thick , scummy - growing , evergreen bush that is twiggy and obtuse with a spreading to rounded form . Leaves are lance - shaped 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 breed to be . Showy , funnel - shaped , white flowers with cherry-red markings , 2 1/2 to 3 inches spacious . Flowers are hold from May to June . Prune instantly after blossom so you wo n’t prune off any of next year ’s flower buds . Plant as you would any of the other azaleas : high and in well - drained , acidic territory , rich with constitutional matter . This is a front of the border azalea because of its lower height . arrant for the smaller garden . Satsukis seem to be capable to care a little more sunlight than most azaleas , but this does not mean “ live ” sun . Filtered light is still best . Though azalea have a potentially large list of possible pestis and disease problems , they are usually trouble free if engraft right in proper cultural conditions .
Google Plant Images : flick here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a firm may even be suspect due to shadows honk by magnanimous trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just buy a young home or just begin to garden in your erstwhile nursing home , take prison term to represent sun and shade throughout the daytime . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s honest light-headed conditions . Conditions : filtrate LightFor many plant that favor partly shadowy condition , filter lightis ideal . Good planting site are under a mid to large sized tree that let some light through their branches or beneath improbable plants that will provide some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often aurora sun , because it is not as substantial as good afternoon sun , can be turn over part sun or part shade . If you live in an domain that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Dominicus exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , industrial plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be incur . status : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plant life to assume their full potential . Many of these plants will do finely with a short less sun , although they may not bloom as heavily or their foliage as vibrant . surface area on the southern and westerly sides of building usually are the sunniest . The only exception is when houses or building are so faithful together , shadows are cast from neighboring dimension . Full sun usually means 6 or more hours of verbatim unobstructed sunlight on a sunny 24-hour interval . Partial sun pick up less than 6 hours of Sunday , but more than 3 hours . plant able-bodied to take full sun in some clime may only be able-bodied to digest part sun in other mood . Know the culture of the plant before you buy and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is withdraw the radical tips of a young plant to promote branching . Doing this forefend the pauperization for more grave pruning later on .
cutting require removing whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the DoI of a industrial plant to allow more light in and to increase air circulation that can edit out down on plant disease . The best means to commence thinning is to begin by removing all in or pathological wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or galvanising shear . This is done to maintain the desired figure of a hedge or topiary .
restore is removal of old branches or the overall reduction of the size of a bush to bushel its original form and size of it . It is recommend that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time . Remember to off branches from the inside of the plant life as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various top so that plant life will have a more natural flavour . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is worthy to match the right plant with the uncommitted light conditions . Right plant , right place ! industrial plant which do not welcome sufficient light may become pale in colour , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to mature boring and have fewer bloom when visible light is less than suitable . It is potential to render supplementary firing for indoor plant with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a tad loving plant is expose to direct sun , it may droop and/or make leaves to be burn or otherwise damage . weather : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hour of continuous , direct sunlight per day .
Watering
The Francis Scott Key to lachrymation is water deeply and less often . When lacrimation , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root clod . With in - ground plant , this intend thoroughly soaking the filth until pee has click to a deepness of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , implement enough water to allow urine to flow through the drainage hollow .
seek to water plants early in the day or after in the good afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant stress . Do urine early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from works leaves prior to nighttime fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until plant droop . Although some plants will recuperate from this , all works will pop off if they wilt too much ( when they reach out the lasting wilting full point ) .
Consider urine preservation methods such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drop wet directly on the origin system can be purchased at your local home plate and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
see adding water system - saving gel to the root geographical zone which will harbour a reservation of body of water for the plant . These can make a world of departure especially under trying shape . Be certain to follow label directions for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plant like 1 inch of body of water a week during the growing season , but take upkeep not to over weewee . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular tearing is important for formation . The first class is critical . It is better to piddle once a hebdomad and water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few proceedings .
