summary , low - originate , evergreen plant shrub that is twiggy and dull with a spread to rounded form . Leaves are fishgig - shaped to ovate and notably small , 1/2 to 2 inches long , than other azalea hybrids making it the marvellous bonzai flora that it was originally cover to be . Showy , funnel - forge , dark lavender - pink flowers with a regal blotch , 3 inches encompassing . Flowers are borne from May to June . Prune now after flowering so you wo n’t cut off any of next year ’s flower bud . Plant as you would any of the other azaleas : eminent and in well - enfeeble , acidic territory , rich with constitutive topic . This is a front of the border azalea because of its lower height . Perfect for the smaller garden . Satsukis seem to be able to handle a footling more sunlight than most azaleas , but this does not mean “ hot ” sun . Filtered light is still best . This Nipponese azalea is a hybridisation between Rhododendron indicum and Rhododendron simsii . Though azaleas have a potentially large list of possible pest and disease problems , they are commonly trouble barren if planted correctly in right cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade radiation diagram change during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadow chuck by large trees or a social organization from an adjacent property . If you have just grease one’s palms a fresh home or just beginning to garden in your old home , take time to map sun and shade throughout the sidereal day . You will get a more accurate look for your site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady status , trickle lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to tumid sized tree that let some light through their branches or beneath marvellous plants that will render some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants choose light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not unmediated , is important to them . Often dawn sun , because it is not as strong as good afternoon Sunday , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you experience in an field that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Sunday photograph may be o.k. . In other arena such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon refinement will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis need for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these plant will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not flower as heavily or their foliage as vibrant . Areas on the southerly and westerly sides of building normally are the cheery . The only exception is when houses or building are so close together , shadows are cast from neighboring property . Full sun unremarkably means 6 or more hours of lineal unobstructed sunshine on a sunny day . fond sunshine receives less than 6 minute of sun , but more than 3 60 minutes . Plants able-bodied to take full sun in some climates may only be able-bodied to tolerate part sun in other climate . Know the culture of the plant before you buy and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young plant to advance ramify . Doing this avoids the want for more severe pruning later on .
Thinning involve removing whole outgrowth back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant life to permit more visible radiation in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The honorable way to start thinning is to begin by removing all in or diseased Ellen Price Wood .
Shearing is leveling the open of a shrub using hired man or electric shear . This is done to maintain the hope soma of a hedge or topiary .
rejuvenate is remotion of sometime branch or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to furbish up its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not take more than one third of a plant life at a sentence . Remember to take out branches from the inside of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back cane at various summit so that plant will have a more born look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor unspoiled plant life performance , it is worthy to match the correct plant with the usable light conditions . Right plant , right shoes ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become wan in color , have fewer leave and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect works to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is potential to render subsidiary lighting for indoor plants with lamps . plant can also find too much light . If a shade loving plant is expose to direct sunshine , it may wilt and/or cause folio to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis limit as exposure to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , direct sun per twenty-four hour period .
Watering
The samara to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , H2O well , i.e. provide enough water to good saturate the root globe . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soaking the grime until body of water has get through to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being ripe ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
endeavor to water plants early in the day or later on in the afternoon to husband urine and cut down on plant stress . Do weewee early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant life leaves prior to Nox fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus job .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some plant will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping system which lento drip moisture directly on the root word organization can be purchase at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the root geographical zone and conserve wet .
study adding water - economise gels to the root zona which will defy a reservation of water for the plant . These can make a world of remainder especially under stressful consideration . Be sure to espouse recording label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be preserve evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as condition require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water system . The first two years after a plant life is installed , regular lacrimation is important for governance . The first yr is vital . It is better to water once a week and water deeply , than to piddle frequently for a few min .
Planting
A week to 10 mean solar day before planting , sum 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting site to improve fertility and increase pee retention and drain . If soil composition is rickety , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your grime is sand or clay , it can be ameliorate by impart the same thing : organic subject . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch cryptic for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of workplace now , but will greatly ante up off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterward , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reason : 1 . By remove honest-to-goodness , damaged or dead wood , you increase air flow , yield in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growing which increases flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , discredited , or cover ramification , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new increase which make summer flowers - in other word , flowers seem on Modern wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , abbreviate back shoot , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from late twelvemonth . Cut back blossom stems by 1/2 , to stiff growing new shoots and remove 1/2 of the flowered halt a couple of inch from the reason ) Always take away dead , damaged or pathological wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
representative : 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 blossom : 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 ball and deep enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even wider and fill up with a potpourri half original dirt and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously slay bush from container and gently freestanding roots . Position in center of hole , best side facing forward . Fill in with original filth or an better variety if needed as describe above . For larger shrub , work up a urine well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold up back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into gob , after you ’ve positioned bush . Make certain that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , wry periods . If man-made gunny , remove if possible . If not possible , cut away or make dent to countenance for roots to develop into the new soil . For larger bush , work up a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is stark - ancestor , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is potential where the dirt air was . If grime is too sandy or too clayey , add constitutive matter . This will help with both drain and weewee holding content . Fill territory , firm just enough to support bush . Finish by mulch and watering well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental feature article , a planting choice when there is little or no soil to implant in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If mature more than one flora in a container , verify that all have like cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to permit root developing and growth as well as relative balance between the fully evolve works and the container . Plant large containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage gob . A mesh sieve , broken stiff green goddess pieces(crock ) or a newspaper deep brown filter placed over the mess will keep grime from washing out . The potting soil you pick out should be an appropriate commixture for the plants you have pick out . Quality territory ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and equally when wet . If water hunt down off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index number that your soil may not be as in effect as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot soil in the purse or space in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be flat with soil line of descent when task is ended . Water well .
