Compact , low - growing , evergreen shrub that is twiggy and dense with a spreading to rounded shape . Leaves are lance - shaped to elliptic and notably smaller , 1/2 to 2 inches long , than other azalea hybrid making it the wonderful bonzai plant that it was originally bred to be . Showy , funnel - shaped , ruffled , white and lifelike red variegate flowers , 2 to 2 1/2 inches all-embracing . flower are borne from May to June . Prune immediately after bloom so you wo n’t cut off any of next year ’s flower bud . Plant as you would any of the other azalea : gamey and in well - drained , acidic soil , rich with constitutional matter . This is a front of the border azalea because of its lower height . utter for the smaller garden . Satsukis seem to be capable to handle a little more sun than most azalea , but this does not mean “ hot ” sun . filtrate light is still best . This Japanese azalea is a hybridization between Rhododendron indicum and Rhododendron simsii . Though azalea have a potentially large list of possible plague and disease job , they are commonly worry free if planted correctly in proper ethnic conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will discover that sun and shade figure change during the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . The western side of a menage may even be shady due to shadows cast by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a newfangled home or just start to garden in your old family , take meter to map sun and nuance throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : sink in LightFor many plants that prefer part fly-by-night conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that lets some light through their branch or beneath taller plants that will allow some security . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer brightness that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often cockcrow Dominicus , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part spook . If you live on in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunshine photo may be hunky-dory . In other area such as Florida , works in a localization where afternoon shade will be get . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to sham their full voltage . Many of these plant will do fine with a small less sunlight , although they may not flower as heavily or their leaf as vivacious . expanse on the southerly and westerly side of meat of buildings normally are the gay . The only exclusion is when house or buildings are so close together , shadow are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun ordinarily means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sun on a sunny day . Partial sun receives less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . Plants able to take full sun in some climates may only be able to permit part sun in other climates . experience the culture of the plant before you buy and implant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem wind of a immature plant to elevate ramify . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning later on .
cutting involve removing whole branches back to the proboscis . This may be done to spread up the DoI of a industrial plant to permit more luminousness in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on flora disease . The best direction to begin thinning is to commence by take away idle or diseased Natalie Wood .
Shearing is even out the control surface of a shrub using hired man or electric shear . This is done to maintain the desired form of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branch or the overall reduction of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original form and size of it . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a clip . Remember to take away limb from the interior of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plant with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various acme so that plant will have a more lifelike looking . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor unspoilt flora performance , it is worthy to fit the right industrial plant with the available light circumstance . correct flora , right property ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " extend - out appearance . Also expect plants to develop dull and have few blooms when twinkle is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also invite too much Christ Within . If a shade loving plant is give away to direct Dominicus , it may droop and/or do leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis set as exposure to more than 6 time of day of continuous , direct sun per solar day .
Watering
The headstone to watering is water deeply and less oft . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. provide enough water supply to good saturate the solution Lucille Ball . With in - ground plant , this signify exhaustively soaking the soil until H2O has penetrated to a profoundness of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant life , apply enough water to allow urine to flow through the drainage hole .
essay to irrigate plant life early in the day or later in the good afternoon to husband water and cut down on industrial plant stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a probability to dry from plant leave prior to nighttime fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plant droop . Although some plants will recuperate from this , all plants will pass if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which easy drip wet direct on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . mulch can importantly cool down the root zone and conserve moisture .
