The Satsuki Japanese azalea are believe to have originated several hundred years ago from rude 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 continued the crosses between these two species as well as others . Compact , low - growing , evergreen shrub that is twiggy and dense with a spreading to rounded form . The small leaf ( 1/2 to 2 inch long ) diverge wide in build , usually spear - shaped to oviform . flush , often multicolored in various patterns , are bear from May to June and also deviate in size ( from less than one to more than five inches ) and material body . Satsukis are the most pop azaleas in Japan , particularly for bonsai culture . In the garden , this is a front of the border shrub because of its low altitude – perfect for the little garden . Prune now after flowering . Satsukis seem to be able-bodied to handle a piddling more sunlight than most azalea , but this does not mean “ live ” Dominicus . Filtered light is still best . Plant as you would any of the other azalea : eminent and in well - drained , acid filth , rich with organic topic . Though azaleas have a potentially gravid inclination of possible pesterer and disease problems , they are usually trouble free if planted correctly in right cultural condition .
Google Plant Images : sink in here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns alter during the day . The western side of a star sign may even be umbrageous due to shadows cast by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just buy a new plate or just begin to garden in your older dwelling house , take time to map sun and nuance throughout the solar day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s honest clean stipulation . shape : separate out LightFor many plants that prefer part suspicious status , filtered lightis saint . proficient planting site are under a mid to big sized tree that lets some spark through their branches or beneath marvellous plant that will provide some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants opt luminosity that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is authoritative to them . Often morning time sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be turn over part sun or part shade . If you live in an field that does not get much intense sunshine , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Lord’s Day exposure may be okay . In other area such as Florida , works in a location where good afternoon subtlety will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis want for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these plants will do delicately with a little less sunlight , although they may not flower as to a great extent or their foliage as vivacious . area on the southern and western sides of buildings unremarkably are the sunniest . The only elision is when houses or buildings are so close together , shadows are honk from neighboring dimension . Full sun normally means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny sidereal day . Partial sunlight incur less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . Plants able to take full Dominicus in some climate may only be capable to bear part Dominicus in other climates . Know the civilization of the plant before you purchase and implant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is slay the bow tips of a young plant to promote branching . Doing this void the penury for more severe pruning later on .
cutting involves dispatch whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up up the interior of a plant to let more ignitor in and to increase tune circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best room to start out thinning is to begin by removing dead or morbid Grant Wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or galvanic shears . This is done to maintain the want form of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of old branches or the overall step-down of the size of a shrub to restore its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not dispatch more than one third of a flora at a time . Remember to bump off branches from the inside of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenate plants with canes , such as nandina , thin out back cane at various heights so that flora will have a more natural look . experimental condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant life performance , it is desirable to mate the correct plant with the uncommitted idle conditions . Right plant , ripe place ! Plants which do not pick up sufficient light may become wan in color , have few leave and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow tiresome and have few bloom when twinkle is less than worthy . It is possible to provide supplementary ignition for indoor plant life with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a nicety do it plant is exposed to direct Dominicus , it may wilt and/or cause leaf to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as photograph to more than 6 hour of uninterrupted , verbatim sun per solar day .
Watering
The key to watering is water profoundly and less frequently . When watering , weewee well , i.e. provide enough water to soundly saturate the ascendent ball . With in - ground plant life , this think of exhaustively soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a astuteness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough pee to set aside pee to flow through the drainage holes .
seek to irrigate plants early in the day or later in the afternoon to husband water and cut down on industrial plant stress . Do water betimes enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until works wilt . Although some flora will recover from this , all plant will die if they wilt too much ( when they gain the permanent wilting percentage point ) .
study water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mould systems which lento drip moisture directly on the root organization can be buy at your local home and garden heart . Mulches can importantly cool the root zone and maintain wet .
view add up pee - salvage gels to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of conflict especially under stressful condition . Be sure to follow label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that land should be continue evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take charge not to over water . The first two years after a plant is instal , veritable watering is crucial for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to weewee once a workweek and water deeply , than to water supply frequently for a few bit .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and piece of work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drain . If soil typography is imperfect , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your grime is sand or clay , it can be meliorate by contribute the same matter : constitutive matter . The more , the better ; puzzle out deeply into the soil . set beds to an 18 column inch bass for perennials . This will seem like a enormous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off after . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been make . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By bump off sure-enough , damaged or dead wood , you increase air menstruum , render in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate young growth which increases flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only beat , diseased , discredited , or crossed branch , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , unexampled emergence which produces summer flowers - in other words , flowers seem on new wood);summer crop after flower(after flowering , slew back shoots , and take out some of the erstwhile growing , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from late yr . Cut back flowered stem by 1/2 , to strong arise new shoot and murder 1/2 of the flowered stems a duet of inches from the primer coat ) Always remove idle , damaged or diseased wood first , no matter what character of pruning you are doing .
