Image - Wikimedia / A. Bar
Plants like Rhododendron ponticum They are wonderful, since they produce large flowers that give color to the place where we have them, and as they are relatively small, their cultivation in pots is very, very simple.
In addition, this wonderful species resists frosts, weak yes, but strong enough to be able to live without problems in the warm-temperate regions of the world. What are you waiting to meet him?
Origin and characteristics
Image - Wikimedia / A. Bar
Our protagonist is an evergreen shrub native to the laurel forests of Turkey and southern Spain. Its scientific name is Rhododendron ponticum, although popularly it is called rhododendron, ojaranzo or buster. Reaches a height of up to 1m, and produces large leaves, up to 10cm long, of a glossy dark green color and with the central nerve well visible. Its flowers are large, pinkish-purple, and appear in spring.
Its growth rate is neither very fast nor very slow. If the growing conditions are right, it can grow at a rate of 5-10cm / year.
What are their cares?
Image - Wikimedia / Rasbak
If you want to have a specimen of rhododendron, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:
- Location: it must be outside, in semi-shade.
- Earth:
- Pot: plant with substrate for acid plants mixed with 20 or 30% of perlite or similar.
- Garden: fertile, well drained, and acidic (pH 4 to 6).
- Irrigation: it must be frequent in summer, somewhat scarce the rest of the seasons. Thus, in general, it is advisable to water 3-5 times a week during the warmest season, and every 4 or 5 days the rest. You have to use rainwater or lime-free.
- Subscriber: in spring and summer, with fertilizers for acid plants.
- Pruning: at the end of winter remove dry, diseased or broken branches.
- Rusticity: it resists frosts down to -2ºC.
What did you think of the Rhododendron ponticum? Have you heard of this plant?