Clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie

Clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie belongs to completely new varieties of this culture - its breeding dates back to 2014. Despite its short history, this spectacular variety, created by the famous Polish breeder Stepan Mariinsky, has already gained recognition at international exhibitions. At the moment, the popularity of clematis Maria Skłodowska Curie is gaining momentum, which contributes to their widespread distribution. This article will talk about how the rules for planting and caring for clematis of this variety.

Clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie: photo of the variety

Clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie: variety description

Clematis Maria Skłodowska Curie belongs to tall varieties: its shoots can grow up to 2 m and can form numerous branches. The foliage is painted in a rich green color: the leaves resemble an ellipse in shape and, as a rule, are collected in 3 pieces. The high decorative qualities of this variety are primarily explained by the color of double flowers, which is unusual for clematis. Clematis variety Maria Sklodowska Curie can rightfully be attributed to chameleons, since initially white petals tend to acquire different shades depending on temperature changes. During the flowering period, the opened buds of gentle tones densely cover the shoots at a height of 80 cm from the ground, creating an almost continuous flowering carpet.

The clematis variety Maria Sklodowska Curie is characterized by the presence of a developed root system, which safely tolerates dry summer days. However, this applies only to adult specimens: young bushes under the age of 3 years need protection from heat and frequent watering.

Despite the bright and somewhat exotic appearance, the clematis varieties Maria Sklodowska Curie do not differ in their capricious character and take root and bloom quite well, provided that the simplest agrotechnical recommendations are followed. Unlike many vines, this variety tolerates partial shade well, as well as low temperatures. Rainy and windy weather does not harm the appearance of the flowers of the Clematis variety Maria Sklodowska Curie. Due to their winter cold-resistant nature, these flowering vines are suitable for growing not only in the south of Russia and in the central regions, but also in the regions of the North-West and in the Urals. It is quite easy to ensure a successful wintering by means of insulation and the creation of protective structures.

Clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie: photo of the variety

• Clematis Maria Skłodowska Curie: the cultivar pruning group

Unlike most terry clematis varieties, Maria Sklodowska Curie belongs to the first pruning group. This means that healthy shoots should be shortened by 1/3 of their length during autumn pruning. Dry, damaged and diseased parts of the plant are removed completely. You should not be zealous when pruning - it is best to leave at least 150 cm from the length of the shoots, otherwise the flowering properties of the plant will be harmed. In the next season, on too short-cut shoots, I will not be able to form flowers, or they will lose their decorative qualities and cease to be terry.

Often, experienced gardeners prefer to prune clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie according to the scheme of the second group in order to cause repeated flowering during one season. To do this, the pruning procedure must be carried out twice a year. At the very beginning of summer, it is necessary to remove last year's faded shoots at a level of about 0.3-0.5 m.In the fall, repeated pruning is carried out, during which old shoots are shortened to 1 m, and the length of young shoots is fixed at 1.2-1.5 m. This method should provide two waves of flowering, but this does not always happen. In addition, it has a significant drawback - the clematis bush trimmed according to the second type remains too voluminous. For this reason, it is rather difficult to cover it for the winter, which can lead to damage to it as a result of exposure to severe frosts.

• Flowering period

Clematis varieties Maria Sklodowska Curie bloom throughout almost the entire summer - from mid-June to the second half of August. Their double flowers are spherical, with an average diameter of 15 cm. As mentioned above, the color of the petals changes depending on the temperature of the air - they can be white, cream, or acquire other delicate shades. As a rule, the closer to the edge, the lighter the color of the petals, while the color of the core, on the contrary, is more saturated. When the air temperature drops, the flowers acquire a greenish tint. The stamens are golden in color and edged along the entire length. The shape of the petals resembles an ellipse, characterized by the presence of pointed tops and wavy edges.

The preservation of the high decorative qualities of the Maria Sklodowska Curie flowers directly depends on the observance of the pruning rules. Excessive shortening of the shoots leads to a loss of terry and can even interfere with flowering. A competent watering regime and regular feeding have a beneficial effect on the flowering process. The timely removal of wilted buds is also important, since otherwise the plant will waste energy on their restoration, which can adversely affect the formation of new buds and their opening. Proper care will extend the flowering period by 2, sometimes 3 weeks.

