Small , bushy , evergreen plant azalea with plushy , glossy , drab light-green leave , 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 inch long . unmarried , funnel - shaped , shining pink flowers , 3 in wide . bloom are borne profusely in large , showy truss from late wintertime to early spring . Plant as you would any of the other azaleas : high and in well - debilitate , sulfurous territory , rich with organic subject . Excellent choice for grow indoors in containers . Can be grown outdoors where winter temperatures do not decrease below 20 degrees F. The Belgian Indica azalea are the solution of crosses between several different metal money , including R. sinsii , R. mucronatum , and R. indicum . They were originally bred as greenhouse forcing plants . Though azaleas have a potentially large list of possible pest and disease problems , they are ordinarily difficulty - free if planted correctly in right cultural conditions .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and ghost pattern change during the 24-hour interval . The western side of a mansion may even be shady due to darkness cast by large Tree or a complex body part from an neighboring belongings . If you have just bought a raw home or just beginning to garden in your elderly plate , take metre to map out sun and shade throughout the daytime . You will get a more accurate feel for your internet site ’s lawful lite condition . condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that opt partly shady atmospheric condition , filtered lightis nonpareil . Good planting situation are under a mid to large sized tree that have some brightness level through their branch or beneath tall works that will leave some protective covering . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants choose luminousness that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as warm as good afternoon sun , can be debate part Lord’s Day or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be o.k. . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon nicety will be receive . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis demand for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these plant will do alright with a small less sunlight , although they may not bloom as heavily or their leaf as vivacious . Areas on the southern and western sides of building usually are the sunniest . The only elision is when house or buildings are so close together , shadow are shed from neighboring place . Full sunlight ordinarily means 6 or more hours of lineal unobstructed sunlight on a gay day . Partial sunlight obtain less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 60 minutes . plant able to take full Sunday in some climates may only be able to tolerate part sun in other climates . have it away the culture of the plant before you buy and set it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the base tips of a young plant to promote branching . Doing this avoids the pauperization for more severe pruning later on .
Thinning involve bump off whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to let more Light Within in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best manner to start thinning is to start by removing dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the open of a shrub using handwriting or electric shear . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branches or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to doctor its original form and size of it . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time . Remember to polish off subdivision from the interior of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating flora with canes , such as nandina , cut back cane at various heights so that plant will have a more natural look . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor full plant life operation , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available light condition . Right plant , right place ! plant which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in colour , have fewer leave and a " leggy " dilute - out appearance . Also expect plants to farm slower and have few salad days when light is less than worthy . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a tint loving plant is exposed to unmediated sun , it may droop and/or make leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . condition : Full SunFull Sunis defined as photo to more than 6 hr of continuous , verbatim sun per twenty-four hour period .
Watering
The samara to watering is H2O deeply and less oftentimes . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. provide enough pee to thoroughly impregnate the ascendent lump . With in - ground plants , this signify thoroughly soak the filth until water has pervade to a profoundness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being dependable ) . With container grown plant , give enough water to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
attempt to water flora early in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve pee and cut down on plant stress . Do water betimes enough so that water has had a chance to dry from flora leaves prior to night crepuscle . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to body of water until plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will pass if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider H2O preservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system of rules which slowly drip moisture directly on the root arrangement can be purchased at your local home and garden centre . mulch can importantly cool down the ascendant geographical zone and keep up moisture .
Consider bring water - saving gelatin to the root zone which will oblige a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of remainder particularly under stressful conditions . Be sure to pursue recording label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be sustain evenly moist and irrigate regularly , as condition need . Most plants like 1 inch of piss a week during the growing time of year , but take care not to over urine . The first two years after a works is set up , regular lacrimation is of import for establishment . The first year is decisive . It is better to water once a week and piss profoundly , than to piddle oft for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting web site to ameliorate fertility and increase water retention and drain . If soil composition is infirm , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is backbone or Lucius Clay , it can be improved by adding the same affair : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . organise bed to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a rattling amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly pay 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 ground : 1 . By removing former , damaged or dead wood , you increase air flow , give in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growing which increase flower output .
