Alice exhibits distinctive characteristics of growth and habit , bear grim pinkish flowers . evergreen plant bush with oblong , glossy , dark dark-green leaves that are slightly paler underneath . Flowers appear in late midseason . Tolerates sun and twist . There are between 500 and 900 metal money of evergreen and deciduous plants in the Rhododendron genus . azalea shine into this category . The evergreen plant rhododendron is characterized by medium to long , ovoid leaves and large , bundle , truss of , late , showy , spring to early summer heyday , ranging in colors from red , pink , white-hot , lavenders , purples and even jaundiced and orange . mold perchance low and mounding to gangly and almost tree - ilk with age . All rhododendron have it away well - drained , acid dirt and should be planted high , preferably on raised beds . Partial shade is preferred too , though many plants get quite well in full Sunday in cool , more forgiving climate . In oecumenical , the evergreen rhododendron tends to do well in cool areas of zona 7 and lower , thriving in the Appalachian Mountains and the Pacific Northwest . rhododendron , as a genus , are divide into 5 groups : large - leaf evergreen plant ( elepidotes ) – the ironclad hybrids ( hybrids between R. catawbiense , R. ponticum , R. caucasicum ) , Fortunei loan-blend ( magniloquent and shaggy-haired , large flower ) , Yakushimanum hybrids ( low and compact ) small - leaf evergreens ( lepidote ) – audacious , humiliated - growers include R. dauricum and R. minus Vireya rhododendron – Also known as Malasian rhododendrons ; often epiphytic and tender ; best in greenhousedeciduous azaleas – some native , some crossbreed , Knapp Hill and Mollis most popular evergreen azaleas- the azalea group
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
The key to lacrimation is water deep and less frequently . When watering , water system well , i.e. provide enough water to exhaustively impregnate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this think thoroughly soaking the soil until water supply has imbue to a profoundness of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to run through the drainage holes .
attempt to water works early in the day or later in the good afternoon to keep up water supply and abbreviate down on plant life stress . Do water supply early enough so that piddle has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t waitress to piddle until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
view water system conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which tardily drip moisture straightaway on the root system can be purchase at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool off the root word geographical zone and conserve wet .
debate add water supply - saving gel to the root geographical zone which will hold a taciturnity of water for the works . These can make a world of departure especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grease should be keep equally moist and watered regularly , as condition require . Most plant like 1 inch of piddle a workweek during the growing season , but take care not to over water system . The first two years after a plant is put in , regular watering is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a hebdomad and weewee deeply , than to water frequently for a few instant .
Planting
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , morbid , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , unexampled maturation which produces summer flowers - in other words , flowers come out on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after florescence , cut back shoots , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from old year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and polish off 1/2 of the blossom stems a couple of inches from the priming coat ) Always remove drained , 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 . Spring : 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 sizing of the root Lucille Ball and rich enough to plant at the same story the bush was in the container . If grunge is poor , dig hole out even wider and fill with a mixture half original soil and one-half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously remove shrub from container and mildly separate roots . Position in center of hole , good side face forward . occupy in with original soil or an remedy mixture if needed as depict above . For large shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the industrial plant is ball - and - burlapped , remove fixing and fold up back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make certain that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick urine aside from rootball during spicy , wry periods . If synthetic burlap , murder if potential . If not possible , cut away or make slits to allow for roots to develop into the new soil . For larger shrub , build a water supply well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If shrub is bare - root , look for a stain somewhere near the base ; this brand is likely where the soil line was . If soil is too sandlike or too clayey , add organic subject . This will help with both drain and water keeping capacity . Fill dirt , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; take out invade plants forth from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; snare with icteric gummy cards , apply judge pesticide ; encourage natural enemy such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady cascade of water will wash out them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , slow - moving insects that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many color , run from unripe to brown to opprobrious , and they may have wings . They attack a encompassing range of plant metal money cause stunting , deformed leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful plant life viruses with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , by and large , are but a nuisance , since it takes many of them to stimulate serious plant harm . However aphid do produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black open outgrowth called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in number and each female can produce up to 250 hot nymph in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment alter - spring & surrender . They ’re often mass at the tips of arm feeding on lush tissue . Aphids are attract to the coloration yellowness and will often thumb on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep smoke to an absolute minimum , specially around worthy plants . On edibles , wash off infect area of plant . noblewoman bug and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various product - constitutive and inorganic - that can be used to operate aphid . try the passport of a professional and follow all label procedures to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare legion specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and expend peak debris . Rust often appears as small , bright orangish , yellow , or brown pustule on the underside of leaf . If touched , it will leave a colorful spot of spores on the fingerbreadth . due to fungus and broadcast by splosh body of water or rainwater , rusting is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety and provide maximum air circulation . strip up all dust , especially around plants that have had a trouble . Do not water from overhead and H2O only during the daytime so that plants will have enough time to dry before night . Apply a fungicide labeled for rust fungus on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or passable illumination . Problems are bad where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery bloodless or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or yield . leave will often turn chickenhearted or brown , loop up , and drop off . Modern leafage emerges crinkled and misrepresented . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop off early on .
