The Satsuki Japanese azaleas are believed to have originated several hundred year ago from innate 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 stay on the crosses between these two species as well as others . Compact , low - grow , evergreen plant bush that is twiglike and obtuse with a spreading to rounded form . The small leafage ( 1/2 to 2 inches long ) vary wide in chassis , commonly lance - shaped to egg-shaped . Flowers , often multicolored in various patterns , are borne from May to June and also diverge in size ( from less than one to more than five inches ) and shape . Satsukis are the most popular azalea in Japan , especially for bonsai finish . In the garden , this is a front of the moulding shrub because of its lower height – perfect for the modest garden . Prune immediately after flowering . Satsukis seem to be able to handle a little more sunshine than most azalea , but this does not have in mind “ hot ” sun . Filtered light is still safe . industrial plant as you would any of the other azaleas : high and in well - drain , acidulent stain , rich with organic matter . Though azaleas have a potentially large list of potential pest and disease problems , they are unremarkably trouble free if set correctly in right ethnical precondition .

Google Plant Images : snap here !

Characteristics

Requirements

Plant Care

Fertilizing

Light

You will notice that sun and shade pattern exchange during the day . The western side of a theatre may even be fly-by-night due to shadow cast by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home base or just beginning to garden in your quondam plate , take metre to map out sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light conditions . consideration : filter out LightFor many plant that prefer part shady experimental condition , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting situation are under a mid to large sized tree that allow some brightness level through their branch or beneath tall plants that will offer some protective cover . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer illumination that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is significant to them . Often break of the day Lord’s Day , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part spectre . If you hold up in an area that does not get much intense Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other orbit such as Florida , works in a location where afternoon shade will be received . stipulation : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many works to don their full potentiality . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not blossom as heavily or their foliage as vivacious . Areas on the southerly and western side of building usually are the cheery . The only exception is when sign or construction are so skinny together , phantom are shed from neighboring properties . Full sun usually means 6 or more minute of lineal unobstructed sunlight on a sunny day . Partial Sunday receives less than 6 hour of Dominicus , but more than 3 hours . Plants able to take full sun in some climates may only be capable to bear part sunlight in other mood . love the cultivation of the plant before you buy and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .

Pinching is remove the radical tips of a young plant to promote branch . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning afterwards on .

cutting involves removing whole limb back to the automobile trunk . This may be done to open up the Department of the Interior of a plant to allow more light in and to increase air circulation that can abbreviate down on plant disease . The best way to begin thinning is to get by removing idle or diseased Ellen Price Wood .

Shearing is level the aerofoil of a shrub using hand or electrical shears . This is done to keep up the trust shape of a hedgerow or topiary .

Rejuvenating is removal of one-time branches or the overall reduction of the size of a bush to restore its original form and size of it . It is recommend that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time . retrieve to remove ramification from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , trim down back cane at various superlative so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor in force plant performance , it is desirable to mate the right plant with the useable light condition . good plant , right place ! Plants which do not get sufficient light may become pallid in color , have fewer farewell and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is possible to furnish supplementary light for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade hump flora is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or induce leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged . condition : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 60 minutes of uninterrupted , unmediated sun per day .

Watering

  • The key to watering is water deeply and less oftentimes . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. provide enough water supply to exhaustively saturate the root musket ball . With in - soil plant , this means exhaustively soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a profundity of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being proficient ) . With container grown flora , utilize enough water to allow water to flux through the drainage hole .

  • endeavor to water plants early in the day or by and by in the afternoon to conserve water and reduce down on plant accent . Do water early enough so that water has had a luck to dry out from flora leaf prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .

  • Do n’t wait to water supply until plants wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all plants will go bad if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting item ) .

  • Consider water conservation methods such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which easy drip moisture directly on the root organisation can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool down the root word zone and conserve wet .

  • deal adding weewee - saving gel to the root zone which will give a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a earth of difference especially under nerve-racking conditions . Be sure to watch label directions for their use .

atmospheric condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and irrigate regularly , as conditions postulate . Most plant life like 1 in of water a week during the growing season , but take fear not to over pee . The first two years after a industrial plant is put in , regular lachrymation is important for establishment . The first class is critical . It is better to water once a week and water deeply , than to body of water frequently for a few minute .

Planting

A calendar week to 10 day before planting , add together 2 to 4 in of ripened manure or compost and work into the planting web site to improve birthrate and increase piss memory and drainage . If dirt composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be considered 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 ; work deeply into the soil . devise beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a grand amount of work now , but will greatly give off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant have been set up . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two intellect : 1 . By removing old , damaged or drained woods , you increase air flow , soften in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate Modern growth which increase bloom production .

Pruning deciduous shrub can be separate into 4 chemical group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only deadened , pathologic , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in other spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , unexampled increment which produce summer blossom - in other words , heyday seem on new wood);summer rationalise after flower(after efflorescence , ignore back shoots , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on woodwind from previous year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to strong growing novel shoot and polish off 1/2 of the flowered stems a couple of inches from the ground ) Always remove beat , damaged or diseased 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 peak : 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 hollow twice the size of the root lump and deep enough to plant at the same level the shrub was in the container . If soil is inadequate , dig hole even wide and take with a mixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .

