Campsis: growing and care in autumn, propagation, preparation for winter

Flowers

Campsis is a stunningly beautiful plant; photographs fail to capture the rich colors of its blooms, so it must be seen in person. Flowers adorn the vine all summer long; buds, blossoms, and even seed pods can be seen on a single plant at the same time. This is because the vine blooms at different times on its shoots, depending on its age. Campsis is not particularly winter-hardy, so preparation for wintering should be done in the fall.

Campsis is a marvelous liana.

Thanks to aerial root layering, the plant grows up to 10 meters in height and attaches well to any artificial structures, pergolas, or trellises. Trumpet trumpet is often used to green building facades and create hedges. To ensure uniformity, wire or special cords are stretched to which individual hanging shoots are attached.

The plant is ornamental in warmer months, but gardeners appreciate it not only for its bright green leaves but also for its lush blooms. The plant has large leaves, reaching 9 cm in length, with a 5 cm-long corolla and a brighter color on the outside. The leaves are unpaired, reaching 40 cm in length, with a pollen-toothed edge, dark green above and light green below.

The vine's shoots are also of decorative value. They are an unusual brownish-yellow color, bare, and covered with large spots. The flowering period is long, lasting from late June to September.

Attention!

Only two species of this plant are grown in Russia: the large-flowered and rooting trumpet vine. Each variety has its own beneficial properties.

Bud awakening in plants occurs differently depending on the age of the woody shoot. Perennial shoots bloom closer to autumn, while young branches bloom earlier. Because of this, bright buds and blooming flowers can be seen simultaneously on a single vine.

Varieties

This small genus includes three main species and three ornamental cultivars. Trumpet trumpet is common in Russia. It develops large interstitial roots, clinging to any available surface. Shoots reach 8 m in length. The petiole contains 9-11 leaf blades with slight pubescence on the underside. Flowers are up to 6 cm long and borne in a raceme at the apex of the shoot. The orange tube gradually turns red near the stipule. This variety is frost-hardy and tolerates short-term temperature drops to -20°C (-4°F), but prefers a warm climate and therefore requires gardeners to provide shelter in the fall.

Planting Kampsis

Campis is a heat-loving plant, so in temperate climates, it's best to plant it outdoors in mid-May. Choose the sunniest, wind-protected spot for planting. Gardeners avoid planting near residential buildings, as it creates dense shade and attracts insects.

The plant doesn't have any special soil requirements, but it will bloom profusely only in fertile soil with a slightly acidic or neutral pH. If the soil in your area isn't particularly fertile, it needs to be prepared first. To do this, dig a hole, create drainage using expanded clay or gravel, mix the selected soil with compost or humus at a ratio of 5 kg per medium-sized hole, and add mineral fertilizer. Water the resulting area. The site is ready for planting after two weeks.

Attention!

You need to choose a planting location carefully, as the health and flowering of the tropical vine depend on the lighting.

The plant is best planted in the ground in April-May. Planting Trumpet Creeper in the fall, once the soil has warmed sufficiently, can result in the plant's death due to early frost. After planting, water the seedling and mulch the soil in the hole with peat. The bush can be planted against a fence to form a green hedge. If the bush is planted in a garden, additional support should be installed. Consider the plant variety and its potential height.

How to care for a trumpet plant: the basic principles of success

Caring for an exotic shrub is simple, but you need to know the basic rules:

watering as the soil dries out, during the rainy season additional moisture is not required, the plant tolerates a lack of water better than its excess;
periodic fertilizing - complex fertilizer is applied under the bush once every 2 weeks during the growing season;
treatment – the plant is examined for pests and diseases once a week, and if any are detected, measures are taken;
clearing the soil of weeds;
pruning – sanitary and formative pruning of the plant is carried out, sanitary – as required, formative – annually.

Although the vine tolerates frost well, it should not be tested for frost resistance, especially in northern Russia. The bush can overwinter unprotected in the south of the country if forecasters predict light frosts without a prolonged drop in temperatures.

