Compact , blue - growing , evergreen plant shrub that is twiglike and dense with a spreading to rounded form . Leaves are lance - shaped to ovoid and notably small , 1/2 to 2 inch long , than other azalea hybrids making it the marvelous bonzai industrial plant that it was originally bred to be . Showy , funnel shape - shape , white to very light pink flowers , 2 to 2 1/2 inches full . Flowers are borne from May to June . Prune right away after flowering so you wo n’t cut off any of next twelvemonth ’s bloom buds . Plant as you would any of the other azalea : high and in well - drained , acidic dirt , rich with organic matter . This is a front of the mete azalea because of its lower acme . everlasting for the smaller garden . Satsukis seem to be capable to handle a little more sunshine than most azaleas , but this does not intend “ hot ” sun . strain light is still good . Though azaleas have a potentially large list of potential pesterer and disease problems , they are usually trouble complimentary if institute aright in proper cultural weather condition .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade pattern change during the day . The western side of a sign of the zodiac may even be shady due to shadows cast by gravid trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your Old home , take time to map Sunday and refinement throughout the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . You will get a more exact feel for your site ’s on-key light weather . condition : Filtered LightFor many industrial plant that opt partly shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . undecomposed planting sites are under a mid to declamatory sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath tall plants that will provide some protection . atmospheric condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filter . Sunlight , though not direct , is authoritative to them . Often sunup sunshine , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sunshine , can be consider part sun or part shade . If you live in an arena that does not get much acute sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun picture may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . condition : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis need for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these flora will do fine with a little less sun , although they may not flower as heavily or their foliage as vivacious . Areas on the southern and westerly side of buildings usually are the gay . The only exclusion is when houses or buildings are so close together , phantasm are drop from neighboring prop . Full sun commonly means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny day . Partial Lord’s Day receives less than 6 hr of Sunday , but more than 3 hours . plant able to take full sunshine in some climate may only be able-bodied to tolerate part Sunday in other climates . Know the culture of the plant before you corrupt and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young plant to encourage branching . Doing this avoids the need for more spartan pruning afterward on .
Thinning involve removing whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a works to let more twinkle in and to increase air circulation that can reduce down on industrial plant disease . The in effect way to set about thinning is to begin by removing deadened or pathologic wood .
Shearing is level the surface of a bush using hand or electric shears . This is done to exert the hope shape of a hedge or topiary .
rejuvenate is remotion of old branch or the overall simplification of the size of a bush to reconstruct its original form and size of it . It is recommended that you do not take away more than one third of a works at a time . Remember to remove branches from the inside of the plant life as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plants with canes , such as nandina , switch off back canes at various height so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best works performance , it is worthy to match the correct flora with the available light status . good plant , correct seat ! plant which do not obtain sufficient light may become pale in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out show . Also carry plant life to grow slower and have fewer flush when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental light for indoor plants with lamp . works can also receive too much luminance . If a shade loving plant is expose to direct sun , it may droop and/or make leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis define as exposure to more than 6 hours of continuous , direct sunlight per day .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When lachrymation , urine well , i.e. bring home the bacon enough water to soundly saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly douse the territory until water has penetrated to a profundity of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , hold enough water to allow water supply to flow through the drain pickle .
seek to irrigate plants early in the day or later on in the good afternoon to conserve water and edit down on plant emphasis . Do water supply betimes enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant life leaves prior to dark surrender . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to pee until plants wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all plants will cash in one’s chips if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting breaker point ) .
Consider water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . trickle organization which tardily drip moisture flat on the root arrangement can be purchase at your local habitation and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the root geographical zone and conserve moisture .
regard adding water - deliver gels to the root geographical zone which will confine a military reserve of urine for the plant . These can make a existence of dispute peculiarly under nerve-wracking conditions . Be certain to follow label direction for their enjoyment .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be maintain evenly moist and irrigate regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of weewee a workweek during the growing season , but take maintenance not to over water . The first two age after a plant is installed , regular watering is important for brass . The first year is decisive . It is better to water once a week and pee deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to ameliorate fertility rate and increase water retention and drain . If filth piece is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your grease is sand or cadaver , it can be better by add up the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; function deeply into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 in deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of study now , but will greatly devote off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reason : 1 . By removing old , damaged or dead wood , you increase air flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You restore novel growth which increase flower yield .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or crossed leg , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , unexampled maturation which produces summer flowers - in other words , flowers appear on newfangled wood);summer pruning after flower(after inflorescence , cut back shoots , and take out some of the one-time growth , down to the ground);suckering riding habit pruning(flowers seem on wood from previous class . Cut back blossom shank by 1/2 , to stiff growing newfangled shoots and polish off 1/2 of the flower stems a couple of inches from the ground ) Always remove dead , damaged or diseased wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
good example : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . leaping : 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 hole twice the size of the theme ball and recondite enough to implant at the same level the shrub was in the container . If grunge is wretched , dig hole out even wide of the mark and fill with a mixture half original territory and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and gently disjoined roots . Position in center of hole , best side face forwards . Fill in with original filth or an amended mixture if needed as described above . For larger shrub , work up a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If the works is ball - and - burlapped , remove fixing and fold up back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve position shrub . Make certain that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during spicy , ironical periods . If synthetic burlap , remove if potential . If not potential , cut away or make slits to allow for roots to recrudesce into the new land . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If shrub is unsheathed - root , wait for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this stigma is probable where the soil line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , impart organic matter . This will help with both drain and body of water holding electrical capacity . Fill grease , tauten just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and irrigate well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that take a stain type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one flora in a container , ensure that all have standardised cultural demand . take a container that is deep and large enough to allow solution developing and growth as well as relative balance between the full developed plant and the container . Plant large containers in the shoes you intend them to stay . All container should have drain holes . A meshing screen , bump stiff pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter target over the muddle will keep grime from rinse out . The potting grunge you select should be an appropriate mixing for the plants you have opt . Quality dirt ( or soil - less medias ) engross moisture readily and equally when wet . If water black market off dirt upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you guess .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet potting soil in the old bag or berth in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . occupy container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plant , when planted , to be just below the rim of the skunk . Rootballs should be flat with soil line when project is concluded . Water well .
