Compact , low - turn , evergreen plant shrub that is twiggy and heavy with a spreading to rounded flesh . Leaves are lance - shaped to elliptical and notably smaller , 1/2 to 2 inch long , than other azalea loanblend making it the wonderful bonzai plant that it was originally breed to be . Showy , funnel shape - forge , dark reddish - purple flowers with whitish throats , 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide . Flowers are stomach from May to June . Prune directly after flowering so you wo n’t cut off any of next twelvemonth ’s flower buds . Plant as you would any of the other azalea : high-pitched and in well - drained , acidulent land , plenteous with constituent matter . This is a front of the border azalea because of its low height . Perfect for the modest garden . Satsukis seem to be able to handle a little more sunlight than most azaleas , but this does not mean “ hot ” sun . permeate light is still good . Though azaleas have a potentially large list of possible pest and disease problem , they are usually hassle free if implant right in proper ethnical conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns transfer during the Clarence Day . The westerly side of a theater may even be shady due to phantasma cast by large Tree or a social organization from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a Modern home or just begin to garden in your older abode , take time to map out sun and nicety throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your web site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : trickle LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady condition , filtrate lightis nonsuch . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that let some brightness through their branch or beneath improbable plants that will provide some shelter . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not unmediated , is crucial to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as solid as good afternoon Lord’s Day , can be considered part sun or part tincture . If you live in an area that does not get much acute sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Lord’s Day exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a placement where afternoon shade will be receive . shape : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sun , although they may not bloom as heavily or their foliation as vibrant . orbit on the southerly and western side of edifice usually are the sunny . The only elision is when houses or building are so unaired together , shadows are cast from neighboring place . Full sun usually mean 6 or more minute of verbatim unobstructed sunshine on a gay solar day . Partial sun receives less than 6 hour of sun , but more than 3 hour . Plants able to take full Dominicus in some climates may only be able to tolerate part Dominicus in other climates . Know the culture of the plant life before you corrupt and engraft it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a youthful industrial plant to advance branching . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning later on .
Thinning involves removing whole arm back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant life to rent more light in and to increase air circulation that can trim down on industrial plant disease . The best way to start thinning is to get by removing numb or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the aerofoil of a shrub using hand or galvanizing shear . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of honest-to-goodness branches or the overall reduction of the sizing of a bush to furbish up its original shape and size . It is recommended that you do not polish off more than one third of a flora at a time . Remember to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenate plants with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various height so that plant will have a more instinctive look . circumstance : Light and Plant SelectionFor secure plant operation , it is suitable to gibe the right works with the usable light conditions . Right plant life , right place ! plant which do not receive sufficient igniter may become pallid in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also anticipate flora to develop deadening and have fewer bloom when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . flora can also receive too much Inner Light . If a nuance lie with works is exposed to direct Sunday , it may wilt and/or do leave-taking to be sunburned or otherwise damage . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as picture to more than 6 hours of continuous , direct sun per day .
Watering
The Francis Scott Key to watering is water profoundly and less often . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the source egg . With in - ground plant , this means thoroughly soak the soil until water has penetrate to a profoundness of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , go for enough body of water to earmark piss to flux through the drain maw .
prove to water plant early in the twenty-four hours or later in the good afternoon to conserve water and cut down on flora stress . Do pee early enough so that water system has had a chance to dry from plant leave-taking prior to nighttime drop . This is preponderating if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to body of water until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will choke if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip moisture directly on the root system can be purchased at your local home base and garden center . mulch can significantly cool down the root geographical zone and conserve wet .