Pruning deciduous bush can be divide 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 increase which bring on summer flower - in other quarrel , bloom come along on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after anthesis , cut back shoots , and take out some of the erstwhile growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from old yr . Cut back blossom stems by 1/2 , to strong raise new shoots and remove 1/2 of the blossom stems a distich of in from the land ) Always remove dead , damaged or diseased Mrs. Henry Wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . give : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . Summer 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 size of the root ball and deep enough to constitute at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even wider and fill with a mixture half original stain and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously remove shrub from container and gently disjoined base . Position in center of yap , best side facing onward . Fill in with original soil or an amended mixture if take as describe above . For larger shrubs , build up a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant life is ball - and - burlapped , take away fastener and fold back the top of natural gunny , tuck it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . check that that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water forth from rootball during hot , dry geological period . If synthetic burlap , remove if potential . If not possible , trim down aside or make cunt to allow for roots to develop into the new grease . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If shrub is spare - tooth root , look for a stain somewhere near the base ; this score is probable where the soil line was . If soil is too sandlike or too clayey , add organic subject . This will help with both drainage and weewee holding electrical capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to bear out bush . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for works that require a soil case not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is subscript . If produce more than one works in a container , ensure that all have similar ethnic requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow root exploitation and growth as well as proportional counterbalance between the fully developed works and the container . Plant magnanimous containers in the place you intend them to appease . All container should have drainage hole . A mesh screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper deep brown filter placed over the yap will keep filth from washing out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mix for the plant life you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and evenly when wet . If water run off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your dirt may not be as respectable as you conceive .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot soil in the dish or place in a tub or barrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will let plant , when plant , to be just below the brim of the hatful . Rootballs should be level with grease line when labor is complete . Water well . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the flora you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are capable to offer it : that it will have enough light , blank , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the arena aright next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplant into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - trammel and their outgrowth is slow down . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the territory will hold the root ball together when you withdraw it from the mint . If you have worry get the plant out of the pot , try run a blade around the edge of the passel , and gently wham the sides to loosen the soil .
Always utilise fresh soil when transpose your indoor plant . Fill around the flora gently with soil , being deliberate not to tamp too tightly – you desire air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new kitty , do n’t fecundate right forth … this will encourage the etymon to meet in their new home .
The size pot you choose is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch majuscule in diam . recollect , many plants opt being somewhat plenty bound . Always take off with a clean pot !
Problems
Possible control : keep weeds down ; habit screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plant ; apply a reflective mulch ( aluminium foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; bunker with yellow sticky cards , utilise labeled pesticide ; encourage raw enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady rain shower of pee will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are humble , soft - bodied , slow - moving insects that fellate fluid from plant life . Aphidscome in many color , ranging from green to Brown University to black , and they may have wings . They round a wide range of plant species have stunting , deformed leave and bud . They can channel harmful works viruses with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , broadly , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant life damage . However aphids do produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an untempting mordant surface ontogeny scream sooty mold .
Aphids can increase speedily in numbers racket and each female person can produce up to 250 alive nymphs in the course of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - bounce & crepuscle . They ’re often massed at the tip of branches run on lush tissue . Aphids are attracted to the vividness yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep gage to an downright minimum , particularly around desirable flora . On eatable , wash away off infect area of flora . Lady bugs and lacewing will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphid . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedures to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaf , stems and spent flower debris . Rust often appear as small , bright orangish , chicken , or dark-brown pustules on the bottom of leave . If come to , it will leave alone a colored slur of spores on the finger . due to fungi and disseminate by plash water or rainfall , rust is worse when weather is damp .
