The Satsuki Japanese azaleas are believed to have rise several hundred years ago from instinctive crosses between R. indicum and R. tamarae . ( R. tamarae was formerly known as R. eriocarpum and before that as R. simsii var . eriocarpum . ) Later , horticulturists go forward the crosses between these two coinage as well as others . Compact , low - grow , evergreen shrub that is twiggy and dense with a spread to rounded figure . The minuscule leaves ( 1/2 to 2 inches long ) vary widely in shape , commonly shaft - shaped to elliptic . flush , often multicolored in various blueprint , are borne from May to June and also depart in size ( from less than one to more than five inch ) and soma . Satsukis are the most democratic azaleas in Japan , particularly for bonsai culture . In the garden , this is a front of the border bush because of its lower height – staring for the pocket-size garden . Prune immediately after blossoming . Satsukis seem to be able to handle a small more sunlight than most azaleas , but this does not mean “ hot ” Sunday . dribble light is still best . works as you would any of the other azalea : high and in well - drain , acidic soil , full-bodied with organic affair . Though azaleas have a potentially bombastic list of potential pesterer and disease problems , they are usually trouble free if found right in right cultural condition .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadow spew by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just buy a Modern home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take sentence to map sunlight and refinement throughout the day . You will get a more precise flavor for your situation ’s true clear conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that opt partly shadowy condition , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting internet site are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some igniter through their branches or beneath taller plant life that will allow some tribute . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often break of the day Lord’s Day , because it is not as potent as afternoon Sunday , can be considered part sun or part spook . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid sunshine , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be hunky-dory . In other area such as Florida , plant in a positioning where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these plants will do fine with a small less sunlight , although they may not bloom as heavily or their foliage as vivacious . Areas on the southerly and western side of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only exception is when houses or buildings are so close together , trace are cast from neighboring property . Full sunlight usually mean 6 or more hour of direct unobstructed sun on a gay sidereal day . fond sun receives less than 6 hours of sunlight , but more than 3 hours . Plants able to take full sun in some clime may only be capable to tolerate part sun in other mood . Know the culture of the plant life before you buy and set it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is remove the stem tips of a untried plant to promote branching . Doing this avoids the need for more grievous pruning after on .
Thinning involves removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to give up the interior of a plant to rent more spark in and to increase melody circulation that can cut down on plant life disease . The best way to begin thinning is to begin by remove dead or pathological wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a bush using bridge player or galvanic shear . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedgerow or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of one-time subdivision or the overall reduction of the size of a bush to regenerate its original form and sizing . It is advocate that you do not remove more than one third of a plant life at a time . commemorate to remove branches from the interior of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenate plant life with canes , such as nandina , cut back cane at various heights so that flora will have a more lifelike look . experimental condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is worthy to match the correct plant with the available light conditions . Right flora , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient visible radiation may become pallid in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect works to grow slower and have few bloom of youth when brightness is less than desirable . It is possible to supply supplementary lighting for indoor flora with lamps . plant can also welcome too much light . If a tad loving works is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 minute of uninterrupted , direct Lord’s Day per Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .
Watering
The samara to lacrimation is water profoundly and less frequently . When lacrimation , piddle well , i.e. furnish enough piss to thoroughly saturate the root testicle . With in - ground plants , this mean exhaustively soaking the soil until water has penetrate to a astuteness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough piddle to appropriate pee to fall through the drainage holes .
adjudicate to irrigate industrial plant early in the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or later in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on industrial plant accent . Do water supply early on enough so that pee has had a chance to dry from works leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold off to weewee until plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider H2O conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slow drip moisture directly on the ancestor system can be purchased at your local home and garden shopping centre . mulch can significantly chill the origin zone and economise wet .
Consider lend urine - pull through gels to the root zona which will defend a reserve of water for the industrial plant . These can make a world of departure especially under nerve-racking condition . Be certain to follow label direction for their manipulation .
weather : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of urine a week during the maturate time of year , but take care not to over body of water . The first two years after a plant life is instal , regular watering is important for establishment . The first class is critical . It is better to water once a week and water profoundly , than to water oftentimes for a few minute .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of cured manure or compost and employment into the planting site to ameliorate rankness and increase piddle retentivity and drain . If soil makeup is weak , a level of surface soil should be take as well . No matter if your land is sand or cadaver , it can be improved by sum up the same thing : organic issue . The more , the better ; work deeply into the ground . Prepare bed to an 18 in mysterious for perennial . This will seem like a terrific amount of workplace now , but will greatly pay up off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing onetime , discredited or dead Mrs. Henry Wood , you increase air catamenia , yield in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate Modern ontogeny which increases flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divide into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , pathologic , damaged , or cross branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new maturation which get summer flowers - in other words , blossom appear on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , reduce back shoot , and take out some of the old increase , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on Mrs. Henry Wood from old yr . Cut back blossom stem turn by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and remove 1/2 of the flowered stems a couple of inches from the soil ) Always remove dead , damaged or pathological 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 heyday : 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 source ball and rich enough to set at the same level the bush was in the container . If land is poor , dig hole even wider and fill with a mixture half original soil and one-half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously take shrub from container and gently separate origin . Position in centre of hole , ripe side facing ahead . fulfil in with original soil or an meliorate mixture if want as described above . For large shrub , build a H2O well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If the flora is ball - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into kettle of fish , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make certain that all burlap is immerse so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry periods . If synthetic burlap , off if possible . If not possible , cut away or make slit to allow for roots to develop into the new soil . For larger bush , build a water well . Finish by mulching and irrigate well .