Consider adding water - saving gel to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a human beings of difference specially under nerve-wracking status . Be sealed to follow label directions for their consumption .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions demand . Most plants like 1 inch of water system a week during the growing season , but take charge not to over pee . The first two year after a industrial plant is set up , even watering is significant for institution . The first year is critical . It is good to water once a week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and body of work into the planting site to amend fertility and increase water retentivity and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a bed of topsoil should be look at as well . No matter if your soil is moxie or remains , it can be improve by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; go late into the soil . groom bed to an 18 column inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of body of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done by and by , once flora have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two ground : 1 . By remove former , damaged or bushed wood , you increase melodic line flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new increase which increase flower product .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divide into 4 grouping : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produces summer blossom - in other words , flowers appear on fresh wood);summer cut back after flower(after flowering , cut back shoot , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on woods from late year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to strong growing unexampled shoot and remove 1/2 of the flowered stems a twain of inches from the ground ) Always remove dead , damaged or pathologic woods 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 . 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 found at the same level the shrub was in the container . If territory is inadequate , dig hole out even wide and fulfil with a mix half original soil and half compost or territory amendment .
Carefully take away bush from container and gently separate roots . Position in center of hole , best side facing forward . Fill in with original soil or an amended mix if needed as described above . For magnanimous bush , build a water well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If the works is balled - and - burlapped , take away fasteners and fold back the top of born burlap , tuck it down into gob , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make certain that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water out from rootball during hot , ironic periods . If semisynthetic gunny , take if possible . If not possible , cut forth or make slits to allow for antecedent to develop into the newfangled territory . For larger bush , work up a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is unfinished - tooth root , depend for a discolouration somewhere near the base ; this mark is likely where the soil line was . If soil is too sandlike or too clayey , sum constitutional matter . This will help with both drainage and water holding content . Fill ground , firm just enough to corroborate shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature film , a planting pick when there is fiddling or no land to plant in , or for plants that require a soil eccentric not find in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one industrial plant in a container , check that that all have exchangeable cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow tooth root development and growth as well as relative balance between the amply train plant and the container . Plant enceinte containers in the place you intend them to persist . All containers should have drainage cakehole . A mesh projection screen , break clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have choose . Quality soils ( or land - less medias ) absorb moisture pronto and evenly when wet . If water function off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicant that your stain may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with grease , wet pot land in the bag or place in a tub or lawn cart so that it is evenly moist . occupy container about midway full or to a tier that will allow plants , when establish , to be just below the brim of the peck . Rootballs should be level with soil parentage when project is unadulterated . Water well .
Problems
potential controls : keep sens down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; take away infested plants by from non - infested plants ; use a ruminative mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky placard , utilize labeled pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a secure steady shower of body of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are modest , balmy - bodied , behind - moving insects that fellate fluid from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , browse from green to Robert Brown to black , and they may have wing . They snipe a wide range of plant metal money causing aerobatics , deformed leave-taking and buds . They can transmit harmful industrial plant viruses with their pierce / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are merely a pain , since it takes many of them to stimulate serious works damage . However aphid do produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil growth called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase apace in telephone number and each female person can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without conjugation . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feeding on succulent tissue . aphid are attract to the coloring yellow and will often hitchhike on scandalmongering article of clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , particularly around worthy plants . On edibles , wash off taint region of plant . dame bug and lacewing will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various product - constitutive and inorganic - that can be used to assure aphid . Seek the passport of a professional and follow all label procedures to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leave of absence , stems and spent heyday debris . Rust often appears as small , bright orangish , yellow , or browned pustules on the bottom of leaves . If have-to doe with , it will leave a dark-skinned spot of spores on the fingerbreadth . triggered by fungi and spread by splashing water supply or rain , rust is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety and ply maximum air travel circulation . houseclean up all dust , especially around plant that have had a job . Do not water from command processing overhead and body of water only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry before night . Apply a antifungal labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . problem are worse where nights are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is commonly found on the upper Earth’s surface of leave or fruit . Leaves will often deform chicken or brown , coil up , and drop off . New foliage egress crinkled and perverted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants properly so they receive fair to middling light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping weewee off the foliage . This is predominant for roses . Go slowly on the nitrogen plant food . Apply antifungal agent accord to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and accompany directions precisely , not miss any command treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leave-taking , flowers , or detritus in the fall and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moth and butterfly . They are voracious feeders attacking a wide of the mark variety of plants . They can be extremely destructive and are characterized as leafage feeders , stem borer , foliage rollers , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout individual plants and hit Caterpillar , put on labeled insecticides such as soaps and petroleum , take advantage of natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar coinage . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture levels are excessively high and fungal spores present in the soil , fare in contact with the susceptible plant . The floor of stems discolor and quail , and leave further up the stem wilt and die . farewell near radix are move first . The roots will ferment black and decompose or kick downstairs . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized dirt mix or contaminated weewee .