The lighting mode is another important factor affecting the flowering of clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie. Every day, these flowering vines should be exposed to light for at least 5, and preferably 6 hours. For this reason, it is recommended to plant them south of buildings, outbuildings, high fences. In this case, during the hottest daytime hours, clematis will be cool. The root zone of flowering vines needs shading, which can be created by sowing lawn grass, ground cover plants and shade-loving flowers.

• Use in landscape design

Clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie: photo of the variety

Clematis varieties Maria Sklodowska Curie tend to grow widely, so it is not so easy to shape them. Because of this, designers do not recommend using them to decorate garden arches or steles. This variety will show itself much better when landscaping hedges, verandas, gazebos, walls of residential and outbuildings. You can also grow clematis Maria Skłodowska Curie on special vertical trellises, thereby forming a flowering hedge.

Spectacular double flowers in white tones look great both in the case of single plantings and as part of compositions. However, not every plant will take root in the vicinity of clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie due to the ramification of their root system, which will take most of the nutrients and moisture from the soil. Another problem is the harmonious combination of shapes and colors of the composition's constituent parts. It is important that large flowers of bright shades do not distract attention from the voluminous, but at the same time delicate flowers of clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie.The ideal choice would be plants with more modest-sized flowers of delicate tones - petunias, daisies, cornflowers. Another option involves placing other lush plants with an earlier or later flowering period next to clematis. These include, for example, peonies. The neighborhood with hyacinths, gladioli, crocuses, irises will be favorable. At the same time, it is important to provide all the constituent parts of the composition with sufficient lighting.

Since the clematis variety Maria Sklodowska Curie appeared quite recently, it did not have time to establish itself as a potted plant. However, given its shade-tolerant nature, this variety is quite suitable for landscaping balconies and loggias, growing in containers, pots and flowerpots. The most important thing in this case is to follow the rules for caring for clematis and provide the necessary watering and lighting regime for them.

Reproduction of clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie

When it comes to the reproduction of new varieties of clematis, it is recommended to purchase ready-made seedlings in special nurseries. Clematis variety Maria Sklodowska Curie is no exception. When buying, you need to pay attention to the health of the planting material - the seedlings should not have any damage or signs of disease. The root system of a healthy young clematis, suitable for planting in open ground, must be sufficiently formed. The length of the root processes should be at least 25 cm. In addition, on each specimen, it is desirable to have from 2 to 3 healthy buds. Too long roots can be shortened with a sharp knife, and then be sure to process the cut points with a solution of potassium permanganate. In the same way, it is necessary to disinfect the roots in case of damage during transportation.

Today, the most popular vegetative breeding method for clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie is the method reproduction by layering. It is best to carry out this procedure in the spring. One of the lower shoots is buried in such a way that its upper part is on the surface of the ground. Further caring for him is no different from caring for the main bush. During the season, the cuttings form an independent root system, and it will be ready for transplantation to a new place next year.

Cuttings Clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie is less popular. The reason for this is that only cuttings at the age of 2 years are suitable for planting in open ground, which must be stored and looked after before. This method requires more effort than propagation by layering or planting a finished clematis seedling.

Planting instructions and care rules

The safe cultivation of clematis Maria Skłodowska Curie depends primarily on the correct choice of the place for planting. Plants of this variety prefer loamy and sandy loam soils. The soil on the site should allow moisture and air to pass well. As for the lighting regime, only the northern side of buildings and fences is not suitable for planting clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie, in other cases the plant will most likely take root and bloom.

The optimal time for planting clematis seedlings Maria Sklodowska Curie in open ground is spring. It is important that they have enough time to form a full-fledged root system before the arrival of the first frost. In the south of Russia, where winters are mild and short, and the air temperature rarely drops below a critical level, autumn planting of clematis is practiced. If the root system of the seedlings purchased from the nursery has been closed, they can be planted in the summer months.

It is recommended to prepare the area allotted for clematis in advance so that the earth has time to settle, and the nutrients are evenly distributed in the soil.

