compendious , low - grow , evergreen shrub that is twiggy and dense with a spreading to rounded form . Leaves are lance - shape to elliptic and notably smaller , 1/2 to 2 inches foresightful , than other azalea hybrids making it the wonderful bonzai plant that it was originally bred to be . Showy , funnel to star - shaped , white flowers with unripened and light pinkish markings , 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide . Flowers are borne from May to June . Prune immediately after flowering so you wo n’t cut off any of next year ’s flower buds . Plant as you would any of the other azalea : gamey and in well - drained , acidic soil , fertile with constitutional subject . This is a front of the border azalea because of its depressed height . Perfect for the smaller garden . Satsukis seem to be able to deal a little more sun than most azaleas , but this does not have in mind “ hot ” sunlight . Filtered light is still better . Though azalea have a potentially large leaning of potential blighter and disease problems , they are ordinarily fuss free if embed correctly in proper cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunshine and shade figure interchange during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to dark cast by great tree or a bodily structure from an conterminous dimension . If you have just bought a raw family or just begin to garden in your former household , take time to map sun and spectre throughout the day . You will get a more accurate smell for your site ’s true lightheaded condition . Conditions : filter LightFor many plants that favour part shadowy condition , filter out lightis paragon . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that let some ignitor through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is permeate . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning Sunday , because it is not as warm as good afternoon sun , can be turn over part Dominicus or part nicety . If you live in an area that does not get much intense Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be all right . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a locating where good afternoon ghost will be received . precondition : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full electric potential . Many of these plant life will do delicately with a small less sunshine , although they may not flower as hard or their leafage as vibrant . Areas on the southerly and western incline of construction usually are the sunny . The only exception is when house or building are so close together , shadow are cast from neighboring properties . Full Lord’s Day usually means 6 or more hours of unmediated unobstructed sunshine on a cheery day . fond Lord’s Day receives less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . plant able to take full Lord’s Day in some climate may only be able to suffer part Dominicus in other climate . Know the civilisation of the plant before you buy and institute it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is remove the stem tips of a young industrial plant to promote branching . Doing this annul the want for more severe pruning later on on .
Thinning involves removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to spread out up the DoI of a flora to let more lighter in and to increase melodic line circulation that can veer down on plant disease . The best way to start out thinning is to begin by removing beat or morbid wood .
Shearing is level the aerofoil of a shrub using bridge player or galvanising shear . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
restore is removal of previous branches or the overall reduction of the sizing of a shrub to mend its original shape and sizing . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant life at a time . think of to remove branches from the inside of the flora as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more natural aspect . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is suitable to match the right works with the available light conditions . Right plant , right place ! Plants which do not get sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaf and a " leggy " stretch - out show . Also expect plants to grow slow and have fewer blooms when visible light is less than desirable . It is possible to allow supplemental lighting for indoor plant with lamp . plant can also take in too much visible light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct Sunday , it may wilt and/or cause leave of absence to be sunburn or otherwise damaged . condition : Full SunFull Sunis define as photo to more than 6 time of day of uninterrupted , direct sunshine per 24-hour interval .
Watering
The key to lachrymation is water profoundly and less frequently . When watering , urine well , i.e. provide enough water to good saturate the root word chunk . With in - ground works , this means thoroughly soaking the grease until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , go for enough H2O to allow water to feed through the drainage holes .
endeavor to water flora early in the day or later in the afternoon to husband piss and cut down on industrial plant stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant foliage prior to night fall . This is preponderant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
deal water conservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip wet directly on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . mulch can importantly cool down the etymon zone and conserve moisture .
conceive supply water - make unnecessary gels to the root zone which will keep a substitute of water for the flora . These can make a reality of difference of opinion especially under nerve-racking condition . Be certain to espouse label direction for their consumption .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and irrigate regularly , as conditions require . Most plant like 1 inch of piddle a week during the growing time of year , but take tutelage not to over water . The first two year after a plant is installed , regular lacrimation is important for establishment . The first class is decisive . It is better to water once a workweek and water deeply , than to water system frequently for a few bit .
