction. Reproduction of clematis by seeds is a laborious and long process, so this method is not suitable for novice florists. Also, when propagating a hybrid of Clematis Red Star with seeds, you may not get varietal similarity.
Cuttings. The easiest and most effective breeding method. In the fall, cuttings with 2 developed buds are cut from a 5-year-old bush. After processing the cut in a growth stimulator, the cuttings are planted at an acute angle in a nutritious soil. The container with cuttings is removed in a cool room, where the air temperature does not rise above 0 ° C. Until the onset of spring, it is necessary to monitor the moisture content of the soil. At the end of winter, the container is transferred to a warm, well-lit room. At the end of March, the first leaves appear on the cutting, which means that the cutting has begun to grow the root system. After the end of spring frosts and after the soil warms up to + 15 ° C, the cutting is planted in a permanent place.
Reproduction by air vents. A simple, effective way. In October, a healthy, strong shoot is selected and all leaves are removed. The shoot is laid in a previously prepared trench to a depth of 6 cm. It is covered with nutritious soil, leaving the top on the surface. The earth is compacted, spilled and mulched. A year later, in the fall, the young plant is separated from the mother bush and transplanted to a prepared place.
Diseases and pests
If the agrotechnical rules are not followed, Clematis Red Star can infect fungal diseases and attack pests. Dangerous diseases of clematis:
- Gray rot - the leaf plate is covered with brown spots. For treatment use the drug "Fundazol".
- Ascochitosis- The foliage becomes covered with dark spots, which dry out and crumble without treatment, forming numerous holes on the foliage. Help consists in processing the plant with a solution of copper sulfate.
- Powdery mildew - a common disease. The fungus infects young leaves and stems, covering them with a white sticky coating.When the first signs appear, all damaged shoots are cut and burned, and healthy parts are treated with copper-containing preparations.
- Rust - the outer surface of the leaf is covered with red tubercles. All infected leaves are removed, the bush is sprayed with Bordeaux liquid.
Pest insects are also dangerous for clematis. The most common:
- Nematodes - worms infect roots and foliage. Due to damage to the root system, the plant quickly withers and dies.
- Aphid - a pest that feeds on plant sap. Colonies settle on the inside of the leaf plate. Destroyed by broad-spectrum insecticides, onion or garlic alkaline infusion.
- Slugs are caterpillars rapidly destroying the entire above-ground part. For destruction, traps made from cabbage leaves or wet rags are used, and the earth is sprinkled with tobacco, ash or pepper.
Conclusion
Clematis Red Star is a decorative, perennial vine. Due to the large bright colors, the plant looks effectively anywhere, but most often it is landscaped with gazebos, arches, walls of residential buildings. Red Star is planted next to conifers, low perennials and ornamental shrubs. Subject to agrotechnical rules, the plant will delight with flowering throughout the season.