The step-by-step algorithm for planting clematis includes the following steps:

• The diameter of the planting holes must be at least 0.6 m - this figure is suitable for fertile lands. The lower the nutritional properties of the soil, the wider and deeper the hole should be.
• At the bottom of the planting holes, it is necessary to place a drainage layer about 10-15 cm thick. For this purpose, you can use broken brick, pebbles, crushed stone.
• A nutritious soil mixture is poured over the drainage layer, which is quite simple to prepare at home. To do this, it is necessary to mix in equal proportions garden soil, compost and peat. If the soil is too acidic, it can be corrected by adding slaked lime or wood ash.
• Seedlings of clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie are placed on a slide from the nutrient mixture, while their roots must be carefully straightened. The deepening of the root collar in spring is at least 5 cm, the maximum figure is 10 cm. For autumn planting, it is recommended to deepen by 10-15 cm in order to protect the plant from frost.
• If planting is carried out in spring, it is necessary to cut off the shoots, while leaving a couple of buds.

In the first year, the clematis sapling Maria Sklodowska Curie needs careful care: it needs to be regularly watered, removed buds that are tying, and the trunk circle should be spud, forming an earthen slide about 7 cm high.No fertilizing is applied during this period, since the young plant received a sufficient amount of nutrients thanks to the substrate introduced into the planting hole.

Clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie: photo of the variety

In the future, caring for clematis varieties Maria Sklodowska Curie differs little from caring for other varieties of this culture. Adult bushes need to be watered weekly, and it is also necessary to regularly feed them alternately with nitrogen-containing fertilizers and phosphorus-potassium complexes. In spring and autumn, pruning is mandatory, with the help of which clematis bushes are not only formed, but also healed.

Despite the resistance of the clematis variety Maria Sklodowska Curie to frost, it is not recommended to leave these flowering vines without winter shelter. Preparing for winter is carried out in several stages:

• The area around the clematis bush must be insulated by mulching. For this purpose, peat, needles, fallen dry leaves are suitable.
• The clematis shoots remaining after the autumn pruning must be rolled up in a ring and carefully laid on top of a layer of mulch.
• The folded liana is covered with a new layer of dry foliage and spruce branches.
• A shelter in the form of a wooden box is erected on top, or supports are placed on which the non-woven material is stretched.
• With the arrival of frost, an additional protective layer may be required. For this, bags filled with sawdust, foliage, and straw are placed over the shelter.

Pruning and preparing for winter are the most labor-intensive procedures for growing clematis Maria Skłodowska Curie. Otherwise, caring for these flowering vines does not require much effort and special knowledge or skills.

Protection from diseases and pests

Clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie: photo of the variety

Like other hybrids, clematis of the Maria Sklodowska Curie variety can boast of resistance to most diseases characteristic of flowering vines. Untimely treatments with antifungal drugs can harm flowers and spoil their appearance, therefore, the rules for conducting preventive procedures should be strictly followed. It is possible to treat clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie with fungicides only in the spring, before the buds begin to open. In the future, antifungal treatment should only be resorted to if the plant is infected. At the first signs of a fungal infection, it is necessary to remove diseased shoots and affected leaves and apply a remedy.

As for harmful insects, the greatest danger to Clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie is posed by pests that damage the root system of plants and lay larvae in it. As a rule, this applies to slugs, snails, bear, May beetles. To prevent their attack on clematis bushes, it is recommended to carry out preventive loosening of the soil around them. This simple procedure helps kill the larvae of the pests. If harmful insects still settled on the site with clematis, you can scare them away or destroy them with the help of insecticides, which can be purchased at a specialized store.

Clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie: photo of the variety

Conclusion

The new spectacular clematis variety Maria Skłodowska Curie is deservedly popular among gardeners all over the world. Its high decorative qualities are successfully combined with the undemanding nature of the plant. Provided that the simple rules regarding planting and caring for clematis of the Maria Sklodowska Curie variety are followed, the gardener can enjoy the view of large double flowers of a milky or creamy shade that densely cover the vines throughout the summer. The greatest difficulties in caring for clematis of this variety are associated with pruning shoots and building a winter shelter for bushes. For the rest, Clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie is rather unassuming and successfully takes root in most of Russia.

Clematis Maria Sklodowska Curie: video about the variety