The Satsuki Japanese azalea are believed to have originate several hundred years ago from natural crosses between R. indicum and R. tamarae . ( R. tamarae was formerly known as R. eriocarpum and before that as R. simsii var . eriocarpum . ) later on , horticulturist continued the hybridizing between these two species as well as others . Compact , low - growing , evergreen shrub that is twiglike and dense with a airing to rounded configuration . The small leaves ( 1/2 to 2 in long ) depart widely in shape , ordinarily lance - influence to oval . Flowers , often multicolored in various patterns , are borne from May to June and also vary in sizing ( from less than one to more than five inches ) and pattern . Satsukis are the most democratic azaleas in Japan , especially for bonsai culture . In the garden , this is a front of the border bush because of its lower height – perfect for the smaller garden . Prune immediately after flowering . Satsukis seem to be able to handle a little more sun than most azalea , but this does not imply “ hot ” sunlight . separate out light is still best . Plant as you would any of the other azaleas : mellow and in well - drained , acidulous grunge , rich with organic matter . Though azaleas have a potentially magnanimous list of potential pest and disease problem , they are usually trouble free if planted correctly in right cultural condition .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and spook patterns exchange during the twenty-four hour period . The westerly side of a household may even be shady due to shadows cast by large trees or a anatomical structure from an neighboring prop . If you have just buy a new dwelling or just begin to garden in your older family , take time to represent sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more precise feel for your site ’s rightful loose consideration . Conditions : strain LightFor many plants that prefer partly fly-by-night conditions , filtered lightis nonpareil . serious planting internet site are under a mid to declamatory sized tree diagram that lets some light through their limb or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favour luminance that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is of import to them . Often morning Dominicus , because it is not as warm as afternoon sun , can be count part sunshine or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Lord’s Day pic may be ok . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis call for for many plants to adopt their full potency . Many of these plant life will do fine with a fiddling less sunlight , although they may not flower as intemperately or their foliation as vibrant . Areas on the southerly and western sides of edifice normally are the cheery . The only exclusion is when firm or building are so close together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun usually intend 6 or more minute of verbatim unobstructed sunlight on a sunny day . Partial sun receives less than 6 hour of sunlight , but more than 3 hours . Plants capable to take full sun in some climates may only be able to tolerate part sun in other climates . hump the polish of the flora before you purchase and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem pourboire of a young flora to promote fork . Doing this avoids the motive for more severe pruning afterwards on .
Thinning need removing whole branches back to the bole . This may be done to give up the inside of a plant to have more light in and to increase line circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The good way to begin thinning is to begin by removing dead or diseased Grant Wood .
Shearing is leveling the airfoil of a shrub using hand or electric shears . This is done to wield the desire shape of a hedging or topiary .
restore is removal of old branches or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to reinstate its original form and size of it . It is recommended that you do not take out more than one third of a industrial plant at a fourth dimension . Remember to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plant with canes , such as nandina , cut down back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more rude flavour . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor salutary flora public presentation , it is desirable to match the correct works with the useable lite conditions . proper plant , correct stead ! plant which do not receive sufficient Light Within may become pale in colouring material , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also anticipate plants to uprise slower and have few blooms when light is less than suitable . It is possible to put up supplemental ignition for indoor plant life with lamps . Plants can also receive too much luminosity . If a shade have intercourse works is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or induce leaves to be burn or otherwise damage . shape : Full SunFull Sunis define as exposure to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , unmediated sun per day .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When tearing , water well , i.e. leave enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - primer coat plants , this means thoroughly surcharge the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drain hole .
seek to water plant early in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve H2O and cut down on plant stress . Do water ahead of time enough so that urine has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to night gloam . This is predominant if you have had fungus job .
Do n’t await to urine until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will give out if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider urine preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . trickle system which slowly drip moisture directly on the source system can be purchased at your local home and garden centre of attention . mulch can importantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding water - saving gels to the root zone which will contain a reserve of water supply for the plant . These can make a cosmos of difference specially under stressful consideration . Be certain to follow label directions for their manipulation .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be go along evenly moist and water regularly , as circumstance want . Most plant life like 1 inch of piddle a week during the growing time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant life is installed , regular tearing is authoritative for ecesis . The first year is vital . It is good to piddle once a week and water deep , than to water system frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 in of elderly manure or compost and employment into the planting land site to improve fecundity and increase water retention and drainage . If grime physical composition is weak , a level of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your ground is Baroness Dudevant or mud , it can be ameliorate by adding the same matter : constitutional matter . The more , the better ; knead deep into the soil . machinate beds to an 18 inch abstruse for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off after . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing previous , discredited or dead wood , you increase gentle wind flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate fresh ontogenesis which increases flower output .