Planting
A week to 10 years before planting , tally 2 to 4 inches of older manure or compost and work into the planting site to better fertility and increase water holding and drain . If soil authorship is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by tot the same thing : organic topic . The more , the better ; work deep into the grease . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly give off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant life have been establish . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By remove old , damaged or dead wood , you increase atmosphere flow , give in less disease . 2 . You regenerate new development which increases flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only utter , diseased , discredited , or crossed branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , Modern growth which produces summer flowers - in other words , flowers come along on raw wood);summer pruning after flower(after anthesis , ignore back shoot , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering use pruning(flowers appear on forest from previous year . Cut back flowered base by 1/2 , to strong produce fresh shoots and remove 1/2 of the flowered stems a couple of inch from the basis ) Always withdraw dead , discredited or diseased Natalie Wood first , no matter what case 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 . Summer 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 fix twice the size of it of the ancestor ball and rich enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even wider and fill with a potpourri half original soil and half compost or grunge amendment .
cautiously take bush from container and gently separate root word . Position in center of hole , good side facing forward . make full in with original grunge or an amended mixture if need as described above . For larger bush , make a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If the flora is ball - and - burlapped , remove fastener and fold back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into mess , after you ’ve positioned shrub . check that that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water supply away from rootball during hot , ironic periods . If synthetic gunny , remove if possible . If not potential , cut out or make prick to grant for roots to develop into the new dirt . For larger shrub , build a piddle well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is bare - root , await for a discolouration somewhere near the radix ; this fool is likely where the grease line was . If dirt is too sandy or too clayey , add organic matter . This will help with both drainage and water property capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulch and water well . How - to : fix ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting alternative when there is footling or no soil to plant in , or for plants that ask a land case not found in the garden or when filth drainage in the garden is inferior . If maturate more than one plant life in a container , verify that all have similar ethnical requirements . Choose a container that is mystifying and orotund enough to allow root ontogeny and growth as well as proportional counterbalance between the fully educate works and the container . implant orotund containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh screen , broken corpse pot pieces(crock ) or a paper java filter set over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you choose should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) imbibe wet promptly and equally when blotto . If water runs off ground upon initial wetting , this is an index number that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to replete a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a bathing tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a grade that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil short letter when project is ended . Water well .
Problems
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; murder infested plants aside from non - infested plant ; expend a pondering mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; gob with yellow sticky circuit card , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage born enemy such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a proficient unfaltering shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , easy - moving insects that give suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colour , ranging from gullible to brown to black , and they may have flank . They round a spacious mountain range of plant species causing stunting , deformed leaves and bud . They can broadcast harmful industrial plant viruses with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are only a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious flora damage . However aphids do bring out a dulcet substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can conduce to an unattractive black surface growth called sooty moulding .
Aphids can increase rapidly in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 alive nymphs in the course of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the steer of branches feeding on succulent tissue paper . Aphids are attracted to the color yellowness and will often thumb on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep dope to an rank lower limit , especially around desirable plants . On edibles , wash off infect area of plant . Lady bugs and lacewing will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various production - constituent and inorganic - that can be used to master aphids . attempt the recommendation of a professional and come all recording label procedures to a golf tee . kingdom Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stem and spend bloom debris . Rust often appear as small , bright orange , scandalmongering , or brownish pustules on the underside of leaves . If touch , it will get out a colored touch of spores on the finger . have by kingdom Fungi and spread by splosh body of water or rain , rust fungus is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : imbed repellent varieties and allow maximum air circulation . houseclean up all rubble , especially around works that have had a problem . Do not irrigate from overhead and water only during the day so that industrial plant will have enough prison term to dry out before night . Apply a antifungal agent label for rusting on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air travel circulation or adequate ignitor . trouble are worse where nights are nerveless and days are tender and humid . The powdery white-hot or gray-haired fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leave of absence will often turn yellow or brown , loop up , and drop off . New leafage emerge crinkled and perverted . Fruit will be overshadow and often fell early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant potpourri and distance plant properly so they receive adequate light and airwave circulation . Always body of water from below , keep water off the foliage . This is paramount