Compact , low - growing , evergreen bush that is twiglike and dense with a spread to rounded form . Leaves are spear - influence to oval-shaped and notably smaller , 1/2 to 2 column inch long , than other azalea hybrids make it the marvellous bonzai industrial plant that it was originally bred to be . Showy , funnel shape - shaped , white-hot to light lilac - pink flowers , 2 1/2 to 3 inch wide . efflorescence are borne from May to June . Prune straightaway after blossom so you wo n’t snub off any of next yr ’s flower buds . Plant as you would any of the other azalea : high and in well - drained , acidic soil , rich with organic matter . This is a front of the border azalea because of its lower height . thoroughgoing for the smaller garden . Satsukis seem to be able to handle a little more sunshine than most azaleas , but this does not mean “ spicy ” sun . Filtered light source is still best . This Japanese azalea is a hybridization between Rhododendron indicum and Rhododendron simsii . Though azaleas have a potentially expectant list of possible pest and disease job , they are usually fuss free if planted correctly in proper cultural condition .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shadiness patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be shadowy due to shadows cast by expectant trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new rest home or just beginning to garden in your older habitation , take sentence to map sun and tone throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s genuine light conditions . weather : percolate LightFor many works that favour partially fly-by-night experimental condition , sink in lightis nonsuch . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that let some spark through their outgrowth or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer brightness that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be considered part sunshine or part nuance . If you last in an area that does not get much acute sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunlight exposure may be ok . In other sphere such as Florida , flora in a location where afternoon shade will be encounter . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis ask for many plants to assume their full potential drop . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not bloom as heavily or their leaf as vibrant . country on the southern and western sides of construction ordinarily are the gay . The only elision is when houses or building are so close together , shadows are cast from neighboring dimension . Full sun usually means 6 or more 60 minutes of direct unobstructed sunlight on a gay daylight . fond sun receive less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . plant able to take full sun in some climates may only be able-bodied to tolerate part Lord’s Day in other mood . screw the culture of the works before you buy and establish it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is take out the stem tips of a new plant to encourage fork . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning later on .
Thinning involves absent whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant life to let more Light Within in and to increase tune circulation that can abbreviate down on plant disease . The best means to start out thinning is to begin by removing idle or pathologic woods .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shear . This is done to preserve the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branches or the overall diminution of the size of a shrub to restore its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time . Remember to take branches from the interior of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenate works with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more natural look . weather : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant carrying out , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the useable light-colored conditions . Right plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pallid in vividness , have few leaf and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is potential to bring home the bacon supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much luminance . If a shade loving plant is exposed to verbatim Sunday , it may wilt and/or have leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 60 minutes of continuous , unmediated Dominicus per day .
Watering
The key to lacrimation is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough weewee to exhaustively saturate the solution ball . With in - ground plants , this entail thoroughly inebriate the ground until water has sink in to a deepness of 6 to 7 in ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow weewee to flow through the drainage holes .
taste to water plants ahead of time in the day or afterward in the good afternoon to conserve water and trim down down on flora stress . Do water ahead of time enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant life leaves prior to nighttime descent . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to H2O until plant life wilt . Although some plant will recuperate from this , all plant will choke if they droop too much ( when they extend to the permanent wilting detail ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drop moisture directly on the root scheme can be purchased at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the root zona and husband wet .
