Kalmia

The genus Kalmia includes 8 species of evergreen shrubs. The flowers are very lush, cup-shaped or flattened, collected in corymbose inflorescences, bloom on the branches of the last year. The flower has 10 stamens, which are usually covered with a corolla, but if you touch them or just slightly touch them, they immediately protrude, and pollen is dispersed. Fruits are seed pods. Kalmia angustifolia is a species that rarely exceeds 1 m in height, leaves are elliptical-lanceolate, flowers are purple-pink, bloom in June-July. Kalmia broadleaf (K. latifolia), also known in Europe as mountain laurel, is a plant up to 4 m tall with elliptical - lanceolate glossy leathery green poisonous leaves. Flowers - from bright pink to white, with protruding stamens, bloom in May-June. In the variety 'Frickles', the flowers inside are white with dark red speckles, and outside are pink. K. polifolia is an evergreen creeping species with a height of 10-50 cm, with leathery oval-oblong leaves and pink flowers that appear in May-June.

The genus Kalmia includes 8 species of evergreen shrubs. The flowers are very lush, cup-shaped or flattened, collected in corymbose inflorescences, bloom on the branches of the last year. The flower has 10 stamens, which are usually covered with a corolla, but if you touch them or just slightly touch them, they immediately protrude, and pollen is dispersed. Fruits are seed pods.

Kalmia angustifolia is a species that rarely exceeds 1 m in height, leaves are elliptical-lanceolate, flowers are purple-pink, bloom in June-July.

Kalmia broadleaf (K. latifolia), also known in Europe as mountain laurel, is a plant up to 4 m tall with elliptical - lanceolate glossy leathery green poisonous leaves. Flowers - from bright pink to white, with protruding stamens, bloom in May-June. In the variety 'Frickles', the flowers inside are white with dark red speckles, and outside are pink.

K. polifolia is an evergreen creeping species with a height of 10-50 cm, with leathery oval-oblong leaves and pink flowers that appear in May-June.

Cultivation

Plants of the genus Kalmia are grown in the open ground as ornamental shrubs. They are planted on a permanent planting site in September-October or in April-May. A fairly moist, acidic, but not alkaline, peat-rich soil is required (recommended soil acidity, or pH, 5.5-6.0). They can also be grown in fairly dry soils with good mulching with organic material in the fall or spring. During planting, the land is abundantly fertilized with well-rotted manure or compost at the rate of 7-8 kg/m2. In spring and summer, once every 15-20 days, an acidifying mineral fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in the amount of 20-30 g per bucket. Pruning is only necessary to remove dry and damaged branches.

Plants of the genus Kalmia are grown in the open ground as ornamental shrubs. They are planted on a permanent planting site in September-October or in April-May. A fairly moist, acidic, but not alkaline, peat-rich soil is required (recommended soil acidity, or pH, 5.5-6.0). They can also be grown in fairly dry soils with good mulching with organic material in the fall or spring. During planting, the land is abundantly fertilized with well-rotted manure or compost at the rate of 7-8 kg/m2. In spring and summer, once every 15-20 days, an acidifying mineral fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in the amount of 20-30 g per bucket. Pruning is only necessary to remove dry and damaged branches.

Location

Plants of the genus Kalmia prefer a place in the shade or partial shade.

Temperature

It is a resistant plant to both high and low air temperatures.

Watering

It is required to water first of all planted young plants and during periods of prolonged drought.

Reproduction

Very effective reproduction of layers. In August-September, an incision is made on the underside of a long branch located close to the ground, and it is dug in, and then separated from the mother plant a year later. Another method is propagation by semi-woody cuttings, which are taken in August from side shoots and planted in a mixture of peat and sand, kept in a closed, unheated room. After the formation of (difficult, slow) roots, the seedlings are unpicked one at a time in pots filled with peat (1/3), leaf humus or pine needles (1/3) and fertile land (1/3)' or plant immediately in the open ground in a protected part of the garden. Landing on a permanent landing site is carried out after 2 years.

Very effective reproduction of layers. In August-September, an incision is made on the underside of a long branch located close to the ground, and it is dug in, and then separated from the mother plant a year later. Another method is propagation by semi-woody cuttings, which are taken in August from side shoots and planted in a mixture of peat and sand, kept in a closed, unheated room. After the formation of (difficult, slow) roots, the seedlings are unpicked one at a time in pots filled with peat (1/3), leaf humus or pine needles (1/3) and fertile land (1/3)' or plant immediately in the open ground in a protected part of the garden. Landing on a permanent landing site is carried out after 2 years.

Diseases

Various fungi can cause chestnut-yellow spots with a purple outline to appear on the leaves. In this case, the affected leaves are collected and destroyed, then treated with fungicides. The appearance of spots on the flowers can cause the fungus Ovulinia azaleae. Plants are treated with fungicides before and after flowering, and wilted flowers are removed and destroyed. Of the insects, whitefly is particularly annoying, which causes mottling and rust on the leaves. Treat with appropriate insecticides. Chlorosis, which causes yellowing of leaves and wilting of plants, occurs when growing in too acidic soil. Treatment with iron chelates is recommended.

Acquisition

Plants of the genus Kalmia are easy to find in specialized nurseries and gardening centers. Choose relatively small seedlings that are easier to plant in the ground. Check that there are no stains on the leaves.