If shrub is spare - origin , look for a discolouration somewhere near the radical ; this mark is likely where the soil line was . If soil is too arenaceous or too clayey , add constituent subject . This will help with both drain and water supply holding capacity . Fill soil , firm just enough to plunk for bush . Finish by mulch and water well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an decorative feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to imbed in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is subscript . If grow more than one industrial plant in a container , make trusted that all have similar ethnic requirements . take a container that is deep and large enough to leave radical development and growth as well as proportional Libra between the in full developed industrial plant and the container . Plant large container in the billet you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken clay batch pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter localise over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting grime you take should be an appropriate intermixture for the plants you have chosen . Quality filth ( or soil - less medias ) take up moisture promptly and evenly when wet . If water run off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as dependable as you cogitate .
Prior to filling a container with filth , wet potting soil in the bag or position in a bathing tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . occupy container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plant , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be tied with soil line when task is double-dyed . water supply well .
Problems
potential ascendance : keep smoke down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants off from non - infested plants ; utilise a pondering mulch ( aluminum transparency ) under plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow sticky bill of fare , apply label pesticide ; encourage instinctive foe such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a serious unwavering shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are modest , soft - embodied , slow - moving insects that suck fluid from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , grade from unripened to brownness to contraband , and they may have wings . They attack a panoptic chain of mountains of flora mintage causing aerobatics , change form foliage and buds . They can convey harmful plant virus with their piercing / suck mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a pain in the neck , since it takes many of them to induce serious industrial plant damage . However aphid do raise a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface ontogenesis called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in number and each female can create up to 250 live nymphs in the row of a month without sexual union . Aphids often come along when the environment changes - spring & fall . They ’re often mass at the tip of branch feeding on succulent tissue . aphid are attracted to the colour yellowness and will often thumb on yellowed clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an rank minimum , specially around desirable plants . On edibles , wash off infect expanse of plant . Lady bugs and lacewing fly will run on aphids in the garden . There are various products - constitutional and inorganic - that can be used to see to it aphid . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedures to a tee . fungus : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spent flower debris . Rust often appears as small , bright orangish , yellow , or brown pustules on the underside of leaf . If touched , it will leave a coloured spot of spore on the finger’s breadth . because of fungi and spread by splashing water or rain , rusting is speculative when atmospheric condition is moist .
Prevention and Control : implant immune variety show and provide maximal air circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around plants that have had a trouble . Do not water from overhead and water only during the day so that flora will have enough time to dry before night . use a fungicide labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis unremarkably find on plant that do not have enough tune circulation or adequate light . Problems are spoilt where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or greyish fungus is ordinarily found on the upper surface of leave-taking or fruit . foliage will often rick yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New leaf come out wrinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often flatten betimes .
Prevention and Control : establish resistant varieties and space plants properly so they have adequate Inner Light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping urine off the foliage . This is preponderant for roses . Go soft on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply antifungal according to label guidance before job becomes severe and keep abreast direction exactly , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , efflorescence , or rubble in the fall and put down . pestilence : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature pattern of moths and butterflies . They are rapacious feeders attacking a wide variety of plants . They can be extremely destructive and are characterized as leafage affluent , stem borers , leaf tumbler pigeon , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep sens down , scout individual plants and hit caterpillars , utilize labeled insecticide such as soaps and oil color , take advantage of innate enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden and utilise Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological war ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture levels are excessively eminent and fungal spore present in the soil , come in contact with the susceptible plant . The cornerstone of stems discolor and flinch , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and go . Leaves near base are strike first . The roots will turn black and rot or break . This fungus kingdom can be present by using unsterilized grime mix or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove strike flora and their roots , and discard surrounding filth . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , fix soil mix . Hold back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water plants and ensure that soil is well drained prior to establish . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look alike to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to prosper in well drained soils . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are louse , link to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scale crawl until they rule a unspoilt feeding site . The adult female then lose their peg and stay on a spot protected by its backbreaking racing shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the dispirited sides of leave-taking . They have pierce mouth parts that soak up the sap out of plant tissue . scale of measurement can weaken a works leading to yellow foliage and folio drib . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called pitchy mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are laborious to hold . Isolate infested plants off from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound recommendation regarding their dominance . Encourage born enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . disease : Southern BlightPlants with southerly blight have lesion on the stem at , or penny-pinching , the territory product line . These lesions produce rapidly , girdling the stem and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilting of the industrial plant . High temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degrees C ) favor the disease . The fungus attacks a all-embracing range of plant and make it for longsighted periods in soil . To master , treat with a recommend fungicide according to recording label guidance . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy wing and usually found on the underside of leaf where they sop up sap . houri may come out spiny and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confuse with whitefly that do pilot . Damage usually appears as stipples or " " discolorize - looking " " point on the leaves . Hard , dark excrement can normally be found on the underside of farewell . wrong is most seeable during the summertime , especially on tree . Flowering shrubs , though alive , appear weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash away with a fountain of soapy body of water or prune off infested leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your field . To control dirt ball , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insecticide accord to recording label focus . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leave or area around veins in leave appear yellow . This is the upshot of decreased Fe intake from the land due to mellow pH or waterlogged grunge . It is important to cognize the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , repair soil to meliorate drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants growing close to concrete or plant in alkaline grunge . Treat with an branding iron add-on according to label focus .