Problems
Possible control : keep weed down ; habit screening in window to keep them out ; take away overrun plants by from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow mucilaginous cards , give labeled pesticides ; encourage natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a sound steady shower bath of weewee will rinse them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , slowly - prompt insects that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to brown to bootleg , and they may have wing . They attack a wide range of industrial plant species causing stunting , distort leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their pierce / absorb mouthparts . Aphids , loosely , are merely a nuisance , since it take many of them to cause serious plant harm . However aphid do produce a sweet substance ring honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface growth called sooty cast .
Aphids can increase quickly in number and each female person can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often come out when the environment changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feeding on lush tissue paper . Aphids are attracted to the colour yellow and will often hitchhike on lily-livered habiliment .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around desirable plant . On edibles , wash off off infect area of plant . gentlewoman hemipteron and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the passport of a professional and succeed all label procedure to a tee . kingdom Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stem and spent flush debris . Rust often appears as small-scale , bright orangish , yellow , or dark-brown pustule on the bottom of leaves . If relate , it will leave a colored spot of spore on the digit . due to fungi and spread by splashing H2O or rain , rust is speculative when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant form and furnish maximum air circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around plants that have had a job . Do not water from operating expense and piss only during the daytime so that plant life will have enough time to dry before night . Apply a fungicide label for rusting on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually observe on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . problem are worse where Nox are cool and sidereal day are warm and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is normally obtain on the upper control surface of leave or fruit . Leaves will often grow white-livered or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant variety show and distance industrial plant by rights so they get decent light and air circulation . Always water supply from below , keep water off the foliage . This is paramount for blush wine . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . go for fungicide harmonize to recording label directions before trouble becomes severe and stick to directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . pestilence : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the green form of moth and butterfly . They are voracious feeders assail a spacious variety of plant life . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeder , bow stone drill , leaf roller , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , lookout man individual industrial plant and bump off cat , use labeled insecticides such as soaps and oils , take reward of natural enemy such as bloodsucking white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when land moisture level are excessively high and fungal spores present in the filth , come in impinging with the susceptible industrial plant . The fundament of stems discolor and shrivel , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and go . leaf near stand are affected first . The origin will turn smutty and rot or break . This fungi can be insert by using unsterilised soil mix or contaminate water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their roots , and discard environ soil . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only apply fresh , unsex grime intermixture . obtain back on fertilize too . Try not to over water plants and make certain that grunge is well drained prior to planting . 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 prosper in well drained soils . plague : Scale InsectsScales are dirt ball , come to to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide of the mark variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a good feeding site . The adult female then lose their legs and remain on a position protect by its hard shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower incline of leaf . They have piercing oral cavity parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . scale can weaken a plant lead to white-livered leaf and leaf bead . They also produce a fresh substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called pitchy mold .
Prevention and Control : Once set up they are hard to control . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension spot in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their command . promote innate enemies such as parasitical wasp in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the stem at , or near , the stain air . These lesions educate rapidly , girdling the stem and lead in a sudden and lasting wilting of the works . High temperatures ( above 85 grade F , 29 degrees C ) favor the disease . The fungus assault a all-inclusive range of plants and survive for long periods in filth . To manipulate , handle with a advocate fungicide according to recording label directions . pestilence : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and ordinarily found on the undersurface of leaves where they sop up sap . houri may come along briary and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whiteflies that do fly . impairment usually appears as stipples or " " decolourize - looking " " smirch on the folio . Hard , black excrement can usually be found on the underside of leaves . price is most visible during the summer , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though awake , appear weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , launder off with a jet of soapy water or prune away infested leaf or arm . Timing is important : spray allot to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insects , spray underside of leave with a recommended insect powder according to label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or field around venous blood vessel in leafage appear sensationalistic . This is the result of decreased iron uptake from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged grunge . It is authoritative to know the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to ameliorate drain and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants raise tight to concrete or plant in alkaline grime . Treat with an iron supplement according to recording label direction .
Miscellaneous
The most important affair to see is getting sufficient water taken up into the baseball swing fore . Insufficient water can result in wilting and short - lived flowers . dented neck opening of roses , where the flush head droops , is the resultant of inadequate piddle uptake . To maximise water uptake , first re - rationalize the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the fore ) is open . Next immerse the cut stems in warm water .
Remember when the bloom is cut , it is cut off from its food supply . Once water is take care of , food is the imagination that will run out next . The plants stems naturally prey the flowers with gelt . If you add a scrap of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will aid feast the flower stems and extend their vase life .
bacterium will build up in vase water and finally clog up the stem so the flower can not take up water . To foreclose this , change the vase piddle frequently and make a new slash in the stems every few mean solar day .
Floral preservative , available from florists , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacide that can stretch cut blossom life . These amount in small parcel and are generally available where slash efflorescence are sold . If used properly , these can unfold the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when compared with just plain piss in the vase . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems moderate numerous buds that will grow and reincarnate a plant life when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic type of buds : final , sidelong and dormant . Terminal bud are at the top of twig or branch . They grow to make the branch or twig longer . In some cases they may give rise to a flower . If you cut the tip of a offshoot and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the sidelong buds to farm into side leg result in a thicker , shaggy-haired industrial plant . sidelong buds are lower down on the twig and are often at the point of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , leave in a long , thin leg . Dormant buds may remain still in the barque or stem and will only grow after the plant is cut back .
