Cleter (Clethra) grows near various reservoirs. Belongs to the same family and has about 80 species. One of the most common is the alder cell. In the plots, gardeners grow some of its varieties.
Description of the alder cell
In appearance, the cage resembles a shrub that can grow up to 2 m, be short or dwarf. Height depends on the species. Homeland is the eastern part of North America.
Roots with a large number of processes protruding above the surface. The stems are downy. The arrangement of the leaves is next, their length is 10 cm. In shape they resemble an egg, which is attached to the trunk with its crown. They have serrated edges. Inflorescences are straight, collected in panicles or brushes. In appearance, they are similar to a pyramid or bird cherry. They have a pleasant smell. Flowering begins in late summer or early fall. Seeds ripen inside the fruit box. Propagated by cuttings or seeds.
In landscape design it is used as a hedge or to decorate a rock garden. Suitable for the design of the site in the autumn. Wetlands in the garden where other plants cannot grow are acceptable for planting cages. It is possible to grow this plant in the suburbs if it is protected against frost.
Varieties of alder cells
Among the cultural representatives of this species, several common varieties are distinguished.
| Grade | Inflorescences |
| September Beauty | Snow-white. Late grade. Flowering in early September. |
| Rosea | Pale pink. |
| Ruby Spice | Short, light cherry. Against the background of dark foliage stand out like stars. |
| Kril Kaliko | Bright yellow or golden. |
| Sistine Candles | Creamy white. Tiny varieties with a height of up to 1 m. |
| Hammingbird | |
| Panic | White inflorescences are larger than in the main species. Arched branches. |
| Pink Spaer | Purple in appearance resembling a candle. Strong pleasant smell. |
Planting cages in open ground
Choosing a place to plant this plant, you need to stop at that which is protected from light, with light acidic (pH 4.6-5.3) soil and strong drainage. The basis of the soil is a mixture of sand and humus, because a highly nutritious and alkaline environment is not suitable for it.
It is best to plant the cage in May. To do this, prepare a pit with a depth of 0.5 m, lay down the drainage (15 cm). Then the seedling is placed and its root is carefully spread. The remaining space around the barrel is filled with the prepared mixture. It should contain peat, rotting needles and sand, taken in a ratio of 3: 1: 1. It is advisable to supplement with sawdust and sulfur (one or two spoons).
A solution of 6% vinegar (10 l 0.1 kg) is prepared and the planting site is watered. The soil must be compacted after it has absorbed all the water.
Outdoor cage care
Planting and care are accompanied by standard procedures, as for all plants:
- watering;
- loosening;
- weeding;
- topping;
- additional food;
- crown formation;
- cutting side shoots;
- protection against pests and diseases;
- shelter for the winter.
To facilitate the care of the cage, sawdust or chips are placed around the trunk.
Watering
The plant does not survive drought well, so you need to water it often and plentifully. Particular attention is paid to this if the summer heat lasts a long time. The earth around the trunk should always be moist. Water is preliminarily prepared: it is collected in special containers placed in a sunny place for heating, and left for a day. The hydration procedure is best done in the evening or in the early morning, carefully, without getting on the plant itself.
Top dressing
In the first year after planting, additional feeding is not performed. In the future, it is possible to water before flowering with a solution of complex fertilizer, which will increase the number of formed inflorescences.
Pruning
The formation of the crown is carried out in the fall after flowering. In the spring, before the start of sap flow, the affected branches (broken, diseased, frostbitten) are removed. This procedure is necessary for the formation of inflorescences that do not form on old shoots.
Wintering
Kletra has frost resistance. Adult plants in the middle lane tolerate winter cold well, so they do not require additional measures. It is better to protect the first-year-olds by covering them with fir branches or dry foliage.
Diseases and Pests
Observance of all conditions of contents will allow you to have a beautiful fragrant plant in the garden. Violation of them can lead to diseases or damage by pests.
| Problem | Cause | Remedial measures |
| There are gray spots on the leaves, the trunks rot. | Late blight. Damp weather and strong hydration. | Crop diseased parts of the plant. They are treated with chemicals at least 3 times. |
| On the shoots and leaf blades a white coating is visible. | Powdery Mildew Heavy rains. A sharp change in temperature. Condensation of landings. | Sprayed with preparations containing sulfur. Thin out landing. |
| The color of the shoots and flowers has changed. | Viral infection. | If there are few diseased plants, then the affected parts are cut out. With the further development of the disease, the bushes are dug up and burned. |
| The presence of spots, curling leaves. Developmental delay. | Scutellum sucking insects. They feed on cellular juice. | Apply a soap solution or special preparations. |
Cell propagation
Kletra is a beautiful plant, but it is quite difficult to propagate it independently in a summer cottage. The reason lies in the fact that the seeds can only be obtained in those years when the heat in the autumn is kept long enough. Rooting of cuttings occurs poorly, as in other representatives of this species. Improve this process can only treatment with stimulants.
It is possible to multiply the cell by dividing the root shoot and the central plant. A lot of shoots are formed, but separation is carried out only the next year in the spring. Planted immediately in open ground. You can transplant into a pot and stand there for another year. With this method,% of living plants will be quite large.
Mr. Summer resident recommends: the use of cells in the landscape
In landscape gardening, the cage is used in wetlands. Here it grows well, even if there is a lot of sunlight. You can combine it in compositions with rhododendrons, azalea and calcium.
The requirements for growing conditions are almost the same for them, but such a planting is good because the plants differ in flowering periods. Kletra blooms when her neighbors have already faded.
The leaves on it appear later than other plants, somewhere at the end of May, but in the fall they are kept long enough. To take full advantage of the cells, you need to choose the right spot for planting in light. In this case, full bloom is observed, and in the fall leaves remain for a long time.