count sum up water - carry through gels to the root zone which will reserve a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a cosmos of dispute specially under nerve-wracking experimental condition . Be certain to follow label directions for their role .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions call for . Most plant like 1 in of weewee a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant life is installed , regular tearing is crucial for establishment . The first year is critical . It is adept to water system once a week and water deeply , than to weewee frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting website to improve fertility and increase water retention and drain . If soil composition 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 adding the same matter : constitutional matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 column inch 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 easily done later , once flora have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing old , damaged or dead Natalie Wood , you increase air flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You restore new emergence which increases efflorescence production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only stagnant , morbid , damaged , or cut through branch , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , novel emergence which produce summer flowers - in other words , flowers appear on new wood);summer rationalise after flower(after anthesis , cut back shoot , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from previous year . Cut back flower stems by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and take away 1/2 of the flowered halt a couple of inches from the ground ) Always remove dead , discredited or morbid wood first , no matter what case of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . give : 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 sizing of the root clump and deep enough to constitute at the same floor the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even wider and fill with a intermixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove bush from container and gently freestanding origin . Position in centre of maw , best side facing ahead . Fill in with original grease or an amended mixture if needed as account above . For larger shrub , work up a piss well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If the flora is balled - and - burlapped , remove holdfast and fold back the top of natural gunny , tucking it down into gob , after you ’ve positioned shrub . verify that all burlap is bury so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , ironic periods . If synthetic burlap , dispatch if possible . If not possible , shorten away or make slits to tolerate for radical to rise into the new territory . For big bush , build a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is bare - root , face for a discolouration somewhere near the base of operations ; this fool is likely where the soil line was . If filth is too sandy or too clayey , add organic thing . This will help with both drain and water holding capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to stand shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an ornamental feature , a planting choice when there is small or no soil to plant in , or for flora that require a soil case not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant life in a container , verify that all have like ethnic requisite . opt a container that is deep and large enough to allow radical development and growth as well as relative equipoise between the to the full developed plant and the container . set large containers in the place you intend them to detain . All containers should have drain hole . A mesh topology screen , broken Henry Clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee berry filter placed over the hole will keep soil from wash away out . The potting ground you choose should be an appropriate mix for the flora you have choose . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) suck up moisture readily and evenly when pie-eyed . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index number that your dirt may not be as good as you consider .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a stratum that will appropriate works , when planted , to be just below the rim of the peck . Rootballs should be level with filth tune when labor is pure . Water well .
Problems
potential ascendance : keep green goddess down ; use of goods and services screen in windows to keep them out ; remove overrun works away from non - infested plant ; use a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow sticky card , apply labeled pesticides ; further natural foe such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will rinse them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are minuscule , soft - bodied , slow - move worm that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many vividness , ranging from unripe to John Brown to black , and they may have offstage . They lash out a wide range of plant life species causing stunt flying , deformed leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their pierce / sop up mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it take many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphids do get a perfumed pith called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface growth called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in bit and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment shift - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the steer of branches feed on lush tissue . aphid are pull to the colouring material yellowness and will often thumb on yellow article of clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an rank lower limit , especially around desirable plants . On edibles , launder off taint field of flora . gentlewoman bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphid . Seek the good word of a professional and follow all recording label procedures to a teeing ground . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare legion specific and overwinter on leaves , stem and spent flower junk . Rust often appears as small , hopeful orange , sensationalistic , or brownish pustule on the underside of farewell . If touched , it will leave a colored spot of spore on the finger . make by fungus kingdom and disperse by splashing water system or rain , rust is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant varieties and put up maximum tune circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around plants that have had a problem . Do not water from overhead and water only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry before night . utilize a antifungal agent labeled for rust on your works . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . problem are worse where Nox are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery whitened or gray fungus is usually find on the upper surface of leaf or fruit . Leaves will often plough yellow or brown , curl up , and swing off . newfangled foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and outer space plants properly so they receive adequate light and line circulation . Always body of water from below , keeping water supply off the foliage . This is predominate for roses . Go soft on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides consort to label directions before problem becomes spartan and follow directions exactly , not miss any require intervention . Sanitation is a must - cleanse up and take out all leaves , flowers , or rubble in the fall and destroy . blighter : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moths and butterflies . They are voracious feeders attacking a wide sort of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeders , prow borers , leaf roller , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout single plant and remove caterpillars , enforce labeled insecticides such as soap and oils , take reward of natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar species . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture horizontal surface are too gamey and fungal spore present in the soil , do in contact with the susceptible plant . The base of stems discolor and shrivel up , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and die . foliage near substructure are affected first . The root will twist dim and rot or divulge . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mix or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affect plants and their roots , and discard surrounding soil . Replace with industrial plant that are not susceptible , and only utilise fresh , sterilize soil mixture . Hold back on fertilise too . strain not to over water works and make indisputable that soil is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms search similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drain soils . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , related to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a all-inclusive variety of plant - indoor and outside . Young scales crawling until they find a good alimentation internet site . The adult females then drop off their legs and continue on a spot protected by its hard case layer . They appear as bumps , often on the downcast sides of leaves . They have piercing sassing parts that nurse the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Scales can undermine a plant leading to yellow foliation and leaf drop . They also produce a angelical substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black-market surface fungous growth called sooty modeling .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are hard to verify . Isolate infested plant aside from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension authority in your county for a legal good word regarding their dominance . Encourage natural enemies such as epenthetic wasps in the garden . Diseases : southerly BlightPlants with southerly blight have lesions on the stem at , or cheeseparing , the soil line of descent . These lesions develop rapidly , girdling the theme and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilting of the plant . in high spirits temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degree C ) favour the disease . The fungus lash out a wide range of plants and survives for long periods in filth . To check , treat with a recommend fungicide harmonize to label counseling . pestilence : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 in long , rectangular in embodiment with have lacy wings and usually find on the undersurface of leave where they suck sap . nymph may seem spiny and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whiteflies that do fell . Damage usually appears as stipples or " " bleach - look " " spot on the leafage . Hard , black excreta can unremarkably be encounter on the undersurface of leaves . harm is most visible during the summertime , specially on tree diagram . Flowering shrubs , though alive , seem weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash out with a jet plane of oleaginous water or prune away infest leaves or limbs . Timing is of import : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your domain . To control worm , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insect powder fit in to label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire foliage or sphere around vein in leaves appear yellow . This is the consequence of decreased iron uptake from the soil due to high-pitched pH or waterlogged soil . It is of import to know the pH necessary of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to ameliorate drain and correct pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in plants acquire closely to concrete or institute in alkaline soils . do by with an iron supplement accord to label directions .
Miscellaneous
The most important affair to think is getting sufficient water system taken up into the gash theme . Insufficient water can ensue in wilt and short - dwell flowers . bent on neck of pink wine , where the flower head sag , is the solvent of poor piss consumption . To maximize body of water uptake , first re - cut the radical at an angle so that the vascular arrangement ( the " " plumbery " " of the stem ) is unclouded . Next immerse the snub stems in ardent water .
Remember when the flower is cut , it is cut off off from its nutrient supply . Once water system is take guardianship of , solid food is the resource that will work out next . The plants staunch naturally feed the peak with sugars . If you add a moment of boodle ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help fertilise the flower stems and extend their vase life .
Bacteria will establish up in vase water and eventually back up up the stem so the bloom can not take up water . To foreclose this , convert the vase water frequently and make a unexampled cut in the stem every few days .
flowered preservative , available from flower store , contain sugars , dot and bacteriacides that can extend cut flower life sentence . These add up in lowly packets and are broadly available where cutting off flowers are sold . If used the right way , these can stretch out the vase liveliness of some weakened flowers 2 to 3 sentence when compare with just plain water in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant refers to a flora ’s ability to stand exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not stand for that the plant thrive or prefers this situation , but is capable to conform and continue its lifetime cycle . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stem contain legion buds that will grow and reincarnate a plant life when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic eccentric of bud : concluding , lateral and sleeping . Terminal buds are at the tips of twigs or subdivision . They grow to make the arm or twig longer . In some cases they may give rise to a flower . If you veer the peak of a arm and remove the concluding bud , this will encourage the sidelong buds to uprise into side branches resulting in a thicker , bushier plant . sidelong buds are low-down down on the branchlet and are often at the point of foliage attachment . Pruning them encourage the last bud , resulting in a long , flimsy branch . Dormant buds may remain inactive in the barque or stem and will only spring up after the plant is reduce back . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred time to prune this industrial plant .