A smart approach to watering and fertilizing

All vines tolerate drought well and do poorly in overly wet soil. Watering should be adjusted so that not only the top layer of soil but also the entire root system has time to dry out. To simplify the process and avoid overwatering, gardeners recommend creating good drainage by adding a 2 cm layer of expanded clay to the bottom of each hole.

The plant tolerates drought well, but not during the flowering period. Dry soil can cause premature bud drop, so it's important to maintain consistent moisture. Mature plants with a strong root system should be watered once every three days; seedlings should be watered more frequently, but sparingly.

Attention!

Perennial low-growing plants that can be planted near the vine will help retain soil moisture.

Trumpet trumpet care doesn't require any mandatory fertilizing. In fertile soil, the plant thrives without additional feeding. However, to ensure abundant flowering, experienced gardeners recommend fertilizing with a mineral fertilizer containing nitrogen and phosphorus once every two weeks during the growing season. Organic fertilizers such as cow manure, rotted manure, or compost can also be used.

Pest and weed control

The plant requires periodic weeding around the trunk to remove weeds. Gardeners claim the plant is hardy and tolerates temperature fluctuations. It is rarely affected by bacterial and viral infections. Overwatering can lead to fungal rot. For treatment, use any antifungal product applied to the soil.

During hot weather, aphids infest the plant's leaves, sucking out the sap and causing damage. Laundry soap and insecticidal solutions can help get rid of the pests. Treatment can be carried out in summer as a preventative measure to prevent an infestation.

Planned pruning of plants

Trumpet trumpet pruning is done in spring or fall. Florists recommend pruning after the end of the growing season. All weak shoots are removed from the bush, and strong shoots are pruned back to four buds. Shoots are removed in this manner 2-3 times per season. This will ensure the active formation of new branches and the expansion of the plant's crown.

Mandatory pruning is carried out in early spring before bud development. Several large shoots are identified on the bush and the crown is shaped, while the remaining shoots are removed with pruning shears or loppers. After the vine produces new shoots, they are trained downward toward the support.

This procedure is repeated 2-3 times a year for 4-5 years. During this period, the branches will stretch to the desired size, shaping the plant into a tree or bush. Rejuvenation pruning in spring or fall involves removing old shoots and shortening mid-season shoots. In spring, sanitary pruning is performed, removing damaged, rotten, and broken shoots.

How to prepare for winter

Although the plant thrives in warm climates, the vine tolerates frosts well. However, in central Russia and during more severe frosts, it requires additional protection. After the branches shed their green foliage, they are removed from their supports and laid on the ground. Various materials, including spruce branches, hay, sawdust, or dry grass, can be used for covering.

Attention!

Dried grass is the worst option and should only be used in extreme cases. The raw material should be thoroughly inspected for pests.

A thin plastic film is placed on top, stretched across the ground, and covered with bricks. If the plant is tightly entwined around a fence or arch, its roots are covered with sand or other material, and the shoots are wrapped in plastic.

Reproduction

The most popular method is propagation by layering. To ensure proper propagation, select several dense rhizomes and cover them with soil at a distance. The root is secured with wire or a stone. The buried portion is cared for separately – ideally, it should be placed in a sunny spot and well watered. The process is considered complete once the cutting has developed its own root system. The layer is removed from the mother plant in the spring, before the sap begins to flow through the system. The cuttings are dusted with fungicides to prevent rot. Transplanting to a permanent location is done 3-4 days after cutting the layer from the mother plant.

An equally popular propagation method that eliminates all risks to the mother plant is cuttings. Cuttings are taken from green and woody shoots obtained during pruning. The rooting process takes a long time, but once the plant is planted in open ground, its death is guaranteed. The resulting cuttings are soaked in a rooting stimulant solution and planted in individual cups filled with fertile soil. They are kept in a sunny location and watered regularly. The rooting process takes about three months. The seedling can be planted in open ground once the root system has completely encircled the cup. The plant should be replanted immediately to its permanent location. Rooting cuttings directly in open ground is not recommended due to the high mortality rate of the planting material.