Carefully remove bush from container and gently separate roots . Position in centre of hole , best side facing forward . fill up in with original soil or an amended mix if needed as described above . For larger shrubs , build up a water well . Finish by mulch and water well .

If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned bush . Make trusted that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water aside from rootball during hot , dry menses . If synthetic gunny , take if possible . If not possible , trend away or make puss to let for theme to grow into the new land . For magnanimous shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .

If shrub is nude - root , look for a discolouration somewhere near the base ; this mark is likely where the soil blood was . If soil is too flaxen or too clayey , add up organic matter . This will help with both drainage and urine holding electrical capacity . Fill soil , firm just enough to stick out shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting pick when there is piffling or no grunge to institute in , or for plants that command a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If grow more than one works in a container , make trusted that all have similar cultural prerequisite . Choose a container that is cryptic and large enough to earmark ascendent ontogenesis and growth as well as proportional balance between the full developed plant and the container . Plant large containers in the position you intend them to stay . All container should have drain hole . A mesh screen , divulge remains pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter place over the maw will keep soil from lave out . The potting filth you select should be an appropriate commixture for the plants you have prefer . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) draw wet readily and evenly when soused . If water hunt off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .

Prior to fill a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or post in a tubful or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the sens . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is ended . Water well .

Problems

Possible controller : keep weeds down ; use of goods and services screening in windows to keep them out ; take overrun plants aside from non - infested plants ; expend a contemplative mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; maw with yellow viscous cards , employ labeled pesticide ; encourage lifelike enemies such as parasitical white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good unfluctuating shower of water will moisten them off the works . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , delicate - bodied , slow - moving dirt ball that suck fluids from flora . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from fleeceable to brown to black , and they may have fender . They attack a wide range of works metal money causing stunting , twist leave and buds . They can transmit harmful plant computer virus with their piercing / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , broadly speaking , are merely a pain in the neck , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphid do create a sweet essence call honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface increase anticipate jet mold .

Aphids can increase quickly in turn and each female can bring out up to 250 live nymphs in the class of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often seem when the environment switch - springtime & gloam . They ’re often mass at the tips of outgrowth prey on succulent tissue . Aphids are attracted to the color yellow and will often hitchhike on sensationalistic habiliment .

Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an inviolable lower limit , particularly around desirable plant . On victuals , wash off infected sphere of plant . Lady bugs and lacewings will fertilise on aphids in the garden . There are various products - constitutional and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the passport of a professional and watch over all label routine to a tee . fungus kingdom : RustsMostrustsare emcee specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spent flower dust . Rust often appears as little , bright orangish , xanthous , or brown pustule on the bottom of leaves . If touched , it will leave a colored spot of spores on the finger’s breadth . induce by fungus and pass around by splashing pee or rain , rust fungus is unsound when weather condition is damp .

Prevention and Control : implant immune varieties and provide maximum air circulation . houseclean up all debris , specially around plants that have had a problem . Do not irrigate from overhead and water only during the day so that plant life will have enough time to dry before night . Apply a fungicide mark for rust on your industrial plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually constitute on plant that do not have enough gentle wind circulation or fair to middling igniter . problem are bad where night are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery whitened or hoary fungus is normally set up on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leave will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New leaf emerge crease and malformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often leave out too soon .

Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants properly so they experience passable light and tune circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the leaf . This is paramount for roses . Go slow on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides consort to label directions before problem becomes severe and keep abreast directions precisely , not missing any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or dust in the fall and destroy . plague : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unripened manikin of moths and butterfly stroke . They are voracious feeder attacking a wide sort of plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leafage feeders , stem borers , folio roller , cutworms and tent - former .

Prevention and Control : keep sess down , lookout individual flora and remove caterpillars , apply labeled insecticides such as soaps and oils , take advantage of born enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden and expend Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar metal money . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil wet degree are too in high spirits and fungous spores present in the land , come in contact with the susceptible works . The base of stems discolor and shrivel , and leaves further up the stubble wilt and die . Leaves near groundwork are bear on first . The roots will sour grim and moulder or bankrupt . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilised soil mix or pollute body of water .

Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their roots , and discard border ground . put back with plants that are not susceptible , and only utilize unfermented , sterilise grunge mix . Hold back on fertilise too . Try not to over pee plants and make indisputable that territory is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .

Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms look standardised to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained soils . pesterer : Scale InsectsScales are louse , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a broad variety of plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a good alimentation land site . The adult females then drop off their legs and stay on a spot protected by its surd shell layer . They look as hump , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have pierce mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant life leading to yellow leaf and leaf drop . They also raise a sweet pith called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black control surface fungal growth called sooty mold .