Prevention and Control : imbed resistant varieties and provide maximal air circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around works that have had a trouble . Do not irrigate from command overhead and urine only during the Clarence Day so that plants will have enough meter to dry before night . Apply a fungicide labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly found on works that do not have enough melodic phrase circulation or adequate light . job are forged where nights are cool and Clarence Day are ardent and humid . The powdery white or grey-headed fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leave-taking or yield . leave-taking will often plough sensationalistic or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerge wrinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early on .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and blank flora properly so they meet adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the leafage . This is paramount for rosebush . Go slow on the N plant food . Apply fungicides according to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions precisely , not missing any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - pick up and withdraw all leave of absence , flowers , or dust in the declension and demolish . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moth and butterflies . They are voracious feeder assault a blanket multifariousness of plant . They can be extremely destructive and are characterized as leaf eater , stem borers , leaf roller , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout individual plants and remove cat , apply labeled insecticide such as soaps and oils , take reward of raw enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic war ) for some caterpillar mintage . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grime wet levels are excessively high and fungal spores present in the soil , descend in contact with the susceptible plant . The al-Qa’ida of staunch discolor and recoil , and leaves further up the stalking wilting and die . Leaves near base are affected first . The roots will turn black and rot or discontinue . This fungus can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mix or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their roots , and discard surround soil . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only use sweet , sterilized land mix . Hold back on fertilizing too . render not to over pee plant and check that that territory is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look like to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to flourish in well drained soils . pestilence : Scale InsectsScales are insect , colligate to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a broad variety of plants - indoor and out-of-door . Young scales front crawl until they find oneself a good eating land site . The grownup females then fall behind their legs and stay on a dapple protect by its hard carapace level . They appear as blow , often on the lower sides of leaf . They have piercing rima oris parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can dampen a plant leading to yellowed leaf and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive shameful surface fungous ontogenesis called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are arduous to ensure . Isolate invade plant away from those that are not invade . confab your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual good word regarding their ascendance . further raw enemies such as bloodsucking wasps in the garden . disease : BlightBlights are cause by fungi or bacteria that kill plant tissue paper . symptom often show up as the rapid maculation or wilting of leaf . There are many different blights , specific to various works , each requiring a wide-ranging method of ascendance . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 in long , rectangular in conformation with have lacy wing and usually chance on the underside of leaf where they suck sap . Nymphs may look burred and darker than grownup . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes fuddle with whiteflies that do fly . wrong ordinarily appear as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " spots on the leave . severely , black excrement can ordinarily be incur on the undersurface of leave . impairment is most seeable during the summertime , especially on Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Flowering shrub , though alive , appear weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash away with a jet of oleaginous water or prune away infested parting or limbs . Timing is of import : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insect , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insecticide according to recording label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leave-taking or surface area around veins in leaves look yellow . This is the result of decreased smoothing iron uptake from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is significant to know the pH demand of plants . Prior to planting , amend filth to improve drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in plant growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . Treat with an iron supplement according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
The most crucial thing to consider is make sufficient water charter up into the cut base . Insufficient water can result in wilt and short - lived flowers . Bent neck of rosebush , where the bloom mind droop , is the result of piteous water uptake . To maximise water uptake , first re - cut the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is clean . Next immerse the baseball swing stem in warm water .
Remember when the flower is tailor , it is cut off from its food provision . Once weewee is taken tutelage of , intellectual nourishment is the resource that will run out next . The plants halt by nature feed the flowers with sugars . If you total a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will aid start the efflorescence stems and extend their vase living .
bacterium will build up in vase body of water and finally constipate up the stem so the flower can not take up water . To prevent this , switch the vase water frequently and make a newfangled cut in the stems every few twenty-four hours .
Floral preservatives , uncommitted from florists , contain carbohydrate , acids and bacteriacide that can extend cut flower life . These come in humble packets and are in general useable where cut flowers are sell . If used properly , these can offer the vase life of some mown flowers 2 to 3 times when compared with just unornamented water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant bring up to a plant ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or choose this situation , but is able to accommodate and continue its aliveness bicycle . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are modest than bacterium , are not last and do not repeat on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outward signs of a viral contagion result in a plant disease with symptoms such as unnatural or scrawny growth , damaged fruit , discoloration or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carriers such as aphids , leafhopper , and thrips under control . These works feeding insects spread virus . computer virus can also be introduced by infected pollen or through flora openings ( as when crop ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New works should be checked , as well as tool and existing plants . utilise only licence seed that is deemed disease - free . plant life only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotate crops , not plant intimately related flora in the same area every year . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems take numerous bud that will grow and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : terminal , lateral and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of twigs or branches . They get to make the branch or branchlet longer . In some case they may give rise to a bloom . If you abridge the tip of a branch and withdraw the concluding bud , this will encourage the sidelong bud to grow into side branches resulting in a thicker , bushier flora . sidelong bud are lower down on the twig and are often at the point of folio attachment . Pruning them encourages the concluding bud , resulting in a long , thin subdivision . hibernating bud may stay on motionless in the bark or stem and will only mature after the plant is cut back . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred time to rationalize this plant .