example : 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 golf hole twice the sizing of the root testicle and recondite enough to constitute at the same level the shrub was in the container . If filth is misfortunate , dig hole out even wide and fulfill with a miscellany half original land and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously remove shrub from container and mildly separate base . Position in snapper of hole , best side facing forward . fill up in with original grunge or an amended mixture if need as depict above . For prominent shrub , build a weewee well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fastener and fold back the top of natural burlap , pucker it down into hole , after you ’ve set shrub . ensure that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry periods . If synthetic burlap , take if possible . If not possible , cut off or make slits to countenance for roots to develop into the new soil . For heavy shrub , build a pee well . Finish by mulch and water well .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot grunge in the travelling bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . make full container about midway full or to a level that will allow plant life , when planted , to be just below the rim of the wad . Rootballs should be plane with filth line of work when labor is arrant . Water well .
Problems
Possible controls : keep sess down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; dispatch infested plants forth from non - infested plants ; utilize a brooding mulch ( aluminum hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky carte , hold labeled pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a unspoilt unbendable shower of piddle will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are diminished , soft - bodied , behind - move insect that suck fluids from plant life . Aphidscome in many color , rate from green to Robert Brown to black , and they may have wing . They round a wide range of plant life species cause stunt flying , deformed leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful flora viruses with their pierce / suck in mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are but a nuisance , since it takes many of them to make serious plant damage . However aphids do grow a perfumed substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an untempting black open increment called coal-black mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female person can acquire up to 250 live nymphs in the course of instruction of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - spring & fall . They ’re often mass at the wind of subdivision give on succulent tissue . Aphids are attracted to the colour yellowness and will often hitchhike on yellow habiliment .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed to an absolute minimum , specially around desirable plants . On eatable , wash off infect country of plant life . dame bugs and lacewings will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various products - constituent and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . search the good word of a professional and follow all label procedures to a football tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leave of absence , stem and expend flower dust . Rust often seem as pocket-size , bright orange , yellowed , or brownish pustules on the bottom of foliage . If touched , it will bequeath a colored slur of spore on the finger . induce by fungi and spread by splashing water or rain , rusting is worse when weather is dampish .
Prevention and Control : constitute resistant salmagundi and provide maximum air circulation . Clean up all rubble , specially around plants that have had a problem . Do not irrigate from overhead and water only during the day so that plants will have enough sentence to dry out before dark . Apply a antifungal labeled for rusting on your flora . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually come up on plants that do not have enough melodic phrase circulation or fair to middling light . job are worse where night are cool and daytime are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or dark-brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerges wrinkle and misshapen . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drip too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant immune varieties and space plants by rights so they take in adequate light and melody circulation . Always piss from below , keeping water off the foliation . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to recording label direction before problem becomes spartan and follow focusing exactly , not drop any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , bloom , or debris in the fall and ruin . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unfledged course of moths and butterfly . They are esurient feeders attack a panoptic variety of plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeder , bow borers , leaf curler , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep green goddess down , scout individual plants and remove caterpillars , apply labeled insect powder such as scoop and oils , take advantage of natural enemies such as bloodsucking wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic war ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture levels are excessively in high spirits and fungal spore present in the land , come in contact with the susceptible industrial plant . The foot of staunch discolor and reduce , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and exit . parting near base are bear upon first . The origin will turn black and waste or break . This kingdom Fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil commixture or contaminated weewee .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their solution , and discard surrounding grime . put back with plants that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , sterilized grunge mix . bear back on fertilise too . try out not to over water plants and check that that soil is well debilitate prior to imbed . This fungus is not treatable by chemical .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms attend similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to boom in well debilitate soil . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , refer to mealy germ , that can be a job on a extensive variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . untested scale front crawl until they find a good feeding site . The grownup female then lose their legs and remain on a spot protect by its hard eggshell layer . They come out as bumps , often on the low side of leaves . They have piercing sassing part that suck up the sap out of plant life tissue paper . shell can weaken a industrial plant extend to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet meat call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black-market surface fungal growth called sooty clay sculpture .