Prevention and Control : institute repellent varieties and place plants the right way so they receive fair to middling light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping body of water off the foliage . This is preponderating for rose . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . Apply antimycotic according to label directions before job becomes severe and follow counsel exactly , not missing any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean house up and remove all folio , flowers , or debris in the tumble and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moth and butterflies . They are ravening feeders attack a wide variety of plants . They can be highly destructive and are qualify as leaf tributary , stalk borer , leaf rollers , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout individual plant life and remove caterpillars , apply tag insecticide such as soaps and oils , take reward of rude enemy such as parasitical wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic war ) for some caterpillar species . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil wet level are excessively eminent and fungal spore present in the territory , come in contact lens with the susceptible plant . The base of stems discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stem wilt disease and pass away . Leaves near root word are affected first . The roots will turn dark and decompose or break dance . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mix or contaminate pee .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their root , and discard surrounding soil . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only expend smart , sterilized filth mixture . Hold back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water works and check that that soil is well drained prior to establish . This fungus is not treatable by chemical substance .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to flourish in well drain soils . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy germ , that can be a job on a wide variety of works - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they discover a sound alimentation web site . The adult female then lose their legs and stay on a spot protected by its hard shell stratum . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing oral cavity parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant precede to yellowish foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet essence called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can go to an untempting black surface fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infest plant off from those that are not infested . confer with your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension spot in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural foe such as parasitical wasps in the garden . disease : BlightBlights are make by fungus kingdom or bacteria that kill flora tissue . Symptoms often show up as the speedy espial or wilting of leaf . There are many different blights , specific to various plant , each requiring a wide-ranging method of control condition . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare ashen to pale brown , 1/8 in long , rectangular in physical body with have lacy wings and usually find on the underside of leaf where they suckle sap . Nymphs may come out setaceous and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not take flight , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do fly . scathe usually appear as stipples or " " decolorize - looking " " spots on the leave . heavily , black excrement can usually be found on the undersurface of foliage . Damage is most seeable during the summertime , particularly on trees . Flowering shrubs , though active , come out weakly and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash forth with a jet of soapy urine or prune away infest leaves or limb . Timing is important : spray accord to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To hold dirt ball , spray underside of leaves with a advocate insect powder fit in to recording label directions . condition : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around veins in leaves seem yellow . This is the result of lessen branding iron consumption from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged dirt . It is important to know the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , remedy dirt to improve drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline territory . Treat with an iron supplement according to recording label guidance .
Miscellaneous
The most of import thing to consider is obtain sufficient water taken up into the cut stem . deficient water can result in wilt and short - lived flowers . Bent neck opening of rose , where the prime head droops , is the result of poor piss intake . To maximize body of water uptake , first re - cut the stem turn at an slant so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbery " " of the prow ) is open . Next immerse the cut stems in warm H2O .
think back when the flower is cut , it is cut off from its food for thought supply . Once water is take concern of , food is the resource that will run out next . The flora halt of course feed the flower with sugars . If you tote up a snatch of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will avail fertilise the flower stem and stretch 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 preclude this , modify the vase water frequently and make a new cutting in the stems every few days .
Floral preservative , available from florist shop , contain dinero , acids and bacteriacides that can extend cut flower life . These number in little packet and are by and large useable where snub flower are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when compared with just plain water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or prefers this post , but is able to adjust and continue its life cycle .