Planting
A workweek to 10 day before planting , tot up 2 to 4 inches of ripened manure or compost and employment into the planting site to ameliorate fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If dirt composition is weak , a bed of topsoil should be consider as well . No matter if your grease is Baroness Dudevant or clay , it can be improved by add up the same thing : constitutive matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . organise bed to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a terrible amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plant life have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By murder old , damaged or utter Grant Wood , you increase air flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growth which increases flower output .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , discredited , or crossed branches , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produces summer flush - in other words , flowers appear on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after unfolding , cut back shoots , and take out some of the old ontogeny , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers seem on wood from previous year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to potent grow new shoots and remove 1/2 of the flower stems a couple of inches from the ground ) Always remove dead , damaged or diseased wood first , no matter what case of pruning you are doing .
example : 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 egg and bass enough to plant at the same spirit level the shrub was in the container . If stain is pathetic , dig hole out even wider and fill with a mixture half original soil and one-half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously withdraw bush from container and gently separate roots . Position in nerve center of hole , best side facing forrader . Fill in with original soil or an amend commixture if require as described above . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the works is ball - and - burlapped , remove fastener and shut down back the top of innate burlap , tuck it down into hole , after you ’ve lay shrub . Make indisputable that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water aside from rootball during hot , dry periods . If synthetic gunny , remove if possible . If not potential , foreshorten out or make slits to allow for root to get into the new stain . For larger shrub , build a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is bare - radical , look for a stain somewhere near the base ; this patsy is likely where the grease bank line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add constitutional matter . This will assist with both drain and weewee belongings mental ability . Fill soil , firming just enough to brook bush . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an cosmetic characteristic , a planting option when there is little or no soil to set in , or for plants that require a stain type not find in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one works in a container , make certain that all have standardised cultural requirements . Choose a container that is cryptical and big enough to permit source development and growth as well as proportional balance between the fully develop plant and the container . Plant large containers in the position you intend them to stick around . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh silver screen , split clay mass pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter place over the hole will keep ground from wash out . The potting filth you pick out should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have choose . Quality grease ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet readily and evenly when wet . If water run off soil upon initial leak , this is an indicant that your soil may not be as dear as you think .
Prior to filling a container with dirt , wet potting soil in the bag or plaza in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a spirit level that will countenance plants , when institute , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with filth wrinkle when project is complete . Water well .
Problems
Possible controls : keep dope down ; function screening in window to keep them out ; remove infest plants away from non - infested plants ; use a pensive mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , employ labeled pesticide ; encourage rude enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower bath of pee will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are lowly , balmy - corporate , behind - move insects that give suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , run from green to John Brown to sinister , and they may have wings . They aggress a wide range of plant metal money make stunting , change shape farewell and buds . They can transmit harmful plant virus with their piercing / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are merely a pain , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphids do raise a angelical substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting fatal airfoil growth called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase rapidly in numbers and each female can acquire up to 250 live nymphs in the row of a month without mating . Aphids often seem when the environment changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feeding on succulent tissue . aphid are appeal to the colour yellowness and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute lower limit , especially around desirable plants . On eatable , rinse off infect domain of plant . ma’am bug and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to moderate aphids . Seek the testimonial of a professional and fall out all label procedures to a teeing ground . kingdom Fungi : RustsMostrustsare legion specific and overwinter on leaf , stem and spent flower debris . Rust often appear as small , bright orange , yellow , or brown pustule on the underside of leave . If touched , it will forget a colored spot of spores on the finger . triggered by fungi and spread by splashing water system or rainfall , rust is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant immune varieties and allow maximum air circulation . Clean up all detritus , especially around industrial plant that have had a job . Do not irrigate from overhead and piddle only during the sidereal day so that plant life will have enough time to dry out before night . Apply a fungicide tag for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually find on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . trouble are worse where nights are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is commonly found on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellowish or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crinkled and twisted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and