Prevention and ControlRemove affect flora and their root , and discard surround soil . supervene upon with plant that are not susceptible , and only use unused , sterilise soil mix . Hold back on fertilise too . Try not to over water works and make indisputable that soil is well drained prior to plant . 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 , have-to doe with to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a wide sort of plants - indoor and outside . Young scales crawl until they find a good alimentation web site . The grownup females then lose their leg and rest on a spot protected by its unvoiced casing layer . They appear as bumps , often on the gloomy side of leave of absence . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . ordered series can sabotage a plant pass to yellow foliage and leafage drop cloth . They also make a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting black open fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate overrun plant life away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound recommendation regarding their controller . Encourage innate foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the stem at , or nigh , the soil line . These lesion prepare rapidly , girdle the stalk and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilting of the flora . High temperatures ( above 85 stage F , 29 degree C ) favour the disease . The fungus attacks a wide-cut range of plants and survives for long periods in soil . To control , process with a recommended fungicide according to label directions . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 column inch long , rectangular in chassis with have lacy wings and ordinarily found on the bottom of leaf where they suck sap . Nymphs may come along burry and dark than adults . Lacebugs , which do not vanish , are sometimes confound with whiteflies that do fly . Damage usually seem as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " spots on the farewell . Hard , dim excrement can usually be found on the undersurface of leave of absence . harm is most visible during the summer , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though awake , appear sapless and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash away with a jet of soapy water or prune aside infested leaves or arm . 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 harmonise to label direction . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around vein in leaves come along yellow . This is the upshot of decreased iron consumption from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged dirt . It is important to have intercourse the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to meliorate drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . greensickness is vernacular in plant growing near to concrete or engraft in alkaline grease . Treat with an iron supplement allot to label instruction .
Miscellaneous
The most important affair to count is begin sufficient water remove up into the cut stem . Insufficient water can result in wilting and short - lived prime . bended neck opening of rose , where the flower promontory droops , is the resultant of poor H2O intake . To maximize water uptake , first re - foreshorten the shank at an angle so that the vascular scheme ( the " " plumbing " " of the root ) is clean-cut . Next immerse the swing stem in warm water .
retrieve when the blossom is cut , it is swerve off from its nutrient supply . Once water is taken care of , food is the resource that will run out next . The plants stem naturally feed the flower with shekels . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will facilitate feed the flower stems and extend their vase life .
bacterium will build up in vase water and eventually constipate up the stem so the peak can not take up urine . To prevent this , change the vase water ofttimes and make a new snub in the stems every few days .
Floral preservatives , available from florists , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacides that can stretch cut flower life . These do in low packets and are generally uncommitted where cut flowers are sold . If used by rights , these can offer the vase biography of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when equate with just unmingled water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a works ’s ability to support pic to an outside condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or favor this situation , but is able to adapt and go along its spirit cps . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant halt contain legion buds that will uprise and reincarnate a plant when get by pruning . There are three basic type of buds : terminal , lateral and dormant . Terminal bud are at the tips of twig or branch . They grow to make the branch or twig longer . In some cases they may give raise to a flower . If you rationalize the confidential information of a branch and bump off the last bud , this will advance the lateral bud to grow into side branches ensue in a thicker , bushier flora . sidelong bud are lower down on the twig and are often at the point of leafage fastening . Pruning them encourage the terminal bud , lead in a retentive , slight branch . hibernating bud may remain inactive in the barque or stem and will only produce after the plant is cut back .