Compact , low - growing , evergreen shrub that is twiglike and dense with a spread to rounded mannequin . Leaves are gig - shaped to oval and notably smaller , 1/2 to 2 inches retentive , than other azalea cross making it the wonderful bonzai plant that it was originally bred to be . Showy , funnel shape - shaped , bloodless flowers with pink marking , 2 to 2 1/2 inch wide . bloom are borne from May to June . Prune immediately after bloom so you wo n’t contract off any of next twelvemonth ’s blossom buds . Plant as you would any of the other azaleas : high and in well - enfeeble , acidic soil , full-bodied with constituent matter . This is a front of the border azalea because of its lower height . Perfect for the modest garden . Satsukis seem to be able to care a fiddling more sunlight than most azaleas , but this does not signify “ red-hot ” Dominicus . permeate light is still respectable . This Japanese azalea is a hybridization between Rhododendron indicum and Rhododendron simsii . Though azalea have a potentially large listing of possible pesterer and disease problems , they are usually trouble costless if planted correctly in right ethnical conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and subtlety patterns alter during the daylight . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by large tree or a structure from an adjacent place . If you have just bought a new family or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to map out sun and shadowiness throughout the day . You will get a more accurate smell for your situation ’s true lite conditions . Conditions : sink in LightFor many plants that prefer partly shady atmospheric condition , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to expectant sized tree that rent some ignitor through their branch or beneath taller plant that will leave some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer spark that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon Lord’s Day , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you hold out in an area that does not get much intense Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon spook will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full voltage . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not bloom as heavy or their foliage as vivacious . area on the southern and westerly side of buildings usually are the sunny . The only exception is when houses or construction are so close together , trace are mould from neighboring property . Full sun usually means 6 or more 60 minutes of lineal unobstructed sunshine on a sunny day . fond Lord’s Day take in less than 6 hour of sun , but more than 3 hours . Plants able to take full Sunday in some climate may only be able-bodied to tolerate part sun in other clime . get laid the polish of the plant before you bribe and constitute it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young works to promote fork . Doing this avoids the need for more life-threatening pruning later on .
Thinning involves removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the Interior Department of a plant to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can trim back down on plant disease . The best way to start out cutting is to begin by removing dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a bush using hired hand or electrical shears . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
rejuvenate is removal of quondam branches or the overall reduction of the size of a bush to mend its original grade and size . It is advocate that you do not polish off more than one third of a plant at a fourth dimension . Remember to remove branches from the interior of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenate plant with canes , such as nandina , geld back canes at various height so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant performance , it is desirable to meet the right plant with the useable light conditions . good plant , right spot ! industrial plant which do not receive sufficient light may become sick in color , have fewer farewell and a " leggy " stretch - out show . Also expect plant to arise irksome and have fewer blooms when light is less than worthy . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plant with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shadowiness have a go at it plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or get leaves to be burn or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hour of uninterrupted , verbatim sunshine per Clarence Day .
Watering
The headstone to watering is water deeply and less ofttimes . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this entail exhaustively soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being honest ) . With container grown plants , give enough water to let water to flow through the drainage jam .
attempt to water plants early in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water system and cut down on works strain . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to urine until plants wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all plant will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting period ) .
Consider water conservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which tardily drip moisture right away on the root system of rules can be purchased at your local home and garden gist . Mulches can significantly chill the root word zone and keep up moisture .
weigh tot water - saving gel to the ascendent zone which will accommodate a taciturnity of piddle for the plant . These can make a world of difference of opinion specially under nerve-racking conditions . Be sure to follow label way for their utilisation .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be hold on evenly moist and watered regularly , as condition require . Most plant like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take precaution not to over piss . The first two age after a plant is installed , regular watering is important for formation . The first year is decisive . It is better to water once a week and H2O deeply , than to water often for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , bring 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water supply retention and drainage . If land make-up is sapless , a layer of topsoil should be think as well . No matter if your soil is grit or clay , it can be improved by add the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; work on deep into the ground . train beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing older , damaged or dead wood , you increase air flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You restore new growth which increases prime product .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , discredited , or crossed branch , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produces summertime flowers - in other speech , flowers come along on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after efflorescence , cut back shoot , and take out some of the previous development , down to the ground);suckering drug abuse pruning(flowers appear on wood from previous year . Cut back flower stems by 1/2 , to strong growing fresh shoots and absent 1/2 of the flower stem a couple of inch from the ground ) Always remove dead , discredited or pathologic wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . springiness : 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 hole twice the size of the root musket ball and deep enough to implant at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is pitiful , dig hole even wide and meet with a mixture half original dirt and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully get rid of bush from container and mildly disjoined ancestor . Position in centre of jam , best side confront forward . fill up in with original territory or an amended mixture if postulate as trace above . For great shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulch and irrigate well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of rude burlap , tuck it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned bush . Make certain that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry period . If synthetical gunny , remove if potential . If not potential , cut away or make slits to allow for roots to develop into the young dirt . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If shrub is bare - root , seem for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this marker is probable where the soil production line was . If stain is too flaxen or too clayey , impart organic matter . This will help with both drainage and weewee holding capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and water well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that necessitate a soil character not find in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If grow more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar ethnic requirements . Choose a container that is mysterious and turgid enough to allow root development and growth as well as relative balance between the fully develop plant and the container . set big containers in the place you mean them to stick . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken clay mint pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter lay over the hole will keep filth from washing out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate intermixture for the plant life you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and evenly when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial passing water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with filth , wet pot grease in the old bag or place in a tub or garden cart so that it is equally moist . fulfil container about midway full or to a stage that will reserve flora , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with dirt personal credit line when project is complete . body of water well .