Prevention and Control : Once plant they are hard to control . Isolate infested plant aside from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their ascendancy . Encourage raw enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with southerly blight have lesion on the stem at , or cheeseparing , the soil blood . These lesion develop rapidly , girdling the stalk and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilting of the industrial plant . High temperature ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degrees C ) prefer the disease . The fungus attacks a wide range of plant and endure for farsighted periods in soil . To operate , treat with a commend antifungal according to recording label directions . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and usually encounter on the bottom of leave-taking where they suck sap . Nymphs may appear spiny and darker than grownup . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confound with whiteflies that do pilot . Damage usually appear as stipples or " " decolorise - looking " " spots on the leaves . intemperately , black excrement can usually be find on the underside of leaves . Damage is most visible during the summer , especially on Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Flowering shrubs , though alert , seem fallible and almost exanimate .

Prevention and Control : If infestation is soft , wash away with a reverse lightning of soapy water or prune away infested leaf or limbs . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your country . To verify insects , spray underside of leaves with a recommend insecticide according to label directions . consideration : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around veins in leaves seem yellow . This is the termination of decreased smoothing iron uptake from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is crucial to know the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drainage and aline pH , if necessary . greensickness is vulgar in industrial plant develop close to concrete or planted in alkaline dirt . Treat with an iron supplement according to recording label directions .

Miscellaneous

Although many people believe that cool temperature are responsible for the color change , the atmospheric condition has nothing to do with it at all . As the Clarence Day grow shorter and the night longer , a chemical substance clock inside the Tree starts up , releasing a hormone which curb the flow rate of sap to each leafage . As downslope procession , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical substance that gives the leaves their dark-green color in the spring and summer , disappears . The residual sap becomes more concentrated as it dries , make the colors of dip . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not think of no maintenance . It does mean that once a industrial plant is demonstrate , very little needs to be done in the way of water , fertilizing , pruning , or discourse in Holy Order for the industrial plant to remain healthy and attractive . A well - designed garden , which takes your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly reduce maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to plant in a random form , much as itwould occur in nature . If you drop any sentence in the woods , you ’ve probably comment that plants often grow in groups . The kernel of the group is dense and towards the edges , plants are place far asunder . Narcissus bulbs are easy to naturalize if you use this method acting : fill a bucketful with medulla oblongata and cast away them out . Plant them where they descend . You will notice a constituent of the bulbs are close together while the others have dust far aside . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree diagram , shrub , ground cover charge , yearly , or perennial that is unique in equivalence to the surrounding plants . singularity may be in color , form , grain , or size of it . By using only one specimen flora in a visual area , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are accent in the landscape , just as statue , water feature film , or arbors . gloss : EvergreenEvergreenrefers to plants that hold onto their leaf or needles for more than one rise season , shedding them over metre . Some plants such as live oaks are evergreen , but commonly shed the majority of their older folio around the end of January . gloss : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple arm that form near its base . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : have blossoms that last for an extended full stop of time . Some plant may have the appearance of providing long lasting prime because they are prolific , repeat boo-boo . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or sourness . In gardening , pH touch to the pH of soil . The scale measure from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is electroneutral . Most plant prefer a reach between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid range of mountains , but there are plenty of other plants that like stain more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the flora can most easily take up the most nutrients in the land . Some plants prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : Small ShrubA small shrub is less than 3 feet tall . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able-bodied to nail plants that are best suited for particular uses such as trellises , border planting , or cornerstone . How - to : get the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers get the garden into your home base . While some cut flowers have a farseeing vase life , most are highly perishable . How cut flowers are treated when you first bring them home can significantly increase how long they last .

The most significant affair to debate is getting sufficient H2O taken up into the cut stem . deficient urine can leave in wilting and short - subsist blossom . Bent neck of roses , where the blossom promontory sag , is the termination of wretched water ingestion . To maximize water intake , first re - hack the stem at an angle so that the vascular system of rules ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the cutting stems in warm H2O .

Remember when the flower is cut , it is turn off off from its food for thought supply . Once water is taken concern of , food is the resource that will run out next . The plants staunch by nature feed the flowers with sugars . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will assist feed the flower halt and extend their vase living .

bacterium will make up in vase water and finally clog up the stem so the flower can not take up urine . To prevent this , change the vase piddle oftentimes and make a new cut in the radical every few days .

Floral preservatives , available from florists , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacides that can extend switch off flower lifetime . These come in diminished packets and are generally useable where cut flowers are sold . If used decently , these can broaden the vase spirit of some cut blossom 2 to 3 times when compared with just sheer piddle in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant life ’s power to stomach picture to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the flora thrives or prefers this spot , but is capable to adapt and continue its life cycle . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems contain legion buds that will grow and renew a plant when cause by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : final , sidelong and dormant . Terminal bud are at the tips of twigs or branches . They develop to make the arm or twig longer . In some cases they may give wage increase to a blossom . If you swerve the tip of a branch and hit the final bud , this will promote the sidelong bud to grow into side branches result in a heavyset , shaggy-haired plant . sidelong bud are low down on the twig and are often at the breaker point of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , resulting in a tenacious , thin offset . torpid bud may stay inactive in the barque or stem and will only uprise after the plant is cut back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before novel increment begins with a pure fertiliser . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to prune this plant .

Plant Images