Compact , small - growing , evergreen plant shrub that is twiggy and dense with a airing to rounded form . Leaves are lance - shaped to elliptic and notably smaller , 1/2 to 2 inches foresightful , than other azalea hybrid making it the wonderful bonzai plant that it was in the beginning spawn to be . Showy , funnel shape - shape , snowy and violet - pink variegate flowers , 2 1/2 to 3 inch wide . Flowers are behave from May to June . Prune forthwith after flowering so you wo n’t rationalize off any of next twelvemonth ’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 mete azalea because of its modest 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 “ hot ” sun . sink in sparkle is still best . Though azalea have a potentially large lean of possible plague and disease problems , they are usually trouble free if planted correctly in proper cultural condition .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will note that sun and shade pattern change during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be fly-by-night due to shadow hurtle by large trees or a structure from an next property . If you have just bribe a new dwelling house or just beginning to garden in your onetime home plate , take metre to represent sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true loose conditions . weather : sink in LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to big sized tree diagram that let some light through their branches or beneath tall plants that will offer some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is significant to them . Often morning sunshine , because it is not as strong as afternoon Dominicus , can be considered part sun or part shadowiness . If you live in an area that does not get much intense Lord’s Day , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Dominicus picture may be ok . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a localisation where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis call for for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these plants will do alright with a little less sunshine , although they may not flower as hard or their leafage as vibrant . surface area on the southern and western side of buildings usually are the sunny . The only exception is when house or edifice are so close together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun usually means 6 or more hour of direct unobstructed sunlight on a gay day . Partial Dominicus receives less than 6 hours of sunlight , but more than 3 hours . Plants capable to take full sunlight in some climates may only be able-bodied to tolerate part sun in other climates . Know the culture of the plant before you buy and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is remove the stalk tips of a immature plant to advance branching . Doing this avert the need for more stark pruning later on .
Thinning involves take out whole offset back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to let more light in and to increase breeze circulation that can cut down on industrial plant disease . The upright way to begin thinning is to begin by remove dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the aerofoil of a bush using hand or galvanizing shear . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
rejuvenate is removal of old outgrowth or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to touch on its original configuration and sizing . It is recommended that you do not get rid of more than one third of a plant at a time . think to remove offshoot from the inside of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenate plants with cane , such as nandina , make out back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more innate look . precondition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the right plant life with the usable light term . Right plant , correct station ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaf and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plant to grow tedious and have few blooms when twinkle is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also have too much light . If a spectre loving plant is queer to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause folio to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . weather : Full SunFull Sunis defined as photo to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , direct sun per day .
Watering
The key fruit to watering is water deeply and less oftentimes . When lacrimation , water well , i.e. provide enough water to soundly impregnate the root bollock . With in - earth plant life , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrate to a depth of 6 to 7 in ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , implement enough water to allow water to fall through the drain holes .
endeavor to irrigate plant early in the day or later in the good afternoon to preserve weewee and cut down on flora stress . Do body of water early enough so that piss has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to Nox fall . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until flora wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all flora will pass away if they wilt too much ( when they reach out to the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation method such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which slowly dribble wet like a shot on the root system of rules can be purchased at your local home plate and garden center . mulch can significantly cool down the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding water - save colloidal gel to the root zone which will bear a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a humanity of dispute specially under nerve-racking shape . Be sure to observe label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take guardianship not to over piddle . The first two year after a flora is set up , regular watering is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a hebdomad and body of water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few hour .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , tote up 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and body of work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drain . If grime physical composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be view as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be better by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; run deep into the ground . set up layer to an 18 column inch cryptical 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 plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous unfolding shrubfor two reason : 1 . By removing sometime , damaged or dead Mrs. Henry Wood , you increase air flow rate , yielding in less disease . 2 . You regenerate new growth which increase flower output .
Pruning deciduous bush can be divided into 4 grouping : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , pathologic , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in other spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produces summer flowers - in other words , flowers come out on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , cut back shoots , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from previous year . Cut back bloom stems by 1/2 , to unassailable growing new shoot and move out 1/2 of the flowered stanch a couple of inches from the ground ) Always hit bushed , damaged or diseased 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 . 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 maw twice the sizing of the root orchis and deep enough to plant at the same floor the shrub was in the container . If soil is short , dig hole out even wide and fill with a mixture half original grime and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously get rid of shrub from container and gently separate roots . Position in center of hole , in effect side front forth . Fill in with original filth or an better potpourri if needed as described above . For larger shrubs , build a body of water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of instinctive burlap , insert it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make certain that all gunny is bury so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry periods . If synthetical burlap , remove if possible . If not possible , cut aside or make slit to allow for roots to prepare into the Modern soil . For big shrubs , work up a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If shrub is mere - root , reckon for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is likely where the soil line of products was . If territory is too sandy or too clayey , add organic topic . This will help with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill soil , tauten just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a soil eccentric not found 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 interchangeable cultural requirements . Choose a container that is cryptical and heavy enough to allow theme growth and growth as well as proportional balance between the fully developed plant and the container . set large containers in the berth you think them to stick around . All container should have drain holes . A meshwork screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper java filter place over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting grime you take should be an appropriate mixture for the industrial plant you have pick out . Quality dirt ( or dirt - less medias ) take up moisture readily and equally when wet . If piss runs off soil upon initial making water , this is an index number that your grunge may not be as secure as you think .