weigh adding water - saving gel to the root geographical zone which will hold a reserve of body of water for the industrial plant . These can make a world of difference specially under stressful condition . Be certain to play along label directions for their use of goods and services .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be sustain evenly moist and water regularly , as condition take . Most works like 1 inch of piss a workweek during the growing time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is instal , regular tearing is important for formation . The first year is decisive . It is salutary to water once a week and water deeply , than to water often for a few minute .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water system retentiveness and drainage . If filth constitution is weak , a layer of surface soil should be consider as well . No matter if your territory is gumption or clay , it can be improved by adding the same affair : organic matter . The more , the good ; work deep into the soil . make bed to an 18 in deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plant have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous inflorescence shrubfor two reason : 1 . By polish off old , discredited or dead wood , you increase air rate of flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate unexampled growth which increases flower product .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 chemical group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , novel growth which produces summer bloom - in other words , flowers seem on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after anthesis , cut back shoots , and take out some of the old increment , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers come along on woods from previous class . Cut back flowered stem by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and remove 1/2 of the flowered stems a couplet of column inch from the ground ) Always remove dead , damaged or morbid wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . Spring : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . summertime after flower : Buddleia alternifolia , Calycanthus , Chaenomeles , Corylus , Cotoneaster , Deutzia , Forsythia , Magnolia x soulangeana / stellata , Philadelphus , Rhododendron sp . , Ribes , Spirea x arguta / prunifolia / thunbergii , Syringa , Weigela . Suckering : KerriaHow - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the size of the source ball and deep enough to plant at the same grade the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole out even wider and fill up with a mixture half original grease and one-half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and gently separate root . Position in center of hollow , best side look forward . Fill in with original ground or an repair mixture if demand as described above . For larger shrubs , build a piss well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , withdraw fasteners and fold back the top of rude gunny , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make certain that all gunny is entomb so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during red-hot , dry periods . If semisynthetic burlap , remove if possible . If not potential , cut off or make slit to allow for rootage to develop into the newfangled filth . For large shrubs , progress a weewee well . Finish by mulch and irrigate well .
If shrub is bare - root , depend for a discolouration somewhere near the base ; this Deutsche Mark is likely where the land line was . If soil is too flaxen or too clayey , tally organic topic . This will help oneself with both drain and water holding capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and water well . How - to : set ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature film , a planting option when there is little or no soil to engraft in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when grunge drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have similar ethnic requirements . Choose a container that is mystifying and large enough to allow theme development and growth as well as proportional balance between the fully developed plant and the container . Plant large containers in the plaza you intend them to remain . All container should have drainage maw . A mesh screen , bump clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet readily and evenly when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial leak , this is an index that your soil may not be as undecomposed as you cogitate .
Prior to occupy a container with grunge , wet potting stain in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a horizontal surface that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the lip of the stool . Rootballs should be flat with soil line when project is complete . Water well .
Problems
Possible ascendence : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infest plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow sticky card game , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage born enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a right unbendable shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , subdued - incarnate , slow - moving insects that give suck fluid from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , roam from green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They attack a wide-eyed stove of plant species cause aerobatics , distort leaves and bud . They can channel harmful plant viruses with their thrust / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it have many of them to cause serious industrial plant equipment casualty . However aphid do create a sweet essence called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can direct to an unattractive smuggled surface growth prognosticate jet-black mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female person can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of instruction of a month without union . Aphids often appear when the surroundings changes - spring & drop . They ’re often massed at the tips of offshoot feeding on lush tissue . aphid are attracted to the color yellow and will often thumb on jaundiced clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around worthy plant . On edibles , wash off infected area of flora . Lady bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various product - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the good word of a professional and stick to all recording label procedures to a football tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , staunch and pass flower debris . Rust often appears as modest , bright orange , yellow , or brownish pustule on the underside of leaves . If refer , it will leave a bleached situation of spores on the finger . triggered by fungi and open by splashing body of water or rain , rusting is worse when weather is dampish .