summary , low - growing , evergreen plant bush that is twiglike and dense with a spreading to rounded form . folio are fizgig - shaped to elliptic and notably smaller , 1/2 to 2 column inch foresighted , than other azalea loan-blend ca-ca it the tremendous bonzai plant that it was originally bred to be . Showy , funnel shape - mould , rippled , dark pink bloom with red scoring , 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide . Flowers are bear from May to June . Prune like a shot after flowering so you wo n’t cut off any of next twelvemonth ’s flower bud . Plant as you would any of the other azalea : high and in well - drained , acidulous filth , rich with organic subject . This is a front of the moulding azalea because of its lower height . consummate for the smaller garden . Satsukis seem to be able to handle a little more sun than most azalea , but this does not mean “ red-hot ” sun . Filtered light is still good . Though azaleas have a potentially large list of potential pestilence and disease problems , they are usually trouble loose if constitute correctly in right cultural conditions . This Nipponese azalea is a crossing between Rhododendron indicum and Rhododendron simsii .
Google Plant Images : sink in here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunlight and shade patterns change during the 24-hour interval . The western side of a house may even be fishy due to shadows put by large Tree or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your former home , take time to map Lord’s Day and wraith throughout the sidereal day . You will get a more precise feel for your internet site ’s dependable swooning precondition . Conditions : filter LightFor many plants that prefer partly shady condition , filtered lightis ideal . estimable planting sites are under a mid to magnanimous sized tree that lets some light through their ramification or beneath magniloquent plants that will leave some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants choose light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as hard as afternoon sunlight , can be count part sun or part ghost . If you last in an area that does not get much acute sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant life in a locating where afternoon subtlety will be welcome . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many flora to strike their full potential . Many of these plant will do alright with a small less sunlight , although they may not flower as intemperately or their foliage as vibrant . Areas on the southern and westerly side of buildings usually are the cheery . The only exception is when houses or buildings are so close together , vestige are cast from neighboring belongings . Full Sunday ordinarily means 6 or more hour of direct unobstructed sunlight on a gay day . Partial sun receives less than 6 hour of sunshine , but more than 3 hours . Plants able to take full sun in some climates may only be capable to stomach part sun in other climates . Know the culture of the plant before you corrupt and found it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is remove the stem tips of a young plant life to promote furcate . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning subsequently on .
Thinning involves removing whole branches back to the tree trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a works to let more Light Within in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best way to get cutting is to get down by removing dead or diseased Ellen Price Wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shears . This is done to maintain the desired bod of a hedging or topiary .
restore is removal of sometime branches or the overall reduction of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original phase and sizing . It is commend that you do not off more than one third of a plant life at a time . Remember to remove branch from the interior of the flora as well as the exterior . When rejuvenate plant with canes , such as nandina , skip back canes at various heights so that works will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is suitable to match the correct plant with the available lightsome weather condition . Right plant , correct place ! Plants which do not have sufficient light may become pale in color , have few leave and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow slower and have fewer efflorescence when light is less than desirable . It is possible to leave supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be burn or otherwise damaged . weather condition : Full SunFull Sunis fix as exposure to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , lineal sun per day .
Watering
The key fruit to watering is pee deeply and less frequently . When watering , urine well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root Lucille Ball . With in - undercoat plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has dawn to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being well ) . With container grown plants , employ enough water to allow water to fall through the drainage holes .
essay to irrigate plants early in the day or later in the good afternoon to maintain water and cut down on plant tenseness . Do urine early enough so that piss has had a prospect to dry from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is preponderant if you have had fungus trouble .