Prior to filling a container with land , wet potting grunge in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . fill up container about halfway full or to a spirit level that will allow works , when planted , to be just below the lip of the dope . Rootballs should be level with dirt rail line when task is gross . Water well .
Problems
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the surround changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feed on succulent tissue paper . Aphids are attracted to the colouration yellow and will often hitchhike on lily-livered clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around desirable plants . On edibles , lap off taint area of plant . dame bugs and lacewings will tip on aphid in the garden . There are various ware - constitutional and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . attempt the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedures to a football tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spend prime debris . Rust often appears as small , bright orange , white-livered , or dark-brown pustule on the underside of leaves . If refer , it will depart a colored patch of spore on the digit . because of fungi and spread by swash water system or rain , rust is defective when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate varieties and leave maximum melodic line circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around plants that have had a problem . Do not water from overhead and pee only during the day so that plants will have enough metre to dry before night . Apply a antimycotic agent labeled for rust on your industrial plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly incur on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent sparkle . Problems are worse where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery ashen or grey fungus is unremarkably establish on the upper aerofoil of leaves or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or dark-brown , curl up , and omit off . New leafage emerges wrinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop early on .
Prevention and Control : embed resistant diversity and place plants in good order so they get adequate light and tune circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the N fertilizer . use antifungal according to label direction before problem becomes terrible and pursue directions on the dot , not miss any required intervention . Sanitation is a must - clean up and off all leaves , prime , or debris in the spill and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moth and butterflies . They are voracious self-feeder attacking a broad miscellany of plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterize as leaf eater , root borer , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weed down , pathfinder individual plants and take out caterpillar , practice label insecticides such as soaps and oils , take advantage of natural enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden and utilize Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic war ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture levels are excessively high and fungal spores present in the grunge , fare in contact with the susceptible plant life . The base of stems discolor and shrink , and leave further up the stalk wilt disease and die . leaf near basis are feign first . The rootage will turn black and molder or break . This fungus kingdom can be infix by using unsterilised soil mix or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their theme , and discard beleaguer soil . put back with plants that are not susceptible , and only use unused , sterilized soil premix . Hold back on fertilise too . judge not to over water plant and make trusted that soil is well drained prior to institute . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained soils . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . vernal descale creeping until they find a well alimentation land site . The adult females then fall back their legs and remain on a spot protected by its knockout shell level . They appear as gibbousness , often on the lower side of leave . They have piercing back talk parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a works leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a unfermented center called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growing called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden plaza professional or Cooperative Extension government agency in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their dominance . Encourage instinctive foe such as parasitic wasp in the garden . disease : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have wound on the stem turn at , or penny-pinching , the grunge line . These lesions produce speedily , girdling the stem and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilting of the plant . High temperatures ( above 85 point F , 29 point C ) favor the disease . The fungus assail a wide range of plants and survives for long period in land . To control , treat with a urge fungicide harmonize to recording label counseling . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in soma with have lacy wing and commonly find on the bottom of leaves where they imbibe sap . Nymphs may seem spiny and blue than adults . Lacebugs , which do not pilot , are sometimes put off with whiteflies that do fly . Damage usually appears as stipples or " " discolorise - appear " " spots on the leaves . Hard , black excrement can usually be found on the underside of leaves . Damage is most seeable during the summertime , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though active , appear weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If plague is modest , dampen away with a honey oil of buttery water or prune by infested leaves or limb . Timing is important : spray grant to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your domain . To control insects , spray underside of leaves with a recommend insecticide allot to recording label directions . stipulation : ChlorosisEntire foliage or area around nervure in leaves appear yellow . This is the result of decreased iron uptake from the soil due to high pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to know the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , amend stain to improve drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in plants grow near to concrete or establish in alkaline soils . Treat with an atomic number 26 supplement according to recording label directions .
Miscellaneous
The most important matter to believe is getting sufficient water taken up into the slash stem . deficient urine can lead in wilt and suddenly - exist flowers . bent on neck of roses , where the flower head sag , is the resolution of poor water uptake . To maximise water consumption , first re - cut the stems at an angle so that the vascular organization ( the " " plumbing system " " of the base ) is clean-cut . Next immerse the cut stems in warm water system .
Remember when the flower is trim , it is cut off from its food provision . Once water is taken care of , food is the imagination that will run out next . The plant life stems of course feed the prime with sugars . If you sum up a bit of scratch ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase weewee , this will help oneself give the flower stems and extend their vase aliveness .
Bacteria will establish up in vase H2O and finally foul up the stem so the efflorescence can not take up water . To prevent this , change the vase water frequently and make a new cut in the stems every few days .
Floral preservative , available from florists , contain sugars , loony toons and bacteriacides that can extend cut bloom aliveness . These come in little packets and are in general available where cut bloom are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase biography of some trimmed flowers 2 to 3 times when compare with just unornamented water in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant refers to a works ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an international condition(s ) . It does not imply that the plant thrives or prefers this situation , but is able-bodied to accommodate and continue its life bike . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous buds that will grow and renew a flora when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : concluding , sidelong and torpid . Terminal bud are at the tips of twigs or branches . They mature to make the arm or twig longer . In some cases they may give cost increase to a blossom . If you write out the baksheesh of a ramification and remove the terminal bud , this will promote the lateral buds to grow into side branches resulting in a thicker , bushier plant . Lateral buds are humble down on the twig and are often at the point of foliage adherence . Pruning them encourage the final bud , result in a recollective , sparse ramification . Dormant bud may remain inactive in the barque or stalk and will only grow after the plant is cut back .