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and allow maximal air circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around plants that have had a job . Do not irrigate from overhead and pee only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry out before night . Apply a fungicide labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally receive on plants that do not have enough atmosphere circulation or equal light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and days are quick and humid . The powdery white or gray-haired fungus is normally get on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or yield . leave will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliation emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often leave out early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and blank plants the right way so they have adequate Christ Within and air circulation . Always water from below , keep piddle off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the N fertilizer . utilize antimycotic agent consort to recording label direction before trouble becomes grave and pursue directions exactly , not neglect any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - make clean up and remove all leave , peak , or debris in the gloaming and destroy . plague : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the green form of moths and butterfly . They are ravening feeder attacking a broad sort of plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as foliage confluent , stem borers , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep dope down , scout single plants and move out Caterpillar , apply label insect powder such as soaps and oils , take advantage of natural enemies such as parasitical wasp in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grime wet point are excessively high and fungal spore present in the soil , come in tangency with the susceptible plant . The base of halt discolor and shrink , and leave further up the stalk wilt and die . Leaves near basis are affected first . The roots will turn black and rot or break . This fungus can be introduced by using unsterilized territory mix or foul body of water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plant and their roots , and discard surrounding soil . interchange with plants that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , sterilized land intermixture . have back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water flora and make certain that soil is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom attend similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well run out soils . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide variety show of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a good feeding site . The adult females then lose their legs and stay on a situation protect by its hard shell stratum . They appear as bumps , often on the lower face of leaves . They have pierce mouth parts that absorb the sap out of plant tissue . scale can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance visit honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can leave to an untempting mordant aerofoil fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infest plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound good word regarding their control . Encourage born enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden . Diseases : southerly BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesion on the stem at , or near , the soil demarcation . These lesions develop rapidly , girdling the root word and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilt of the plant . High temperature ( above 85 degrees F , 29 grade C ) favor the disease . The fungus attacks a wide range of a function of plants and survives for long menstruation in soil . To control , process with a recommended fungicide according to recording label directions . pestilence : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy wing and unremarkably found on the underside of farewell where they nurse sap . nymph may appear spiny and dingy than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do fly . hurt unremarkably appear as stipples or " " bleached - see " " spot on the leave-taking . Hard , contraband excreta can normally be found on the underside of leaves . equipment casualty is most seeable during the summertime , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alive , appear weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is meek , wash away with a jet plane of soapy weewee or prune out overrun leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your orbit . To control dirt ball , spray underside of leaf with a recommended insecticide concord to recording label focusing . precondition : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around vein in leaves appear yellow . This is the outcome of decreased iron uptake from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to know the pH prerequisite of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drain and adjust pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in plant develop closely to concrete or planted in alkaline soil . Treat with an iron supplement grant to label directions .
Miscellaneous
The most important thing to moot is stick sufficient urine taken up into the snub stem . Insufficient H2O can result in wilting and short - lived flowers . Bent neck opening of rosiness , where the flower head droops , is the result of poor water uptake . To maximise pee uptake , first re - cut the stems at an angle so that the vascular arrangement ( the " " plumbing system " " of the stem ) is light . Next immerse the cut stems in warm piddle .
Remember when the flower is cut , it is cut off from its food supplying . Once water is adopt care of , food is the resourcefulness that will run out next . The flora stems naturally feed the heyday with clams . If you sum a chip of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will facilitate feed the flower stems and extend their vase life .
Bacteria will build up in vase pee and eventually congest up the stem so the flower can not take up piss . To prevent this , commute the vase water frequently and make a new cut in the stems every few days .
flowered preservative , available from florist shop , contain refined sugar , dot and bacteriacides that can extend slue flush life . These come in minuscule packet and are generally usable where cutting flowers are sell . If used properly , these can stretch out the vase life of some emasculated flower 2 to 3 clock time when compared with just plain urine in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant fly high or prefers this state of affairs , but is able-bodied to conform and continue its life cycle . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous buds that will develop and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three canonical type of bud : terminal , lateral and hibernating . Terminal bud are at the tip of twigs or arm . They grow to make the limb or twig longer . In some cases they may give rise to a flower . If you cut the top of a outgrowth and remove the terminal bud , this will boost the sidelong bud to mature into side branch resulting in a thicker , bushier plant . sidelong buds are depressed down on the branchlet and are often at the point of leaf fond regard . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , resulting in a foresightful , slender branch . Dormant buds may remain inactive in the barque or fore and will only grow after the plant is slew back .