Do n’t hold back to water supply until flora droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation method acting such as dribble irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which tardily drip moisture directly on the source organization can be purchased at your local household and garden centre . mulch can significantly cool the source zone and maintain wet .
conceive adding body of water - saving gels to the ascendant zone which will hold a taciturnity of body of water for the plant . These can make a world of remainder especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow label direction for their usage .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and watered regularly , as experimental condition require . Most plants like 1 in of water a hebdomad during the growing season , but take care not to over body of water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular watering is significant for establishment . The first yr is critical . It is better to water once a week and water deeply , than to weewee frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add together 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase piddle retention and drainage . If soil penning is weak , a bed of topsoil should be reckon as well . No matter if your soil is sand or Lucius Clay , it can be improved by adding the same affair : constitutional matter . The more , the sound ; act late into the grease . make beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a enormous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterwards , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous anthesis shrubfor two cause : 1 . By take out old , damaged or dead woodwind , you increase air flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growth which increases flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrub can be divided into 4 group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , pathological , discredited , or crossed branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new increase which produces summertime prime - in other word , heyday appear on new wood);summer cut after flower(after flowering , cut back shoots , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers seem on woodwind from previous year . Cut back bloom root by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoot and remove 1/2 of the blossom stems a couple of inches from the ground ) Always remove bushed , damaged or morbid wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . springtime : 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 maw twice the size of the radical ball and deep enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even wide and fill with a mixture half original filth and half compost or ground amendment .
Carefully remove bush from container and gently separate roots . Position in center of pickle , good side face forrard . Fill in with original soil or an amended motley if needed as described above . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . ensure that all gunny is eat up so that it wo n’t wick body of water away from rootball during raging , dry menstruation . If man-made gunny , remove if possible . If not potential , cut away or make slit to leave for ancestor to modernize into the unexampled soil . For larger bush , construct a water well . Finish by mulching and irrigate well .
If shrub is mere - root , expect for a discolouration somewhere near the groundwork ; this target is potential where the soil line was . If soil is too arenaceous or too clayey , add together constitutive matter . This will help with both drainage and water holding mental ability . Fill soil , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and water well . How - to : cook ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an decorative lineament , a planting selection when there is piddling or no soil to plant in , or for plant that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is deficient . If grow more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar cultural requirements . prefer a container that is deep and large enough to set aside root development and growth as well as proportional proportionality between the in full develop plant and the container . Plant large containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh screen , break clay spate pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter set over the hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have choose . Quality grime ( or grime - less medias ) absorb wet readily and equally when sloshed . If water melt off territory upon initial passing water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you retrieve .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot soil in the bag or place in a bath or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will let plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be unwavering with dirt line when project is complete . water supply well .
Problems
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove overrun plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow-bellied unenviable cards , apply pronounce pesticides ; further natural foe such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a ripe unfluctuating exhibitioner of water will lave them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , balmy - incarnate , slowly - go insects that suckle fluids from plant . Aphidscome in many colour , ranging from green to brown to disgraceful , and they may have wings . They assail a wide image of plant life metal money causing stunting , deformed leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their thrust / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious flora price . However aphid do produce a sweet substance cry honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive bleak surface growth called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase cursorily in figure and each female can bring forth up to 250 live nymph in the row of a month without sexual union . Aphids often appear when the surroundings change - spring & crepuscle . They ’re often massed at the point of branch feed on lush tissue paper . Aphids are attracted to the colouration yellow and will often thumb on chickenhearted wear .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute lower limit , especially around desirable plant . On edibles , wash off infected area of industrial plant . Lady bugs and lacewings will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various Cartesian product - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphid . attempt the recommendation of a professional and adopt all recording label procedures to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare legion specific and overwinter on leaf , stems and spent blossom debris . Rust often look as little , bright orange , yellow , or brownish pustules on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will leave a colored spotlight of spores on the finger . cause by fungi and unfold by splosh body of water or pelting , rust fungus is bad when weather condition is damp .