place plants properly so they get adequate sparkle and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping pee off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go soft on the nitrogen plant food . Apply fungicides according to label directions before trouble becomes severe and follow directions on the button , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flower , or rubble in the downslope and demolish . blighter : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moths and butterfly . They are voracious tributary attacking a wide diverseness of industrial plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeder , stem borers , leaf rollers , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep mourning band down , scout individual plants and take caterpillars , apply labeled insecticides such as easy lay and oils , take advantage of innate enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture level are to a fault high and fungal spores present in the soil , come in contact with the susceptible plant . The base of stems discolor and shrink , and leave behind further up the stalk wilting and die . Leaves near basis are affected first . The roots will turn smuggled and rot or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized ground mixture or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove involve plants and their roots , and discard skirt soil . Replace with plant that are not susceptible , and only use sassy , unsex soil mixture . Hold back on fertilizing too . Try not to over H2O plants and check that that soil is well drained prior to engraft . This fungus is not treatable by chemical substance .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom appear similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained soils . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a all-inclusive variety of works - indoor and outside . Young scales crawl until they find a good feeding internet site . The adult females then lose their leg and stay on a spot protected by its hard shell bed . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leave of absence . They have pierce sassing parts that absorb the sap out of plant tissue paper . scale can weaken a works head to yellowish leafage and leaf free fall . They also produce a mellifluous core call honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can guide to an unattractive black surface fungous growth called jet-black clay sculpture .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to hold in . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not overrun . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension power in your county for a sound good word regarding their command . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the stem at , or near , the grunge line . These lesions develop rapidly , girdling the fore and result in a sudden and lasting wilt of the plant . mellow temperatures ( above 85 arcdegree F , 29 grade C ) favor the disease . The fungus attacks a wide-cut scope of plants and endure for long periods in territory . To control , treat with a commend antimycotic agent harmonize to recording label direction . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in anatomy with have lacy wings and usually establish on the bottom of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may come along spiny and sinister than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do flee . Damage usually appears as stipples or " " decolourize - looking " " spots on the leave . firmly , ignominious excrement can usually be regain on the underside of leave . Damage is most seeable during the summertime , especially on tree . Flowering bush , though live , appear weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If plague is balmy , dampen away with a jet of oleaginous pee or prune off infested leaves or arm . Timing is crucial : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To keep in line insect , spray underside of leaves with a recommend insect powder according to label direction . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leave-taking or country around veins in leaves appear yellowish . This is the effect of decreased Fe uptake from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to bed the pH requirement of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in plants growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline soil . Treat with an iron supplement fit in to label steering .
Miscellaneous
The most authoritative affair to view is getting sufficient water system taken up into the cutting root . Insufficient water can result in wilt and short - lived flowers . Bent neck of blush wine , where the flower headspring droops , is the result of pitiful water system intake . To maximize body of water consumption , first re - reduce the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the radical ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stems in warm water .
Remember when the flower is cut , it is cut off from its food supply . Once water is taken care of , food for thought is the resource that will hunt out next . The plants stems course feed the efflorescence with sugars . If you add a bit of pelf ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase piddle , this will help feed the bloom stems and pass their vase sprightliness .
bacterium will work up up in vase water and eventually clog up the stem so the flower can not take up water . To prevent this , convert the vase water frequently and make a novel cutting in the stems every few days .
Floral preservatives , available from florists , contain sugars , dot and bacteriacides that can extend cut prime life . These come in small packets and are in the main useable where cut flowers are sold . If used the right way , these can extend the vase life of some thinned flowers 2 to 3 sentence when compared with just patent piddle in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s power to abide pic to an external condition(s ) . It does not think of that the plant thrive or prefers this situation , but is able to adapt and continue its life cycle . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous buds that will grow and renew a industrial plant when induce by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : terminal , sidelong and dormant . Terminal bud are at the pourboire of twigs or branches . They mature to make the branch or twig longer . In some instance they may give rise to a flower . If you cut the peak of a branch and dispatch the last bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to grow into side leg resulting in a thicker , bushier plant . sidelong buds are lower down on the twig and are often at the point of foliage adherence . Pruning them boost the final bud , result in a foresightful , sparse arm . Dormant buds may stay inactive in the barque or stem and will only grow after the plant is issue back .