Rhododendron dendrocharis |
Native Region: China
Zone Range: 6-9
Preferred Climate: Semi shade; well drained humus rich acidic soils.
Harvest Date: Sunday 05 December, 2010
Seed count: 25-30
Description:
A sweet little dwarf rhododendron introduced to the gardening world in 1981, and still rare in cultivation. Fairly large flowers in April can clothe the plant in pink. Spikey fuzz on the densely clusered stems add interest once the blooms are gone. Will be wider than tall making it less prone to break under a snow load. Slow growing...will reach 50 cm tall and 1 meter wide over time.
Cultivation:
To conserve space and improve germination rates, use 10-15 cm deep nursery pots. Each pot is large enough for 50-100 seeds. Prepare two types of medium. Bottom layer: equal parts moist finely milled peat, coarse sand, and perlite. Germination layer: finely milled moist peat moss. Fill pot half way with the first and gently firm then add the second until 2 cm from the rim (allows growing space for seedlings). Gently tamp firm. Ensure medium is moist, place prepared pot in a tray of warm water. Your fingertip should tell you if the medium is well hydrated. Drain excess moisture. Evenly sow seed on the surface. DO NOT COVER SEED. A fine mist will settle seed on the germination surface. Stop misting when seed has full contact with medium. Maintain humid conditions via plastic cover. Seed need 20 C and darkness to germinate. Don’t let the germination layer dry out or become too soggy. Should germinate in 2-8 weeks. Provide light when seedlings emerge. Feed with dilute fertilizer via misting. Prick out and harden off when seedlings have 2-4 sets of true leaves.
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