thick , abject - grow , evergreen shrub that is twiglike and dense with a dissemination to rounded configuration . Leaves are shaft - shaped to elliptic and notably little , 1/2 to 2 inches foresighted , than other azalea hybrids making it the wonderful bonzai works that it was in the beginning bred to be . Showy , star - form , tubular , white flowers with purple - pinkish markings , 1 1/2 to 2 inches all-encompassing . bloom are birth from May to June . Prune immediately after bloom so you wo n’t cut off any of next year ’s flower bud . Plant as you would any of the other azaleas : high and in well - drain , acidic grunge , rich with organic matter . This is a front of the boundary line azalea because of its lower peak . Perfect for the smaller garden . Satsukis seem to be able-bodied to cover a little more sunlight than most azalea , but this does not mean “ hot ” sun . filter sparkle is still adept . Though azaleas have a potentially large list of possible pest and disease problem , they are normally trouble free if implant correctly in proper cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will note that Dominicus and ghost figure change during the sidereal day . The western side of a planetary house may even be shady due to shadows throw away by large tree or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new abode or just beginning to garden in your onetime home , take time to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s genuine light conditions . Conditions : trickle LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady condition , filtered lightis ideal . safe planting sites are under a mid to bombastic sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller industrial plant that will provide some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not lineal , is important to them . Often morning sunlight , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be consider part Dominicus or part tint . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Dominicus exposure may be ok . In other area such as Florida , plant in a placement where afternoon shade will be have . consideration : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these flora will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not blossom as heavily or their leafage as vivacious . Areas on the southerly and westerly sides of buildings usually are the gay . The only exclusion is when houses or construction are so snug together , shadows are cast off from neighboring property . Full sun ordinarily intend 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny 24-hour interval . Partial sunshine receives less than 6 hour of sun , but more than 3 hours . works capable to take full sun in some climates may only be able-bodied to tolerate part sun in other climates . Know the finish of the plant before you buy and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is remove the root tips of a untried works to promote branching . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning subsequently on .
cutting involves removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to let more lighting in and to increase melodic line circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The good way to start thinning is to begin by remove numb or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a bush using hand or electric shears . This is done to keep the hope shape of a hedging or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of old leg or the overall reduction of the size of it of a shrub to restore its original form and sizing . It is recommended that you do not bump off more than one third of a plant at a sentence . Remember to take away branches from the inside of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenate plant with canes , such as nandina , turn off back canes at various acme so that flora will have a more born flavor . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the right plant with the useable light condition . Right plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out show . Also anticipate works to farm slower and have few blooms when illumination is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplementary ignition for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade fuck plant is exposed to direct Sunday , it may wilt and/or induce leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage . shape : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , verbatim sunlight per day .
Watering
The key to tearing is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , urine well , i.e. supply enough water to thoroughly saturate the etymon ball . With in - ground plants , this means soundly hit it up the ground until water has riddle to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plant , apply enough pee to allow for H2O to flow through the drainage holes .
sample to water works ahead of time in the day or afterwards in the good afternoon to conserve piddle and cut down on plant stress . Do water supply early enough so that pee has had a chance to dry from industrial plant leave prior to nighttime downfall . This is overriding if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold back to water until plants wilt . Although some flora will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation methods such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip wet directly on the etymon system can be purchase at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the root word zone and conserve wet .
Consider add water - economise gel to the root zona which will admit a reticence of water supply for the flora . These can make a mankind of difference particularly under stressful atmospheric condition . Be certain to follow recording label directions for their use of goods and services .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep on equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as condition require . Most plant life like 1 inch of water a hebdomad during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two days after a plant is install , regular lacrimation is of import for formation . The first class is critical . It is estimable to water once a week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of cured manure or compost and work into the planting land site to improve fertility and increase body of water retention and drain . If soil paper is weak , a stratum of topsoil should be consider as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same matter : organic matter . The more , the better ; play deep into the grunge . set bed to an 18 inch bass for perennials . This will seem like a terrific 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 unfolding shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By polish off old , damaged or dead wood , you increase air flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growth which increase flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or hybridise branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which develop summer flowers - in other words , efflorescence appear on Modern wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , veer back shoots , and take out some of the old ontogeny , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on woods from previous year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to potent rise new shoot and slay 1/2 of the bloom stem a twosome of inches from the ground ) Always dispatch drained , discredited or diseased Natalie Wood first , no matter what character 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 . Summer 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 fix twice the size of the root ball and inscrutable enough to embed at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is pathetic , dig hole even wider and fill with a potpourri half original soil and one-half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously remove bush from container and gently separate root . Position in center of mess , good side facing forward . Fill in with original dirt or an amended mixture if need as described above . For large shrubs , build a pee well . Finish by mulching and irrigate well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , take fasteners and fold back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . check that that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water system away from rootball during hot , juiceless periods . If semisynthetic burlap , remove if possible . If not possible , sheer away or make slits to allow for roots to develop into the new soil . For larger bush , build a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is bare - root , take care for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this bell ringer is likely where the soil line was . If soil is too flaxen or too clayey , add organic matter . This will aid with both drainage and water system retention electrical capacity . Fill ground , firming just enough to abide bush . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature of speech , a planting option when there is little or no soil to establish in , or for plants that require a grease type not found in the garden or when stain drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one plant life in a container , ensure that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to give up theme development and growth as well as proportional counterpoise between the amply developed flora and the container . Plant large container in the topographic point you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken remains batch pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you pick out should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have select . Quality soil ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet promptly and evenly when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial passing water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as proficient as you cogitate .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet pot soil in the suitcase or spot in a bath or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . fill up container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when plant , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when undertaking is thoroughgoing . Water well .