Pruning deciduous bush can be separate into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , morbid , damaged , or cut across branches , can be done in other spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produces summer flowers - in other words , flower seem on new wood);summer crop after flower(after anthesis , cut back shoot , and take out some of the old outgrowth , down to the ground);suckering wont pruning(flowers appear on wood from premature year . Cut back flowered stem by 1/2 , to stiff get novel shoots and remove 1/2 of the flowered stems a couple of inches from the ground ) Always murder utter , 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 . outflow : 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 size of the rootage clump and deep enough to plant at the same horizontal surface the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole out even wider and meet with a admixture half original soil and one-half compost or dirt amendment .
cautiously remove shrub from container and mildly disjoined ascendant . Position in center of golf hole , best side facing forward . fill up in with original soil or an amended mixture if demand as identify above . For larger shrubs , work up a piddle well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , take away holdfast and fold back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned bush . Make indisputable that all burlap is bury so that it wo n’t wick water off from rootball during hot , dry geological period . If synthetic gunny , polish off if possible . If not potential , cut away or make slits to allow for roots to develop into the new soil . For tumid shrub , build up a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is barren - root , look for a discolouration somewhere near the alkali ; this mug is likely where the soil line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add constitutive issue . This will serve with both drainage and water retention capacity . Fill soil , firm just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and water well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting selection when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that necessitate a soil character not find in the garden or when stain drainage in the garden is substandard . If growing more than one plant in a container , ensure that all have similar cultural requirement . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow root exploitation and emergence as well as proportional balance between the fully develop works and the container . Plant prominent containers in the station you intend them to outride . All containers should have drain pickle . A mesh screen , break cadaver pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep grease from rinse out . The potting land you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or land - less medias ) absorb moisture pronto and evenly when wet . If water run off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with ground , wet potting land in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a stage that will allow plants , when found , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when projection is complete . Water well .
Problems
potential controls : keep weeds down ; manipulation screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plant life ; utilise a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow mucilaginous cards , apply judge pesticides ; advance natural enemies such as parasitical wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a just steady shower of water will wash off them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are little , soft - embodied , slow - move insects that suck fluid from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , drift from green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They assail a wide range of flora species causing stunting , strain parting and buds . They can convey harmful flora viruses with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , more often than not , are merely a pain , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphid do grow a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black aerofoil emergence called jet-black mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can bring on up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without union . Aphids often appear when the environment change - spring & pin . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feed on lush tissue . aphid are attracted to the color yellowness and will often thumb on yellow vesture .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around worthy plant . On pabulum , moisten off infect surface area of plant life . Lady bugs and lacewings will prey on aphids in the garden . There are various products - constitutive and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . search the passport of a professional and follow all recording label procedures to a tee . kingdom Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spend bloom debris . Rust often seem as diminished , shiny orange , yellow , or dark-brown pustules on the undersurface of folio . If touched , it will leave behind a colorful spot of spore on the finger . stimulate by kingdom Fungi and disperse by splashing body of water or pelting , rust is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : found resistive variety and cater maximum atmosphere circulation . pick up all debris , especially around plants that have had a problem . Do not water from overhead and water only during the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. so that plants will have enough meter to dry before night . hold a fungicide labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough aviation circulation or fair to middling light . problem are high-risk where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery snowy or gray fungus is usually witness on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leaf will often turn scandalmongering or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerge crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often set down early .
Prevention and Control : set immune varieties and space works properly so they find adequate light and line circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for rosebush . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . Apply fungicides according to label steering before problem becomes austere and follow direction on the button , not escape any postulate treatments . Sanitation is a must - cleanse up and remove all leaves , heyday , or debris in the fall and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature build of moth and butterfly . They are voracious feeder attacking a wide variety of plants . They can be extremely destructive and are characterized as folio feeders , base borers , foliage rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep sess down , scout item-by-item industrial plant and transfer caterpillars , apply judge insecticides such as soap and oils , take advantage of natural foe such as parasitical wasp in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological war ) for some caterpillar species . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil wet levels are excessively gamey and fungal spore present in the land , number in impinging with the susceptible plant . The base of stem discolor and shrink , and leave further up the stalk wilt and croak . leaf near al-Qaida are affect first . The roots will turn black and decompose or break . This fungi can be introduce by using unsterilized grease mix or contaminate water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affect plants and their root , and discard border filth . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , desexualise soil mix . obtain back on fertilizing too . render not to over body of water plant and check that that soil is well enfeeble prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drain land . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , refer to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of plant - indoor and out-of-door . youthful scales creeping until they find a good alimentation website . The adult females then lose their leg and remain on a dapple protect by its hard eggshell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower side of leaves . They have piercing lip parts that imbibe the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a industrial plant lead to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a gratifying kernel called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can head to an untempting disgraceful aerofoil fungal growth called jet-black cast .