We shape the crown by pruning

To ensure uniform shaping, it's best to prune Trumpet Creepers in the fall, before frost sets in. Gardeners follow this pattern:

From a young plant, 3 fully formed, mature shoots are selected, and the rest are removed with pruning shears in the fall.
To form the crown of the plant, branches are tied to a support during the growing season and directed in the desired direction.
This process is repeated for 4-5 years in a row until a massive vine is formed.
During the growing season, faded flowers are removed in a timely manner and branches are shortened by 10 cm.

Rejuvenation pruning involves removing 60% of the branches.

Preparing for winter

When preparing a vine for winter, you need to take the following conditions into account:

after flowering ends, watering is reduced;
apply the last fertilizer for the season;
treat the bush against pests;
carry out sanitary or formative pruning;
provide reliable shelter.

Attention!

Preparing for winter is a difficult period in the process of growing trumpet lily, but otherwise, even inexperienced gardeners will not encounter any difficulties.

Covering Trumpet Cactus for the Winter

Covering a growing Trumpet Cactus becomes more difficult each year as it grows, attaches more tightly to its support, and spreads. To simplify this process, carefully consider the design of the supporting structure—it's important to be able to easily remove it and the plant into the shelter.

Covering a young bush is easy. If the shoots haven't yet become woody, simply remove them from their supports, mulch the soil, cover the above-ground portion, and cover with plastic. Under this simple structure, the vine will happily wait out the winter cold.

Young plant

A young bush, supported on a rigid support, is removed from it and laid on the ground. It is carefully inspected for pests before being "sealed." If the shoots are large and protruding above the ground, they are secured with staples. The above-ground portion is covered with spruce branches or straw. This mixture is then covered with perforated polyethylene or non-woven material. In the spring, the structure is gradually removed, allowing the branches to acclimate to the warmth and sunlight.

Adult trumpet fern

Removing hardened vine branches from their supports is difficult, so the plant will need to be insulated as is. In this case, the soil is mulched and additionally covered with polyethylene film, ensuring a tight fit. The branches are wrapped in a covering material such as lutrasil or spunbond. The main trunk of the bush is covered with polyethylene.

Plant supports

Immediately after planting the cutting in open ground, consider creating a good support for it. The plant should be regularly tied up. A removable support is preferable, as the plant grows rapidly and forms tight, massive vines. For support, use thick wire or taut rope. These can be arranged in a ladder-like pattern or altered to suit the landscape.

A removable support is necessary because the plant will need to be stored in a shelter for the winter. Veranda railings, house fences, or gazebos are often used as supports.

An arch created in the garden often serves as a support. A green corridor in the shape of an arch, extending from the house gate to the gazebo, looks particularly attractive. This requires several metal rods, bent into an arch and spaced up to 0.5 meters apart. Trumpet vines are planted near each rod on both sides. If planted in late spring, the plants will have completely covered the supports by the end of summer. The only difficulty in this case is covering them for the winter.

Using Campsis in landscape design

Planting Trumpet vines to decorate a country home's landscape is an excellent solution. This fast-growing vine has a sturdy stem that, when five years old, resembles the trunk of a small tree.

Attention!

The Trumpet vine resembles a grapevine, but gardeners are more pleased with its blooms. The advantage is that the flowers remain on the vine for a very long time, and new buds form until autumn.

Since many varieties of the plant have aerial roots, they cling to all sorts of structures, creating a green hedge. In landscape design, it is used to green arbors and other structures.

This plant is suitable for those who don't want to spend a lot of time on care. It's a fast-growing vine that requires watering, fertilizing, and winter shelter in some regions. It's rarely affected by pests and can tolerate drought.

In conclusion

It's easy to grow a huge vine in your own garden. Simply purchase a Trumpet Climbing Plant seedling and provide it with proper care. Unlike many tropical plants, this plant doesn't have exceptional requirements for temperature, light, or soil. With regular pruning and fertilization, the bush will successfully shape itself and quickly become a green hedge.