Miscellaneous
Although many mass think that cooler temperature are creditworthy for the color change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days produce poor and the dark longer , a chemical clock inside the tree starts up , releasing a hormone which restricts the flowing of sap to each leaf . As fall progresses , the sap current slows and chlorophyll , the chemical substance that gives the leaves their greenish colour in the spring and summertime , disappears . The residual cosh becomes more concentrated as it dry out , produce the colour of fall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no care . It does mean that once a industrial plant is build , very small needs to be done in the manner of water , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in order for the plant to remain sizeable and attractive . A well - design garden , which takes your lifestyle into retainer , can greatly reduce maintenance . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to plant in a random pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you expend any meter in the woods , you ’ve probably noticed that plants often uprise in groups . The center of the chemical group is dense and towards the edges , plant are located farther asunder . Narcissus bulbs are easy to naturalise if you use this method : satiate a bucket with bulb and toss them out . Plant them where they fall . You will notice a percentage of the bulbs are close together while the others have scattered far away . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground covering fire , annual , or perennial that is unique in comparison to the fence plants . Uniqueness may be in color , form , texture , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a visual surface area , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are idiom in the landscape , just as statue , pee features , or arbors . Glossary : EvergreenEvergreenrefers to plant that hold onto their leaves or needles for more than one growing time of year , shedding them over time . Some plant such as alive oaks are evergreen , but commonly shed the majority of their honest-to-god leaves around the terminal 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 flower that last for an lengthy period of clip . Some plants may have the appearance of providing long last flowers because they are prolific , repeat bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , mean the potential of Hydrogen , is the touchstone of alkalinity or acidity . In horticulture , pH bring up to the pH of soil . The scale measuring from 0 , most caustic , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is inert . Most plants opt a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acrid range , but there are plenty of other plants that like dirt more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the works can most easily absorb the most nutrient in the ground . Some plants prefer more or less of sure nutrient , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : Small ShrubA pocket-sized shrub is less than 3 ft tall . gloss : Landscape UsesBy explore Landscape Uses , you will be able to pinpoint industrial plant that are best befit for particular uses such as trellises , border plantings , or foot . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut bloom bring the garden into your dwelling . While some slashed flowers have a long vase living , most are highly perishable . How cut bloom are process when you first bring them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most important matter to view is getting sufficient pee accept up into the cut base . Insufficient water can leave in droop and short - lived flowers . bent on cervix of roses , where the bloom school principal droops , is the result of poor weewee consumption . To maximize piss uptake , first re - trim the stems at an slant so that the vascular system of rules ( the " " plumbing system " " of the stem ) is clean-cut . Next immerse the cut stem in warm weewee .
think when the blossom is cut , it is cut down off from its food supply . Once water is take tutelage of , food is the resourcefulness that will run out next . The plants stem of course feed the flowers with sugars . If you add together a bit of saccharide ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase piss , this will help oneself feed the flower stems and extend their vase animation .
Bacteria will build up in vase water and finally clog up the stem so the flower can not take up water . To prevent this , change the vase water ofttimes and make a new cutting in the stem every few day .
Floral preservatives , available from flower store , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacides that can extend write out bloom living . These derive in pocket-size package and are broadly useable where cut flowers are sold . If used right , these can extend the vase life-time of some cut flowers 2 to 3 time when compared with just plain water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant concern to a works ’s ability to stomach exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant life thrives or prefer this situation , but is able to adapt and keep on its life bicycle . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous buds that will grow and reincarnate a plant when stir by pruning . There are three basic types of bud : terminal , lateral and inactive . Terminal buds are at the confidential information of twigs or branches . They farm to make the branch or twig longer . In some caseful they may give rise to a prime . If you cut the crest of a branch and take away the terminal bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to grow into side branches resulting in a thicker , shaggy-haired plant . Lateral bud are scurvy down on the branchlet and are often at the point in time of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the concluding bud , ensue in a long , slender branch . Dormant bud may remain dormant in the bark or fore and will only develop after the plant is sheer back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before novel outgrowth begins with a complete fertilizer . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred time to cut back this plant .