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Clematis is one of the popular plants that many gardeners prefer to grow. It earned its popularity due to its long-term growth, unpretentiousness and abundant flowering. The flowers of this plant are very interesting and beautiful, with an unusual color. It is especially interesting that this garden plant has many varieties that differ significantly from each other. Clematis Change of Heart is a good representative.
Description of Clematis Change of Hart
Clematis Change of Hart is a Polish cultivar characterized by a fairly long and rich flowering. It was bred in Poland in 2004 by breeder Shchepan Marczynski. It got its name Change of Heart in 2014, which means “change in heart”. On sale, it was introduced in 2016.
The plant is climbing, reaching 1.7-2 m. A garter is not required, since the vine itself wraps around the supports.
Blooms for a long period: from May to July on new shoots and last year's, often the culture of the variety blooms again. A simple flower with 6 sepals. Average size - about 10-13 cm. It differs from others due to its interesting color, which during the flowering period changes from purple-red to light pink. When the flowers appear, they are purple-red, at the peak of flowering they are red-pink, and at the end they brighten. Sepals also have a light pink, slightly bluish edging and a light, almost white at the base, a stripe in the middle. In the heart of the flower there are stamens with yellow anthers on green threads and with yellow columns.
Abundant flowering from the base to the very end of the vine. Leaves are simple, heart-shaped, trifoliate, monochromatic green with a glossy surface. Young leaves are oval, pointed.
According to the reviews of most gardeners, as well as from the photo and description, Clematis Change of Hart blooms very beautifully. Its flowers are amazing, constantly changing, making the glade in the garden very beautiful.
Clematis Pruning Group Change of Hart
For Clematis Change of Hart, pruning of group 3 is necessary, which involves a strong pruning of the plant to shoots no more than 50 cm above the ground and with 2-3 pairs of buds. Due to this action, clematis gains strength faster, which leads to abundant flowering.
Clematis Change of Hart 3 pruning group does not require special care, it is enough just to prune it correctly in early spring or autumn. It is important to leave no more than 3 shoots, otherwise the flowers will be smaller.
Planting and caring for hybrid clematis Change of Hart
Planting Clematis Change of Hart can be done in the following ways:
- seeds;
- seedlings.
The most common planting method is still the seedling method with purchased planting material (seedlings), since this method is less laborious.
More experienced gardeners use the seed method with success. But since the clematis variety Change of Hart is a hybrid, the process is more laborious and not all seeds can sprout. Only store-bought seeds should be used.
Be sure to carry out the stratification of seeds. This process helps the seeds germinate more quickly and promotes even germination.It is performed in early spring and lasts from 1 to 3 months, depending on the size of the seeds. The larger the seeds, the longer the stratification process.
Stratification is performed in the following way:
- Prepare a container for planting with soil (peat, sand, earth at a rate of 1: 1: 1).
- Seeds are sown to a depth of 2 cm - large and 1 cm - medium.
- The container is placed in a place with a temperature of 0 to 5 degrees, withstand the required period, after which a transplant is performed.
After seed germination, when several leaves appear, picking of seedlings is required. The pick is performed immediately into a separate pot. After completing this procedure, the subsequent care of the seedlings is reduced to watering and shallow loosening. Planting seedlings in open ground depends on the planting method:
- Kivistik method - seeds are sown in a container, then they are sprinkled with sand and covered with plastic wrap. After the container is sent to a room with a temperature of at least 20 degrees. Seedlings grown by this method are planted at the end of August.
- Sharonova's method - in September, seeds are sown in a plastic container, covered with polyethylene and sent to a warm place. Sprouted seeds, when several leaves appear, are transplanted into separate containers. Seedlings are planted in July at a distance of 1 cm from each other.
- Sheveleva's method - implies sowing seeds by stratification, after which the seeds are transplanted in the spring. And when seedlings appear, they are transplanted into open ground. Seed germination with this method is the highest.
A place for transplanting into open ground should be chosen less sunny and windy, since Clematis Change of Hart does not tolerate through winds and the scorching sun. The soil should be nutritious and light. Planting seedlings should be done at a distance of at least 20 cm between them.
Preparing for winter
Preparing for the winter Clematis Change of Hart begins with pruning.
As a rule, pruning should be done in late October or early November, depending on the region. This procedure must be carried out in dry weather. Only old shoots up to a height of 30 cm should be trimmed at Clematis of the Change of Hart variety.
Also, in late spring, it is necessary to treat the soil under the cut plant with an antifungal solution (0.2% Fundazol solution). It is also recommended to mulch the soil around with a mixture of sand and ash (10: 1).
In addition, this plant requires wrapping to make it easier to survive the winter.
Reproduction
For breeding clematis, Change of Heart, you can use 2 methods:
- cuttings;
- layering.
Reproduction of this garden plant can only be carried out by cuttings when it reaches 3 years of age. The most suitable cuttings are those that outwardly seem to be woody. The optimal time for cuttings is the last month of spring or early summer. Shoots are pruned, in no case should there be buds on them, but at least one node must be present. After the shoots are divided into cuttings, which are planted in sandy-peat soil and placed in greenhouse conditions.
Reproduction by layering is a longer method, which implies 2 methods at once:
- The bush is fertilized and spud up until the third leaf appears. Then the shoot is brought to the soil, where it should take root within 2 years. As soon as the roots are strengthened, it is separated from the main bush, the upper part is cut off and transplanted to a permanent place.
- The horizontal shoot of the plant is buried in the ground in early spring and for the whole summer. In this case, the end of the shoot is left above the ground at least 20 cm. The shoots must be pinched at the same time.
There is also a propagation method by dividing the bush, but it is only suitable for plants over 5 years old.
Diseases and pests
A particular danger for Clematis Change of Hart carries such a fungal disease as black leg.This disease mainly affects seedlings. There is a fungus in the soil, so it must be disinfected before planting this plant.
Conclusion
Clematis Change of Hart is a garden plant, unpretentious and quite beautiful. With proper planting and pruning, a luxurious clearing of color-changing flowers is guaranteed.