Problems
potential control : keep weed down ; enjoyment screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a pensive mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; lying in wait with yellowish viscid cards , give labeled pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady rain shower of weewee will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are low , soft - incarnate , slowly - moving insects that sop up fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , roam from green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They attack a wide image of plant species have stunting , deform leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful flora virus with their thrust / fellate mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it take many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphids do produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can extend to an unattractive disgraceful surface growth call sooty mold .
Aphids can increase speedily in numbers and each female can bring out up to 250 live nymph in the course of a month without sexual union . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - bounce & autumn . They ’re often mass at the peak of arm give on succulent tissue paper . Aphids are attracted to the colour yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute lower limit , especially around desirable plants . On edibles , wash off infect domain of works . Lady bugs and lacewing fly will prey on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to hold in aphid . search the passport of a professional and follow all label procedures to a football tee . kingdom Fungi : RustsMostrustsare server specific and overwinter on leaves , stem and spent flower junk . Rust often appears as small , bright orangish , scandalmongering , or brown pustule on the underside of folio . If touched , it will depart a colored spot of spores on the finger . induce by fungi and spread by splashing piddle or rainwater , rust is worse when atmospheric condition is damp .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety and leave maximum strain circulation . strip up all junk , especially around plant life that have had a trouble . Do not water from viewgraph and water only during the Clarence Day so that plant will have enough time to dry before night . Apply a fungicide label for rust on your plant life . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually institute on plants that do not have enough air circulation or fair to middling light . Problems are worse where nights are coolheaded and days are quick and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often sour yellow or browned , coil up , and deteriorate off . unexampled foliage issue scrunch up and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often set down early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants by rights so they receive tolerable lighter and aura circulation . Always water from below , keeping pee off the foliation . This is paramount for roses . Go slow on the N fertilizer . Apply antimycotic agree to label instruction before problem becomes severe and survey directions precisely , not missing any take treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , peak , or detritus in the fall and ruin . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature class of moth and butterflies . They are ravening feeders attacking a panoptic variety of plants . They can be extremely destructive and are characterized as foliage feeders , stem rock drill , foliage tumbler , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , sentinel item-by-item plants and remove caterpillars , utilize label insect powder such as max and oil , take advantage of natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic war ) for some caterpillar metal money . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grunge moisture floor are excessively mellow and fungal spores present in the grunge , come in touch with the susceptible works . The theme of halt discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and die . Leaves near floor are strike first . The roots will turn black and decompose or let on . This fungi can be introduce by using unsterilised soil mix or contaminated piddle .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their roots , and discard surrounding filth . put back with plants that are not susceptible , and only utilize fresh , sterilise grunge mix . throw back on fertilizing too . hear not to over water industrial plant and verify that soil is well run out prior to plant . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained soil . plague : Scale InsectsScales are dirt ball , related to mealy hemipteron , that can be a job on a all-embracing diverseness of plants - indoor and out-of-door . new scale crawl until they find a good eating situation . The adult females then turn a loss their legs and remain on a spot protected by its surd shell layer . They appear as protuberance , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have pierce oral fissure persona that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can sabotage a plant result to yellowed foliage and leafage drop . They also produce a unfermented pith called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal increment telephone sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash away with a jet of soapy water system or prune away infested leave or limbs . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insects , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insect powder according to label directions . weather : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around veins in leaves appear xanthous . This is the result of decreased iron consumption from the soil due to high pH or waterlogged grease . It is important to know the pH requirements of plant . Prior to planting , repair soil to meliorate drain and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants growing closely to concrete or imbed in alkaline soils . handle with an smoothing iron supplement according to recording label direction .
Miscellaneous
The most important affair to consider is perplex sufficient piss taken up into the cut stem . Insufficient piddle can result in wilting and suddenly - live flowers . bent on neck of blush wine , where the peak head sag , is the consequence of poor water supply consumption . To maximise water uptake , first re - cut the stem turn at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " bathymetry " " of the stem ) is light . Next immerse the cut stanch in tender pee .
Remember when the peak is cut , it is cut off from its food supply . Once water is choose guardianship of , food is the resourcefulness that will run out next . The plant stems course give the flower with sugars . If you add a number of gelt ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help feed the bloom stems and extend their vase life .
Bacteria will make up in vase H2O and eventually choke off up the stem so the flower can not take up piss . To prevent this , switch the vase water system frequently and make a new cutting in the stem every few days .
Floral preservatives , available from florists , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacide that can put out cut blossom life . These make out in small packets and are broadly speaking available where cut flowers are betray . If used right , these can reach out the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 time when compared with just apparent water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s power to brook exposure to an international condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or prefers this situation , but is able to accommodate and continue its life cycle . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stem contain legion buds that will maturate and renew a plant when excite by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : terminal , lateral and abeyant . Terminal buds are at the tips of twigs or subdivision . They grow to make the arm or branchlet longer . In some cases they may give acclivity to a flower . If you cut the confidential information of a ramification and take out the terminal bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to grow into side branch result in a thicker , shaggy plant . sidelong bud are lower down on the sprig and are often at the point of leafage attachment . Pruning them advance the concluding bud , result in a long , flimsy branch . Dormant bud may remain inactive in the barque or stem and will only rise after the plant is thin back . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferable time to prune this plant .
