Hosta Christmas Tree - boarding and leaving
Hosta Christmas Tree is an ornamental shrub from the Asparagus family. The variety has been known since 1982 and is a sport from the funky Francis Williams (originators: K. Vaughn, M. Seaver). The translation of the name "Christmas tree" emphasizes the corresponding shape of the bush - pyramidal, with a cascading arrangement of leaves.
Christmas three hosts
Description of the variety
The function of the Christmas Tree is a herbaceous perennial, reaching a height of 40-60 cm. The bush grows up to 90 cm wide. The hosta has a pyramidal shape. Leaves are dense, heart-shaped, green with a yellow-green edge. Large leaves (20x15 cm) are arranged in a beautiful cascade.
Flowering begins in July and lasts until mid to late August. The flowers are small bells of a light purple hue. The root system is powerful and superficial. In one place, the function can grow for 10-15 years or more.
Landing features
When buying a seedling, pay attention to the quality of the product: the plant should not have extraneous spots, damage and deformed leaves. Do not transplant the funkia directly into the garden - observe it in a container for 1-2 weeks. For planting, it is better to choose a half shaded place.
Christmas three can grow in full shade, but the edges on the leaves will not stand out so brightly.
The best soil for hosts is well-drained loams. In sandy loam you need to add organic matter and clay, in heavy soils - sand. With a close location of groundwater (or accumulation of rainwater) for the function, it is necessary to make the embankment higher and put a thick layer of drainage (broken brick or small pebbles).
Landing technology:
- The planting hole is dug to a depth of 40-50 cm, in width - 60-70 cm.
- A drainage layer is laid at the bottom.
- Garden soil is combined with organic fertilizers (compost or rotted manure) and a third of the hole is filled.
- Pour two buckets of lukewarm water and allow moisture to be absorbed.
- Funkiyu is placed together with a lump, covered with half of the remaining substrate and watered.
- The rest of the soil mixture is poured and tamped well, mulched with peat, bark or needles.
Care
The Christmas Tree function loves moisture, but, like many plants, does not tolerate stagnant water.
Hosta christmas three photos
Proper watering, feeding, mulching and pre-winter pruning are the main and very simple care measures. In general, this unpretentious host can be recommended even to the most novice gardeners.
Watering
The host is watered twice a week if there is no regular rainfall. One bush consumes 1-3 buckets of water (depending on age). Watering is done at the root, trying to saturate the ground 30-50 cm deep.
Top dressing
The first time the funky is fed during planting, adding compost or mineral fertilizers to the planting pit. In future seasons, it is convenient to combine fertilizing with mulching: in spring and autumn, mulch the soil with dry organic matter.
In addition to the reserve of nutrients, this will reduce evaporation from the ground, protect the roots from overheating, relieve the host from weeds and pests, and help to winter comfortably.
Pruning and preparing for winter
When the function fades, the dried stalks are cut off. At the first autumn frosts, the yellowed leaves lie on the ground - this is a sign that the time has come for pre-winter pruning. The entire ground part of the bush is cut off, covering the root system with a layer of mulch and dry leaves.
Reproduction
You can propagate Christmas Three by cuttings or dividing the bush. The seed method does not retain varietal characteristics. According to the descriptions of gardeners, cuttings and cuttings of this host take root and take root without problems.
Hosta christmas tree
Cuttings
A rosette shoot cut off with a "heel" is treated with Kornevin and deepened into moist soil in a shady place. (First, the soil must be loosened and mixed with peat.) To create a greenhouse effect, the plants are covered with cut plastic bottles. As the soil dries up, watering is carried out, and the covering is raised to ventilate the "greenhouse". Rooting takes place within a month.
Dividing the bush
You can divide the bush at any time of the warm season - from the arrival of spring to the beginning of autumn. The procedure is best carried out in the 5th year after planting, so as not to slow down the growth and development of the function. The bush is dug up and divided into equal parts (each of them must have at least one bud). Delenki are planted in fertilized land in partial shade, watered and mulched.
Diseases and pests
| Problem | Symptoms | Prophylaxis | Wrestling |
| Slugs, snail caterpillars | Pests gnaw through the foliage, after which holes remain. | Watering strictly at the root in the morning (until 11 o'clock). Sprinkle the soil with prickly stones or broken shells. | Place traps (beer traps, boards or plywood sheets). Use drugs based on methylaldehyde. |
| Rot | The leaves are affected by rot, starting from the tips, deformed, wither. The stems become thinner and darker. The function stops growing. | Correct irrigation regime, good drainage. Disinfection of garden tools. Quarantine for new plants. | Remove the affected parts of the funky, treat with fungicides (Trichodermin, Oxyhom, Topaz). Transfer the host to a different location. |
| Virus X | "Mosaic" spots on the leaves, deformation and wilting. The function does not grow and soon dies off. | Disinfection of tools, drainage material, soil. Careful inspection of the seedlings when buying: there should be no extraneous inclusions on the leaves. | Unfortunately, the disease cannot be cured. The infected host must be burned. |
Landscape use
The neatly pyramidal host Christmas Tree can serve as a tapeworm or addition to a group composition. Often used as a groundcover, living curb, flower bed and lawn surround. It soothes and harmonizes bright flower gardens, organically blends into natural-style landscapes.
Christmas tree host
The function is well suited for decorating alpine slides, rocky gardens, rockeries. It can be grown in a container, which will allow you to decorate a small patio, gazebo, terrace, veranda.
The culture goes well with ferns, gladioli, lilies, iris, delphinium. It often serves as the first tier in mixborders, emphasizing the beauty of conifers and getting a slight partial shade from them.
Testimonials
The Christmas Tree function is on the list of widespread and popular among gardeners. The classic appearance, unpretentiousness, stability and shade tolerance make it versatile and suitable for almost any garden or site. It is noticed that in the first years the bush grows rather slowly, but then it significantly accelerates the pace.
Some growers prefer to plant the hosta closer to the sun in order to get a more expressive edge on the leaves. With an abundance of sunlight, the edge becomes creamy white.At the same time, in hot midday hours, the bush is shaded or covered to avoid burns.