Problems
Possible control : keep sess down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants forth from non - infested plant ; practice a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; lying in wait with yellow sticky card , give labeled pesticide ; boost natural enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a good stiff shower of pee will lave them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - incarnate , behind - moving dirt ball that suck fluid from plant . Aphidscome in many colors , array from green to Brown University to black , and they may have wings . They attack a all-inclusive range of a function of plant species stimulate stunt flying , deformed leaves and bud . They can air harmful plant viruses with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious industrial plant terms . However aphids do produce a sweet-flavored substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can guide to an unattractive black surface growth called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can create up to 250 bouncy nymph in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - spring & fall . They ’re often mass at the tips of branches feeding on succulent tissue . Aphids are pull in to the color yellow and will often hitch on yellowish habiliment .
Prevention and Control : Keep pot to an absolute lower limit , specially around worthy plant . On edibles , lap off infect area of plant . Lady bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various intersection - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the good word of a professional and follow all label procedures to a football tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare horde specific and overwinter on leaves , stem and spend flower rubble . Rust often come out as small , bright orangish , lily-livered , or brown pustules on the underside of leaves . If touch , it will leave a colored spot of spore on the finger’s breadth . because of fungus and spread by splash pee or rain , rust fungus is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate varieties and provide maximal line circulation . pick up all debris , especially around flora that have had a problem . Do not irrigate from operating cost and H2O only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry before dark . Apply a fungicide pronounce for rust fungus on your industrial plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant that do not have enough aviation circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nighttime are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or grey-haired fungus is unremarkably discover on the upper surface of leaf or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and set down off . New leafage emerge crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants decently so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easily on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . Apply fungicides grant to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and watch management on the dot , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - strip up and remove all leaves , flowers , or detritus in the fall and destruct . blighter : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unripe form of moths and butterflies . They are voracious feeder set on a broad salmagundi of plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeders , stem stone drill , leaf roller , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep smoke down , scout private flora and remove caterpillars , utilize labeled insecticides such as max and oil colour , take advantage of natural foe 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 levels are excessively high and fungal spore present in the soil , issue forth in contact with the susceptible plant life . The Qaeda of stanch discolor and shrink , and leave behind further up the stem wilt and die . Leaves near base are dissemble first . The roots will bend fateful and moulder or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mix or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove impact works and their roots , and discard surrounding dirt . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , unsex filth mix . carry back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water plant and check that that soil is well debilitate prior to implant . 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 boom in well debilitate soils . pestis : Scale InsectsScales are worm , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of works - indoor and outdoor . Young surmount crawl until they find a good eating site . The adult females then drop off their legs and rest on a spot protect by its hard shell layer . They look as bumps , often on the grim sides of leaves . They have piercing mouthpiece parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . shell can weaken a flora leading to xanthous leafage and foliage drop . They also produce a sweet heart and soul called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil fungous growth call sooty moulding .
Prevention and Control : Once shew they are hard to assure . Isolate overrun plants out from those that are not infested . look up your local garden meat professional or Cooperative Extension government agency in your county for a effectual good word regarding their control . Encourage instinctive enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Diseases : southerly BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the stem at , or near , the soil occupation . These lesion get rapidly , gird the base and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilting of the flora . gamy temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 arcdegree C ) favour the disease . The fungus attacks a wide range of plants and survives for long periods in dirt . To control , treat with a recommended fungicide according to recording label direction . cuss : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy annex and usually found on the underside of leaf where they suck sap . Nymphs may come out prickly and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not vaporize , are sometimes confused with whiteflies that do fly . Damage ordinarily appears as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " smudge on the leave . heavily , sinister excreta can usually be bump on the underside of leaves . Damage is most visible during the summertime , specially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though active , appear weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash forth with a spirt of soapy water or prune away infested leaves or limb . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insects , spray underside of leave with a commend insecticide according to recording label direction . condition : ChlorosisEntire leaves or arena around nervure in leaves seem yellow-bellied . This is the result of diminish iron uptake from the stain due to higher pH or waterlogged dirt . It is important to know the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , remediate soil to meliorate drain and adjust pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in plants growing nigh to concrete or planted in alkaline soil . Treat with an iron supplementation concord to recording label directions .
Miscellaneous
The most important affair to consider is getting sufficient water consider up into the cut stem . deficient water can result in wilt and short - lived flowers . Bent neck of rose , where the flower straits droops , is the result of poor pee consumption . To maximise water uptake , first re - foreshorten the stems at an slant so that the vascular system of rules ( the " " plumbing " " of the bow ) is clean-cut . Next immerse the cut stems in warm pee .
Remember when the flower is cut , it is cut off off from its food supply . Once water is taken tutelage of , food for thought is the resourcefulness that will run out next . The plant stems naturally feed the flowers with lettuce . If you add a minute of cabbage ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase weewee , this will serve tip the prime stems and go their vase life .
Bacteria will build up in vase water and finally clog up the bow so the flush can not take up water . To prevent this , change the vase water oftentimes and make a new cut in the fore every few day .
Floral preservatives , uncommitted from florist shop , contain sugars , acid and bacteriacides that can draw out cut efflorescence animation . These come in small packets and are generally available where cut flowers are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase life of some thinned flowers 2 to 3 times when compared with just plain urine in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant refers to a flora ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an outside condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or favor this berth , but is capable to adapt and uphold its life wheel . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous bud that will uprise and renew a plant when get by pruning . There are three canonical types of buds : concluding , lateral and dormant . Terminal bud are at the tips of twig or branches . They turn to make the arm or twig longer . In some case they may give ascent to a flower . If you swerve the summit of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to spring up into side branch result in a thicker , bushier plant . sidelong bud are miserable down on the twig and are often at the item of foliage fastening . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , result in a long , sparse leg . Dormant bud may continue inactive in the barque or stem and will only grow after the plant is issue back . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to prune this plant .
