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Peony Red Spyder was bred in the Netherlands. The perennial is known not only for its spectacular appearance, but also for its frost resistance. The plant is used in landscape design.
Description of Peony Red Spider
The variety belongs to the species Milk-flowered, which was obtained by breeders in China, from where it spread throughout Europe. Peony Red Spider is sun-loving, prefers garden soils, is highly frost-resistant: it can withstand temperatures up to - 34-40 ° C. It is preferable to plant in the Moscow region and most of Russia, as well as in the mountainous regions of Scandinavia.
The shrub is undersized, reaches a height of no more than 45-70 cm. The leaf plates of the Red Spider variety are large, pinnately dissected, unpaired, of a rich green color. The shrub is compact, does not require the construction of supports to protect the shoots from damage.
The stems of the plant are erect, strong
Flowering features
Bud formation lasts May and June. The blossoming flower is 15-20 cm in diameter. The bud is terry, single, has a corolla, a calyx with sepals. Petals of an unusual shape, double-needle, are distinguished by a rich bright crimson hue. First, flowers bloom in the middle of the shrub, and then lateral buds appear.
Milk-flowered peonies are known among gardeners for their pleasant aroma.
For successful flowering, the Red Spider variety requires a day of light with a duration of at least 10 hours, although it is able to tolerate light partial shade. Buds form profusely when the temperature is set at + 20-22 ° C.
Application in design
To make the flower garden look as harmonious as possible, you should take into account the features of peonies:
- culture is a perennial, has been growing in one place for many years, does not like transplanting;
- the first 1-2 years the shrub will grow, only after that it will please with abundant flowering;
- peony Red Spider, like other representatives of this species, is a dominant, therefore it is not recommended to place it next to other varieties, but it is better to choose companions for the plant;
- after the buds wither, a beautiful shrub will remain as a decor, which will be the backdrop for other plants.
The peony is called the flower of the Emperor, not only for its appearance, but also for its exactingness: the shrub needs a lot of sun, moisture and nutrients. An unsuccessful neighborhood will lead to the death of one of the plants.
Most gardeners prefer to plant the flower as a tapeworm, it alone is able to decorate the site.
Planting flowers next to the walls of houses or along paths in the garden is a favorite option for landscape designers.
If space is available, it is allowed to place annuals in the vicinity of the peony, which will focus on themselves when the Red Spyder flowers fall off. It is recommended to consider crops such as hosts or soft cuffs.
When creating longline plantings, the Red Spider peony must always be placed on the top tier so that it is behind all vegetation.
When creating circular plantings, the peony should be placed in the center
Along the perimeter of the flower bed with the Red Spider variety, you can plant liliaceae, irises or bells. To create an overall picture, the peony looks good against the background of tall trees and dwarf plants: honeysuckle, barberry.
If you need to decorate the perimeter around the bush, then you should pay attention to incense, daisies or foxglove.
Reproduction methods
To propagate a peony bush, one of the methods is used: seeds, tubers, root or stem cuttings.
Breeding with seeds and root cuttings is a very time-consuming method that does not guarantee a positive result. Mature shrubs of the Red Spider variety, growing for at least 3-4 years, can be propagated by dividing the bush.
Most gardeners prefer to grow stem cuttings: they cut off the shoot and root it, after which they transfer the young seedling to the open ground
Landing rules
The herbaceous peony Red Spyder prefers sunny, well-sheltered areas.
Green manure or virgin lands are good predecessors. It is not recommended to plant a seedling in an area where shrubs or trees that have depleted the soil previously grew.
And although the bush is not picky about the ground, it feels as comfortable as possible on loamy soils. A peony will often be sore if planted in sour or swampy soil.
Site preparation consists of three stages: the earth should be dug up, peat and clay should be added. The hole must be at least 70 cm in diameter and 60 cm deep. It is necessary to form it in such a way that the root system of the bush in it is straightened.
Lay drainage at the bottom of the pit, and on top of it distribute a mixture of sand, peat and humus, handfuls of wood ash
Seedlings or seedlings from the pot should be removed as carefully as possible, keeping an earthen ball, minor damage to the roots negatively affects the viability of the plant.
A peony seedling, together with a lump of earth, must be transferred into a hole, covered and tamped, then the plant should be watered abundantly, the top layer of soil should be mulched
Follow-up care
In the rainy season, the Red Spyder peony does not need watering. In the heat, the bush should be moistened every 10 days. It is not recommended to neglect watering in May and June when the buds are forming. It is important to moisten the ground in a timely manner at the end of July and August, during this period bud formation occurs.
After each watering, without fail, the soil under the Red Spider peony is loosened so that air flows to the roots.
Within 2 years after planting, the young bush does not need fertilization. In the third year of life, the procedure should be carried out 4 times:
- first top dressing in spring: 1 tbsp. l. ammonium nitrate is dissolved in 19 liters of water, poured under a peony;
- during the formation of buds: 0.5 tbsp. l. mix superphosphate, potassium salt and ammonium nitrate, and then scatter around the periphery of the shrub;
- a top dressing identical in composition is applied during flowering;
- after all the buds have fallen off, fertilize the plant for the last time, scattering 0.5 tbsp under it. l. superphosphate and potassium salt.
Preparing for winter
Since the peony Red Spider is frost-resistant, it does not need shelter. But most gardeners prefer to protect the shrub. For this, it is recommended to use spruce branches from conifers, sawdust or peat.
The most common cover method is the use of a special fabric.
Pruning is a mandatory procedure for caring for Red Spyder peonies in the autumn. It must be carried out in the last week of October or in the first decade of November.
The pruning procedure is simple: all shoots are to be removed, "stumps" with a height of 6-8 cm should be left
The trimmed healthy tops can be used as mulch. If the plant has been attacked by pests or diseases during the season, then the shoots must be destroyed.
Pests and diseases
Peony Red Spider has good immunity, but neglect of care weakens the plant, which makes it possible for pests and diseases to be active.
Fungal rust spores appear on the leaf plates with brown spots. They are able to infect neighboring plants, spreading with the wind through the air.
If rust is found, all modified shoots must be destroyed, the shrub must be sprayed with Bordeaux liquid from a spray bottle
Gray rot is manifested by a corresponding color bloom on the trunk and leaf plates. Most often, the disease is activated during the rainy season.
To save the Red Spyder peony, all affected parts of it should be removed, and the bush itself should be treated with a fungicide
It is easy to diagnose powdery mildew: a white bloom appears on the leaf plates.
To combat powdery mildew, it is necessary to irrigate the shrub with a solution of soda ash and laundry soap
If lightened areas appear on the leaf plates, which gradually dry out, then these are signs of a mosaic.
There is no cure for the mosaic, the plant must be destroyed
In addition to diseases, the Red Spyder peony is attacked by insects. Most often these are aphids, ants, thrips. To combat them, it is recommended to remove the damaged leaves, and irrigate the shrub itself from a spray bottle with an insecticide solution.
As a preventive measure, one should not neglect the rules of care, remove weeds in a timely manner, and thin out the bush.
Conclusion
Peony Red Spider is a beautiful perennial that can decorate any area. It is planted along paths and walls, looks great in mixborders. The shrub is frost-hardy, undemanding to care for, pleases with large buds in May-June.
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