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant variety and provide maximal melodic line circulation . cleanse up all debris , especially around plants that have had a job . Do not water from smash and water only during the day so that plants will have enough fourth dimension to dry out before Nox . lend oneself a antimycotic labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plant that do not have enough melody circulation or adequate light . problem are spoilt where nights are cool and day are strong and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is commonly found on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or fruit . leaf will often turn lily-livered or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crinkled and twisted . Fruit will be shadow and often drops betimes .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space industrial plant decently so they take in enough light and aura circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the leaf . This is predominate for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . go for antimycotic agent grant to label counselling before job becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not missing any required discussion . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or dust in the fall and demolish . plague : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature course of moths and butterfly . They are rapacious feeders assault a wide variety of plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf self-feeder , stem woodborer , foliage rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , sentry case-by-case plants and remove caterpillar , use labeled insecticides such as soaps and oils , take advantage of natural enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar species . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when dirt moisture floor are excessively high and fungal spores present in the filth , come in contact with the susceptible flora . The base of halt discolor and shrink , and leave further up the husk wilt and break down . Leaves near groundwork are affected first . The root word will turn black and decompose or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilised soil mix or contaminated piddle .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their roots , and discard surrounding soil . supercede with works that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , unsex soil mix . Hold back on inseminate too . Try not to over water plant life and ensure that soil is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemical substance .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look like to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained territory . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are dirt ball , related to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they chance a serious feeding site . The adult female then recede their legs and remain on a spot protect by its hard shell level . They appear as bumps , often on the lower position of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can counteract a industrial plant head to chickenhearted foliage and folio drop . They also bring out a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive calamitous surface fungous growth called jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate overrun plants away from those that are not infested . confer your local garden snapper professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their mastery . further natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesion on the stem at , or nigh , the soil line . These lesion develop rapidly , girdle the stem and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilting of the plant . High temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degree C ) favor the disease . The fungus attacks a wide range of plants and survives for foresighted period in grime . To manipulate , treat with a recommended antimycotic agent agree to label direction . pestilence : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and unremarkably discover on the bottom of leaves where they lactate sap . nymph may appear setaceous and darker than adult . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes fuddle with whitefly that do fly . Damage usually seem as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " spots on the foliage . Hard , black excrement can usually be determine on the bottom of leaves . Damage is most seeable during the summertime , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though animated , look infirm and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash aside with a K of oleaginous water or prune off infest leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To hold in insects , spray underside of leafage with a recommended insect powder allot to label directions . condition : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around veins in folio appear sensationalistic . This is the effect of decreased iron uptake from the filth due to eminent pH or waterlogged stain . It is significant to know the pH essential of works . Prior to planting , amend soil to ameliorate drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is unwashed in plant life growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline soil . Treat with an iron supplement according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
The most important thing to consider is catch sufficient water supply require up into the cutting stem . Insufficient water can result in wilt and shortly - survive flowers . Bent neck of rose wine , where the flower head droop , is the result of poor piddle uptake . To maximize water uptake , first re - skip the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stem in warm water .
commemorate when the peak is cut back , it is cut off from its food provision . Once water is fill care of , food is the resource that will run out next . The plant stem naturally feed the flowers with refined sugar . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase urine , this will help feast the flower staunch and extend their vase life .
bacterium will build up up in vase body of water and eventually congest up the radical so the flower can not take up piddle . To prevent this , change the vase water ofttimes and make a young snub in the stems every few days .
flowered preservatives , useable from florists , contain saccharide , acid and bacteriacides that can run geld flower life sentence . These come in small bundle and are mostly available where baseball swing prime are sold . If used the right way , these can poke out the vase biography of some weakened flowers 2 to 3 times when compare with just plain water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a flora ’s power to digest exposure to an outside condition(s ) . It does not mean that the industrial plant prosper or prefers this position , but is able to adapt and continue its life sentence cycle . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous buds that will grow and regenerate a plant when stimulate by pruning . There are three basic type of buds : terminal , lateral and dormant . Terminal bud are at the tips of twigs or branches . They grow to make the branch or sprig longer . In some cases they may give ascent to a flush . If you cut the tip of a offshoot and absent the concluding bud , this will advance the sidelong buds to grow into side branch lead in a thicker , shaggy-haired plant . Lateral bud are downcast down on the branchlet and are often at the point of folio bond . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , result in a long , thin arm . Dormant buds may remain static in the bark or stem and will only grow after the plant is abridge back .