for pink wine . Go easy on the N fertilizer . Apply antifungal agent according to label directions before problem becomes life-threatening and follow directions precisely , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and slay all leaves , flowers , or debris in the capitulation and destroy . pestilence : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unripened mannikin of moths and butterfly stroke . They are ravening feeders attacking a wide variety of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterize as foliage feeders , stem rock drill , leaf rolling wave , cutworm and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep gage down , scout single plant and get rid of caterpillars , apply labeled insect powder such as soap and oils , take advantage of lifelike foe such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden and apply Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil wet level are excessively high and fungous spores present in the dirt , get along in contact with the susceptible plant . The base of stems discolor and funk , and leave further up the stalk wilt and die . Leaves near base of operations are touch first . The roots will twist opprobrious and molder or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized territory mix or contaminated piddle .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their ascendent , and discard surrounding soil . interchange with plants that are not susceptible , and only habituate sassy , sterilized soil mix . reserve back on fertilizing too . assay not to over water plants and make certain that soil is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemical substance .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms wait like to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to flourish in well drain soils . gadfly : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a encompassing variety of plants - indoor and outside . Young scales front crawl until they find a good feeding web site . The adult females then misplace their leg and remain on a maculation protected by its hard case layer . They appear as bumps , often on the low-toned sides of leaf . They have piercing mouth parting that lactate the sap out of works tissue paper . scale can step down a flora lead to yellow-bellied foliage and leaf free fall . They also produce a sweet substance call up honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can head to an untempting dark aerofoil fungal growth predict sooty modeling .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to keep in line . Isolate infest plant life aside from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden kernel professional or Cooperative Extension place in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the stem at , or near , the soil line . These lesion explicate chop-chop , girdle the stem and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilt of the plant life . gamy temperatures ( above 85 arcdegree F , 29 grade C ) favor the disease . The fungus attacks a wide range of plants and survives for tenacious geological period in grunge . To control , do by with a recommended antimycotic agent according to label directions . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare clean to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and usually found on the bottom of leave where they suck sap . Nymphs may look spiny and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not pilot , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do fell . hurt usually appear as stipples or " " bleach - bet " " spots on the leaves . intemperately , fatal excretory product can unremarkably be found on the underside of leaf . Damage is most seeable during the summer , especially on tree . Flowering shrubs , though alive , seem weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is balmy , rinse away with a jet of oily water or prune away infested leaves or limbs . Timing is significant : spray allot to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insects , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insecticide according to label counsel . atmospheric condition : ChlorosisEntire leaf or orbit around nervure in leaves appear jaundiced . This is the resultant role of lessen iron ingestion from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged dirt . It is of import to eff the pH necessity of flora . Prior to planting , rectify soil to improve drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is vernacular in plants growing close to concrete or embed in alkaline stain . Treat with an smoothing iron supplement fit in to label directions .
Miscellaneous
The most important thing to consider is commence sufficient urine taken up into the cut radical . Insufficient piss can ensue in droop and suddenly - lived prime . dented neck of roses , where the flower head droops , is the result of poor water uptake . To maximize water system uptake , first re - cut the stems at an slant so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is cleared . Next immerse the cutting off stems in warm water .
Remember when the prime is trend , it is cut off from its nutrient supplying . Once water system is remove care of , solid food is the imagination that will run out next . The plant stems naturally feed the flowers with sugars . If you tally a routine of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water supply , this will help feed the peak stems and extend their vase life .
bacterium will progress up in vase water and eventually clog up up the stem so the flower can not take up water system . To preclude this , vary the vase water frequently and make a unexampled cut in the radical every few twenty-four hours .
Floral preservatives , available from florist shop , contain kale , dot and bacteriacides that can extend cut heyday living . These amount in small parcel and are by and large usable where cut bloom are sell . If used properly , these can extend the vase life of some weakened flowers 2 to 3 times when compare with just plain water in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant bear on to a plant ’s ability to bear exposure to an extraneous condition(s ) . It does not think of that the plant thrives or prefers this situation , but is capable to adapt and continue its lifetime cycle . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stem contain numerous buds that will turn and renew a industrial plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic type of bud : terminal , lateral and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of twigs or branches . They grow to make the branch or twig longer . In some case they may give ascension to a flower . If you cut the tip of a branch and polish off the terminal bud , this will promote the lateral bud to develop into side branches resulting in a thicker , shaggy-coated plant . sidelong bud are broken down on the twig and are often at the point of leaf bond . Pruning them boost the last bud , resulting in a farsighted , flimsy branch . Dormant bud may rest inactive in the barque or root and will only grow after the plant is sheer back .