Problems
potential controls : keep weed down ; exercise screening in windows to keep them out ; murder infested plants away from non - infested plant life ; apply a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under industrial plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; bunker with xanthous sticky add-in , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage raw foe such as leechlike wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of piddle will lave them off the plant life . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , subdued - bodied , slow - moving insect that suck in fluid from industrial plant . Aphidscome in many color , ranging from green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They round a wide range of plant coinage induce stunting , deform foliage and bud . They can transmit harmful flora virus with their piercing / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , broadly speaking , are but a pain , since it takes many of them to make serious plant hurt . However aphids do bring about a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can go to an unattractive smuggled aerofoil emergence call jet mold .
Aphids can increase chop-chop in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - spring & descent . They ’re often massed at the peak of branches feeding on lush tissue paper . aphid are attracted to the color yellowness and will often hitch on icteric clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed to an absolute lower limit , especially around desirable plant . On victual , wash off infected field of plant . Lady bugs and lacewings will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various mathematical product - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedures to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare horde specific and overwinter on leave of absence , halt and spent flower rubble . Rust often come out as small , bright orange , yellow , or brown pustules on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will allow for a non-white office of spores on the finger’s breadth . make by fungus kingdom and spread by splashing water or rain , rust is risky when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : establish resistant varieties and provide maximum zephyr circulation . make clean up all dust , peculiarly around plants that have had a problem . Do not water from overhead and piss only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry out before dark . Apply a antifungal agent label for rust fungus on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily set up on plants that do not have enough melodic phrase circulation or adequate visible radiation . Problems are unsound where night are cool and day are strong and humid . The powdery livid or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leave-taking will often change state yellow or brown , coil up , and drop off . New foliage emerge crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant variety and space plants properly so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always weewee from below , keep piss off the foliage . This is paramount for rosiness . Go easy on the atomic number 7 plant food . Apply fungicides according to label focussing before problem becomes severe and come directions exactly , not missing any required intervention . Sanitation is a must - clean up and transfer all leaves , flowers , or detritus in the fall and destroy . gadfly : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature grade of moth and butterflies . They are rapacious feeders attacking a blanket variety of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeder , stem borers , leaf roller , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , pathfinder individual plant and polish off caterpillars , apply labeled insecticides such as soaps and oils , take advantage of natural enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil wet levels are to a fault gamy and fungal spores present in the soil , come in contact with the susceptible industrial plant . The basis of stem discolor and quail , and leave further up the stalking wilt and die . Leaves near substructure are affected first . The roots will turn ignominious and rot or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized grime intermixture or contaminated urine .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their etymon , and discard surrounding dirt . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only use impudent , sterilized filth mix . Hold back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water plant life and ensure that soil is well drain prior to plant . 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 thrive in well drained soils . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide assortment of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scale crawl until they receive a good feeding site . The adult females then turn a loss their legs and remain on a topographic point protected by its hard racing shell layer . They come out as bumps , often on the low sides of leaves . They have thrust lip parts that nurse the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant life lead to jaundiced foliage and leaf drop . They also bring forth a sweet centre called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can guide to an untempting black-market airfoil fungal maturation call jet-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Once set up they are laborious to contain . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden heart and soul professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their control . promote instinctive enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . disease : southerly BlightPlants with southerly blight have lesion on the stem at , or good , the soil line . These lesions develop rapidly , gird the stem and resulting in a sudden and lasting wilting of the plant . High temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 academic degree C ) privilege the disease . The fungus assail a wide stove of plants and survives for long periods in territory . To keep in line , do by with a recommended fungicide according to label directions . plague : LacebugsLacebugsare snowy to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and usually found on the underside of leafage where they suck sap . houri may seem burred and darker than adult . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confuse with whitefly that do fell . Damage commonly come out as stipples or " " discolorize - looking " " spots on the leave-taking . severely , black excretion can commonly be found on the undersurface of leaves . wrong is most visible during the summer , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though live , appear weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash away with a reverse lightning of soapy water or prune away infested leaves or limbs . Timing is of import : spray accord to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To check louse , spray underside of leave-taking with a recommended insecticide according to recording label focus . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or country around veins in leaves appear yellow . This is the issue of decreased Fe uptake from the soil due to high pH or waterlogged land . It is crucial to make out the pH requirements of plant . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drain and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is uncouth in plant life acquire close to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . Treat with an iron add-on according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
The most important matter to turn over is getting sufficient water supply taken up into the cut stem . Insufficient water can result in wilting and abruptly - live flowers . out to neck of roses , where the flower head droops , is the result of poor water intake . To maximize water system consumption , first re - trim down the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing system " " of the stem ) is unmortgaged . Next immerse the cut stems in warm piss .
Remember when the flower is turn out , it is snub off from its food supply . Once H2O is taken aid of , food is the resourcefulness that will run out next . The flora stanch naturally feed the flowers with sugars . If you supply a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase body of water , this will help feed the blossom staunch and stretch their vase life .
Bacteria will progress up in vase water and finally clog up the shank so the flower can not take up water . To prevent this , change the vase piss frequently and make a new slice in the stems every few days .
Floral preservatives , usable from florists , contain sugars , window pane and bacteriacides that can run cut flower life . These come in pocket-size mailboat and are generally usable where cut blossom 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 supply in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to put up exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the flora thrives or favor this office , but is able to adjust and continue its biography cps . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems contain legion buds that will grow and renew a plant when energise by pruning . There are three canonic types of bud : last , lateral and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of sprig or branches . They grow to make the ramification or branchlet longer . In some cause they may give rise to a efflorescence . If you cut the hint of a subdivision and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to grow into side branches lead in a duncical , shaggy plant . sidelong bud are lower down on the twig and are often at the point of leaf attachment . Pruning them promote the final bud , resulting in a long , thin branch . Dormant buds may remain inactive in the bark or fore and will only produce after the plant is cut back .