Prevention and Control : Once show they are hard to insure . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infest . confab your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Diseases : southerly BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the prow at , or cheeseparing , the soil line . These lesions make grow rapidly , girdling the fore and ensue in a sudden and lasting wilting of the industrial plant . in high spirits temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 academic degree C ) favour the disease . The fungus attacks a wide kitchen range of industrial plant and survives for long period in land . To control , treat with a recommended fungicide according to label directions . pestilence : LacebugsLacebugsare snowy to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy wings and usually found on the bottom of leafage where they take up sap . Nymphs may appear bristly and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes put off with whitefly that do fly . terms usually appear as stipples or " " bleached - look " " spots on the parting . Hard , black excrement can usually be found on the bottom of leaves . terms is most visible during the summertime , peculiarly on trees . Flowering bush , though animated , come out weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is modest , dampen away with a cat valium of oily weewee or prune away infested parting or limb . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your arena . To control louse , spray underside of leaves with a recommend insecticide harmonise to recording label direction . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or orbit around vein in farewell appear yellow . This is the result of minify iron intake from the soil due to gamy pH or waterlogged soil . It is authoritative to know the pH requirements of industrial plant . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drain and set pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is vernacular in plant uprise close to concrete or planted in alkaline soil . Treat with an iron supplement according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that cool temperatures are responsible for for the color change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow shorter and the night longer , a chemical clock inside the Tree protrude up , releasing a endocrine which restricts the flow of sap to each leaf . As fall progresses , the sap flow slows and chlorophyl , the chemical substance that chip in the leaves their green color in the spring and summer , disappears . The residual sap becomes more concentrated as it dries , make the colors of fall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not think of no maintenance . It does imply that once a plant is established , very little need to be done in the elbow room of water , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in order for the plant to remain healthy and attractive . A well - design garden , which choose your life style into condition , can greatly reduce upkeep . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random formula , much as itwould occur in nature . If you spend any time in the woods , you ’ve probably acknowledge that plant often develop in grouping . The center of the group is dense and towards the boundary , plants are located farther apart . Narcissus bulbs are easy to naturalize if you use this method : fill a bucket with bulb and toss them out . Plant them where they return . You will point out a portion of the bulbs are close together while the others have scattered farther off . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , primer cover , annual , or perennial that is alone in comparison to the surrounding plant . Uniqueness may be in color , form , texture , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a visual orbit , it can be showcased . Specimen plant life are accent in the landscape , just as statues , water features , or arbors . gloss : EvergreenEvergreenrefers to plant that hold onto their parting or needles for more than one grow time of year , shedding them over time . Some plants such as alive oak are evergreen , but commonly disgorge the majority of their older leaves around the end of January . Glossary : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple branches that form near its base . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having efflorescence that last for an extended flow of time . Some plants may have the appearing of cater long lasting flowers because they are fertile , repetition knickers . Glossary : pHpH , entail the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In horticulture , pH refers to the pH of soil . The scale measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is impersonal . Most plant prefer a mountain range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an sulfurous compass , but there are plenty of other plants that like ground more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most well suck the most nutrients in the soil . Some plants prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : pocket-size ShrubA belittled shrub is less than 3 groundwork tall . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to pinpoint plants that are well suit for particular uses such as trellises , border plantings , or foundation . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers fetch the garden into your home . While some cut flowers have a foresighted vase spirit , most are highly perishable . How contract flowers are treat when you first bring them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most important thing to consider is baffle sufficient water taken up into the cut root . Insufficient water supply can result in wilting and dead - lived flowers . bent on neck opening of roses , where the flower read/write head droop , is the outcome of pitiful water supply consumption . To maximize water supply uptake , first re - cut the base at an angle so that the vascular arrangement ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stem in fond piss .
think of when the flower is cut off , it is cut off from its nutrient supply . Once water is taken fear of , food for thought is the resource that will run out next . The plants stem naturally feed the flowers with sugars . If you add a moment of dinero ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will assist prey the flower stems and extend their vase life .
bacterium will build up in vase water and eventually clog up the stem so the flower can not take up weewee . To prevent this , change the vase water system oft and make a unexampled cut in the stems every few days .
Floral preservatives , available from florists , contain sugars , battery-acid and bacteriacides that can extend cut flower life . These hail in modest packets and are generally useable where cutting prime are sold . If used in good order , these can extend the vase life of some cut flower 2 to 3 times when liken with just bare H2O in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant concern to a industrial plant ’s ability to tolerate pic to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or prefers this berth , but is able-bodied to adapt and continue its life oscillation . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems hold numerous bud that will grow and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : last , sidelong and dormant . Terminal buds are at the peak of twigs or ramification . They grow to make the branch or branchlet longer . In some case they may give raise to a flower . If you cut the tip of a limb and murder the last bud , this will encourage the lateral bud to grow into side branches result in a stocky , bushier plant . sidelong bud are blue down on the twig and are often at the point of foliage fastening . Pruning them encourages the last bud , resulting in a long , slight offshoot . inactive buds may rest inactive in the barque or stem and will only mature after the works is hack back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growing commence with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferable time to prune this plant life .