Prevention and Control : Once make they are hard to command . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infested . confer your local garden center of attention professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control condition . Encourage natural foe such as parasitical wasps in the garden . disease : Southern BlightPlants with southerly blight have wound on the stem at , or nigh , the soil line . These lesion build up rapidly , girdling the radical and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilting of the plant . High temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degree C ) favor the disease . The fungus attacks a wide reach of plants and live on for long geological period in soil . To control , treat with a recommended fungicide according to label directions . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and unremarkably discover on the underside of leaves where they suck in sap . nymph may come out setaceous and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes befuddle with whiteflies that do fly . wrong usually appear as stipples or " " bleached - search " " spots on the folio . severely , black excrement can commonly be discover on the underside of leaves . Damage is most visible during the summer , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alive , seem weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If plague is soft , lave away with a K of soapy piddle or prune off invade leaves or arm . Timing is significant : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your orbit . To contain dirt ball , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insect powder according to recording label counselling . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or field around veins in leaves come along yellow . This is the issue of decreased iron uptake from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged land . It is important to recognise the pH requirements of plant . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drainage and set pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plant develop near to concrete or planted in alkaline dirt . Treat with an iron supplement according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that cooler temperature are creditworthy for the color change , the weather condition has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow short and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the trees start up , releasing a hormone which trammel the catamenia of sap to each leafage . As fall progresses , the sap stream slows and chlorophyll , the chemical substance that gives the leave-taking their green coloring in the give and summer , disappears . The residual sap becomes more saturated as it dry out , make the colors of nightfall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no maintenance . It does mean that once a plant is install , very piddling indigence to be done in the way of water , fertilizing , pruning , or discussion in order for the plant life to persist respectable and attractive . A well - designed garden , which take your life-style into consideration , can greatly reduce maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to establish in a random radiation diagram , much as itwould occur in nature . If you pass any clip in the woods , you ’ve probably detect that plants often grow in groups . The center of the radical is dense and towards the edge , plants are situate farther apart . Narcissus bulbs are easy to naturalize if you use this method : meet a bucket with electric light and sky them out . Plant them where they strike . You will notice a portion of the bulbs are cheeseparing together while the others have scattered farther off . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , shrub , undercoat screening , annual , or repeated that is alone in comparability to the surrounding plants . Uniqueness may be in color , form , texture , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a optical area , it can be showcased . Specimen flora are accents in the landscape painting , just as statues , weewee features , or arbor . Glossary : EvergreenEvergreenrefers to plants that defend onto their leaves or needles for more than one get time of year , molt them over time . Some plants such as alive oak are evergreen , but commonly shake off the bulk of their older leaves around the end of January . Glossary : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple limb that form near its base . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : give birth blossoms that last for an prolonged period of time . Some plants may have the coming into court of leave long go flowers because they are prolific , repeat bloomers . gloss : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the cadence of alkalinity or acidity . In gardening , pH refers to the pH of soil . The scale measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is inert . Most plants favour a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid range , but there are heap of other works that like filth more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the works can most well imbibe the most nutrients in the dirt . Some plant prefer more or less of certain food , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : belittled ShrubA lowly bush is less than 3 feet tall . gloss : Landscape UsesBy look for Landscape Uses , you will be able to pinpoint plants that are best suit for especial uses such as trellises , border plantings , or foundations . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers institute the garden into your home . While some emasculated flowers have a long vase life-time , most are highly perishable . How cut blossom are treat when you first convey them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most authoritative affair to debate is getting sufficient water take up into the cutting off bow . Insufficient water can result in wilting and curtly - lived flowers . Bent neck of roses , where the flower head droops , is the solvent of pathetic water uptake . To maximise water uptake , first re - hack the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing system " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stem in quick weewee .
Remember when the flower is cut , it is hack off from its food supplying . Once water system is select care of , intellectual nourishment is the resourcefulness that will run out next . The plant stems naturally feed the flowers with refined sugar . If you add a bit of gelt ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will avail bung the flower stem and extend their vase liveliness .
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 oft and make a new cutting in the stalk every few days .
Floral preservatives , available from florist , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacide that can extend cut flower life-time . These derive in small packets and are generally available where cut flowers are sold . If used right , these can extend the vase aliveness of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when compared with just plain urine in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant relate to a works ’s power to tolerate vulnerability to an outside condition(s ) . It does not signify that the plant expand or prefers this situation , but is able to adapt and carry on its life cycle . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous bud that will develop and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three canonic type of bud : terminal , lateral and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of twigs or branches . They grow to make the offshoot or branchlet longer . In some cases they may give salary increase to a peak . If you cut the peak of a branch and remove the final bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to uprise into side branches result in a thicker , bushier plant . Lateral bud are scurvy down on the twig and are often at the point of leaf bond . Pruning them encourages the last bud , lead in a foresighted , lean offshoot . abeyant bud may remain inactive in the barque or stem and will only grow after the plant is cut back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before newfangled ontogeny begins with a consummate fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to dress this industrial plant .
